8963-R1_MSA_February2025_Newsletter

The Maine Snowmobiler

February 2025 • Vol. 56 • No. 6 MSA, PO Box 80 Augusta ME 04332

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An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association

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Explore Bingham

W ith an average snowfall of 73 inches, Bingham is a popular snowmobiling destination. The area is known for its breathtaking winter landscapes, with snow-covered trees and distant mountain views it provides a picturesque back drop for your ride. Bingham offers a vast trail system with miles of groomed trails and a variety of terrain. Be on the lookout for wildlife such as deer and moose. If you’re looking for an overnight stay Bingham and the surrounding areas offers the small town feel with an array of lodging options and local restaurants.

1. Bingham to Pleasant Ridge Plantation: o Begin your ride from Bingham and head north on local trails towards Pleasant Ridge Plantation.This section offers scenic views of the surrounding landscape and is relatively easy for beginners. 2. Pleasant Ridge to The Forks: o Continue on the trails toThe Forks, which is a popular meeting point for snowmobilers.This area provides a vari ety of dining options and is a great spot to take a break.The trails are well-main tained and provide beautiful views of the Kennebec River.

3. The Forks to Moxie Pond: o If you’re looking for a longer ride,

head towards Moxie Pond.This route features some more challenging terrain with beautiful lakeside scenery, ideal for intermediate riders.

4. Moxie Pond to Wind MillTrail: o From Moxie Pond, head toward the Wind MillTrail, take in the breathtaking views and ride alongside the Bingham windmills. 5. Return to Bingham: o Make your way back to Bingham via ITS 87 or explore any side trails that catch your interest along the way.

PARK & RIDE LOCATIONS

Attention MSA Clubs if you would like to add your local Park & Ride please visit: mainesnowmobileassociation.com and fill out the form under MSA Forms.

REGION Central Central Central

CLUB Anson-North Anson SC Lexington Hilanders SC Minnehonk Ridge Riders Norridge Sportsmen Alliance Smithfield Moonshiners SC

ADDRESS 18 High St 1453 Long Falls Dam Road Corner of North Rd & Bean Rd 444-328 Martin Stream Road 1232 Village Rd

