7881-R1_MSA_Feb2022_MaineSnowmobiler

An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association The Maine Snowmobiler r

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February 2022 • Vol. 53 • No.6 MSA, PO Box 80, Augusta ME 04332 United we trail, divided we fail www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com

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through places you can only see on a snowmo- bile. It has unlimited choices for taking a friend riding in a new or different area of the state. Each year I set three goals for myself. First, I always want to venture to a new area and check out what it has to offer. Second, I always try to ride with someone new that I haven’t ridden with before and third, I want to take someone new to our sport on a ride. Most years I get all three goals, especially now that I’ve done it for a while. I usually get my “riders” over the summer as I am “selling” Maine snowmobiling to everyone I come in contact with. I’m sure I bore my cowork- ers with snowmobiling, but I love snowmobiling. A list of a few of the people I’ve gotten to ride with would include Greg Condon, Jason Taylor, Mitch Perry, Ben Richardson, Will Meyers, Billy Pelkey, Mike Koob, Christopher King, Andre from Farmington, Paul McCarty, Bruce Poliquin and Bill Green. Each ride was fun and unique in it’s formation and destination. I had lunch with Bruce Poliquin at Bosebuck Camps and lunch with Bill Green at a diner in Franklin. I toured the Farmington area with Andre and the Loring Air Force Base with Christopher King. Paul McCarty joined me on a trip from Newport to Brownville/ Greenville and back. We all need to start building these lists to keep our sport gaining new riders and more importantly, new club members and volunteers. We, who love the sport of snow- mobiling, must sell and recruit for our sport to make sure it stays strong for future generations of snowmobilers. Everyone has different tastes for how long they want to spend on a sled and what things they might want to see and that is why Maine with its great trail system, fantastic scenery and sec- ond to none hospitality is a great place to “Take a friend Snowmobiling” Take a Friend Snowmobiling By: Mike Grass Jr.

Feb- ruary is a great month for snowmobil- ing in Maine. Days are getting longer, snow is deeper and trails are usually in great shape. February also has a week called “Take a friend Snowmobil-

ing” which is February 12-21, 2022. What a better combination to introduce someone new to snowmobiling and what better state in to do it than Maine with its 14,000 miles of snowmobile trails and terrain of many different flavors. “Take a friend snowmobiling” can mean just introducing a new person to snowmobiling or taking a friend that has snowmobiled in the past or doesn’t venture too far from the house for a trip. Either way, taking a friend on a trip filled with new trails, fantastic views, great conver- sation and usually a spectacular stop for food will show most anyone how and why we love to snowmobile. Maine’s 286 +/- clubs maintain trails in almost every corner of the state. The Downeast Sun- rise Trail (ITS 82) runs along the Maine coast- line from Ellsworth to Pleasant Point with salt water literally feet from the trail in spots. Frye- burg, Stonham, Rangeley and Jackman all have mountainous terrain along the western border. The central highlands of Wilton, Bing- ham, Greenville, Milo and Millinocket show the beauty of the middle of Maine with its many lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and unique vistas. A ride to the top of Coburn Mtn on the state’s highest groomed trail offers a 360-degree view. Aroostook County, with its St. John Val- ley, massive potato fields, “border trail”, many miles of converted railroad beds and logging roads. Maine snowmobile clubs maintain trails

Contact the Snowmobile Program at the Maine Dept of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 207-287-4957, for information regarding the “Maine Trail Groomer Operator Awareness Training” dvd, and snowmobile trail groomer operator certification. Safe Riding Practices-Groomers Larry Lafland, MSA Trails Committee

G reat trail riding in Maine as well as anywhere in the coun try depends on many issues. Snow conditions are the most important aspect of good snow- mobiling. Once there is enough snow then the job of trail maintenance falls on the snowmobile clubs and most specifically the trail groomers. These men and women spend many hours out there making sure the trails are in the best condi- tion possible as well as making them as safe as possible. We all know the trails don’t magically groom themselves. In order to do this tremendous task, clubs purchase equip ment to drag the trails. This equipment can vary from snow mobiles hauling pipe drags or more complex mogul drags to large track trucks, Pisten Bullys, and /or Tuck- ers hauling much larger drags. They all have certain things

to remain safe. The first thing you should do is slow down or stop, depending on the width of the trail. Pull as far to the right of the trail as you can. Depending on the size of the groomer and the width of the trail it may be necessary to pull completely off the trail. Choose a spot where you can do this safely and remain stopped until the groomer goes by. It is easier to get unstuck with a snowmo bile than it is to get a groomer and drag unstuck. Always be courteous to the people operating the equip ment, as many are volunteers trying to make your ride more enjoyable. What should you do if you come up behind a groomer in the trail? Remember these pieces of equipment are designed to cut off the moguls then pack it back down smoothly. Depending on snow conditions this could mean a large amount of snow dust in the trail ahead of you. If you see this condition ahead of you slow down and warn others in your group that are behind you to do the same. As soon as you can see the groomer, follow at a safe distance until the operator can see you. Once they establish you are there they will indi cate when you can p a s s . Remember they have greater visi bility than you at that time and can judge when to move over to allow you by or indi- cate there is an area wide enough to pass with nothing corning. The larger drag equipment sits much higher in the air so their visibility is much greater than yours. Your sled is no match for a large Mogul Master or other type of drag. It is also no match for another sled coming in the opposite direction if you decide to pass and the trail is not clear but you can’t see due to snow dust. The popularity of communications systems between snow rnobilers in a group has increased in the past few years. Many of these communicator systems come with a radio fre quency that is designed to warn snowmobilers of a grooming operation in the immediate area. If you have one of these communicators and hear the signal follow the suggestions given for both instances. It will warn you, but not indicate in which direction the groomer is, so be prepared for either cir cumstance. Keep in mind that this is a mechanical device and is subject to failure. The best type of warning system you have at your disposal is your own common sense. Use it to stay safe on the trail and keep others safe as well. Trail safety is everyone’s responsibility with groomers and riders sharing the trails. Ride by staying alert and you can avoid an incident or accident when groomers are out.

