8257-R1_MSA_February2023_Singles

From The Executive Board

Northern Region VP

had thanks to their amazing efforts. 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 snow coming & going, wind & ice events means more hours spent ready, then getting ready again! 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 are 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 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. A huge central Aroostook event takes place in Caribou March 2nd – 5th with way too many events to list, check out the ads or look it up online. A great winter, family event.

Something to enjoy for everyone. Remember the Northern Region showcase ride & directors meeting Saturday March 18th Hosted by Madawaska Snowmobile Club. Join us for a nice ride, a chance to check out the sites of Northern Aroostook, a nice dinner and the directors meeting at the club house. 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

Matt Stedman 207-557-1921 (call or text) PO Box 621, Ashland ME 04732 Stedman.matt@jdirving.com

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

H ello Fellow Snowmobilers, What a different winter it has been so far. Clubs have been working hard with what we have had and there is lots of great riding to be

MSA Club News

COVID. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Sue Maynard Secretary

are open Friday afternoons for warming up, yes, we have a warm bathroom. Saturdays we are open with a hot meal until we sell out and if we should run out of our planned entrée, we have purchased a new fryer to make sure we will have french fries and chicken strips, hot dogs, and hamburgers. We can make sure you leave a little warmer with a full belly. Stop in for some conversation and information on how to get there from here. We are anxious to meet you. Check our facebook page for trail updates, meal menus and general information. Hope to see you soon. Kim M Ouellette Secretary MOLUNKUS VALLEY SNO-DRIFTERS Sherman, ME Hello from your MVSD friends, We have been very busy getting those trails ready and now praying for snow Memberships are coming in great On November 27 th we held our 18th annual Christmas Parade. It was a great day and turn out and all area snow clubs was invited to attend as usual. The only club to put a float in was the Benedicta Snow Gang and it was awe some. We are never going to get area clubs to work together Sad but true! MVSD very own club President Sno Queen attended as well! Santa made his appearance with goodies for the children after the parade everyone was invited to the MVSD Clubhouse where prizes were handed out. Each child who wanted got to visit Santa and letters left by children in Santa’s mailbox was answered back! A Col oring Contest was held and Waylon Qualey of Sheman was the winner of his age group. Skye Cullen was the winner of her age group and prizes were mailed to them On Dec 3 rd MVSD Super Raffle Drawing Winners were as follows: 1 st Shawn Southard, 2 nd was Herb Fithian who donated his prize back to club! 3 rd was Sherry & Jeff Arsenault & last but not least was Berta Lane We held our Christmas Party & everyone enjoyed a great meal prepared by Rick & Deb Long, Roger & Linda Willett, Tim & Trudy Long & Heather Willett. The local school held a festival of trees. MVSD put a tree in giving back to the com munity with certificates we purchased from area business & outdoor items! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! Praying for snow! Let it snow! Keep on keeping on! Deb Long (CLUB PRES)

PORTAGE LAKERS sc Portage Lake, ME

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

Happy New Year! While many people are nestling themselves into their warm homes for a long winter, the Portage Lakers are gearing up for our fun season. We have some great events planned for the next few months, and we would love to see all of you attend. We are starting off the New Year with an Open House at our new groomer building (behind the Portage Munic ipal Building) on Saturday January 21st, starting at noon through the afternoon. If you are on the trails, or on the road, stop by and check out the hard work of only a handful of volunteers. We will be serving some light refreshments, great conversation, a raffle, and even some fun activities for the kids. The fun afternoon will be followed by Chad “The Hypnotist” (this guy is hilarious!) at the Por tage Municipal Building 6pm-8pm, doors will open at 5:30 so get there early to get a seat. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door. Once the show is over, there will be a Corn Hole Tournament at the Groomer Build ing. The money raised will help heat our new building. Come show us your skills! While I’m thinking of it, don’t forget about the annual PLSC Pie Auction. Book your rooms, rent a house, set up a tent, whatever you have to do, to get to Portage on February 18th. This event never disappoints! Now, for the nitty gritty of the club… Glenn and the guys have been out doing some trail work, putting up signs, and getting ready for snow. (As I am writing this, we have green grass ☹ ) But we have faith there will be snow on the ground before too long, and the Piston Bully will be out of its new home hitting the trails. As always, follow us on Facebook at Por tage Lakers , on the web at portagelakers. org (check out the new website), or email us at portagelakerstreasurer@gmail.com Our monthly meetings are the first Friday of each month at the Portage Municipal Building at 6:30, join us, we love to see new faces and hear new ideas! Let’s make 2023 a great season. Ride safe, ride right, and be courteous on the trails. And always remember, Clubs are made up of volunteers. Think Snow,

