fowledup,
It is because of the "new reality" that Jefferson Mining District finds its contemporary purpose under the traditional need. When people begin to understand this, then they might begin to see what's going on.
Jefferson Mining District is established to organize miners actions comprehensively to protect themselves and their property, essentially upon 3 general points, to be expanded or adjusted as needed.
1) Because of the "new reality", to stand in the gap using Coordination to stop present and future agency encroachments, and in the meantime working with local government to use coordination to take on its obligations and duties to protect property owners. [Understanding Coordination is what allows JMD to identify MMAC and OMA as defective "solutions". In light of the example of JMD doing things right in law, why did MMAC deny that example and the law and do it wrong? Ego? Ignorance? Deception?]
2) Finding out what it takes for a miner to properly deal with the agencies to stop the harm Gov employees have been causing until now to allow miners to take more correct action. [No body can take the place of this which remains in the miner]
3) Actively working to present the law to Gov Officials to remind them of their obligations and duties under the law.
The alteration to this is that once we got involved in implementation of 1, 2,& 3, we identified the bulk of the systemic problem in Gov which appears to defeat us at every turn, which JMD and two grantees sued to enjoin.
I should add the systemic Gov problem defeats those agreeing with it or with the specialists/attorneys who are essentially part of the problem. And we found this is generally addressed where the miners started stepping up on their own to properly respond to the wrongful agencies demands. For instance, instead of listening to the agencies, and attorneys, and ex government officials or employees and filing the 3809 POO requested, once a miner understands the simple response pointing out the rule invalidity, there is no POO or bond to file and the agency has no further authority. No specialist is needed. There isn't even anything any mining district needs to do in this regard. The law is fulfilled. Why wouldn't someone rather do that then take a wrong filing to court and defend an indefensible position?
So if you are telling me the miners are intent to excuse away there obligations, then as property owners they are done. More importantly, there is no further debate, if there ever actually were any. They will either be forced out or it will become extremely expensive as the specialists and agencies incrementally compromises the claim and the law and their pocket book.
" Many of us share the dream that someday we will be able to mine fulltime"
The dream is irrelevant to the law which requires discovery. Beyond that there is no requirement to work more than to maintain the claim. That doesn't stop the encroachment upon the property or upon the appurtenant rights by gov employees, opportunists, specialists, common variety trespassers, or other con-men, etc.
"We all keep addressing the questions of what needs to be done"
For those of us at JMD there is no question. We observed what wasn't working, and decided to take action on what appeared the law required would work better. And as long as you understand that we miners are up against criminals in government, no opinion, real criminals, I believe I can fairly say the strategies work very well to check the unbridled abuses. Certainly there is a lot more work to do, but when you see what's going on different than before with JMD presence, its unmistakable that miners can do better for themselves than any MMAC, OMA, or attorneys. And the more miners get involved to bring accountability, the faster things will be cleaned up.
"how do we get the mining districts up and running to take their rightful place at the table"
JMD is already "at the table". That's the first example for how. And I believe there is an open offer of help to get miners to understand how to properly proceed to do that for themselves whether with or if not with JMD.
People have to look at what is going on, what the law requires, how to properly apply it, understand the dire condition, and work despite the evasions of the government to check their excesses. Sounds like a lot, but once you get the foundation under your belt, it's not that difficult.
"How do we get people involved?"
This is probably your best question because I don't have that answer. I can't dictate to any other property owner what to do with their property. Other than that miners need to take responsibility and they'll start to see what needs to be done, I don't know what initiates that involvement. People need to get involved. That's about all I've been working to see happen.
How did I get involved? I resolved to stop taking what was being dished out by the government. Whether that is enough for other people remains to be seen. Seemed to work for me. Just not going to take it any longer. No excuses.
If the miner is too lazy or mining is not a priority, I'm not sure what the debate is. Nothing will happen if miners each don't step up independently, in the least, and better, work together, cut out the schoolyard mentality, roll up ourselves and get to work on our problem with the government and it employees, its agents, legal entities, such as MMAC, OMA, and specialists, such as the attorneys.
Maybe one day we'll have competent specialists for or needs but not today. And it isn't likely in the near future. You know, Judge Lindley foretold of our problem today? No attorneys or judges that knew mining law. That;s us today. No competent representation in the law. Then we/JMD comes along today and find out the judges and lawyers are felons in office; That isn't mere opinion. It's proved by perfected default judgment, JMD v. Kitzhaber 2013. Kitzhaber is no longer in office is he? And on the subject matter of the suit. Coincidence?
So we have to roll our sleeves up high. We have some house cleaning to do if we are to meet the customs and traditions of miners to protect themselves, “In some districts lawyers were, by these laws, forbidden to reside or practice”? – Mining Rights In the Western States and Territories, 1903.
http://www.jeffersonminingdistrict.com/mining-law/Miningrightsinthewesternstatesandterritories.pdf
OMA is a bunch of attorneys of provable bad intention for miners. Nothing has changed today. But it's going to take more than apathetic miners making excuses to fix this. Many hands make light work we're told. The point is on the work. Apathy and excuse won't cut it.
The adage "Build it and they will come", certainly hasn't applied to Jefferson Mining District in the norm. Despite this, JMD is proving to be more effective than anything else available. But people looking for the wrong thing don't see much happening. That should tell you something. But what is JMD any more than the miners who comprise it; Dogged, don't given 'em a miner's inch persistence.
It would be great to be able to rely on a specialist. But as I have said, and they can tell themselves lies if the want I suppose, but once people realize the grantee has no such advocate that can be trusted, it remains to them to defend their property. If that means there would be a lot less claims, then what is the true strait of mining? Is everyone committing fraud or agreeing to be abused and to pay for the privilege?
Having a question about what to do where you see some paths are not working, if the miners have not tried the successful paths blazed by JMD why do you continue to ask the question? IF the suggestion to just follow the law isn't enough what's the question, actually? I really don't see any other viable path than as developed by JMD.
Those at JMD stopped accepting the lawless impositions. JMD has identified the systemic Gov problem. It's pretty impressive what we are up against. But it can be defeated with relative ease. The miners at JMD are making a difference. And that doesn't change because people ignore, discount or deny the fact. The JMD miners are not tolerating the agency abuse by more properly addressing wrongful agency impositions. All these accomplishments are essentially ignored for reasons I haven't figured out. I think learning how to successfully address matters or the condition in which those matters exist is at least a start. JMD seems to be the only one with a pulse on this.
I suspect if we were to get a bunch of miners doing what needed to be done, it would overwhelm the system to the point those in government might just figure it's better to follow the law than to be caught violating it to get us to go away.
And I'm dumbfounded why more miners don't participate and would rather bemoan their plight, think throwing money at some stranger will help them, compromising and getting permits they don't need, or worse, attacking the messengers explaining their folly or encouraging a better path.
What to do?
Join forces with those at Jefferson Mining District or learn what JMD does, why, and how, and replicate that. It's all there to be read in the law. This is not a secret. All it takes is initiative and perseverance.
Those without the will need not apply. JMD can't solve slothfulness or excuse unto paralysis. If this is in fact the real cause, then what really is the debate?
uh... good luck with that other plan. 
