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yeah, I think a banner is a simple, cheap and effective method. IF Miguel would agree to it. Heck, maybe the folks at the Chevron would also permit a banner. And of course one at Mark's would be key.

I also think we need to start some low key promoting of Roctoberfest sooner rather than later - and at least get people to get the dates on their calanders.

"what was your effin problem?"
Is that supposed to be inspiring? Look at your demographic. You're looking mainly at high school and college students. What do you expect from them? Most of these are scraping to put together a rack, and you need someone that can donate thousands of dollars. And I'll play devil's advocate here for a minute- why should they be concerned? Because climbing access is in danger? That's not really a reason. It's just restating what they are not concerned about.

It's all about the resources. We don't have enough volunteers willing to put their climbing aside to run around hanging banners, talking to climbers, setting up events. Banners cost lots of money. We try to reuse everything. We are stetched very thin. We try to accomodate the community by having the events during the evening hours.

The borrom line is that the community has to want to hear the message and then want to take action.

This is a great time to organize the Rocktoberfest Task Force. Please let me know if you want to volunteer. Rocktoberfest is on the weekend of October 10-13. We really need to start working on ideas, sponsors, event planning.

Kato, good points (all of them). So what would inspire them to be concerned about access? Perhaps a scare campaign to the effect of:

CLIMBING IS NO LONGER PERMITTED HERE
[insert list of popular routes in the southern region]
this could happen and soon unless you help.
Even just a little help will go a long way - loose change or whatever you've got.

I am voting to shut down the Red

Great idea Lynne. Unfortunately, this type of sensational advertising is what will raise awareness. I am more than happy to help with this type of sign. All you need is $20 or so to obtain some material and then acrylic paint. Who cares if it looks like Freddy Krueger wrote it. The point is to let them know.

I've been wishing for that for a long time now Gretchen.

Having Derbyfest on a holiday weekend was the reason why all my climbing friends and I did not attend. We were at Rocktoberfest and enjoyed it.

Can you talk to the Forest Service about putting a nice painted sign (out of plywood) at popular crag entrances/parking lots. Same with the local businesses. Also sending a laminated poster to all climbing shops and gyms in OH, IN, KY, TN and where ever else the regulars come from. Do you advertise in climbing magizines? What about coordinating the spring climbing fest around a Canadian holiday and hooking them in. These are just suggestions and I don't know the extent of what you currently do. I know from past experience how hard it is to advertise for non profit organizations and how little money there is. Good luck.

Volunteers and banners are the least of your worries. From numbers previously posted, you need close to $250,000 to buy the property, double that if you finance it, add taxes and insurance and pretty soon you're talking real money. Now take all the people that climb at the Red. Throw out the ones that are just learning to climb and don't even know if they're going to stick with it. Throw out the rebel-against-authority crowd (not many of those, eh?). Throw out everybody that's just making ends meet. Throw out the weekend warriors who will just go mountain biking/kayaking/rollerblading/beer drinking if the crags shut down. Who's left? Divide your $500,000 odd dollars among them and ask if they've got it.