7333-R3_MSA_Oct2020_MaineSnowmobiler

From the President

I ts official, it snowed in Northern Maine today, so the ramp up to the 2020-2021 season just got moved up a notch. Frosty mornings and falling leaves are starting to be the norm here in Maine. Complaining about scraping the windshield will soon turn to complaining about shoveling the front step, I hope. Clubs are now on full throttle trail brushing, bridge decking and landowner communications. October and November are the true “get ready” months for most snowmobile clubs even though most will say they work all year. December is usually reserved for the “things we weren’t planning for” that need to be done no matter what and clubs always get it done. Every club statewide makes sure their respective trails are ready for snow and this year, even with Covid, it will be no different. We all know our season is dependent on snow, and this year I’ve seen every kind of forecast for this season there is. From Mild and dry to Frigid and tons of snow, I

can only hope we get a normal, or above normal snowfall winter. Many clubs in the southern half of the state were “cheated” last year as what looked like a great start, never happened in actuality. Covid 19 and the closing of the Canadian border may be a blessing in disguise for Maine this winter. Many riders from all over the northeast make the track to Canada to ride their trail system. This year, at this point, that is not going to happen. With that said, we could be in for record registrations if we can get the snow and those people ride in Maine. Why not? We have the trails and services, which in my eyes are second to none and we want them to come here and enjoy our trails, scenery and hospitality. We can only hope Mother Nature helps us in the snow department. Good snow statewide would help “spread the load” as this potential record number of snowmobilers come to our state. Grants will be tight this year, as Joe Higgins office has told events. I’ve attended a few and they went on in good old Maine snowmobiling style. The Ripley Snowmobile Club had an outstanding auction and bridge dedication in September. The snowmobile bridge was dedicated in honor of the Seavy family who’s contributions go above and beyond expectations! Also, I went down to the Cochnewagan Trail Blazers in Monmouth for a landowners supper, it was delicious! And the hospitality was second to none, great team there and they’ve been around since 1970! The area VP’S are doing an awesome job getting raffle tickets out to the clubs and doing extra things in these troubled times, Thanks! If you folks need raffle tickets and posters, they are available at the office too. Just give a call or email. It’s an easy way to make money for your club. This winter we will have lots of traffic from our neighbors from From the Executive VP

has left us due to health issues and Al Swett is volunteering in the office as much as he can. Al is answering the phone and holding down the fort until Susan’s replacement is found. Thanks Al, don’t know what we’d do without you. We are currently seeking applications for a new office manager. If you are interested, please follow the link at mesnow. com. A lot of memberships rolling in and Eileen Lafland has stepped up to that task and doing a heck of a job. I think Larry is helping here too. Thank you Eileen and Larry. Treasurer Lori is spending at least one day a week at the office, making sure accounts are kept current and bills are paid. I think she’s a workaholic. Thanks Lori. Bob Flagg is covering a lot of bases keeping up with the IT side of MSA and more. A recent scam/fishing incident has kept him quite busy. Thanks, Bob. John Monk is keeping an eye on the legislature and is working on our proposed registration increase with a survey of Maine

snowmobile clubs. Thanks, John. Mark Chinnock has been doing his normal job as Trails Chairman, making sure all his coordinators are ready for this season but also has taken on the MSA ITS Map. Working with Joe Higgins office, he should have the map ready for the first of November. As for me, I’ve been attending meetings, answering questions and trying to keep the team focused and not get overwhelmed. MSA is truly blessed with some great volunteers. Speaking of volunteers, we had one step-up at the last MSA meeting in Palmyra. Brad Barker has volunteered and I appointed him Secretary at that meeting. Welcome to the MSA family Brad. I’ve rambled on enough for this month. I’m getting excited and hope you all are too for the upcoming season. The band is warming up and soon we’ll be doing our snow dances. Until next month, Think Snow, Mike

Mike Grass, 207-368-2316 249 Condon Rd, Plymouth ME 04969 mgrassjr@gmail.com MSA that our funds are down due to a drop in gas tax revenue. Clubs need to keep this in mind, especially with the lack of revenue generating events that most are used to having but with Covid 19, aren’t allowed to. Make sure your club has MSASuper Raffle tickets to sell, as this is a great revenue maker for your club. The Steering Committee continues to work hard making sure the office is running as smooth as possible. Susan Carver other states, the phone calls and emails have begun to show up at the office wanting to know where to go and how to get there. Lots of interest in lodging, food, gas stops, registration fees, maps and just people wanting to talk about our trails. Many folks that usually go to Canada have shown interest in us which will be great for the businesses and registration fees to fund new equipment. Well fellow snowmobiler’s that’s about it from me. Call me if you need anything Thanks for your support, Al

W elcome to the October issue! Hope you all enjoyed last month’s paper. Lori and Bob did a great job getting it done. And thanks to all the folks who made it happen with your articles and pictures. This month we would have had our big Snowmobile Show, but like all the other events around us, things were cancelled. Hopefully next year we can get back to a normal life. The clubs are chugging along with Covid restrictions at their Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com

The Maine Snowmobiler is an official publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association

The Maine Snowmobiler

207-622-6983 • fax. 207-622-7669 msa@mesnow.com • www.mesnow.com

Vol. 52, No. 2 October 2020 • ISSN-0195-2870

To purchase Advertising Space in The Maine Snowmobiler, contact Susan, 207-622-6983, msa@mesnow.com The Maine Snowmobiler welcomes submissions from MSAmembers, including but not limited to, club news, calendar listings, pho- tographs, letters to the editor, articles of general and technical interest. Submissions may be edited. Address to: Editor, Maine Snowmo- biler, PO Box 80, Augusta, Me. 04332, msa@mesnow.com All opinions expressed by contributing writers in the Maine Snowmobiler are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this publication. POSTMASTER:Send address change to: The Maine Snowmobile Association, PO Box 80, Augusta, Maine 04332 The Maine Snowmobiler (USPS #859-920) is published four times a year by the Maine Snowmobile Association, Inc., 7 Noyes St Place, Augusta, Maine 04330. Periodical postage paid at Augusta, Maine and additional offices. Seasonal subscription provided to MSA members as a benefit of their annual dues. $3.00 of the $15 membership fee is applied to the cost of the publication. Subscriptions are available to non-members at a cost of $30/season.

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