in common: they take up the entire trail, they can’t be seen from behind because of snow dust, they travel at extremely low speeds and they can’t get off the trail. There has not been a reported fatal col- lision between a groomer

and a snowmo- bile in the state

of Maine as this is written and all people should work to keep it that way.

Groomers try to pick the time when there will beless traffic on the trails to do their job. This usually means late at night and into the early morning hours. Unfortunately they can’t always accommodate snowmobilers and at times do have to groom during daylight and more heavily traveled times. Because of the number of miles they cover in those hours it is almost impossible to warn snow- mobilers where exactly on the trails they are. That is why it is important to take note of the surroundings and always ride with the thought in mind there could be a large piece of equipment corning at you or just ahead of you at any time. By noticing the trail itself you can sometimes guess it has just been groomed or is being done at that time. We all know what a newly groomed trail looks and feels like. Keep in mind as you think about pushing the throttle down a little more because the trail is so smooth, “How did it get this way? Where is the groomer?” If you ride with this in mind you may avoid the unfortunate surprise of finding In the evening hours you may be able to see the groomer coming from quite a distance as visibility allows. Many are equipped with large headlights and even the smaller sled versions are putting some type of warning light on them. As soon as you determine a groomer is coming at you there are things you can do the equipment filling the trail and you with no place to go. What should you do if you meet a groomer on the trail?

New Sharon Snow Riders Dedicate Bridge to Sam Adams By: The New Sharon Snow Riders

O n December 18th the club had the distinct pleasure of dedicating the bridge crossing Hale Brook to the memory Sam Adams. Sam was a catalyst in restarting our club. As with many clubs without a leader and someone to energize volunteers, the club simply drifts away. Sam and his family enjoyed snowmobiling and it seemed like he knew everyone in the community so he set out to grow the club by meeting with potential members and landown- ers to gain access for our trails. He always had a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye when talking about being outdoors and grooming or simply going out for a ride. We all saw the things that Sam saw. There are jobs that need to be done and problems to be solved. As we look at those and think about our busy lives, we most likely say to our- selves, “Somebody will take care of that.” What we mean is that we didn’t get around to doing anything about it. Sam was a person who did something! Picture from Left to Right - Bobby Adams, Matt Lemieux, Jeanette Adams, Bill Chute, Rebecca Lemieux, and Pat Chute. In the foreground is Sam and Jeanette’s dog Fred.

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Baby It’s Cold Outside

By: Bill Preis Bridgton Easy Riders Club Correspondent.

S nowmobilers who may be new to the sport may not realize that extreme low temperatures can cause unexpected problems. For example, there is increased risk that their water cooled sled will over- heat while riding on the trails. You may wonder— How can that be? Answer: The cold temperatures can make the snow so hard, (like concrete) that there is not enough loose snow to cool the sled, and keep the sliders from getting so hot that they might actually seize. It is possible to purchase a pair of “Scratchers” - metal rods or cables that attach to the sled and drag on the hard packed snow, scratch the surface of the snow or ice, and kick up the cool- ing snow or ice particles to cool the track. This goes a long way toward solving the problem of the sled overheating. There are many electric accessories available that can make your cold weather riding safer and more comfortable: Electric face shield prevents your breath from fogging or freezing your face screen; Electric Vest, Gloves, or Boot Liners, whichmay have a dial that goes from warm to very warm; GPS with the trail system on it, for your sled, shows exactly where you are on the trails. Most of the trails on the new snowmobile map, as well as trails in the entire State of Maine have been GPS’d. Most sleds come with hand grip warmers, but if your hands are in the wind you can still get cold hands and fingers. A pair of “Gauntlets” mounted on your handle bars may be what you need. These are fabric pockets that shield your hands from the wind. A taller and wider windshield would also help.

“Picks” or “Studs” can be installed on your sleds track which will provide better traction and braking, especially in icy conditions. Your sled’s battery has become much more import- ant in running all these accessories, as well as start- ing the engine. Many of today’s sleds, like your car, don’t offer a pull starter rope. Therefore, you must pay attention to the condition of your battery. It must be charged or replaced at the first sign of slow cranking speeds when starting the engine. If the battery is 5 years old it is already questionable. Well, we finally got about 6 inches of fresh snow this week, on my snow stick in the front yard. Last week we took a tune up ride and found the trails in Bridgton to be EXCELLENT. The Bridgton Easy Rider Snowmobile Cub’s trail crew can make great trails with little snow. They are truly magicians! The trail crew has 3 Tucker Groomers ready to lay down some really flat and wide trails, so you and your family can enjoy getting outdoors to see the winter scenery and nature. (Photo below) The new trail maps are available at local busi- nesses around town. A few have also been printed on a plastic backers, and been placed at several trail intersections around town, on new Kiosks. We should have another 6 or 8 weeks of riding this season, so join, and support, the snowmobile club of your choice. Think Snow! Keep doing your snow dance, and remember to keep the rubber side down.

