8116-R4_MSA_Sep2022_MaineSnowmobiler

From the Pasture to a Podium By: Jo Dunphy

Everyone has to start somewhere, right? Indeed, I started in our pasture in 1973, on a 1973 Ski Doo Silver Bullet, which my husband had recently purchased. Mind you, this was at a time when there were no trails in our area. My first jaunt out was in our pasture. I quickly found that the first pass through the deepest snowwas a bigmistake! I was stuck, the machine was buried, and my courage was somewhat dimmed, thinking I could handle this “monster”. I struggled back to the house and told my husband, “You can have that ?!*&%# thing”. I didn’t want any more to do with this thing called “snowmobiling” That changed when he bought me a Silver Bullet of my own and I was back in business. We bought Elans for each of our two children and we were truly a snowmobiling family. There still were no trails, and to get from one house to the next was an all day trip. None the less, we were having fun together.

Maine woods. The club encompassed three towns and started with 70-80 members. What a difference in how we appreciated winter! I was the club representative to the Maine SnowmobileAssociation (MSA). In 1986 I was elected club Vice-President, and from 1987 – 91, President. In April 1991, I was elected as the MSA Central Region Vice-President. This was not a position I took lightly, and spent several days deciding if I would accept the nomination or not. I wanted to have goals for the 83 clubs in my region. 1991 was the year that the OUI (Operating Under the Influence) limit of .08 became law for snowmobilers. As part of an annual workshop for snowmobilers, I arranged for members of theMaine State Police to conduct a controlled drinking exercise. Three volunteers from our MSA membership consumed a certain amount of alcohol within a specific time frame, were tested at intervals, and then observed as to their abilities. This was a successful demonstration and our spectators as well as the volunteers were surprised to find out little it takes to be OUI. The .08 limit is still in effect in the State of Maine. From 1993 – 1995, I was elected as executive vice president of the MSA. Realizing how the importance of safety was to me, the president appointed me Safety Officer. During this term I asked that each club either elect or appoint a safety officer. There was a lot of enthusiasm and this is still an ongoing process. During the years 1995 – 1997, I had the honor of being elected President of the MSA. This was certainly the ultimate of my snowmobile involvement. To become only the second woman (at that time) in the thirty year history of the MSA to be elected for two one year terms was proof that I had a lot of support from the organized snowmobilers of Maine. We have had two more lady presidents in the last few years, and I’m proud to be part of that exclusive group. Many things happened in those and succeeding years. Non-resident registration fees were increased. In 1996 – 1997, at the International SnowmobileCongress inAlberta Canada, Maine’s Lewis Newell was named the 1996 US International Snowmobiler of the Year as well as Maine’s Lewie Hoxie as

1996 Northeast Groomer of the Year; and in 1997, Maine’s Linwood Stone as Northeast Groomer of the Year; a very successful, and presently annual Snow Show; a steering committee was formed and the University of Maine was commissioned to conduct the first Economic Impact Study on snowmobiling in Maine. I had the pleasure of being elected

co-chair of the Northeast Chapter, ISC ACSA, and appointed by the MSA President to serve as an Alternate Delegate to the Northeast Chapter from Maine. I have many memorable moments, too numerous to share here, including a snowmobile ride with then, Governor King in Fort Kent to visiting a club in Sanford. Our State of Maine is truly a snowmobiler’s paradise. I have written this because I want any Maine snowmobiler to realize it doesn’t matter if you’re from the far reaches of this state or a city or town close by, there is something you can do for this sport. Maybe it’s grooming your favorite trail, preparing a meal for hungry riders, or even standing at the podium sharing information with a room full of snowmobilers. If I could do it, YOU can too and we’ll keep the Maine Snowmobile Association the best it can be. Jo Dunphy, MSA Past President 1995-1997

In 1975, the local store in our town of about fifty people sponsored a cross-country race to get more of the locals interested in the sport. I jumped into that without thinking. The first race was thirty-eight miles round trip. The result was, I placed second and had the “fever”. Other than having my husband literally help me out of bed so I could go to work, I was already looking forward to the next race. There were a couple more races, and I have some great memories and three trophies to remind me of my “racing career”. Through the years, several new Ski Doo snowmobiles along with trails came my way and we came to enjoy seeing the snow come. In 1985, the local group of interested folks started a snowmobile club, the Lexington Highlanders. This was one of the greatest things to happen in our remote area of the

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