Uniting For Public Lands
Contributor
The political landscape of our country is in the midst of a massive transition. In an effort to have our voices heard, Therm-a-Rest has united with the Outdoor Industry Association and industry leaders in an open letter to the leaders of our nation. You can read our letter below and add your voice as we urge President-Elect Trump and Congress to uphold the integrity of our public lands.
To our elected officials and those who value America’s great outdoors: This open letter expresses the view of more than 100 leaders of large and small businesses in the outdoor industry, which contributes more than $650 billion annually to the U.S. economy, generates $80 billion in tax revenue and employs more than 6 million people. Together, we represent a huge range of activities—from hiking to hunting and camping to conservation. Our businesses make the lives of everyday Americans, from every corner of the political spectrum, healthier and happier. We do not often unite as an industry in the way we are today but we are compelled to make clear our collective view on a vitally important issue that affects the economic health of our industry, our local communities, and the lives of all Americans. It is an American right to roam in our public lands. The people of the United States, today and tomorrow, share equally in the ownership of these majestic places. This powerful idea transcends party lines and sets our country apart from the rest of the world. That is why we strongly oppose any proposal, current or future, that devalues or compromises the integrity of our national public lands. Yet as the 115th Congress begins, efforts are underway that threaten to undermine over one hundred years of public investment, stewardship and enjoyment of our national public lands. Stated simply, these efforts would be bad for the American people. They include the potential of national public lands being privatized or given to states who might sell them to the highest bidder. This would unravel courageous efforts by leaders from across the political spectrum up to the present day, including Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. This is not a red or blue issue. It is an issue that affects our shared freedoms. Public lands should remain in public hands. We hold these views both as leaders of the outdoor industry — which creates significant economic value for this country — and as individuals who believe deeply that the next generation should be free to benefit from our national public lands as we and our families do today. The undersigned companies are therefore working together to ensure that all Americans maintain their right to our iconic national public lands and that it is not taken away. Outdoor Industry Association, Amy Roberts, Executive Director Appalachian Outfitters, Mike & Karen Leffler, Owners Ascent Solar Technologies, Victor Lee, President & CEO Backbone Media, Penn Newhard, Founder & Managing Partner Backcountry, Jonathan Nielsen, CEO Backcountry North, Tracy Mayer, Owner Backwoods Retail, Inc., Jennifer Mull, Owner & CEO Benchmade Knife Company, David Fee, Vice President BioLite, Jonathan Cedar, Founder & CEO Black Creek Outfitters, Joe & Liz Butler, Owners Cascade Designs, David Burroughs, President Chaco, Seth Cobb, President Champaign Surplus, Dan & Shira Epstein, Owners Clif Bar & Company, Kevin Cleary, CEO Columbia Sportswear Company, Tim Boyle, President & CEO Combat Flip Flops, Matthew Griffin, CEO Confluence Watersports, Sue Rechner, President & CEO Dakine, Ken Meidell, CEO Darn Tough Vermont, Ric Cabot, President & CEO Denali, Chris Howe, Owner Diamond Brand Outdoors, Will Gay, Owner Eagle Creek, Roger Spatz, President Eastside Sports, Chris Iversen & Todd Vogel, Co-Owners Exxel Outdoors, LLC, Harry Kazazian, CEO Far Bank Enterprises, Travis Campbell, President & CEO First Lite, Kenton Carruth, Co-Founder and Owner Fishpond, John Land Le Coq, Founder & CEO Flowfold, James Morin, Owner & COO Goal Zero, William Harmon, General Manager Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, Rich Hill, President Great Outdoor Provision Co., Travis Zarins, Owner HipCamp, Alyssa Ravasio, Founder & CEO Ibex Outdoor Clothing, Ted Manning, CEO Idaho Mountain Touring, Chris & Jill Haunold, Owners JanSport, Steve Munn, President Kammok, Haley Robison, CEO Keen, Casey Sheahan, CEO Kuhl, Kevin Boyle, President La Sportiva N.A., Inc., Jonathan Lantz, President Light Speed Outdoors, Brian Cox, CEO Lucy, Laurie Etheridge, President Massey’s Outfitters, Mike