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2021 Groomer of the Year - Travis Roderick

In Fond Memory of Our Members Who Have Passed Ossipee Mountaineers SC Honors Linwood H. Pooler

(Donnie) passed away. Don was a man who DID IT ALL. From club president to Trailmaster and beyond, Don kept our club going in the “dark times” every club has. His late wife Jane was also just as involved with the club as Don was. She held an office for the same length of time that Don was involved. Those two made a GREAT team. Our club would not be what it is today if they hadn’t “stepped up” and did what had to be done.

Tia has shared stories about the two of them riding around on the four-wheeler hanging new trail signs, using the winch to drag out rocks in the middle of the trails and even cre- ating new trails up by the old farm (Donnie’s child hood home) on Severy hill in Dixfield. Many hours he put in, but he never thought of it as work. He truly loved being outdoors, riding his snowmobile and being a part of the snowmobile club. In typical Don fashion he requested that donations be made to the Poodunck Snow- mobile Club. If there is snowmobiling in heaven, their trails just got a whole lot better! He will be missed greatly by his family, friends, club

Our club was sad- dened to hear of the passing of our oldest member and one of the original founders of our club. Linwood Pooler passed away last week at the age of 91. Up until about two years ago when Covid started, he

He started, like a LOT of old timers did, with a drag made from an old bed- spring. He “gradu- ated” from that to our new groomer that he went on to run for many years. In fact, in 2011 Donnie was “Groomer of the

would always be at our meetings or any events we had. He was always involved in conversations and gave his opinions on whatever we did or wanted to do. He always had the best interest in the club and wanted it to continue to succeed. We will miss that sometimes-devilish smile and his witty com- ments. We send our condolences, thoughts, and prayers out to his many friends and family. We will miss you Linwood. Hopefully there is a place to ride up there and we can all join up and ride again. Until then, RIP our friend!

members and all that knew him! Thank you Donnie! RIP our friend. Happy Riding!

The St. Francis Sno Angels Honors Uri Jandreau

Year” for the MSA. More than well deserved! Never leaving a job undone, he would work hard from start to finish and would get the job done right. Like the “bikes” he made into motorcycles, nothing was impossible to him. Every club has that someone they owe a great deal of gratitude to for all they did, and for our club, it is Don. He kept the club on an even keel for the many years he was involved, before hanging his hat up and traveling all over the country with Jane. When summer came, he never stopped working on the trails. His granddaughter

Uri Jandreau Oct. 6 th , 1975- Oct. 19 th , 2021 The work of a volunteer many times goes unrec- ognized But it paves your way to heaven. The St. Francis Sno Angels Want to Thank You, Uri, for your Devo- tion and your hard work.

Poodunk Club (Dixfield) Loses Founding Father

It is with a VERY heavy heart that I share with you that our club lost the man who helped make our area a destination for all snow- mobilers. On Christmas Day, Don Dakin Sr.

What Does Snowmobile Insurance Cover?

• Property damage liability coverage. Should you accidentally damage someone else’s property, such as a fence or home, while riding your snowmobile, property damage liability coverage may help pay for the cost of repairs. If you’re found responsible for an accident with another snowmo- bile, this coverage may also help cover the cost of repairs to the other rider’s sled. COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE Comprehensive coverage may help pay for repairs or replacement if your sled is stolen or damaged by something other than a collision. Covered risks may include hail or vandalism. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Keep in mind that each coverage comes with a limit, which is the max- imum your policy will pay after a covered claim. Read your policy or contact your agent to learn more about your limits. You may also have to pay a deductible before your policy helps pay for repairs to your snowmobile. Don’t assume you have coverage for your snowmobile through your other insurance policies. The National Association of Insurance Com- missioners notes that your snowmobile will typically not be covered by your homeowners, renters or auto insurance policies. Talk to your agent to see if your existing insurance policies provide any coverage. If you decide to purchase a snowmobile insurance policy, ask about any available discounts. For instance, some insurers may offer dis- counts for customers who have multiple policies with them. You may also be able to get a discount for paying your premium in full or by taking an approved snowmobile safety course. Be sure you’ve talked to your agent about having coverage for your snowmobile so you can hit the trails with peace of mind.

Snowmobile insurance typically helps cover you and your sled in a number of ways. For instance, a snowmobile insurance policy may help pay to repair damage to your sled or prevent you from paying out of pocket if you injure another person or damage their property while riding your snowmobile. A snowmobile insurance policy may include: • Collision coverage • Bodily injury liability coverage • Property damage liability coverage • Comprehensive coverage These coverages are typically optional on a snowmobile insurance policy. Your agent can help you tailor a policy that fits your needs. Here’s a look at how common snowmobile coverages work. COLLISION COVERAGE Whether you slide into a fence, hit a fallen branch or collide with another snowmobile, repairing your snowmobile can be expensive. Collision coverage may help pay for the cost of those repairs so you can get back out on the trails. LIABILITY COVERAGE Liability coverage may help protect you financially if you are involved in an accident. This coverage may actually be required in some states, says the American Council of Snowmobile Associations. Here are the two types of liability coverage for snowmobiles and how they work: • Bodily injury liability coverage. If you injure someone else in an accident, you may be found legally responsible for their medical expenses. Bodily injury liability coverage may help cover the costs of their resulting medical bills.

