7909-R2_MSA_Mar2022_MaineSnowmobiler

From The Executive Board

From the President

figuring out how the office worked, tasks to be done, like paying bills, printing newspapers, planning a snowmobile show, super raffle and a golf tournament, not to mention all the other day to day stuff. We pulled back and put off hiring an ED, until we knew what our revenue streams would be and got the E-board’s approval to let the steering committee run the day to day business of MSA. Each of the 8 members took on a “piece of the pie” and made MSAhappen. Al, Lori, Mark, Bob, Eileen, John, Larry and I went to work, meeting at least once a week, sometimes more, to make sure we had all the bases covered. Along the way, we streamlined some of the processes at the office like switching to Zoom for our Trails Committee and E-board meetings, saving money in the process. We took the paper in a new direction with subtle changes in look and content. Anew website is live at mainesnowmobieassociation. com with a totally new look and lots of new features and the ability to add more features to make membership and other online tasks easier for clubs and members in the future. As all this was going on, we had a record setting Super Raffle, A Snowmobile Show and our biggest Golf Tournament to date. We have also hired our awesome office assistant, Liz, who pleasantly goes about the business of the MSA office with her sidekick Al Swett. A very positive checkbook balance and a zero credit line balance are another accomplishment of this team. To say I’m proud of this team would be an understatement. These guys and gals have worked their butts off for over two years “Making MSA Great Again”, to steal a slogan from a former US president. I could go Well, It’s been a very typical Maine winter so far. We got a late start but January brought us a blizzard and very cold weather. Welcome February, the January thaw came with this month bringing the thermometer into the high 40’s then into another subzero deep freeze. Lots of events in the last two months and still a lot ahead of us. A successful MSA meeting in Millinocket at the Northern Timber Cruisers SC with a great attendance and an awesome turkey dinner. Their museum is always a treat to view. Off, to the Lincoln Snow Hounds SC for their annual Sno X Race which was a great ! Good food and even better racing brought to us by the Tame The Track Race Series. Two great clubs getting it done and promoting snowmobiling in Maine. The annual Blessing of the Sleds in Dixfield was well attended. Unfortunately, I could not be in two places at once, but I know this club makes it happen and their dedication to our sport is incredible. The Katahdin Winterfest kicked off for the annual festival. The Timber Cruisers and town of Millinocket do it right! Anyway, by and large I feel that we have had a pretty successful season thus far for some, but I totally understand that the snow gods were not shining down upon some por- tions of the State. On the Trails Committee side of things, we have had a very busy season with many Trails Workshops across the State, Regional club meetings, inspected thousands of miles of trails, and helped clubs with Land- owner relations. Our Trail Coordinators have been very busy with all this and more, and for this, I cannot thank all of them enough for making it work once again. Unfortunately, April is right around the cor- ner and is the time when we need to make sure that we put our landowners property back the way we found it, and thank each of them for their gracious hospitality and usage of their land. This is one aspect of the MSA and all of its membership and 280 plus clubs where you all shine, taking care of our landowners has always been priority one, and I am proud to say that as a whole we are pretty darn good at it! Being that this will be the last article of the season, I will say in advance that I hope everyone has a fantastic off-season, and I am already anxious for what new adventures next season might bring! Till we meet again, thanks for reading. Mark

on about these folks but this paper isn’t big enough. An idea I had as president was the MSA showcase rides and our VP’s made it happen with successful rides in Medway, Portage, Limestone, Millinocket and hopefully Island Falls, all to help MSA connect with its membership and enjoy a day on the trails. Slybrook SC and Nordic Lakers SC also made sure the rides had great food along the way. Another change was getting back together with the International Snowmobile Council, Northeast Chapter. Former MSA President John Monk and I attended a Chapter meeting in Island Pond, Vermont in February. Associations fromNewYork, NewHampshire, Vermont, PEI and New Brunswick were represented. Great networking, processes, ideas, solutions and friendships were the agenda of the meeting and Maine will host it next season. A special thank you to my Executive VP, Al Swett, for always having my back and attending more events than I can count, making sure MSA has representation all over Maine. Al is moving to President in April and I can’t think of a better person for the job. I have been to many clubs and met so many snowmobilers who have the same passion for the sport I do. Representing MSA as your President has been very humbling and I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve and thankful for my MSA Snowmobile Family. I will always be available to talk or answer questions about MSA as snowmobiling is my passion. It’s been a great ride. Thank You All and Always, Think Snow, Mike In Jackman at the Border Rider’s Clubhouse their annual Groomer days was held with success. The Orrington SC was in the process have having their annual vintage show, which is always well attended. The Pine Tree Camp had their messy egg run in Hermon, which left Dysart’s Truck Stop onto the Hermon SC for the annual ride. It was some cold but they braved the weather and raised a lot of money for the camp. Lots of snowmobile adventures going on and good riding in our great state of Maine. I always comment about our clubs and I will again today. You are the BEST! You make snowmobiling in Maine the best in

Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Treasurer’s Report

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

I t’s March and time to get those final rides in. The season so far has been a roller coaster of weather, with clubs/groomers working the snow like fine craftsmen. It hasn’t been a perfect season but it’s been better than some I remember. Sadly, this will be my last Presidential column I write. I have had just a fantastic run, surrounded by the best crew, board and snowmobile family anyone could ask for. I/we started this journey back in April of 2019 with our first order of business to replace our Executive Director. As we were on track to do that, Covid hit and turned everyone’s world upside down. At that time, we were still

Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer

Monthly Income Monthly Expense

$ 32,111.87 $ 13,526.64 $ 18,585.23 $233,816.36 $ 83,259.72

Net Revenue

Checking (2/28/22)

DedicatedAccount (2/28/22)

Pay Pal (2/28/22) - Special EventsAccount (2/28/22) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (2/28/22) $ - Building Fund (2/28/22) $ 53,828.06 BrianWass Safety Fund (2/28/22) $ 1,285.10 the Northeast. Thanks to the business’s that support us and the landowners who let us use your land. And again thank you every club in the MSA that make it great riding from Kittery to Fort Kent. What would you folks like us to do for you? I’ve been thinking of contacting some business’s to offer discounts for all MSA member’s. I would think it might work it is a win, win, situation for everybody. Something to work on. Call or email me with any ideas. Hope you all have a great March! Be safe out there! AL point and of more significance to our world, is that if Sunday hunting were to pass, that a slated 25% of landowners stated they would close their land. That is of importance and now one may recognize why we are interested in this. Any surprise here? Not really, but this really calls light on the incredible behind the scenes work that our impressive clubs do year in and year out. I would like the chance to thank you all for being able to tag along with President Grass to the International Snowmobile Congress North East Chapter this past weekend in Vermont. Some incredible heavy hitters from NYSSA, NHSA, VAST, and others from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were present. ALL were extremely pleased to have Maine back as they truly felt we were a missing link in our region. In fact, look out next season as they may be hitting our trails. All present were very sup- portive to hear our input and we met some incredible people that are walking in the same shoes as MSA and this industry. The big take- a-way here was two-fold; Maine has it good and our peers are incredibly pleased with what we offer and how we do it! Again thanks to the impressive work MSA clubs turn out. As we stare longer days and higher sun angles just around the corner, continue to keep safety the top item for the completion of the season. March traditionally offers some of the best conditions of the season and will start putting the wrap on the 21-22 seasons. Please go the extra mile and extend a nomination for the people deserving of some of the MSA’s sig- nificant awards. See you on the trails, John Monk $

From the Executive VP

Steering Committee

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

Trails Committee Chair Report

John Monk Chairman of Steering Committee

Hello All, Many are still rolling along here but we sure have been thrown a strange chain of weather conditions. What looked to be a very good start abruptly ended with a handful of (and I mean a whole bunch) of warmer storms. Quickly after, the cold air returned and clubs did what they usually do and resurrected what was left. Upward and onward! I recently heard from our friends monitoring the Sunday Hunting progress and the survey results have been opened. Of significant inter- est, were two points we will continue to fol- low. 12% of those that responded who were snowmobile users, stated if approved, would affect their use. As a sub-point, 34% of users reported to be affected as they are ATVers. While not our utmost concern, it is interest- ing to point this out for clubs who use ATV’s to maintain their trail in the fall. The second

Mark Chinnock,Trails Committee Chair 207-754-9874 435 Poland Corner Rd, Poland ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com H ello Folks, and just like that it happened, how did March get here so quickly?? It takes so long in the Fall for everyone to get “ready” and then to takedown in the Spring, we really need to find a way to slow down the actual “Snowmobiling Season” so that we can enjoy the Trails that we work so hard to create.

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