SWFWDA Mission & History

swfwda

SOUTHWEST FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ASSOCIATION

The Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association is organized to:

Promote interest and provide education in organized 4-wheeling and the safe and responsible use of off-highway vehicles.

Keep members informed of the needs of vehicular recreationists, and to keep Association members informed of impending legislation and land use matters.

Enjoy and protect all local, state, and national resources, and to assist various government agencies in the development of off-road trails and areas.

Render aid and assistance as needed.

Adhere to the principles and practices of United Four Wheel Drive Associations, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and Tread Lightly! and to maintain active membership in UFWDA as an Association.

SWFWDA Bylaws

History

The Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association has its roots in the efforts of Dr. Alan Gilmore and his desire for an organized voice for four wheeling in the Southwest. In his travels and his four wheeling forays, Alan found other individuals and clubs with a like mind and the nucleus for an organizational effort was formed. After at an initial meeting at his home in Albuquerque to write proposed Bylaws and set a time and place, the formal organizational meeting was proposed. Seven clubs from New Mexico and Texas met at Leasburg State Park north of Las Cruces, New Mexico in November of 1991 and Alan saw his dream realized when the Southwest Four Wheel Drive Association was officially formed.

The second meeting saw the establishment of the Association's official publication (4WDrive Lines), the motto, (Four Wheeling Responsibly), and the Association's logo. New clubs were joining as the word spread and the Association grew rapidly.

The year 1998 finds the Association with thirty member clubs representing over 1000 member families and spread across five states: New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana. The Association's four quarterly event/meetings are frequently seen in 4WD enthusiast magazines and the blue and red logo of the Association is a common sight at four wheeling gatherings across the country.

Growth in the organization has continued to escalate. As of the 2003 May Quarterly Meeting, we were happy to say that we had 35 clubs enrolled in SWFWDA which included 1,749 club members. We also had 95 individual members and 24 supporting members setting new membership highs at a total of 1,868.