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.
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. | Sacrifice |
| Written by Administrator |
| Tuesday, 02 February 2010 14:05 |
We hear plenty of talk about sacrifice. In one way or another,most of us are putting off vacations, home and car repairs and lowering our standard of living. Should you find yourself in the Big Apple, government says you will sacrifice salt in your food. In the Golden State, the latest decree sacrifices “trans fats,” because Sacramento feels you’re too dumb to know any better. Tax hikes, sure to come, will certainly be spun by Congressional leaders as a “sacrifice” taxpayers must make for the common good. Yet, on Capitol Hill, it’s a one way street. According to CBS News, twenty members of Congress along with eighty or so aides, spouses, kids, and other strap hangers eagerly glommed onto a vacation to frozen Copenhagen for the recent climate summit. Three military jets, including an ultra sexy Gulfstream V; over 300 room nights at a five-star hotel; tens of thousands of dollars more in meals… and all on the taxpayer’s dime. That’s sacrifice alright. I call it a vacation because absolutely nothing was accomplished. Nothing at all. Never forget, the only true sacrifices are those made by our brave armed forces, and first responders. Although, looking at the big picture, it could be worse. In Uganda, forever famous for Idi Amin, human sacrifice is on the rise according to the BBC. Witch-Doctors are charging a few hundred bucks to capture someone’s kid and thus sacrifice them, not to bring relief from drought, famine, or some other catastrophe, but rather to help people get rich. Police officials report at least 26 young people were killed last year with 120 more missing this year, all strongly believed to be victims of the practice. In 2010, one would think we need not dismember others in the hope of a good stock tip. If the classic cover photo from the January 1973 issue of National Lampoon caught your attention, that’s because it leads directly to the latest “sacrifice” being pushed on the streets by some in the urban religion of Green: The dog has to go, as does the cat, and flush the goldfish while you’re at it. A new study by “sustainable living specialists” in New Zealand claim a dog is worse for the environment than an SUV. Your cat gets off with being equal to a VW Golf, and the poor goldfish is worth two cell phones. Using a bizarre mathematical equation, mainly focused around meat production, results in, as one reviewer said, “owning a dog really is quite an extravagance.” Such extreme conclusions, published in a book titled, “Time to Eat the Dog” only highlight that no amount of sacrifice will appease fun-haters. Again, in 2010, I’m of the mind we need not start killing off our family members in the name of “sustainable living,” or whatever the vogue party slogan is this week. Every time I see some official surrounded by big corporate enviro hacks, trying to explain why certain members of the public are prohibited from access to public waters, I’m reminded that only ‘regular’ folks seem to be making sacrifices. I’m not going to sacrifice a single ride this year, nor will I miss the chance to turn one non-rider on to the pure pleasure personal watercraft provide. I’m not going to sacrifice my sense of right and wrong because some flunky says so. I will never sacrifice the truth as some government agencies so easily do. I will never sacrifice my respect for the personal choices of others as intellectually bankrupt fun-haters routinely practice. And the first person who walks up to the house asking about my two dogs will gain an entirely new understanding of “push back.” Owning a personal watercraft and sharing your life with other creatures makes you a far better human than any morose, ‘chicken little,’ hypocrite, I assure you. Riding close to the water surrounded by full frontal nature and interacting with pets brings incredible and diverse richness to our lives that can’t be measured in some math equation. I will never sacrifice any part of that, nor should you. Get involved. Think Free. Live Free. Ride Free.
|