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From The Executive Board

From the President

coast. We can only hope we get pummeled! MSA continues to make small changes and advancements in the way our office operates. We will be actively looking for an “Office Director” in the near future to finally take on some of the day-to-day operations, currently being done by our awesome Executive VP, Al Swett. As some of you may have noticed, our balance sheets are in the positive for the first time in many years. Those balances are the result of not having an Executive Director for a while now and the hard work of the volunteers of the MSA Steering Committee, Executive board and all of our MSAmembers. The Covid 19 Pandemic struck just as we were actively looking for a replacement for Bob Meyers. As luck would have it, with all our revenue streams in jeopardy, we decided to wait to hire someone until we knew what our revenue numbers would look like once things returned to normal. Well, here we are, two years later, and Covid still lingers on. However, we have had two years to learn how every operation related to our “business operations”. We have figured out more efficient, less expensive ways to do almost everything. We are also working on an easier way to do memberships as many of you have been asking for that. Our new MSA website It’s been a busy January, starting off in Strong with Mark, Lori and Mike for a well- attended trail signage workshop. We had nine clubs involved and a full house at the church! By the way we ate good - the food was incredible! Off to Oxford for another MSA meeting at Jerry Major’s home grounds. Terry Major and her crew put together a great night with another awesome feed! The meeting was great, and we got to meet another group of MSA volunteer’s that get it done...thanks to you all. Another weekend heading to Rangeley at minus 24 degrees! This time Snodeo lots of sleds, a well put together radar run, snow-cross at the Airport along with a nighttime parade and fireworks ended a successful event. The area VP’s have been out doing what they do best...and they are a great group, getting the divided areas organized for the upcoming winter. Yes, we’re a little behind but you take what mother nature gives is. Lots ing amount of new Snowmobiles sold in the last 24 months, which means a few important things to us. One is, with more new sleds comes more new riders which means that it is more important than ever to make sure these new riders are educated to the proper etiquette on the trail. How to dress and pack for chang- ing temps and conditions, and how to accu- rately read trail signs, because we all know firsthand that circumstances can change on the Trail and a good day of riding can quickly go bad. So please let’s all set these new riders up for success and show them the best ways to enjoy the sport. This brings me to my second point, which is that it is super important, more than ever we as Clubs need to make sure that our Signage is up to a standard that we all like it to be. That a rider, novice or expert, knows where he or she is at all times on the Trails and that when they pull up to an intersection that they will know where they are and where they’re headed. Now I really don’t mean to preach to the choir, and I absolutely get the fact that most all of the Clubs out there are working with very few “active” members who are busting butt to give snowmobilers the best product that they can. But on the flip side we assume a certain sense of responsibility to make certain that our Trails are signed to the best of our ability. As I said earlier, we totally understand the Man- power issue. Just food for thought but there is nothing that says that a Club can’t dedicate and “Hire” one person, possibly a retiree that may have the time in the Fall, and his or her responsibility would be to see that the signs were clearly marked, not faded, with backers etc. Anything from writing them out to put- ting them out on the Trail and everything in between. I also realize that there is a fine line between being paid and being a volunteer. I guess what I am trying to say is it is an option H i Folks

is rolling out any day now and will be an exciting tool for clubs and members to use. Great things are happening at MSA. Now is the time to send in your best snowmobiling photos for our annual photo contest. Also, be thinking of that person, club or business that needs to be recognized for the commitment to the sport we love. Nominate that person, club or business for an MSA award and see them recognized at the annual banquet and meeting. I got my second ride of the season today and got to say the groomers are doing a lot with a little. I sure hope the “Blizzard” hits and helps all the clubs statewide. As I rode today, I was thinking of a friend who was in an accident last weekend. He had multiple injuries and is looking at probably months of rehab and missed work. It all happened in a second. Please be careful out there folks, as it can all change in a heartbeat. Luckily, he survived and will be with us to hopefully ride again. Be safe out there folks. Enjoy the season and get as many rides as you can because you can’t ride in August! Until next month, Think Snow, Mike of sub-zero temperatures finally made it to Maine and created a strong base or foundation for the trails. Many clubs will be holding events in February from pig roasts to hot dog cookouts. Check out the MSA website for their dates. Or their online sites. Get out and support the club’s and the local businesses that help us in the sport we all love. Respect the Landowner’s, over 90% of our system is on private property. PLEASE STAY ON THE MARKED TRAIL. We’ve had lots of complaints from rider’s going off trail, over house steps, yes someone got close to a family’s camp and ran over the porch. You people who do stunts like that will ruin it for the rest of us. So, enjoy the best trails in the Northeast! Made by the best clubs, the best landowner’s and the best businesses, small club or large you make our state a great place to ride a snowmobile! Thanks for all you do! Al and can be expensed out through a Club’s Grant, with signage being as important as it is and Manpower being as limited as it is, I would rather see this type of scenario than no signs at all. As far as the Trails Committee goes, we have been very busy with boots on the ground Trail Inspections and Workshops, I have an unbelievably passionate group of people with years of various experience and know how to get things done for sure! So to all the Snow- mobilers out there, the season is short so let’s all go out and enjoy a little throttle therapy, be safe and have fun! As always, if anyone has questions on any- thing talked about here or just wants to talk snowmobiling, please reach out to me, I would love to hear from you. Till next time, thanks for reading. Mark