Massey, President Mountain Hardwear, Dennis Randall, CMO Mountain Khakis, Ross Saldarini, President Mountain Safety Research (MSR), Chris Parkhurst, Vice President Mountain Works, Inc., Jim Smith, President My Outdoor Alphabet, Seth Neilson, CEO Nemo, Cam Brensinger, CEO New Balance, Rob DeMartini, President & CEO Oru Kayak, Roberto Gutierrez, Founder & CCO Orvis, Perk Perkins, CEO Osprey, Layne Rigney, President Outdoor Research, Dan Nordstrom, CEO Outside Brands / Outside Hilton Head, Mike Overton, CEO Pack & Paddle, John Williams, President Pack Rat Outdoor Center, Scott & Carolyn Crook, Founders & Owners Patagonia, Rose Marcario, President & CEO Peak Design, Peter Dering, Founder & CEO Piragis Northwoods Company, Steve Piragis, Owner Packtowl, Doug Jacot, Vice President Platypus, Doug Jacot, Vice President Point6, Peter Duke, CEO prAna Living, Scott Kerslake, CEO Ramsey Outdoor, Stuart and Michael Levine, Owners REI Co-op, Jerry Stritzke, President & CEO Redington, Travis Campbell, President & CEO Rio, Travis Campbell, President & CEO River Sports Outfitters, Ed McAlister, Owner Roads Rivers and Trails, Emily White, Co-Founder & Owner Rock Creek Outfitters, Dawson Wheeler, Founder Ruffwear, Patrick Kruse, R&D Director & Founder Rutabaga Paddlesports, Darren Bush, Owner & CEO Sage, Travis Campbell, President & CEO SealLine, Doug Jacot, Vice President Simms, K.C. Walsh, President & CEO Skinny Skis, Phil Leeds & Scott O’Brien, Owners Soar Communications, Chip Smith, President Sorel, Mark Nenow, President Stanley PMI, Kelly Kraus, Vice President, Stanley Brand Summit Hut, Dana Davis, President & Co-Owner Sunlight Sports, Wes Allen, Owner Superfeet Worldwide, John Rauvola, CEO Tahoe Mountain Sports, Dave Polivy, Co-Owner Tenkara USA, Daniel Galhardo, Founder The Base Camp, Scott Brown, Owner The Mountaineer, Vinny McClelland, President The North Face, Scott Baxter, Group President The Trail Head, Todd Frank, Owner The Toggery, Trek Stephens, President Therm-a-Rest Brands, Doug Jacot, Vice President Timberland, Jim Pisani, Global Brand President Toad&Co, Gordon Seabury, CEO (& OIA board chair) Trail Creek Outfitters, Ed Camelli & Brian Havertine, Owners Travel Country, Mike Plante, Owner Ute Mountaineer, Bob Wade & Maile Spung, Owners VF Corporation, Steve Rendle, President and CEO Weighmyrack, Allison Dennis, Founder & CEO Western Spirit Cycling, Ashley Korenblat, CEO Woolrich, Inc., Nick Brayton, President Zumiez, Inc., Tom Campion, Founder & Chairman
To our elected officials and those who value America’s great outdoors: This open letter expresses the view of more than 100 leaders of large and small businesses in the outdoor industry, which contributes more than $650 billion annually to the U.S. economy, generates $80 billion in tax revenue and employs more than 6 million people. Together, we represent a huge range of activities—from hiking to hunting and camping to conservation. Our businesses make the lives of everyday Americans, from every corner of the political spectrum, healthier and happier. We do not often unite as an industry in the way we are today but we are compelled to make clear our collective view on a vitally important issue that affects the economic health of our industry, our local communities, and the lives of all Americans. It is an American right to roam in our public lands. The people of the United States, today and tomorrow, share equally in the ownership of these majestic places. This powerful idea transcends party lines and sets our country apart from the rest of the world. That is why we strongly oppose any proposal, current or future, that devalues or compromises the integrity of our national public lands. Yet as the 115th Congress begins, efforts are underway that threaten to undermine over one hundred years of public investment, stewardship and enjoyment of our national public lands. Stated simply, these efforts would be bad for the American people. They include the potential of national public lands being privatized or given to states who might sell them to the highest bidder. This would unravel courageous efforts by leaders from across the political spectrum up to the present day, including Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt. This is not a red or blue issue. It is an issue that affects our shared freedoms. Public lands should remain in public hands. We hold these views both as leaders of the outdoor industry — which creates significant economic value for this country — and as individuals who believe deeply that the next generation