TOWN North Anson Lexington Mount Vernon Norridgewock

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Park & Ride trail connects to the Mount Vernon trail system Trail maps are posted at Park & Ride parking lot and all trail intersections. Ashley Wing Memorial Park Direct Access to Kennebec Valley Railtrail KVT The park in ride is the paved parking lot directly in front of the ball field. Please do not block the driveway/parking area in front of the salt/sand shed. Thank you About 3/4 a mile south from Rt 25, Vacant lot and Approx 7 miles North of Limerick on Rt #5 Rachels on the green - breakfast- lunch - dinner - large parking lot for the Val Halla Parking lot. 15 minute drive from Portland with direct access to main trail system leading to destinations west and north of Cumberland. Westbrook Little League Parking lot Sunset Ridge Golf Course parking lot Prides Corner Congregational Church Parking lot will be busy Sunday mornings till about noon time. Located just north of the road crossing on ITS 111 North (Wildwoods trail) Located just north of the Jo Mary Trail on the left 1.5 miles north of Ebeemee Club House Lots of room for parking. Lunches usually served on weekends. Also the Rail Trail Parking lot off Bennoch Rd in Lagrange as well as Lagrange General Store Also, 2 miles down East Shore Rd, Lakeville, ME 04487 Large Parking Lot next to ITS 105 Very Large parking lot with direct ITS 85 trail access. Located right on RT. 7 just 1 mile from I-95. Food/Gas services available in both directions. Great take off spot for day or overnight trips. Contact Sebasticook Valley SC Facebook page for the latest grooming information. Located right at the I-95 Sherman exit Immediately off I-95 northbound exit. Located at Brooks Equipment Service . Direct access to ITS 83 Oils, parts, and services available at this site, as well as 2 gas stations located within 900’ of park and ride location (one of which has 24 hr. card service with non-ethanol gas also) As your leaving Caribou on Rt.89 heading east towards Limestone Otter St. will be on your left just before you reach the underpass. Drive all the way straight in and that is where the Park n Ride will be. As you come into Stockholm off 161 turn left onto Main St. and go across the bridge. Right after the bridge on the left you’ll see a sign for a public boat landing. Turn left into there and that in the parkn ride. There is a small maintained trail that will lead you thru the ballpark up to ITS 83 or you can ride the shoulder of Main St. from the park n ride and get on ITS 83 next to Eureka Hall. This is the location of our clubhouse. The clubhouse is not open to the general public w/o notice. There is lots of room for park ing, but please not in front of our groomer barn, “The Bullpen.” Parking lot across the road from the clubhouse (If space is filled please use clubhouse circle driveway) Ramp available for truckbed sleds. Please do not block garage overhead door where groomer is parked, or park in front of it. Free parking. This is a dirt road that connects east and west cottage road in Portage. There will be available parking on the west side of this road and will be marked with signs. Parking is alongside Station Rd in downtown Portage. There is room for approximately 12 rigs. Exit 286 on I-95. Heading North: take Exit 286 and take a right off the ramp. Take the first driveway on the right - big sign board out front. The driveway snakes between two homes - our log cabin Clubhouse is located in the back. Unload and you’re off and running on ITS 83! This is a private driveway located on trail ITS 81. Call 207.316.9118 for permission to park (limited space) Take Vacationland Rd, Follow Signs. Look for sign at entrance, indicating parking area for Narrow Gauge Snowmobile Club Park & Ride Located at the Lake Pennesseewassee Boat Launch/ Parking Area. Parking lot is across from the Ham Athletic Fields at 40 Brag Way. 2/10 of a mile from the intersection of Brag Way and Route 302. Easy access to ITS 89. Take a right at Andover Village (Rt. 120) just down over the hill on right Parking lot holds 30 plus trailers and direct access to ITS115. Located on the right hand side of Route 2 after entering Gilead from the west and passing the rest area or on the left side of the highway if coming in from the Bethel area. Long, thin parking lot for about 4 trucks with trailers. Kiosk and map in parking lot. Fireman’s field next to the little Androscoggin River.

Central Central

Smithfield

Cornish

Coastal

Cornish Sno-Cruisers

Rt #5 (Sokokis Trail) 60 Val Halla Road

Moonlite Sno-Skimmers

Coastal

Cumberland

Westbrook Trail Blazes Westbrook Trail Blazes Westbrook Trail Blazes Ebeemee SC Ebeemee SC East Branch Sno-Rovers LA Sledders

Coastal Coastal Coastal Eastern Eastern Eastern Eastern

Westbrook Westbrook Westbrook Ebeemee Twp Ebeemee Twp Medway Alton

429 Bridge St 771 Cumberland St 235 Pride St US Route 11, ITS 111 Intersection US Route 11 6 Clubhouse Dr Club House 3346 Bennoch Rd 976 Lee Rd (Rt 6)

Eastern

Quad County SC Inc.

Springfield

Eastern

Sebasticook Valley SC

238 Moosehead Trail

Newport

Northern Northern

Sherman Citgo 1160 Crystal Road

Benedicta Snow Gang Big Valley Sno Club

Sherman Island Falls

Northern Northern

Big Valley Sno Club Caribou SC

478 Houlton Road 10 Otter Street

Island Falls Caribou

Writers Wanted We’re looking for newspaper articles. Topics of interest.... All things snowmobiling!

Main Street

Northern

Caribou SC

Stockholm

Chapman

94 Town Hall Rd.

Chapman Ridge Runners Snowmobile & ATV Club Dwinal Pond

Northern

East Winn St. David

174 Springfield Road 19 Fournier Road

Northern

Do you have a favorite ride that you’d like to share? Grooming or trail work tips. Product reviews. Stories of your adventures. Club events. A member who goes above & beyond. If possible, please send along pictures for your articles. This paper is created for Snowmobilers and you are the