ing almost if not every area a place to play. The last few years it has been a bit (OK, a whole lot) stingy in some areas so make the most of it all. To be honest, clubs in the last few years have done incredible trail prep with excavation and leveling making many trails extremely good with minimal snow. Your past work is now paying dividends. Incredible work all! I personally have now had a chance to get out and sledding is all that I remembered. I, along with the rest of you need to do a better job at sharing and educating this fun with oth- ers. I will share one positive out of this and I am a bit embarrassed to share. My boss just clicked off a 230-mile weekend and I am cur- rently at 40 miles. The cool part of this is my boss has never rode a sled before. Pick it up, MONK! Since we are rolling now, please take the time to really dig deep and consider who and how to thank those who have and continue to allow this playground to happen. This is not hard, but the added step that makes the dif- ference of which directions we take into the future. Be respectful, appreciative, and thank- ful for what lays in front of you. On the legislative front, LD-1813 will be heard soon. This is the bill that affects the weight of ATV’s. While the outcome is not our immediate concern, any landowner that allows us use is. Please be safe, but get out there! Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road • Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Treasurer’s Report Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer Monthly Income $ 39,377.04 Monthly Expense $ 23,181.29 Net Revenue $ 16,195.75 Checking (1/31/22) $215,261.85 DedicatedAccount (1/31/22) $ 83,255.12 Pay Pal (1/31/22) $ - Special EventsAccount (1/31/22) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (1/31/22) $ - Building Fund (1/31/22) $ 53,816.61 BrianWass Safety Fund (1/31/22) $ 1,285.07 CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins Submit your trail reports to: MSA@MESNOW.COM Please include your name and club affiliation

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

H ere we are in the heart of Maine snowmobile season. Many clubs are actively grooming and doing a fantastic job with the amount of snow they have. As I write this a “Blizzard” is taking aim at the US east

From the Executive VP

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

Trails Committee Chair Report

Mark Chinnock,Trails Committee Chair 207-754-9874 435 Poland Corner Rd, Poland ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com H ello Everyone, Well I am happy to say that as I write this it is late afternoon and I have just sat down from a long day of plowing what would be the biggest snowfall of the season, and by the time you read this I hope to have done that a few more times! By now I hope that everyone has had some quality seat time, whether it be on your sled or in the Groomer, both have a great sense of satisfaction in their own way. If you haven’t had a chance yet you should make a point to try and find the time because right now there is some amazing riding all over the State, from the Western Maine Mountains to Aroostook County, Down East and most all Southern areas of the State. One thing I think we can all agree on is the fact that there has been an overwhelm-

Steering Committee

John Monk Chairman of Steering Committee

H ello Riders,

ITS HERE! What we are waiting for has come and from what is visible, it is giv-

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From The Executive Board

Director’s Meeting 571 - Rock-O-Dundee Clubhouse, Oxford, ME - Secretary’s Report - January 15, 2022 A t 6:37 President Mike Grass Jr. called the meeting to order. Pledge of allegiance. Secretary’s Report for November, M/S/C and placed on file at the office. Hall of Fame: Beth Bowie- Get your applications in by February 25 th . Mail, fax, scan or email. Bring people forward.

Recently rode 112 miles in Baxter Park, when we stopped for lunch at the Mattagamon store, we just beat the crowd of forty sleds that came through the Park. We need snow. There is riding in Millinocket. Next month’s showcase ride will assemble at 8:30 AM split up into groups as needed. Then return for a meal and directors meeting at the clubhouse that night. Email or call with any questions. Western Region V.P.: Jim Boyce- Thank you for the hospitality extended this evening. Send our love to Jerry. Bad news Carrabassett trail is closed, but you will be able to get from point A to B. Central Region V.P.: Jack Lord-ITS 87 is still intact and usable. Lots of changes. Stop and read the signs. Skowhegan, down by the river minimal snow. Higher elevations more snow. There is a lot of ice out there. Safety: Al Swett- A couple of guys from Massachusetts with a dual axle trailer coming up 95, hit the icy bridge and went over the side of the bridge, with a 25’ drop onto the ground, had they exited seconds earlier they would have gone into the river. Remarkably no one was hurt. The Strong trail workshop was an informative time. Signage with a power point presentation. Planning on one in Medway on the 29 th . Bridgton is planning a Please slow down and be careful on the trail. We’ve had many very serious accidents and one gentleman has died from his injuries. Be alert on trails for cross-country skiers, mountain bikers, sled dogs, moose, deer and other obstacles. We have a new selection of safety poster’s for you just drop an email or call the office, we had a generous vendor pay for the laminating and for the print job itself. A big thank you to Brookfield Power for the donation. Be safe this season ride within your means, no matter how good you are, you can still get hurt. Getting hurt affects everyone in your cir- cle. Your family, your employer, your friends. Be safe out there! Al H ello,

safety check with Game Wardens. Reminded everyone to check carbides and sliders and so on. Posters- just did a bunch from IF&W. Brookfield donated laminating; just requested that their logo was added to the posters. We have MSA trailer stickers for sale for $15. Steering committee: John Monk- The steering committee is working on filling the executive director’s position. Long- term trailer registrations are available for snowmobile trailers 2000 lbs. and up $5 per year with a minimum of 5 years, up to 30 years, transferable in the same name. Last two digits are the year that it expires. Any questions call 207-624-9000 ext. 52149 or stop in at 101 Hospital Street, Augusta. Sunday hunting still compiling data. Should have a feel for it by mid-February. MSA Trails: Mark Chinook-Terry great meal. I’ve been busy with the Trails Committed. Conducted a Trails Workshop in Strong with the next in Medway on the 29 th - signage 101. Chris Gamache from Polaris working with a GPS mapping of our ITS trails. Still in the development stage. Mike Grass Jr. concurred- MSA has a proposal, and want to do it right, respect the landowners, make updates instantly.