should be free to benefit from our national public lands as we and our families do today. The undersigned companies are therefore working together to ensure that all Americans maintain their right to our iconic national public lands and that it is not taken away. Outdoor Industry Association, Amy Roberts, Executive Director Appalachian Outfitters, Mike & Karen Leffler, Owners Ascent Solar Technologies, Victor Lee, President & CEO Backbone Media, Penn Newhard, Founder & Managing Partner Backcountry, Jonathan Nielsen, CEO Backcountry North, Tracy Mayer, Owner Backwoods Retail, Inc., Jennifer Mull, Owner & CEO Benchmade Knife Company, David Fee, Vice President BioLite, Jonathan Cedar, Founder & CEO Black Creek Outfitters, Joe & Liz Butler, Owners Cascade Designs, David Burroughs, President Chaco, Seth Cobb, President Champaign Surplus, Dan & Shira Epstein, Owners Clif Bar & Company, Kevin Cleary, CEO Columbia Sportswear Company, Tim Boyle, President & CEO Combat Flip Flops, Matthew Griffin, CEO Confluence Watersports, Sue Rechner, President & CEO Dakine, Ken Meidell, CEO Darn Tough Vermont, Ric Cabot, President & CEO Denali, Chris Howe, Owner Diamond Brand Outdoors, Will Gay, Owner Eagle Creek, Roger Spatz, President Eastside Sports, Chris Iversen & Todd Vogel, Co-Owners Exxel Outdoors, LLC, Harry Kazazian, CEO Far Bank Enterprises, Travis Campbell, President & CEO First Lite, Kenton Carruth, Co-Founder and Owner Fishpond, John Land Le Coq, Founder & CEO Flowfold, James Morin, Owner & COO Goal Zero, William Harmon, General Manager Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, Rich Hill, President Great Outdoor Provision Co., Travis Zarins, Owner HipCamp, Alyssa Ravasio, Founder & CEO Ibex Outdoor Clothing, Ted Manning, CEO Idaho Mountain Touring, Chris & Jill Haunold, Owners JanSport, Steve Munn, President Kammok, Haley Robison, CEO Keen, Casey Sheahan, CEO Kuhl, Kevin Boyle, President La Sportiva N.A., Inc., Jonathan Lantz, President Light Speed Outdoors, Brian Cox, CEO Lucy, Laurie Etheridge, President Massey’s Outfitters, Mike Massey, President Mountain Hardwear, Dennis Randall, CMO Mountain Khakis, Ross Saldarini, President Mountain Safety Research (MSR), Chris Parkhurst, Vice President Mountain Works, Inc., Jim Smith, President My Outdoor Alphabet, Seth Neilson, CEO Nemo, Cam Brensinger, CEO New Balance, Rob DeMartini, President & CEO Oru Kayak, Roberto Gutierrez, Founder & CCO Orvis, Perk Perkins, CEO Osprey, Layne Rigney, President Outdoor Research, Dan Nordstrom, CEO Outside Brands / Outside Hilton Head, Mike Overton, CEO Pack & Paddle, John Williams, President Pack Rat Outdoor Center, Scott & Carolyn Crook, Founders & Owners Patagonia, Rose Marcario, President & CEO Peak Design, Peter Dering, Founder & CEO Piragis Northwoods Company, Steve Piragis, Owner Packtowl, Doug Jacot, Vice President Platypus, Doug Jacot, Vice President Point6, Peter Duke, CEO prAna Living, Scott Kerslake, CEO Ramsey Outdoor, Stuart and Michael Levine, Owners REI Co-op, Jerry Stritzke, President & CEO Redington, Travis Campbell, President & CEO Rio, Travis Campbell, President & CEO River Sports Outfitters, Ed McAlister, Owner Roads Rivers and Trails, Emily White, Co-Founder & Owner Rock Creek Outfitters, Dawson Wheeler, Founder Ruffwear, Patrick Kruse, R&D Director & Founder Rutabaga Paddlesports, Darren Bush, Owner & CEO Sage, Travis Campbell, President & CEO SealLine, Doug Jacot, Vice President Simms, K.C. Walsh, President & CEO Skinny Skis, Phil Leeds & Scott O’Brien, Owners Soar Communications, Chip Smith, President Sorel, Mark Nenow, President Stanley PMI, Kelly Kraus, Vice President, Stanley Brand Summit Hut, Dana Davis, President & Co-Owner Sunlight Sports, Wes Allen, Owner Superfeet Worldwide, John Rauvola, CEO Tahoe Mountain Sports, Dave Polivy, Co-Owner Tenkara USA, Daniel Galhardo, Founder The Base Camp, Scott Brown, Owner The Mountaineer, Vinny McClelland, President The North Face, Scott Baxter, Group President The Trail Head, Todd Frank, Owner The Toggery, Trek Stephens, President Therm-a-Rest Brands, Doug Jacot, Vice President Timberland, Jim Pisani, Global Brand President Toad&Co, Gordon Seabury, CEO (& OIA board chair) Trail Creek Outfitters, Ed Camelli & Brian Havertine, Owners Travel Country, Mike Plante, Owner Ute Mountaineer, Bob Wade & Maile Spung, Owners VF Corporation, Steve Rendle, President and CEO Weighmyrack, Allison Dennis, Founder & CEO Western Spirit Cycling, Ashley Korenblat, CEO Woolrich, Inc., Nick Brayton, President Zumiez, Inc., Tom Campion, Founder & Chairman
