7422-R2_MSA_Jan2021_MaineSnowmobiler

From the President

not in a corner or intersection and park single file. If you encounter a groomer, please give them room, as they cannot get out of the trail as easily as a sled. If you come up behind one, wait until the operator signals, it is safe to pass. They know their trails and will give you the opportunity as soon as they can. Try not to ride the fresh groomed trail as it needs time to set up and a sled can destroy it easily until it is. I know this is hard, but once you spend some hours in a groomer, you’ll understand this point. Finally, give the groomer a “thumbs up”. They work hard for us through long cold nights and that “thumbs up” is the reward they are striving for. The MSA office is “hopping” with calls and emails. Melissa is settling in and making sure the office is humming along. She’s doing well learning names and faces as well as building her filter through the cracks. Is your club one of them? Read On! MSA Membership has noticed that a handful of clubs have fallen off the books with some active membership. We get it. We are members, too! Not everyone can be on a high wave at once. There is no mold that is “one size fits all for clubs”. In fact, some of the small clubs continue to demonstrate how relentless club members can be. But, PLEASE don’t forget how we got here. No one can even begin to not fathom that this year is going to be hard on a clubs. Traditions of meetings and fundraisers are totally changed from everything we have been taught and need to quickly adjust as much as rid- ing styles do from powder to wet slush, or glare ice. These are facts we will learn from. But supporting your club and circumventing the MSA to show a bit of extra support should not be the option though. Affiliate membership is directly set up for that. Our bylaws do state that all clubs must be 100 per- cent affiliated with the MSA. Of course we recognize the fact we will struggle to enforce this, but it has worked for so long that we should not pull the wheels off it now for some personal financial gain. When time is available, we are going to try and reach out to our list and see what can be done to convince clubs to pull the chain the same direction as the rest of MSA. MSA’s primary goal is to make all clubs win! Below I will share a few facts on why this is so important. In the meantime, please get out, volunteer for a club, and get out and enjoy this season. PLEASE and I can’t stress this enough, consider safety the utmost of importance this season. 1. This season, MSA has a bill in to increase registration fees to continue supporting clubs for the reimburse- ments of trail building. Shouldn’t all clubs that get grants show support

“knowledge” of the Maine Snowmobile Association. If you call, she will either answer your question, provide you with materials or pass you on to an E-board member that can answer your question. Remember, MSA is an association, made up of snowmobiling volunteers, just like you. MSA is working for you and snowmobiling in Maine. We are a strong organization when we all work together for the good of snowmobiling. MSA has some “Showcase Rides” planned for January, February and March. Join us for some great riding, scenery and Maine hospitality. I’ll wrap this up for now. I hope to see everyone out riding and be safe out there. Make sure someone knows your itinerary if something goes wrong. Having an idea where to look can make all the difference in an emergency. Until next month, Think Snow, Mike for the lobbying effort as this is a direct improvement with not much invested? 2. MSA volunteers (and all riders) appreciate journeying from all locals in the state. Shouldn’t they know when they cross your town line that the people in your town have their backs? 3. Insurance companies strongly appre- ciate group effort and grass roots groups if your members. Not only can this offer discounts, it demon- strates the leveraging power for other companies to keep rates in check. 4. Club membership forms should include MSA Dues in the basic club dues rate and not have an “add line” to show support for the MSA. An add line such as “additional club or trail donation” accomplishes the same thing without the “cheap” cost option. Become an associate mem- ber of the club even though you have already joined another as a primary club. 5. If everyone joins, discussions of “mandatory membership” can be subdued and volunteer time concen- trated on furthering something more significant. Isn’t everyone being a member the same thing? 6. If your club has had a confrontation with MSA in the past, reach out to us and set up a conversation. A rumored or UN truthful situation benefits no one on either side if not cleared. 7. MSA rates for members are incred- ibly reasonable and haven’t been increased since 2009. NOBODY wants to see MSA be successful more than the current lead- ership. If your club is in need of a sup- port call, throw some love their way and let’s see where we go all on the same trail! John Monk, Steering Committee Chairman

