8116-R4_MSA_Sep2022_MaineSnowmobiler

From The Executive Board

Secretary’s Report - Brad Barker 575 th Directors Meeting - Sportsman Alliance of Maine - Augusta - August 16, 2022

A t 6:40 President Al Swett called the meeting to order and called for the Pledge of Allegiance. Amotion to accept the Secretary’s report for the April 30, 2022 annual meeting was made, seconded and vote passed to place the minutes on file at the office. Treasurer’s report was read and placed on file at the office. President’s Comments-Al Swett reported he has been very busy with summer issues all over the state. He attended a meeting in Eustis. Sen Russell Black is working with the MSA and the state to work with people that own large pieces of land perhaps with easements. Al hopes to meet next week with them. In the Millinocket area Katahdin Woods and Waters is looking to expand and if this happens it could jeopardize trails in to Millinocket. Amessage from Chris McCabe from IF&W that the cleanup day on September 18th. Work details will be setup in different areas in the state to clean up rubbish that people have left on others properties. Show Update- The show is filling up and we are working on rate consistency. This has been an issue in the past. A discussion was had regarding rate structures and how to move forward with them. Admission to the show will increase by $1 this year. That price hasn’t changed for many years and it is felt $8 is a fair price. Hours of the show have also been adjusted as many vendors stated once the show closed in the evening there isn’t any place open to have a meal. Super Raffle: We have the Polaris and Nitro trailer. The other sled and trailers will be in within two weeks. The office is going to order more tickets, as there are only two boxes left. Posters are available. Executive Vice-President-Mark Chinnock: Stated that he felt fortunate to sitting up here and excited about what’s coming and changes. Many changes have already been made such as the zoom set up for Director’s Meetings. Mark would like to see focus on the improvement of the connectivity between everyone to make the MSA world a little bigger and stronger. Northern Region VP -Matt Stedman: Thank you to all the clubs in the north region, doing rerouting and trail maintenance. Look at social media for fund raising and other activities. Also, check club’s Facebook pages. Eastern Region Eileen Lafland: All packets are in the back of their car. On the packet is a code, number (in pencil) of Super Raffle tickets in the box. Lori and Matt are working on Survey form on our website, lots of good information coming in. Also don’t forget the officer update form. Please fill out the form. Really important to fill them out. There will be some regional meetings going on soon. Survey forms are on the website and the survey is on the email system – contactus@ mainesnowmobileassociation Survey is under membership forms. Coastal Region Dave Watson via Zoom. The merger with Socopee Valley will be an improvement. The next director’s meeting will be hosted by the Rt11 Streakers Snowmobile Club on September 20th at 6:30 pm. It will be held at Precision Equipment Coatings, 92 Emery Corner Road, Limerick, Me 04048. Western Region Jim Boyce - Worked with the ATV club this year and that helped him get things done. Three-year plan and the snow map looks good, hoping for Thanksgiving snow. Get out there early and start walking the trails - a lot of new posted signs out this year. Most of it around town that gets us out to the big land so, take a hike, Keep on track. Garbage cans for ATV clubs with stickers on them have been placed on the trails. Central Region Jack Lord - No one has gotten started yet, hoping some of the problems get solved with regard to landowner relations.

Jack will be out delivering membership packages and will take the opportunity to meet with clubs. Mark Chinnock- Shared new data – 130,644 new snowmobile worldwide. 88% snowmobiles sold to males. Raised over 3 Million dollars for charity. (Look for more statistics in the paper.) Joe Higgins - Actual changes and new things coming out even though it’s summer. The Advisory council is working hard for our cause. Joe passed out handouts with current numbers. Financially had a very good year, with 89 thousand registered in Maine. This is a testament to all the volunteers’ hard work. LD280 increase of which 100% went into the trail fund and capital equipment grant program. The increase in the capital equipment fund was much needed and was able to help every applicant that needed help. If someone feels like they don’t have a fair chance it really isn’t true, tell people to fill out the application completely. We have tools to help them upgrade their equipment. Trail Fund - grants and other summer projects, trail reroutes, if there are funds available, they can help. Registrations increased over the last years. No one realizes how much time is put into the trails, this is almost all volunteer work. Last season 126 thousand (volunteer) hours were documented in just trail work. Grants did go out so clubs should be getting municipal and club grants soon. If you haven’t seen them let him know. Deadline dates all due on Dec 1st now. Reimbursements requests are due April 30th. Please get them in as soon as you can. Also, in packets advisory council meetings, increase of equipment rates 10% - labor still the same -$15/hr. Capital equipment grant application will have added to the scoring process – “Have you had your trails GPS? And when?” A new question is also being added – “Have you had your trails inspected for signage? And when?” Call office to get help with that. (Our CEG) percent isn’t set in stone yet, right now it is at about 48% because of LD280. Equipment purchase deadline is September 15th and has been waived because equipment is not available yet. If you want to know where a check went then call the office. Joe is working with MSA and wardens in reference to off trail riding. He also brought up liability insurance. Risk management landowner liability law and liability insurance Title 14 159A. Landowners still have all the same protection they always have. State liability is an umbrella insurance, (kicks in) after club or individual insurance. State insurance is for the trails (and landowners). When having conversations: What are clubs doing for liability insurance? ATV clubs having trouble finding carriers for the insurance. Most have liability through V&V. Larry Lafland stated most clubs are using V&V for liability in Eastern region, but it increased by $500. Joe stated some club have an Inland Marine Ins. policy with replacement cost. Landowners are still covered. Still have the same protection that they always have had. Risk Management said if clubs don’t have insurance, then the state insurance is not going to step in Any questions get in touch with them. In your Club and Municipal Grants, you can show insurance expenses as administrative costs. List of larger landowners so you don’t need to contact them: CMP, Versant, SWOAM, and more, that have land on 23 clubs. Call our office with any questions. There are four open seats on the advisory council. PLEASE reach out if you’re interested. Council gets together to talk about capital equipment grants, funds, scoring. We meet in July and then at the show, so email us with questions, concerns, thoughts for our office, to get direction from 10-member council

