7333-R3_MSA_Oct2020_MaineSnowmobiler

Reach Maine snowmobilers through the publication devoted to Maine Snowmobiling: PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD in the Maine Snowmobiler

Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Snowmobile Safety Courses IF&W Recreational Safety Unit: 207-287-5220

An updated list of courses and options for online course registration are available at: maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/safety-courses/snowmobile-safety.html Combo ATV/Snowmobile Courses Lyman, 11/8/20 – York County Fish & Game, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Contact Rebecca LaFrance – (207)294-1194 or offroadsafety@yahoo.com Hollis, 11/15/20 – Buxton/Hollis Rod & Gun, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Register Online Lyman, 12/6/20 – York County Fish & Game, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Contact Rebecca LaFrance – (207)294-1194 or offroadsafety@yahoo.com To Schedule a course contact the safety coordinator for your area: York Cumberland: Stephen Barr, 207-446-4173 Lincoln/Sagadahoc: Vacant Kennebec: Michael Foster, 207-446-4122 Franklin: Rick Rogers, Jr., 207-446-4275 Somerset: Craig Gerry, 207-446-4249 So. Penobscot/Piscataquis: Charles Schaffer – 207-446-4132 Knox/Waldo: Jasmine Greenleaf, 207-441-3270 Hancock/Washington: Vacant Androscoggin/Oxford: Michael Mayo, 207-446-4125 Aroostook/No Penobscot: Stephen Wotton – 207-446-4293 Join the MSA & the Club of Your Choice Select the MSA-affiliated snowmobile club that you would like to support by going to https://www.mesnow.com/MSACLUBS.html , then fill out this membership form. Enclose your check for $30 or enter your credit card info and mail to: MSA, PO Box 80, Augusta ME 04332. If you’re paying by credit card you can fax the form to 207-622-7669. $15 of your dues supports your local club; $15 supports the state association. The club is credited for your membership, and an MSA decal is sent to you. Your subscription to the MSA newspaper, the Maine Snow mobiler, begins with the issue following receipt of your membership. Season runs from October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021 CLUB SELECTED ________________________________________________________________________ MEMBER NAME ___________________________________________________ DATE ________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________ CITY/TOWN ____________________________________________ STATE ________ ZIP ______________ TEL _____________________________ DATE OF BIRTH ___________ ___________ IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD, PLEASE CIRCLE ONE: VISA MASTERCARD DISCOVER CARDHOLDER NAME ______________________________________ TEL __________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________ ACCOUNT NUMBER _____________________________ EXPIRATION _____________ CARDHOLDER SIGNATURE _______________________________________________ TOTAL # OF PEOPLE IN FAMILY Email contact info for a number of safety coordinators can be found at: maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/safety-courses/coordinators.html

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September2020MaineSnowmobiler 1

September 2020 •Vol. 51 •No. 1 MSA,POBox 80,AugustaME 04332

The Maine Snowmobiler Unitedwe trail,dividedwe fail www.mesnow.com AnOfficialPublication of theMaineSnowmobileAssociation

State ofMaine SnowmobileProgram, 22SHS,Augusta,

MSACelebratesDeservingAwardWinners ByMikeGrass Jr.,MSAPresident

Maine04333 By JoeHiggins., Supervisor

MSA“Number1Club”.Whenall the memberships were counted, they had 1001 members! What an accomplishment. Their whole team,Mike,Mary,Missy, Jonny, Tyler and awhole cast of charac- tersmake it happen every year in Rangeley. With a fleet of 5, yes 5 PistonBully groomers and drags, they maintain 165 miles of trail in the Rangeley/Oquossac area. Withmany loops and destinations on their system, many people flock to theRangeley area and the RLSCmakes sure they join their club. Having that many members (1001) is a lot of work for the membershipperson(s).TheRLSC isworkingwithMSA to develop an easierway for clubs to process membership.MSA hopes to have a new system in place in the next coupleofyearsas implementation unfolds.

