8944-R1_MSA_January2025_Newsletter

From The Executive Board

Not everything is all about Facebook though as we have our first official website up and running as well. Folks who are more hip than me and into the modern digital way of doing business can sign up on-line as Mem bers and/or make a donation via the website. We’re also hoping to have some trail signs up this year with QR codes to allow folks who are inspired enough with our trails to make a small, impromptu donation to the Club if they are so moved. Me . . . yeah . . . I’m still using The February MSA directors meeting on Feb 15th will be at the East Branch SnoRovers in Medway. There is supposed to be a show case ride that day, but I am not sure what will happen now due to my life-changing situation. I am going to ask someone else to plan and lead it, so watch MSA website and Facebook for more info. Until February, I hope the entire state has ridable snow and everyone rides safely. Eileen for points warmer. We received about 3 inches of snow as well. I hope this weather lasts until the end of March (well maybe not this cold but below 30 degrees anyways), gives us more snow, and everyone registers their sleds and rides wherever they like. We are due a good ole fashion Maine winter. H ello Central Maine Snowmobilers, As you, all know we have had a disappointing weather pattern so far this season. But remember Mother Nature loves us so keep the faith ‘it will change’. Always remember to join and participate in the clubs where you ride and live. For all the clubs in the Central Region, if there is a meeting or an event you would like me to attend, I will do my best to attend or if a question arises for the MSA I would be glad to help you get the answers you are looking for. Feel free to reach out to me via email at thelastroundup2018@gmail.com. I wish you all a great New Year always ride safe and pray for snow. Ron Nunes If, we get an appreciable amount of snow, we will have a ride in the afternoon, not looking good right now, but one never knows. Be sure to keep the MSA posted on trail conditions in YOUR area. God Bless, Jerry H appy New Year, Not a lot to report, the supper raffle went off well and I finally won a prize (hotel in Wilton), I helped organize and run this raffle for many years, FINALLY won. On the snow front, it was good to have a white Christmas, but that didn’t last long. It seems there were a lot of trees down again and the crews have them about all cleaned up. Oxford has done a reroute of ITS89, for a few hundred feet it will be narrow but very passable, thanks guys for making this happen. Otherwise, I am looking forward to the January meeting in Leeds, anxious to see some old friends. Keep in mind this will be a club president night. Details and directions also in this paper.

From The Membership Corner

Western Region VP

ing to find that I had apparently slept right through Winter and it was now Spring with just a few piles of snow here and there. Trail master Josh Crandall and Assistant Trailmas ter John Sevcik had taken out a groomer to remove blow downs and pack down the trail earlier in the week in an effort to preserve the snow base . . . but alas, the combination of the heavy rain and warm temps were just too much. As I write this on Christmas Eve however it’s snowing and we have maybe 4 or so inches on the ground . . . I like to think this is Win ter Version 2.0. Maybe it will stick around a little longer this time . . . that would be a nice Christmas gift. We’re trying a few new things this year as a Club . . . and I’m not just talking about hosting events like the Craft Fair in late-No vember which was pretty darned successful. This year we’ve unveiled the Semi-Official Smoki Hauler Snow Stick . . . in Smyrna. Why Smyrna and not at our Clubhouse in Oakfield? Well, to tell the truth it’s a lot easier for me to walk outside the front door at my home, take 40 steps and look at the stick vs. driving the 10 minutes or so down the road to Oakfield . . . hence it’s only a Semi-Official Snow Stick. On the serious side, it is our intention to keep folks on our Facebook page informed with I want to thank Matt Stedman and Brent Spaulding for taking the reins on the Eastern Region meeting at the East Branch SnoRovers in December. Thanks also to Charlie Hunting ton for making sure clubs knew about the meet ing and for helping start some of the discus sions. I apologize to all the clubs who attended all keep our fingers crossed that we get some snow here pretty quick. As snow starts falling, I want to remind everybody to please check with your local club to make sure they have opened the trails. Adequate snow is very important to maintain good landowner relations. Many clubs have Facebook pages and very active websites available to view right from your phone. With the increase in building in Southern Maine, many trails have had to be redirected to maintain an open system.Please respect these changes and be sure to go by your trail signs. Many clubs have created maps and they are typically for sale at some of the major stops along a snowmobile route I encourage everybody to purchase a map as that is one way that clubs fund raise. I am going to be making my way to some club meetings to meet people or go to events that they may have planned. I hope everybody has had a great Christmas and a happy new year and think snow everybody. Matthew Baron W elcome to the New Year everyone! Hopefully you all had a chance to gather with family and friends and enjoy the holidays. Now, it’s time to ride!! Get those machines ready, plan your routes, and enjoy what winter in Maine is all about. Don’t for got to thank the snowmobile clubs, trailmas ters, groomers, and especially landowners for allowing us to use their land and make the best trails in the Northeast. It takes everyone to make it all possible. There are five clubs with over 100 mem berships submitted: Portage Lakers, Pleasant Mountain, Moosehead Riders and East Branch Sno-Rovers, one club over 200- Washburn Trail Runners and one club over 400- Range ley. Keep those memberships coming.! Here are the totals as of Dec. 2 0th , 2024. Central Region- 1,055 Coastal Region- 778 Eastern Region - 1,768 Northern Region-1514 Western Region- 1,660 There are a total of 5,539 family member ships and 1,243 business memberships. 222 of the 280 snowmobile clubs in the state have submitted memberships currently. Re member if memberships are not in, no one is receiving their paper, so please submit them as soon as you receive them.

Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 L.andE.lafland525476@gmail.com

Jerry Major, Cell: 207-838-0892 137 Morrill Rd, Norway ME 04268 mrfun101jem@gmail.com

Coastal Region VP

Central Region VP

Matthew Baron, 207-608-3737 92 Emery Corner Rd, Limerick, ME 04048 msacoastalregion@gmail.com W ho would’ve thought that it was January already? Everybody is chomping at the bit for Snow. These little storms are not cutting it many clubs in our area have worked too get trails all signed and looking good. Some have started planning cookouts and club rides. Let’s

Ron Nunes, 401-527-5370 260 Last Round Up Rd, Lexington Twp, ME 04961 Thelastroundup2018@gmail.com that I couldn’t be there, but I understand these guys did a great job and the meeting was a success. The weather sure didn’t help either and some clubs didn’t make it because of that, but to those that did “thank you”. I strongly feel regional meetings are the best way to get neighboring clubs together and just talk. As far as events in the Eastern Region, once again clubs that had done extensive trail work opening the trials that were hit with fierce wind and heavy rain in December bringing down many trees, limbs, and floating bridges and ramps to places they shouldn’t be. Club members all rallied together and off they went to clear trails again. Today it is the end of December and it is 8 degrees outside with a wind chill below zero and the lake is making ice. I think the flock of ducks has finally left

Eastern Region VP

Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 L.andE.lafland525476@gmail.com

MSA Club News

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

NORTHERN REGION

SMOKI HAULERS sc Oakfield, ME

So, the other day I was reading a local Face book Page – you know the type – every town or city in Maine has one . . . it’s the type of site where folks like to post events that are going on and news about town, but mostly it’s folks griping non-stop about how bad things are. In any case, it was snowing that day and a person posted “When will it ever stop snowing?” I resisted the urge to reply “Sometime in March . . . or April . . . maybe . . . if we’re lucky.” While some folks bemoan the wintry weather, we sledders of course welcome the white stuff . . . and we were fortunate in late-November and early-December to see a couple of storms. And then it all went away. I went to bed one night with close to 11 inches of snow on the ground and a promise of early season riding . . . and woke up the next morn

what we have for a snow depth following each storm. We’re also testing out the Thursday Trail Report . . . posting current trail conditions every Thursday (or as close to that day as pos sible) to keep our Facebook readers informed of what the trails look like . . . the good, the bad and the ugly. Smoki Haulers Semi-Offical Snow Stick in Smyrna

Trailmaster Josh working on new trail signs at Santa’s Workshop

8

r y 2 0

a

n u

2 5 l M a i n e S n o w m o b i

J a

l e r