BENEDICTA SNOW GANG Benedicta, ME

NORTHERN REGION CHAPMAN RIDGE RUNNERS sc Chapman, ME

A week before Xmas and we just got a foot of wet, heavy snow. We are not grooming yet, won’t be long now! Have it confirmed that there will be 2 flat statues of “Bravo Man” out there somewhere, take a pic with him and you could win a Snowgang head piece!! The winners of our cruise raffle this year are Rene & Tim Mcnally of Sher man. They have played every year since it started ~~~ Congrats, guys!! Our current membership stands at 113, with another mailing left to go -- well done so far, could be a record. President Keith Sanford and crew will have a hotdog “burn” on ITS#83 N of Whetstone Falls on Feb. 25th. Donations will be accepted!! The Snowgang annual Fishing Derby will take place on Feb.19th on Plunkett Pond, once again hosted by Kim & Pat Joyce & Family. Lots of cash and prizes to be won, so makes your plans now. Well, that is a quick overview, got to go finish my humbugging, Happy New Year. Jim Splan, Reporter @ Large p.s.~~126 days until Spring! p.ss~~ And, the Patriots...................! Hello everyone, Yesterday was the winter solstice. Today the daylight is seconds longer. This weekend is Christmas closely followed by New Years. And thus begins our third holiday of the winter and that is snowmobile season. In my opinion this might be the most enjoyable of the winter. Time to use the presents we received for Christmas. Those new Ski-Doos would work wonderful up in the cold, crisp, northernMaine weather. The new helmets, suits, gloves, gas cards need to be used up. Come north! Our groomer made its first trip of the sea son last Monday, setting the base for the next 12 weeks or so. We have our Saturday meals planned and by the time you read this we will be well into our season. ITS 92 goes straight through from Fort Kent to Allagash and the trail will bring you directly by our lodge. We p.sss~~ “JUST SEND IT!” p.ssss.~~ Bruins ROCK!! ST. FRANCIS SNOANGELS St. Francis, ME

As you read this article we should be in possession of our new groomer, a 2022 Pis ton Bully 100 with 255h.p. Our new drag, designed by our club and built at NMCC, is also nearly completed. Our grooming crew is adding the lights, hoses, cylinders, signs and a hitch. We should be ready to go when we have enough snow to groom. If not, we’ll pack it down with our own sleds to make a base, as we used to years ago! That was my favorite way to ride, being careful enough to get all way to the outside of the trail, avoid the brush and stumps and flatten every snowflake! Who hoo! Oh well, we can’t beat progress! We are so excited about the new groomer, which replaces our 2002 Piston Bully, which still had a lot of life left in it, thanks to our very tal ented, conscientious groomers. We will plan an event showcasing our new groomer as soon as we have it-no exact date yet. Check Face book for information. Our crew did a great job working on bull dozing ruts, improving signage, ditching wet areas, and replanking the Grendell Brook bridge on trails #105 and #74. We did a rerout ing away from a wet area on trail #81A into the village of Mapleton. Our landowners are so gracious, allowing us to improve the trail and make a safer ride around an icy area. Trail #74, west of the West Chapman Rd. has also been widened in the area of “Buck’s Bridge” and west due to a railroad project where our trail had to be used as a road for heavy equip ment. This was a boon for us. Be sure and take a ride on the whole trail system. Continue to check out our Facebook page to check on trails, read the postings and maybe add a comment. We look forward to complet ing a very interesting project in 2023 that will make for a “destination ride.” Stay posted! We are launching a trial cribbage game day at the clubhouse. There will be no charge for this first day, Tuesday, Dec. 20. Participants will decide what the event will entail, pertain ing to charges, lunch, prizes, etc. It begins at 10:00. Check in with KimArcher at 551-2155 if you have questions. If you have any questions about trail con ditions, events or memberships, please call me at 764-1236. Watch for our mini “dona tion” groomers in the area, made by our very own, Kim Archer. Our new groomer was very expensive and fundraising is difficult with

Tammy Kenney Club Secretary

NORDIC LAKERS Stockholm, ME

Great news for all of the clubs….Snow has finally arrived and plenty of it!!! So glad to see all the snowmobilers here enjoying all of the trails in the County. All clubs are working hard at keeping the trails open and available

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