Read this. As it now stands the Feds have the power to actually prohibit "powerboats" in areas where manatees are known to congregate.

Steven Webster is the President of the Florida Marine Contractors Association and the VP of the Citizens for Florida's Waterways.

Mark my words. If we don't get off our collective "behinds" there is going to be a whole lot of water we can't use. There is a lawsuit pending that hopefully, will head this off at the pass, but it's going to be expensive to pursue. But the feds are going to jump on this like white on rice.

Every single one of us NEEDS to join CFFW as they, along with FMCA are spearheading the lawsuit. It's only $25.00 a year. An appeal at the federal level will cost a minimum of 50K.

This issue is as serious as a heart attack and if we don't stop it we are going to lose big time.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.SaveFamilyBoating.org

Russ,
What "recently handed down decision" are they talking about? We went on the CFFW poker run this past weekend, it was a good time, decent turn out, BUT it's not enough!! It will be interesting to see how many posts you get here on OSO about this subject!
Dean

Those no good mother F*@#@*#@*&#@# Sons of B!tches.

Now with that being said,How do I join & what can I do to help.

Dennis go to the website above, [email protected]

Our first West Coast Chapter Meeting is tomorrow night at the Nokomis Community Center. VERY easy to find. Could use your help with that chapter....Thanks. Russ

The Florida Marine Contractors Association sued the Florida Wildlife Commission (I think that's who it was) and lost in Federal District Court which was fully expected. District judges are the bottom of the barrel and don't like to get involved with highly publicized controversial issues. However, FMCA is completely convinced they can win on appeal, but it's gonna cost money, at least 50K. Open the attachment at the top of the thread and you can read most of what happened. If the info is not already on the CFFW website it will soon be.

To be honest Dean, it kinda pisses me off that we are practically having to beg people to get involved. If we don't beat this, powerboating in Florida as we have always known it will be gone forever, and anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.

This is going to effect every single powerboater out there. And you can bet the SMC is throwing everything they have in their arsenal to see this through. It could conceivably totally reverse the three bills Gov. Bush just signed. This is the biggest most important battle we, as boaters, have fought. The feds firmly believe that the damn manatee is more important than anything that has anything to do with human beings. It's sick.

Ok Russ and Dean. I'm signed up.

Russ, your first link doesn't work.

I just tried it and it came right up......

I just tried it again, keep getting "page cannot be displayed"

I'm talking about the .info link.

I just clicked on the above web site: [email protected] and it came right up again. Don't understand why you are having problems.

Russ, your link doesn't work for me either.

It's www.cffw.org