7854-R1_MSA_Jan2022_MaineSnowmobiler

From The Executive Board

From the President

and rail bed trails with hopes of more cold and snow for bogs and swamps to freeze and cover the “plowed ground”. We already had two snowmobiles go through the ice right after Christmas, so “know before you go”. Check with “locals” and fisherman for ice conditions where you plan to venture. Let’s be safe out there folks. December 16th was a great night as Fran LeClair of York, ME won the 2021 Polaris! The 2021 Super Raffle was a huge success for both the MSA and the MSA affiliated clubs that sold tickets. For more about this year’s Super Raffle, read the article in this issue. The MSA Showcase rides start February 12th in Millinocket. Look for information in this issue. Always, great trails, great views/ vistas, conversation and great food. The showcase rides are a chance to have a guided ride with folks from MSA who can answer questions and help you with information regarding the local area. The Northern Timber Cruisers always put on a great meal and we’ll be having our monthly MSA directors meeting that night as well. We are now in the heart of our season (hopefully) so get out there and enjoy Maine snowmobile trails. Remember to keep right, respect landowners (by staying on the marked I’d like to thank everyone for helping out and making last year a successful one. We got through the MSA Show in October and gave away some awesome prizes in December. Both with positive reviews. I’d also like to welcome Liz to the MSA. She is doing great work and we hope all hope that she is with us for a long time to come. The Vice Presidents have done a great job getting their regions up and going. There are many obstacles in the way this year. Lots of reroutes due to new landowners and logging operations. Many miles of new trail have been made to accommodate us all. The raffle went off extremely well. It was held in Waterville at the Elks Club, good snacks and happy people. Thanks to Angela Boyce for the delicious cookies and Marion Pinkham for the awesome whoopie pies. Everyone did an outstanding job! January really starts our season a few locations had snow in December and most ger due to LD-280. Speaking of bills, MSA will be watching an emergency bill, LD-1813 submitted late in December by Troy Jackson. This bill is set to amend the newly instituted weight require- ment of namely oversize ATV’s from 2000 pounds to 2500 pounds. While its intent was to keep an ATV in their class (as opposed to small Jeeps, off road full size buggies and mud trucks) and off snowmobile and ATV authorized trails, the current weight restric- tion clipped a few of the more utility and family orientated ATV’s from the list. A very respectable landowner was extremely con- cerned as they use many of these for their property management and as a result moved in a direction to grab attention and zero in on the more appropriate figure. There were very many people concerned and a shout out is due for those who stuck their necks out to solve it including the landowner. While it may not seem like much this seemingly, little decision could change the footprint of trail, as we know it. We will follow this closely. As a steering committee, our plans to start talks for a replacement Executive Director will commence. Do you know that special person that wants a special career watching Maine’s roadmap of snowmobiling? It really is a dream job for someone and really the only prerequisites are to love what you do, have patience and work with the best volunteer groups out there, and help educate the all peo- ple who snowmobile the respectful way it’s done. Communication ability is probably the number one item in the toolbox that will be needed. As for now, let’s roll into this season in a slow and safe mode building as much seat time as possible. Be proud of what we have W elcome Snowmobilers its 2022!

trail and removing all trash you see), ride safe and ride smart. We never know what is around the corner, be it a broken down sled or groomer, cross country skier or fat biker. Remember, today’s sleds are much quieter than those of the past. A cross-country skier or fat biker may not hear you coming and may be in the middle of the trail just around the corner. Always assume someone is coming the other way, just out of your sight. We are all ambassadors for our sport. Do you have a landowner that is new to the area with trail(s) on their land? Take them for a snowmobile ride and/or a groomer ride, to show them what we are, what we do and how we contribute to the local economy, especially local restaurants, hotels, cabins and fuel stations. We have nothing without all our landowners and we need to make them feel needed and wanted by Thanking them for their generosity. I will be out and about all over the state all season so flag me down if you have a question or idea to help our sport. You never know what swag I might have on board with me. Thank you to all the clubs, groomers and volunteers who make snowmobiling happen in Maine. Maine Snowmobiling Rocks! Think snow, Mike of the tip of Maine had a chance to ride. As I write this lots of locations are having an ice storm but just a little bit from my house it looks to be snowing sideways! Webcams tell a true story. The Madison Railroad branch from Oakland to Embden is going to be a multi-purpose trail for us to enjoy for many years. The bridge dedication went off well for the Harvey Williams Family of NorthAnson. TheWilliams Bridge is now a reality. It was nice to see the Williams, Joe Higgins, Lana and Candice along with Brian Bronson and longtime friend Scott Ramsay at the dedication. North Anson SC members go above and beyond making their trails work and we’re sure this will be another masterpiece Mike and I were there proud, of the soon to be new destination point for Central Maine. This will be a great ride! Heading to Oxford this month for our monthly meeting. Hope to see you there. Thanks for all you do! Happy New Year! Ride Safe, AL

Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road • Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Treasurer’s Report Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer Monthly Income $ 77,425.12 Monthly Expense $ 35,596.83 Net Revenue $ 41,828.29 Checking (12/31/21) $190,852.13 DedicatedAccount (12/31/21) $105,884.98 Pay Pal (12/31/21) $ - Special EventsAccount (12/31/21) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (12/31/21) $ - Building Fund (12/31/21) $ 53,805.21 BrianWass Safety Fund (12/31/21) $ 1,285.07 CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins Submit your trail reports to: MSA@MESNOW.COM a well-attended Snowmobile Show, a very successful Super Raffle and several Trails Workshops in Shin Pond/Patten, Augusta and Strong, with ones coming up in the New- port and hopefully the Minot/Hebron areas, we also have a workshop scheduled at the Groomer Rodeo at the East Branch Sno Rov- ers in East Millinocket on January 29 th . I have held several regional meetings with my Trails Coordinators and brought on a few new faces to the Committee. With any luck, we will have started some of our “Trail” duties by the time this newspaper reaches our mailboxes. On the local Club side, I have seen many of the same things with Clubs holding their regular meetings, fundraisers and events with people turning out in record numbers. I also feel like not only have the local Clubs become more tight knit groups within. The MSA has also tried to become more involved and inter- active with our Clubs. All I can tell you is keep on doing what you’re doing because you guys (the membership) are an amazing and passion- ate group and we don’t ever give up, that is truly evident by the determination that you’ve shown over the last 24 months! Until next month folks, maybe we will meet on the Trail, at a Director’s meeting or maybe at a Workshop. Thank you for reading and as always please reach out to me with questions or anything Snowmobile related, I would love to hear from you! Mark Please include your name and club affiliation

Mike Grass, Jr., 207-368-2316 249 Condon Rd, Plymouth ME 04969 mgrassjr@gmail.com

W elcome to 2022! Let’s hope we see an end to all the Covid issues of the last many months and start 2022 with a great snowmobiling season. As I write this, some areas have started grooming “road” trails

From the Executive VP

Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com Executive VP Report

Steering Committee

Trails Committee Chair Report

John Monk Chairman of Steering Committee H appy New Year All! I hope you all had a nice White Christmas and found that special snowmobiling gift under the tree (or in the trailer). Just after Christmas marks the Maine Snowmobiling’s Go Time! As of this writing, there are reports of enough to play on the roads and beds of some places and there is enough to traverse to some trail related projects but we are one healthy storm away from “Full ON”. While some may feel a bit disappointed of where we are, cite back to last year when we are almost a full month ahead of schedule. Already it is better. Clubs have also done an incredible job this season with trail prep. The pandemic has seemed to actually help the focus of getting the terrain prepped and most have almost instant reporting of their accomplishments. When it turns white, it is extremely hard to tell, but know the MSA and its members appreciate the incredible behind the scenes work. Please account for all your hours in your grants as this season the pie is a tad big-

Mark Chinnock,Trails Committee Chair 207-754-9874 435 Poland Corner Rd, Poland ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com H ello Everyone, Hoping you are all as excited about ringing out 2021 and ring- ing in 2022 as I am. It seems as though we are off to a much better start to the season (at least as of this writing) as far as the early snow pack goes, than we were at this juncture last year. Not only was 2021 full of all of the obvi- ous challenges, but last season’s snowfall was something less than stellar, and with the pub- lic restrictions we were not able to hold many of our fundraisers, events and workshops. Although some of those challenges are still with us we have learned how to deal with them yet still take care of business, and it makes me very happy to say that we have been able to hold with caution and forethought our events and workshops. We have been blessed with

and support it to the fullest! Enjoy the winter folks! John

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