choose a person to be my Vice President, I couldn’t think of a better person. His love ofMaine, friendships he’smade all over the state with snowmobilers and his genuine desire tomake theMSA better made it an easy decision. He was a little skeptical at first, buthehasbeen an asset tome and theMSAsince takingon that role. I couldn’t think of a more deserving,humble and caringper- son tonominate for the2019-2020 MSA Snowmobiler of the Year thanAlan Swett. Congratulations to agreatperson and friend.Can’t wait to get back out on the trail to

MSA Safety Chair. His work as Safety Chair has seen him travel all over the state, talking to kids of all ages and adults too, educat- ing hundreds if not thousands of the importance of snowmobiling safely.He also talks about chain- saws and other tools during these talks. Heknows a lot about safety after working in a paper mill for over 30 years and has taken courses tomakehimselfbetter. WhenAl talks about safety and snowmobile accidents anddeaths, it is very hard for him. He really cares about all of us “extended family” snowmobilers and it’s veryupsetting tohimwhen some- one gets hurtorworse.

I hope all of you have had a safe and family-oriented summer. With everything going on around us, it iseasy togetcaughtup in the thingswe can’t do, or don’t have. I’d like to look at all the thingswe dohavehere inMaine and cando. I’ve always thought thatwe have a great state to live in and bring up our families. I think in theses troubling times around theworld it is even more obvious that we live in one of the safest and bests states in the country.Thebestout- door recreational opportunities are right here. Some of the best camping, hiking, biking and site seeing. are just outside our door steps.We truly are blessed, so get to that place you have never been for some great scenery and fresh air,you’ll,be glad youdid.

AlSwett receivinghisawardor “MaineSnowmobilerofTheYear”

Back in March, Covid-19 dis- rupted everyone’s plans, includ- ing theMSAAwards Banquet in April. With no big banquet or crowded room to announce and celebrate our award winners, we went to social media and made “winners videos” to let theworld know who the winners were in each category. While we had fun making the videos, they stillweren’t enough. We have traveled tomany places already this fall to personally present some awards and thank thesepeople/clubs inperson. Two of the winner are the 2019-2020 MSA Snowmobiler of the Year, Alan Swett and the “2019-2020 MSANumber 1Club”,Rangeley LakesSnowmobileClub.

REMEMBER: MSA CLUB-OWNED Grooming Equipment

celebratewith some snow dust! To go alongwithAl, how about the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club? They are the 2019-2020

I’ve known Al for about 10 years and when it came time to

As with all clubs, RLSC is a close knit, hardworking bunch. Each year they host the RLSC Snodeo, one of the biggest snow- mobile events in Maine. Most snowmobilers have heard of this event and it is one of their biggest revenue generators, but they also havemany other events like sup- pers and auctions. Their revenue generating ideas are extremely productive and they have to be with a grooming budget some- wherenorthof$200,000each sea- son.To say they get it done is an understatement. They get it done and then some.

On another note Snowmobile clubs really need your help, this yearmore then anyother time it is important to join and support the trails you ride by joining a snow- mobile club.These volunteers cut brush, build bridges and groom trails sowe canhave agreat expe- rience.Statewide these clubshave not been able to host theremany fund raisers to help pay for the many expenses they accrue. So please help them by joining and ask about the Super Raffle and possibly get drawn towin a new snowmobile.

Alan Swett has been a relent- less volunteer for the MSA. Since 1995 he has helped MSA inmanyways. He has carried the title of “unofficial/official MSA Photographer” for many years and recently took on the role of

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RangeleyLakesSC receiving“#1SnowmobileClubofTheYear”award

ContinuedonPage 23 Rangeley is aMaine Snowmo- biling destination and the RLSC makes sure that every rider enjoys their stay and the trails in the Rangeley area.A very deserving and hardworking group,Congrat- ulations to the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club 2020 MSA Clubof theYear.

I for one am very excited for the upcoming snowmobile sea- son and think we are going to have another positive and fun filled year snowmobiling here in Maine. The municipal and club

Continued onPage 23

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MSA, PO Box 80, Augusta ME 04332 • 207-622-6983 • Fax: 207-622-7669 • msa@mesnow.com

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