cabin advocacy: the big picture preserving and protecting …€¦ · preserving and protecting the...

Advocacy, Education & Stewardship

Strengthening the Cabin Program

CABIN ADVOCACY:The Big Picture

Preserving and Protecting The Cabin Program Into the Future

Jay Tripathi, past presidentNational Forest Homeowners

May 4, 2019



▪ Remain positive and communicate in a positive manner

▪ Honor processes in place

▪ Respect different points of view

▪ Manage cabin affairs and use according to the rules

▪ Understand how to advocate for results –locally, regionally, and nationally



▪ Affordability of permit

▪ Reissuance upon sale or transfer

▪ Understand the permit language and educate future generations about conditions of permit

▪ Work collaboratively to ensure that permits will continue beyond current cycle

▪ Work collaboratively to maintain good working relationships between cabin owners and USFS staff



Includes:

▪ Securing and maintaining insurance

▪Maintaining ▪ Cabin interior and exterior

▪ Lot according to USFS guidelines

▪Managing:▪ Fire-safe cabin neighborhood

▪ Financial responsibility

▪ Within the Family

▪ Children and/or grandchildren

▪ Other family members

▪ Permit can be held in single asset trust

▪ Transfer fee assessed to new permittee

▪ Selling to New Owners Outside of Family

▪ Permit must be reissued to individual, individual w/spouse, or single asset trust

▪ Multiple party ownership is allowed

▪ Transfer fee assessed to new permittee

Advocacy, Education & StewardshipStrengthening the Cabin Program

Ownership Options for Cabin and How to Pass Cabin Ownership to Next GenerationsDiscuss

Keeps Cabin in Family or Sells to Outside Party

Shares Financial Responsibilities

Transitions the Permit

Includes Cabin and Lot Maintenance that Is Implemented by All Generations Using the Cabin

Implement a Plan that

Multiple Generations Connected to the Larger Cabin Community Through Involvement in NFHKeep

A Practice Whereby Your Cabin Participates in Cabin Tract Leadership ResponsibilitiesInstitute

A Cabin Calendar For Use of The Cabin and a Reliable Communication Method that All Can and Do UseDevelop

Good Forest Stewardship Through All the Generations

Develop, Communicate, and Practice





• Get to Know Your Local FS Permit Administrator• Many times these are entry level positions and new hires in the FS

• Help FS staff understand the importance or your cabin to your family

• Understand the Hierarchy of Your Local FS District• Who reports to whom?

• Who has decision making authority?

• Don’t be the Cabin Owner Who …• Ignores or flaunts program rules

• Ignores cabin and lot maintenance guidelines

• Complains continuously about program rules

• Be the Cabin Owner Who …• Educates cabin users on proper behavior

• Educates cabin users about cabin use procedures

• Welcomes FS staff to your cabin

• Contributes to overall tract maintenance when needed

• Helps solve problems



Understand How Building Codes are Managed for Cabins in Your Local Area

• Do local officials understand FS and Recreation Residence Program Guidelines?

• Who has decision making authority about building standards in USFS Recreation Residence Communities?

Understand Your Water Rights• This varies greatly from state to state

• Do you have the water right or does the FS have the water right?

• Water use reporting and water quality reporting?

Try to Connect…• Your tract association to local administrators

• Your tract association to local FS staff

• Local administrators to local FS staff

• Invite local administrators to your tract meetings



Get to Know Your Local County Supervisor• Educate local governmental representatives about the cabin program and

its economic contribution to the local retail economy

• Help local governmental staff understand the importance or your cabin to your family

• Help local governmental staff to understand the valuable cultural and historical benefits of the cabin program

Understand Local Laws and Regulations that Affect Your Cabin• Environmental and clean water regulations

• Educate cabin users and neighbors about the affect of regulations and proper compliance



Who in state government represents the area where cabin is located

• Educate state governmental staff about the cabin program and its economic contribution to the local retail economy

• Cabin owners are usually assessed taxes similar or equal to property taxes

• Cabin owners usually pay for bond measures benefitting schools and parks with their property tax bills

• Help local governmental staff to understand the valuable cultural and historical benefits of the cabin program

• Communicate the benefits of multi-use land stewardship that exists in cabin communities

Try to Connect…• Your tract association to state legislators

• Invite state legislative staff to your tract meetings

• Look for opportunities to help with land stewardship projects



Who in national government represents the area where cabin is located

• Look on the NFH website to find contact information for the Members of Congress who represent you

• Educate Congressional staff about the cabin program and its economic contribution to the local retail economy

• Meet with Congressional staff in their local offices to help them understand the valuable cultural and historical benefits of the cabin program

• Communicate the benefits of multi-use land stewardship that exists in cabin communities

• NFH keeps cabin owners in touch with issues that affect cabin owners

• Get involved when the need arises, You will make a difference!



The US Government is the Landlord for all Recreation Residences• You own the cabin but the USFS owns the land

• Let Members of Congress know that your family greatly appreciates the opportunity to recreate on public land

• Let NFH know of situations that compromise your ability to use your cabin

• NFH is a clearinghouse for information related to the cabin program

• NFH is the communication conduit between the Washington Office of the USFS along with many USFS Regional Offices

• NFH engages Summit Strategies and other firms, as needed, to keep connected with Members of Congress.

• NFH keeps the FS and Congress in touch with issues that affect cabin owners

• Get involved when the need arises, You will make a difference!



NFH and Cabin Owners Recently Helped Make Major Changes• Cabin Fee Act – 2014:

• Changed how Special Use Permits Fees are calculated by the USFS

• Eight year effort

• Support of FS

• Bipartisan Congressional Support

• Stopped the 10-yr cycle of highly escalating permit fees

• Joint lobbying efforts of Aubrey King & Assoc. and Ball Janik

• Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA)• Multi-year effort to stabilize funding for wildfire fighting

• Wildfire fighting has become the major financial burden of the USFS

• NFH was an early signatory to the coalition pushing legislative action

• NFH instituted a letter-writing campaign on behalf of WDFA

Understand National Laws and Regulations that Affect Your Cabin• Existing and proposed regulations

• Educate cabin users and neighbors about the affect of regulations and proper compliance



All of Us Are Responsible• We must stay engaged at the local, regional, state, and national level if

the cabin program is to thrive

• Encourage the formation of tract associations. There is strength in numbers!

• Inform and educate your family so that they proactively engage in productive dialogue and efforts towards maintaining a healthy, vibrant Recreation Residence Program

• Pitch in and help during community projects that benefit more than just your cabin tract

• Understand and communicate the positive economic impact that the cabin program has on local, state, and national economies through retail sales, taxation, and permit fees.

Remember, NFH is your voice. Make sure it is heard.



Jay Tripathi, past president

National Forest Homeowners

www.nationalforesthomeowners.org

[email protected]

cabin advocacy: the big picture preserving and protecting …€¦ · preserving and protecting the...

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