John Donaldson
John Donaldson is not the longest serving PWC government relations guy, but he’s close. He had been in the power sports industry for over a decade when his then employer decided his gift for gab and ability to write completely confusing letters were a perfect match for dealing with politicians and legislators. Since the course change in his work history, Donaldson has worked for two of the biggest PWC manufacturers as well as having a turn at running the Personal Watercraft Industry Association. Donaldson says that these government relations experiences have helped him understand that it sure isn’t the government one learns about in a text book. Further in Donaldson’s past was his service in the U.S. Coast Guard and a few years as owner of a major power sports dealership in Southern California. This diversity of government, manufacturer, and retail experience qualifies Donaldson to help keep AWA members and others informed on the latest activities of government impact on the use of PWC in the PWC Nation.
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Chris Manthos
Chris Manthos serves as executive director of the American Watercraft Association. When not riding, he dedicates his time to educating regulators and other officials on the realities of personal watercraft, in contrast to the fantasy world of the no-access crowd. He mows his own lawn, washes his own truck, served his country, pays his taxes, picks up trash on public roads, opens his own beer bottles, reads books, hunts, feeds his own dogs, doesn’t need government to tell him right from wrong, and deplores sanctimonious hypocrites, bullies, and know-it-alls, particularly the political kind. Wiley Russell Jr.
Wiley Russell Jr. is the dealer coordinator of the AWA and works closely with personal watercraft dealers nationwide, promoting PWC access for all enthusiasts, as well as promoting dealerships. He is a Virginia native and enjoys riding PWC as much as possible. | Inquisition Mentality |
| Written by Chris Manthos |
| Monday, 23 February 2009 10:18 |
Recently a prominent politician, a politician mind you, decreed the debate is over on global warming and it’s time to tax each of us for little things like electricity, the gas we use to get to work, and heating for our families when those pesky Arctic air masses settle in for an extended stay. An- other well-known bag of hot air says anyone questioning his very lucrative environmental doomsday fear-mongering is a “fat earther.” We know... there’s no such word, however, reality has never been high on this guy’s agenda. It’s strange though, as I always believed Earth was a sphere. Even more bizarre, an Australian columnist suggested a while back that debate on “climate change” should be outlawed. As in, human beings should be jailed for free and independent thought, which may differ from hers and all other lemmings. She even went so far as to compare rational debate and healthy skepticism about global warming to denying the Holocaust. Such hor- rifc comparisons are alarming and belittle the millions of victims and survivors of actual pure evil. Now, lawyers in Britain are pushing to create an, “International Court for the Environment to pro- vide a higher body for non-govern- mental organizations (enviro groups) to protest against environ- mental injustice.” Naturally, groups very familiar to personal watercraft owners are ecstatic about the creation of this modern-day Grand Inquisition. One would have thought, at least in Western societies, that persecution and intolerance for ones beliefs was relegated to the dung heap of history. But for the new urban religion of radical environmentalism, independent thoughts are dangerous and must be stamped out. What’s next? Nightly burnings at the stake of enviro heretics by these self-anointed Grand Inquisitors? However, it may be all for naught considering that last month we discovered Earth’s magnetic feld has ripped wide open in two places exposing us to solar winds as never before—or so we think, because no one has ever actually seen anything quite like this. Won- der of all wonders: Something we never knew about our amazing planet suddenly falls into our lap. Guessing the effects of these holes on our mod- ern lives ranges from toasted communication networks to nothing at all. Yet never fear, as you can count on some odd- ball group to embrace it as proof we’re now polluting the entire solar system, and we need to give up tailgating at football games in order to save the asteroid belt. Here in the good ole’ U.S. of A., we have a plethora of draconian public access rules converted to policy. Make sure to read John Donaldson’s piece on the recent access travesty at Monterey Marine Sanctuary. Fringe environmen- talists are doing all they can to shut out “Good People” from free and equal access to publicly owned waters. Worse even, some government agen- cies are complicit in their efforts. There is no science to back up their false claims; there is no reason for their decrees; and there is neither con- cern nor effort to be inclusive to tax- paying citizens on public lands and waters because, frankly, they don’t want citizens around. While others advocate limiting ideas, free speech, and your access to public waters, the American Watercraft Association fghts for the freedom and equality of access. We believe in your right to be heard and your opinion counted. We believe only solid science should guide policy regarding public access, instead of the wishful rants and questionable goals of fringe groups. The AWA rep- resents freedom for all boaters, and few things are nobler than standing up to oppressive bullies and power crazed public servants. Join with us in our defense of freedom and common sanity. Think Free. Live Free. Ride Free. Chris Manthos |