Membership: Eileen Lafland- Calendar year is October 1 st to September 30 th . The numbers continue to increase. Fryeburg and Rangeley is in a class all by themselves. Keep those memberships coming in. Old business: Director’s meeting and showcase rides- February 12 th at the Northern Timber Cruisers in Millinocket and March 12th at the Big Valley S.C. FMI contact Matt Stedman. Office update: Liz loves her job! New business: New club in the Sebec Lake- Eastern Region. Other business: There was discussion of getting legislation passed to discount snowmobile registration fee to non-residents that own land in Maine. Pot of Gold- Canton High Riders S.C. , No director present, $400. forfeited. 50/50 $170 went to Ed Burnell from China Maine. season. Congratulations to these recipients as they join a prestigious group of MSA Hall of Fame members. The Hall of Fame Commit- tee is ready to hear from you the snowmobile community for nominees for this years’ selec- tion. Nomination forms are available from any committee member or on the MSA website. Committee members include Eric Spear, John Holmes, Ken Oberg, Roland Bowie, Mike DeRusha, Barry Ryan, Jerry Major and John and Melanie Monk. We are always looking for more committee members to join our group, please reach out to myself or any com- mittee member for more information. Important date to remember is February 25 th 2022 which is the deadline for submit- ting nomination forms. Forms can be emailed to Office@mesnow.com or can be mailed to address found on the nomination form. We look forward to reviewing many nominations from the snowmobiling community, this is your opportunity as a club or individual to share your story. We want to hear from you! Now to the meat and potatoes of this article. With the season just beginning and looking at all these negative posts of riders being where they should not be. I have a suggestion STOP POSTING THE NEGATIVE THINGS. I’m guilty of this myself it does no good as the amateurs who do this are not members of your club or read your posts. It makes the sport look foolish. Like other organizations in the summer stop posting. So you ask Jim what are we supposed to do. Well I have an answer for you and it works here in Kingfield. Education if you see somebody doing wrong say something educate them before we lose our trails no matter where you ride. In Kingfield we know the problem areas and take turns looking after them we all have phones with cameras a quick pic of the offender’s tags and no arguments tell them the next person they talk to will have a badge. In my hometown, you never know who is watching maybe the mom with her kids on the sledding hill, the coyote hunters or sometimes even the pack you are riding with might turn you in. Let’s face it the Wardens are spread very thin but us honest sledders can be their eyes and educate these amateurs before we lose everything we volunteer for. So please stop posting the negative stuff and think positive. Until next month ENJOY THE RIDE AND STAY SAFE. Jim Meeting Adjourned 7:57 Respectfully submitted, Brad Barker, Secretary. blessing of the sleds check their page for more information.

Treasurer’s report. Read and placed on file at the office. Dedicated account is the Super Raffle account. President’s Comments- Mike Grass Jr.: The Polaris snowmobile kicked the Super Raffle up a notch, selling more than 84,000 tickets. The new MSA website is nearly ready to replace the old one. A much-needed upgrade. Executive Vice President: Al Swett -Thank everyone for coming and for the great hospitality from the Rock-O-Dundee S.C. Great meal was enjoyed by all. Jack Lord and I went to Lexington went to the ribbon cutting ceremony had a great time enjoyed homemade cookies. Thank you to Matt Stedman for getting such a great deal on the Polaris snowmobile for the Super Raffle, because of this ticket sales were over the top. (There are a lot of riders that don’t ride Ski doo, right Matt?). Working in the office has been an incredible experience, so glad that I was encouraged to jump in. Liz has passed all expectations, she is incredible. Eastern Region V.P.- Eileen Lafland

Safety Committee

Hall of Fame Committee

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

Beth Bowie, Chair, Hall of Fame 207-240-5571 bthbowie@yahoo.com

T

he Hall of Fame Committee was privi- leged to induct Eugene Ritchie from the Winterport Riverside Riders and Aleta Rioux from the Minot Moonshiners, last 2020/2021

Central Region VP

Coastal Region VP

Western Region VP

Jack Lord Home: (207) 672-3915 • Cell: 207-717-7131 Email: jacklord5256@gmail.com Here it is January 20th and the snow is finally getting built up and it is staying thanks to the cold weather. I have been trying to get around to some of the club meetings here in the Central Region. We have snow up in the hills, a little sparse in the lowlands, but we can ride. ITS 87 is now intact and usable, just read the signs and in the Bingham area check the Kiosks they are loaded with good information about the whole Central area. There is logging going on so be sure to follow the signs as there is no shared use on the logging roads. To be safe stay off these roads as they may be logging 7 days a week we are told. I have many club meetings already scheduled, but not all. If I have not scheduled with you yet, I would like to come to one of your meetings so if you could e-mail or call me with a time and place, I would like to meet with you. I am here to help if I can, if I don’t have the answers I know where to get them. Keep Smiling, Stay Safe, Jack Lord H i Everyone,

David Watson, 207-205-1558 412 Roberts Ridge Rd East Waterboro ME 04030 dwatson6841@gmail.com

G reetings snow lovers, It is great to see trails open across the state. Riding has been great thank you to all our volunteers who maintain and groom our trail system. As most of you have probably seen, there has been multiple trail closures from people trespassing, not paying attention to speed limits. How do we educate the public to stop? Granted it is not the majority of riders causing the issues but if they continue, we will see more closures, more no trespassing. All of this is certainly blown out of proportion due to social media and the comments that follow the thread. I urge everyone to try to shed a positive light on our sport. Negativity is not at any time helpful. Please continue to love our sport and spread all the good times that can be had. Time for me to go for a ride, as always ride right. Be safe. Dave