enjoy what Maine has to offer. Hopefully, mother nature cooperates with us and brings us lots of snow. We were all sad to see our Christmas day rainstorm take away all our snow, but most of the state now has some on the ground with more in the forecast. Do your snow dances or whatever superstitious thing you do to make the snow happen. Clubs are finishing up any last minute projects and are waiting impatiently to start their nightly grooming routines. Many clubs still do brushing once the season starts and a day on the trails with a pair of loppers can make a huge difference. Remember that last raspberry bush that wacked your helmet? Me too, that’s why volunteering to help a day or two pushing the brush back can make you feel like you helped make sure the trails are ready for riders. This winter could bring challenges we state of Maine. Let’s get out there and ride the best trails and welcome our new friends from other parts of the Northeast. I know there be lots of traffic so ride right and ride smart! The area Vp’s are in a class by themselves, a dedicated group of folks that quietly run their area’s systems. Never complaining their work ethic is all about snowmobiling and getting things done. Jack Lord is the Central Region VP it’s a large area from Central Maine to the Canadian border. This area has some incredible destination points, the scenery and businesses make your trip here special. Jack’s a great friend and will help you with anything. Matt Stedman has the Northern Region; he has a mini state for his trail system. That area is in a world of its own and it is spectacular! Dave Watson is the Coastal Region VP his region goes from the south to near Downeast Maine, this area has some well-kept secret riding area’s that will be an adventure of conversation for many years. Eileen Lafland and Company (her Husband Larry) take care of another large area the Eastern region is huge. Many great riding spots in the heart of Maine stretching from north of Bangor to south of the County this area has some outstanding trails and the scenic beauty. Jim Boyce has the Western region and he is out before sun up and after sun down. His area goes to the Canadian border and has some of the largest clubs in the state. Talk about scenic, great businesses above and beyond landowners this area has beauty and great trails and the signage is awesome! Thanks to all of the VP’s you do a great job and we appreciate all you do! Please ride safe, AL

haven’t ever dealt with. Snowmobiling this season will be different and we all have to do our best to be patient and creative, not to mention wearing our masks, social distancing and treating our service workers (waiters, waitresses, store clerks and motel desk clerks) with more respect than normal. They are “front line” workers who are coming in contact with a high number of people every day. They are trying to be safe and protect their families from our unwanted friend, Covid 19. Go the extra mile to extend support to these people and make their day better instead of worse. Let’s show them the great people that snowmobilers are. Soon, we will all be out there enjoying the trails. Please be courteous and safe. Treat other riders with respect. Keep right, stay on the trail. When parking, please pull to the right in a safe place,

W elcome to 2021 Maine snowmobilers! I hope the holidays treated you well. Now it’s time to ride and Mike Grass, Jr., 207-368-2316 249 Condon Rd, Plymouth ME 04969 mgrassjr@gmail.com

Steering Committee

From the Executive VP

John Monk Chairman of Steering Committee ARE YOU AND YOUR CLUB SUPPORTING THE MSA? H appy New Year! Let the Riding Commence… But be safe! Recently with the whole re-work at the MSA office, many things that need attention in our world have bub- bled to the surface. (We have received some incredible positive feedback ref- erenced the paper and we can’t thank you enough). Some are small issues that need a polishing touch but others are a somewhat more significant. One item I would like to address is our membership. In general, the MSA is fortunate to have clubs and members that are some of the most dedicated, supporting, loyal and helpful on the planet. Most recognize the benefit for having a properly educated, strong pro- moting, long standing leadership crew that is not afraid of displaying the cor- rect path. Our forefathers have set the bar high for over a half of decade. The leaders currently present are cut from the same cloth that local clubs are and in fact they are still-dual purposing these skills with their own clubs. We do this because we thrive on witnessing the “successful volunteer” create some- thing great for the state and community become even more of a success. Sadly, a few clubs out there have seemed to

W inter started out pretty decent in December, then came an early January thaw! But it’s Maine and we’ll be ok! I’d like to send out a big thank you to all of you that make Snowmobile Maine successful, while being at the office all fall I’ve been listening to snowmobiler’s from all over the Northeast that want to come to ride our trails. Why? Because you people know how to make a snowmobile trail! Either a 15-member club or a 1015-member club you get it done, wide trails, narrow trails, you make great bridges, the signing is getting better and you have a working relationship with some awesome landowners! And, let me not forget the business’s these folks are second to none! When we need a donation for a raffle or a club auction, they go above and beyond making our events successful. Working together, we form a large circle - I call it full circle. It completes its course with all of us and that’s why we’re successful. You clubs are the best and I’m very thankful to be involved with such a great group dedicated and passionate people. Let’s not forget the $606 million our sport brings into the great Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com

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