regarding club grants, municipal grants, capital equipment grants, landowner issues. Trestle in North Anson Madison/Embden bids have gone out and Madison north should be open for this winter. The rails have been pulled. Norridgewock bridge won’t be done for this winter. Oakland to Norridgewock will be open. Safety committee Al Swett- 4 fatalities last year, but as far as safety goes, we’re doing pretty well. At the show, there will be a children’s safety course. Would like to go to schools and clubhouses. Not sure if BIW is still doing signs, as he hasn’t been able to reach them. ATV law about students getting a safety class, and Al feels we should have that for snowmobiles as well. Maybe we should look into it for next year. New safety books are ready MSA Trails committee – Mike Grass Jr. First time had a registration fee and registration increase both increased. EVER. One trails committee meeting done in August. Another on September 6 - need map changes by then to get the map out. Changes in Island Falls, going back to ITS 85 from 20 years ago, towards Portage. Steering committee John Monk – Insurance and registration has already been covered. ATV’S do use a lot of town and secondary roads, could be cumbersome, not looking at us like ATV’s. Liability insurance needed to cover clubs’ exposure. There is a proposed amendment regarding off trail riding that is trying to get in emergency legislation. It is to address the operation of a snowmobile in reference to sleds going off trail, farmers field. (Trespass). The reason it’s a problem is that the law does not say that you CAN’T go off the trail. If passed, It will become a civil penalty like a speeding ticket and doesn’t need to go through the courts and involve the landowner. If we want to make adjustments to it, like increase the fine, it needs to get in as a proposed amendment first, then when someone testifies, they can suggest amending. There is a concern about the term “reasonable” with field with no signs. But the wardens have indicated they may be able to provide signs to help with this. It gives wardens some wiggle room and also municipalities some power and a tool to work with. A municipality can inform on social media does count. Motion from the floor “To move forward Maine Snowmobile Hall of Fame Committee

with this legislation” which was seconded and the vote passed. May become law in this season, not sure, but closer than ever been. Old Business: Executive Director - what should they be doing for us? The Steering committee is looking for input on this position so it can move forward. Suggestions that have already been given include: Show promotion, Marketing, Legal related areas, Business decisions, Technology management Venmo accounts for money transfer, Swipe card machines, Lobbyist Clubs are funding this position and would like someone in Augusta. Scholarship Committee Co-chair Berry Ryan: We do have news from the scholarship committee that will in this month’s paper. There is no scholarship in the packets but it will be in the paper and on the website. Separate fund for donation. Going forward we need to have more scholarship applications. Winners’ essays will be published in the papers. Hopefully, the committee will have new hats to buy that support the scholarship, as well as decals, and the scholarship booth at the show this year. Hospitality committee Gail Ryan: Can do things besides sympathy cards and would like ANYTHING happy. Old business: Newspaper deadline is the 25th of the month prior for club news and 20th of the month prior for articles. Golf Scramble Skowhegan won club cup. Sponsors were way down, but talked some people into stepping up to Blizzard sponsors. There were 26 teams and it was the 2nd best with take home money Other Business: Al would like to see a plaque at the office with past presidents on it. A motion was made, seconded and passed to have them do this. Pine Tree Camp’s 50-year ride is in happening sponsored by Dysarts in first weekend of February. The 2022-23 calendars are for sale. Sappi donated conveyor belts for Madison/ Norridgewock bridge. Pot of Gold: Bradford Snowblazers were drawn. No director present so $400 was forfeited. 50/50 Raffle: Mark Chinnock $80. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30PM was seconded and passed. Marion Pinkham, both pioneers in their local snowmobile communities and active MSA contributors. Congratulations to Jim and Marion as they join a prestigious group of MSA Hall of Fame members. The Hall of Fame Committee is ready to hear from you the snowmobile community of nominees for this years’ selection. Nomination forms are available from any committee member or on the MSA website. Committee members include Eric Spear, John Holmes, Ken Oberg, Roland Bowie, Jerry Major, Mike DeRusha, Barry Ryan and John and Melanie Monk. We are always looking for more committee members to join our group, please reach out to myself or any committee member for more information. Important date to remember is February 28th 2022 which is the deadline for submitting nomination forms. 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! Beth Bowie Respectfully submitted, Brad Barker, Secretary

Beth Bowie, Chair, Hall of Fame 207-240-5571 bthbowie@yahoo.com T he Hall of Fame Committee was privileged to induct Jim Splan and

CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins Submit your trail reports to: EDITOR@MESNOW.COM Please include your name and club affiliation

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