James Boyce, 207-265-6512 1168 Fosterhill Road Freeman ME 04983 Jboyce1168@gmail.com

H ello Everyone,

While writing this most clubs have been out grooming with early season conditions but we’re riding. Quick reminder Carrabassett is still closed check JV Wings page for updates. A couple of things going on in the western region February 19 th the Norway trackers will have an open house and a light parade check their Facebook page for updates. Also February 19th the Bridgton Easy riders poker rally check their page for more details. Also on February 12 th the Mexico Trailblazers will hold their 25 th annual

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From The Executive Board

less snow. The County clubs are a great group of people with ideas that are helping to drive up their memberships, allowing them to engage riders who have never joined before and who are embracing technology to change how they do the day-to-day work needed to run a club. It seems that many clubs are seeing increased overall membership. Many fundraisers and events have occurred and many more planned in February. Get out & support your local club or charity by attending or helping with these events. I have spoken with many clubs here in the County who have new leadership, please remember you do not have to learn it all on your own, there is a community of club members to help you. If your club has questions about bucket list. The Christianson family runs the place and everyone in the family has a job to do. The day we were there the four-year-old was bussing tables! The food is home-cooked and the atmosphere is definitely Maine! On a sad note, we did find out the Bowlin Camps has closed to the public. This was another of the places to stop, get a nice meal and warm up when it that area. It was sad to go by the trail to the camps and see the closed sign and no groomer tracks in. This leaves Matagamon and Shin Pond Village as the go to spots in that area now. Shin Pond Village has completely remodeled the inside and is also a great place to eat and get warmed up so you can add them to your list. While you are at it in this area you might also want to add Libby Camps, which is further north, but a nice place to go as well. The Eastern Region has another snowmo- bile club forming! I would like to welcome Bowerbank SC to the region. It is located near Sebec Lake in Piscataquis County and they are ready to accept members. This is another annual “Race your neighbor” Drag race. The date is March 12th, 2022. Check out our web- site at the St. Francis Sno Angels for updates. More to follow. Ride safe and treat the landowners and their property with respect. They don’t HAVE to let us use their land. St. Francis Sno-Angels. Kim M Ouellette Hi Gang, Well, here we are on the 24th of Jan. and we really are still waiting to get our groom- ing season into high gear, because of a lack of snow. Tim Coombs has been on ITS#83 twice and Keith Sanford has been on ITS#81 once. Even with these low snow conditions, mem- berships are still doing well, as we stand at 110 members to date. If you would like to join the Snowgang you can go to www.benedictas- nowgang.com and join there or you can find us on Facebook, send us a message, and we will send you an application. that way. Don’t forget that the Snowgang annual Fishing Derby is Feb. 19th, which is also Maine free fishing day!! Lots of money and prizes are available. Well, I am going shedd hunting, so gotta go!! There better be one or two laying on my lawn!! Jim Splan Reporter @ Large p.s. -23 nooooo p.ss. - snowdance! p.sss. - frozen p.ssss. - 61 days til spring! BENEDICTA SNOWGANG Benedicta, ME ROCKABEMA SNOW RANGERS Patten, ME Email: rockabemasnowrangers@gmail.com FB: Patten - Rockabema Snow Rangers It was good to have an actual meeting this month. We had to cancel in December due to

H Hello fellow snowmobilers, Wow its cold out! And that’s actually a blessing as we deal with less-than-ideal snow conditions and yet the trails are great considering how thin the base really is. People have been flocking to the snow from near & far and clubs and their volunteers have stepped up and made them great trails to ride on. I know I have seen and heard of snowmobilers from all over here in Aroostook County. Just because there has not been the same amount of grooming hours year to date as normal does not mean the clubs’ expenses are that much less. All the work to get the trails ready to ride really adds up and lower snow means more hours spent getting signs up, more time to groom as it is slower going with Virginia and even Washington DC have seen more snow than most of us have at this point in Mid-January as I write this, and they do not want it. We have family in both North Carolina and Virginia and we told them to send it our way, but by the time it gets here, it changes to rain and then turns everything to ice!! Hope- fully by the time you are reading this the pat- tern has changed and we are buried in snow! For an early season ride Larry and I went to Millinocket, parked in the parking lot off the Golden Road, and rode through Baxter Park to Matagamon. The best time for this ride is when there is limited snow before all the moguls have not yet popped up. We went on a Friday and felt we might beat the crowd, but I guess many, many others had the same idea. As we sat in Matagamon having our meal all we could see were sleds coming out of the park. The place quickly filled up (great for them) and people were outside waiting when we left. If you haven’t been to Matagamon Wilderness Store, you need to put it on your will continue to hold off on regular club meet- ings. The Directors will handle any issues that occur. At least we can get outdoors and enjoy the trails! Call me at 764-1236 if you have any questions and follow us on Facebook. Sue Maynard Secretary ST. FRANCIS SNO ANGELS St. Francis, ME The snow is here, Yeah, but unfortunately the cold is here as well. We are on our third week of below normal temps. (January, of course.) The groomer team has had the opportunity to test out our new/used groomer and every- thing is going well. We are starting to see traf- fic since we are one of the few places to have adequate snow. We have a solid base with almost a foot of new snow. If it was warm enough to stand outside and listen the sounds of BRAAP, BRAAP would replace the sounds of the birds. But this week with a wind chill of -27, the forays outside are quick and fast. That being said, we have a nice warm snowmobile lodge that welcomes you to use our clean bathrooms and warm up next to our woodstove. We are serving hot meals on Sat- urdays and are open on Fridays for our meet and greet times. Come join us! We have met some wonderful new people, you know who you are, and hope to meet many more of you. Now that I’m done complaining about the cold, we are looking forward to a solid 6 – 8 weeks of prime snowmobiling. The weather will warm and the February sun will bring adventures like you have never experienced. Aren’t you tired of being inside? Northern Maine awaits you. If you close your eyes, you can feel the cool breeze in your face and the warming sun bringing the promise of spring. There are no traffic Jams up here, just wide open spaces and well groomed trails. Come north, you know you want to. As I type this, we are busy planning for our

