8906-R1_MSA_November2024_Newsletter

From The Executive Board

From the President

clubs. Other resources for trails & landowner issues are the folks from Department of Conservation snowmobile program, regional trails coordinators. These folks work for Joe’s office and help clubs and landowners resolve issues that come up. Another resource is the Warden Service landowner relation program, the two folks at the state level (Andrew Smart & Kris MacCabe) can help you coordinate and talk through landowner issues, potentially resolving issues for your club. Please don’t try to take it all on by yourself, some of the issues clubs deal with can be quite daunting and time consuming. Grant deadlines are quickly approaching (December 1st) and please remember that work you want to be reimbursed for cannot be done until your grant has been approved through the Snowmobile Program office. In line with your grant is landowner permission, which is crucial to our trail system statewide. Please reach out in any way shape or form necessary to engage with landowners to ask permission for this season. We all know that land changes hands rapidly so be aware and get the right folks involved. Part of the solution for trail funding in the medium term can come from the November ballot Question #4, Trails Bond. By the time you are reading this we will know if it has passed or not. The positive implications of this for the snowmobile & outdoor recreation communities. The $7.5 million/year for four years can be a huge help to shore up critical infrastructure across the trails from all parts of the State. If it has passed, we will work to ensure that this funding is attainable by our clubs by working with the Snowmobile Program office and the legislature on the rules for distribution. If you have a question, problem, concern, or idea on snowmobiling in Maine, get in touch with me. You can contact me at the phone # or email below. Matt Stedman Stedman.matt@jdirving.com 207-557-1921 One of the biggest attractions at the Show was the Vintage Sled Display. This Vintage Display was once again put on by Chris Ring and Company and was by far the biggest and best show to date. Chris started the “Vintage Room” many years ago and started with a handful of sleds, followed by a number of years with 35-40 sleds, last year saw 65-70 sleds and had to be moved to a bigger room. Meeting with Chris several times in the weeks leading up to this year’s show, Chris had a goal of bringing in 100 sleds. Again, the display needed a bigger room which made home to 116 Vintage show and race sleds, with Plaques being awarded in several categories. Kudos to everyone who helped make this show a success. I can’t wait to see what Chris has in store for next year. November will have also been a busy month where MSA will have taken a trip to West with good friends, meeting a lot of people and had some great conversations. Thank you to all who came down to help in the booth. October 15th took us to Madison for our monthly Director’s Meeting which was held at the VFW Post, the meeting was informative and well attended. Thanks go out to Post #7865 for catering this event. Last but certainly not least the 18th,19th and 20th took us to the Augusta Civic Center for the Annual MSA Snowmobile Show. The show was packed full with snowmobile vendors of all kinds, and despite warm temps and sunshine all three days attendance was good. My hat comes off to our Director of Operations AL Swett for spearheading this event, strong work AL, Thank you for doing an unbelievable job with this; there are a lot of pieces to this puzzle. It takes a tremendous amount of people to put on a show of this size and I thank EVERYONE who came out to help, you know who you are and you should be proud knowing that you were part of making this event a success!

Springfield Mass for the Big E Sled Expo on the 16th and 17 th to promote snowmobiling in our great State of Maine. Next up will be our November’s Director’s Meeting on the 19th at the Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club in Holden. This meeting will feature the comeback of “Presidents Night” where we will honor and thank all MSA Club Presidents present for their continued support and leadership within the sport of snowmobiling. In December we will be showcasing our annual Super Raffle on Tuesday Dec. 10th at the Augusta Civic Center. We will have a Dinner at 6:00 pm preceded by a social hour from 5:00-6:00, followed by a short business meeting after dinner and then on to the Super Raffle festivities which we will be doing a live feed on Facebook. So RSVP by going on to the MSA Website or by calling the MSA Office 207-622-6983. Just a couple of things before I say goodbye, Important Deadlines are coming right up. Club Officers, Grant writers and Project Managers, please remember that Club and Municipal Grant Applications must be submitted to Joe Higgins office (Dept. of ACF Snowmobile Division) by December 1st. Also both MSA and the Dept of ACF Officer Update Forms need to be submitted as soon as possible. MSA Officer Update Form can be found on the MSA Website and you should find the one for Joe’s Office in the grant packet that you receive from the Dept. of ACF (This you MUST submit for any Grant approval) That is all for now my friends, and remember as always if you have any questions, comments, issues or would just like to talk about anything snowmobiling please email, message or call me, my door is always open and I would love to hear from you! Till next month, thanks for reading. Mark