Eastern Region VP

link in that area and will make the riding up that way all that much better. Bernie Doble is the president and he is also on the MSA trails committee, so he knows what the trails should be like. Getting more snow to cover all the ice will be the key to riding here as well as any- place else right now. By the time you read this, the Eastern Region showcase ride will most likely have come and gone as well as the Feb. directors meting in Millinocket. It sure would be nice to get more directors to come to these meetings. Each month the Pot of Gold is drawn and a club director has to be present. The pot stands at $400 and what club couldn’t use the money. March we will be at the Big Valley Snow- mobile Club in Island Falls for our northern region meeting. Great riding to be had in this area as well, so come join us. Until March, enjoy the riding when and where you can. Our season is short enough as it is without all the rain and ice we have gotten so far. Stay safe everyone! Eileen what the MSA is doing, how other clubs function, how to use State resources, what can be done to assist in fundraising do not be afraid to ask. Running a volunteer organization can be a daunting task, but not when you have a good community helping you along the way. Remember the Northern Region showcase ride & directors meeting Saturday March 12th Hosted by Big Valley Sno Club in Island Falls. Join us for a nice ride, a chance to check out the sites of Southern Aroostook, a nice dinner and the directors meeting at the club house on Rt #2. If you have a question, problem, concern, or idea on snowmobiling in “The County”, get in touch with me. You can contact me at the phone # or email listed. Matt Stedman icy weather conditions and in November we hosted the MSA for a signage meeting. We had the usual potluck supper at 5:30pm. Since there were some new faces at the meet- ing, President Bob went around the room for introductions. It’s always good to put a face to a name. Also, great to have some new mem- bers join our meetings to see what is happen- ing in the club. We went over the treasurer’s information and voted to pay the additional $5000 for the refurbishment of the Pisten Bully. Laura has submitted a grant for the club on the reroute done on ITS81 off the Railroad Bed heading North towards Route 11. The reroute was worked on by Patten ATV Club and RSR supported with funds, signing and landowner permission. The trail will go through K & C parking lot on the south side, go to the back of the building, through the fir trees to the origi- nal trail used in the past. Another trail reroute is ITS81 south in Sta- cyville. We are not using the driveway to the box factory. We will be moving to the left closer to the Railroad tracks and woods. Sher- man ATV put gravel and a culvert in the area. One of our landowner/members came to discuss the problems he has had with sledders disrespecting his property. So sad for the club to hear these problems. Thankfully, he was willing to work with the club to reroute the intown trail that crosses opposite the Lumber- man’s Museum. The trail coming off the pole line headed north on ITS81 will take a left and go along the alders to cross Rte 159. If you take a right, you will go to the intown trail for businesses. This has been signed, please fol- low the signs. Just because the trail used to be there doesn’t mean you can continue, if the property has changed hands and the club has moved signs of the location of the new trail. RESPECT LANDOWNERS ALWAYS! Trailmaster reported on the Groomer Fleet. The Pisten Bully is on its way home and needs

Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 llafland@midmaine.com

D oes anyone else feel like there is con- spiracy against us getting the snow we want? I mean really, Georgia, the Carolinas,

Northern Region VP

Matt Stedman 207-557-1921 (call or text)

PO Box 621, Ashland ME 04732 Stedman.matt@jdirving.com

MSA Club News

Deadlines for club news is the 25 th of the month prior to the publications. Please submit articles to editor@mesnow.com

NORTHERN REGION

CHAPMAN RIDGE RUNNERS SNOWMOBILE AND ATV CLUB Chapman, ME

Dear Members, January here in the County has been brutal! Actual temps to -35 and wind chills to -45. But you know we all will be out there sledding even though we probably shouldn’t. Dress warmly in layers and be safe. The trails are great! Just be careful in the fields. Don’t leave the trail in the fields espe- cially, in case there are rocks. Another snow- storm will take care of that. As they say in the Valley, “Just come north.” We’re ready. The groomers have been busy attempting to keep up with the snow we’ve had recently. The groomers meet every Wednesday eve- ning at 6:00 at the Bull Pen (next to the club- house at 94 Town Hall Rd. Chapman) for training and maintaining equipment. Anyone interested in helping on the trails in any way should come to the Wednesday night meeting or call Mickey at 764-1236 or 227-6365. All snowmobilers should use caution when cross- ing the West Chapman Rd. near the town of Mapleton (trail #81) and on the Pulcifur Rd. (trail #105) south of the railbed. These two areas are known for extreme drifting and the banks left by the snowplow can be very steep. With one groomer we can’t do the entire trail system in one day, so a rider might encounter a steep bank with no track up over it until the groomer gets to it. We’ll get there as quickly as we can. As there is an increase in covid-19 cases, we

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