Treasurer’s Report

Lori Hemmerdinger (207) 890-5455 544 Plains Road • Poland, ME 04274 Treasurer@mesnow.com Respectfully Submitted, Lori Hemmerdinger, Treasurer

Mark Chinnock, President 207-754-9874 544 Plains Road, Poland, ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com

H ello Folks, November is upon us and December is right around the corner, which really is an exciting time because, the anticipation that most if not all of us feel is only explainable to another fellow snowmobiler. One that some “Non Snowmobilers” just do not understand and look at us like we have three heads when getting all giddy talking about deep snow and cold temperatures! Truly unexplainable, yet we continue on with our day with a smile on our faces, possibly a little disturbed but who cares we’re happy and that’s all that matters! October proved to be busy as expected. We started out Oct. 11, 12 &13 in Epping N.H. At the Grass Drags, it was a challenging weekend weather wise, however we had a great time

Monthly Income Monthly Expense

$105,465.48 $ 48,836.03 $ 56,629.45 $ 85,600.00 $194,048.01 $132,555.74

Net Revenue

Short Term CD (10/31/24)

Checking (10/31/24)

Dedicated Account (10/31/24)

Pay Pal (10/31/24) - Special Events Account (10/31/24) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (10/31/24) $ - Building Fund (10/31/24) $ 54,578.16 Brian Wass Safety Fund (10/31/24) $ 3,996.86 Scholarship Savings (10/31/24) $ 5,123.09 Scholarship CD (10/31/24) $ 60,216.40 tainside Ski Doo in Wilton. The little ones love the Arctic Cat ZR200 from Kramer’s in Sidney. Thank you all who make this a suc cessful raffle year after year! Now, The October Snowmobile Show. The Augusta Civic Center looked like a million dollars! It was professionally displayed; the Vendor’s did an incredible job. The MSA booth was manned by the top folks in our stable answering questions and selling newly designed clothing that were a big hit. On a warm fall day folks came in and purchased items and got answers from insurance, credit unions to sleds, trailers and clothing. It was a wonderful weekend. The Vintage show was the hit of the weekend, Chris Ring and his gang made it happen! I’m glad we went to a larger room and that was jammed packed! Attendance could have been better but nation wide shows have been down a bit due to last year’s lack of snow and the political year we’re in. So, that’s ok it’s a country wide slide, and we should be proud of what we built here in Maine! I know I’m happy and think it was a great turnout. It was a good feeling week end and can’t thank everyone enough for their devotion and passion to our sport. We all made it happen! Wishing for a wonderful winter! AL CLUB MEMBERS Once grooming begins submit your trail reports to: EDITOR@MESNOW.COM Please include your name and club affiliation $

From the Executive VP

Director of Operations

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

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

H ello Folks,

H ello fellow snowmobilers, As I write this article, I am still trying to get caught up from a weekend away at the Augusta MSA snowmobile show. What an amazing event. 50+ vendors on site, over 100 vintage sleds filled the North wing room as well as some “new to the show” vendors. I would like to personally thank those who chose to spend time at the show. Some volunteered the entire weekend across multiple booths & events, others worked extra shifts for their employer at a booth while still others broke away from their responsibilities at home to come and see what the show had to offer. We at the MSA have been working hard throughout the summer months, to make sure we are supporting you in every way we can. If you’re struggling with something, please reach out to us at the MSA for help with that matter. Our contact is in the paper, so reach out through the office (Liz is a pleasure to talk with), to me or one of the regional VP’s and we will help you in any way we can. We may not have all the answers but will work with you to help resolve your questions/concerns or needs. We are here to support you and your

Here we go November is here and it’s time to refresh and getting ready for our win ter season. Our fall season is wrapping up and let’s hope La Nina brings us a great winter wonderland. Getting the Raffle together has been excit ing and in December we’ll see who goes home with some incredible prizes. Again, this year we have to thank the clubs who push the tick ets from the South to the North, this event is for you and it’s an easy way to make money. Again, thank you to our friends at Alcom in Winslow and Scotts Recreation for the new model Mission snowmobile trailer, it’s a gem. And of course, Chad Dow and his Nitro dealer Charlie’s in Madison. The Nitro Hybrid is another awesome sled trailer that will make someone’s Christmas a happy one. Kittery Trading Post always comes through, as does JB Grooming. Many gift cards from sled dealers, a cruise on the Katahdin, and stays at Motels will be a big hit this year. And of course, the snowmobiles The Polaris long track 4 stroke from Cove Side in Newport and our friend Ryan at Polaris. The Ski-Doo 600 EFI Renegade from Dan and crew at Moun

5

w m

n o

o b

0 2 4 l M a i n e S

i l

e r

N

m b e r 2

o v

e