4-Seasons Club Madawaska SC

Northern

(Madawaska) Madawaska

Madawaska SC

195 Dufour Road

Northern

Portage Lake

Portage Lake SC

Northern

Station Road

Portage Lakers

Portage

Northern

Station Road

Smoki Haulers SC

Northern

Oakfield

317 Oakfield Smyrna Road

experts - we’d love to have your input! Please submit articles to editor@mesnow.com

Washburn Trail Runners SC Bog Hooters SC Crooked River SC Harrison Friendly Riders Narrow Gauge SC

48 Station Road Rte 11 661 Meadow Rd Vacationland Rd 219 North Main St

Northern Western Western Western Western

Washburn Mechanic Falls Casco Harrison Strong

Norway Bridgton

95 Lake Road Brag Way

Western Western

Norway Trackers SC Pleasant Mountain SC (Formaly Bridgton Easy Riders) Snow Valley Sno-Goers

Join the MSA Snowmobile Club of your choice, by scanning the QR Code below and join the fun! MSA, PO Box 80 Augusta ME 04332 207-622-6983 Fax: 207-622-7669

Rt. 120 Just East of Andover Village 171 Main St. Route 2

Western

Andover

Kingfield Gilead

Western Western

Sno Wanderers Wild River Riders

Know Before You Go!

mainesnowmobileassociation.com

Always Check Local Ice Conditions

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Three $1,500.00 Scholarships

will be award this year by The Maine Snowmobile Association to eligible applicants.

☛ To be eligible for these awards the following criteria must be met: • Applicant and/or immediate family must be a member of the Maine Snowmobile Association for two years prior to January 1 st of 2025 • Applicant can be of any age • Immediate family members of MSA member dependents living in one household. • MSA membership can be family, individual or a business

☛ Scholarship awards are granted to MSA member or family member who is: • A recent high school graduate or holder of a GED • Any student in a one or two-year Associate or Technical School Program at a school in state or out of state • Any student in a four-year Bachelor Degree Program at a school in state or out of state • Pursuing a Master’s Degree

committee needs to raise funds. To do this we are asking clubs to consider making a donation to the scholarship fund. Some clubs in the state have held - ings, send a donation directly or come up with other ways to raise the money. Whatever your club can do would be greatly appreciated and helpful. The Scholarship committee greatly appreciates your consideration to assist MSA students in reaching their higher education degree.

The Maine Snowmobile Association believes that our future depends on our children, which is why we are doing our part to invest in them. If you feel the same way, please consider helping us to raise money for the fund or making a donation if you prefer? Each year the scholarship committee gives out two scholarships to students who have been MSA mem bers for the previous two years. This year we award ed two $1500 scholarships to students. In order to continue this tradition, the scholarship

All majors and /or courses of study are eligible.

Essay and completed application must be received

close of business on April 1, 2025. https://www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com/msa-scholarship-fund/

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A Celebration of Winter: The 28 th Annual Blessing of the Sleds Mexico Trailblazers and Dixfield Poodunck Unite for a Fun-Filled Day on the Snow

On a crisp winter morning on February 8, 2025, the scenic trails of Mexico and Dixfield, Maine, came alive with the sound of snowmobiles roaring to life for the 28th Annual Blessing of the Sleds. Hosted jointly by the Mexico Trailblazers Snowmobile Club and the Dixfield Poodunck Snowmobile Club, this cherished event drew sled enthusiasts and families alike, uniting the com

munity in a harmonious celebra tion of winter recreation. The Blessing of the Sleds has become a beloved tradition in the local snowmobiling commu nity, serving as an unofficial kick off to the snowmobiling season. Each year, participants gather to have their snowmobiles blessed by local clergy, invoking safety and good fortune for the miles of trails ahead.

The formal blessing ceremony, which took place at the pictur esque Mexico trailhead. Attend ees gathered around as for a heartfelt prayer, asking for pro tection and joyful adventures for all snowmobilers. Each snow mobile rolled up one by one to receive its blessing, symbolizing the spirit of camaraderie among riders.

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From The Executive Board

From the President

again! Clubs also face fixed costs such as pre-season fuel purchases, insurance, machine maintenance, etc. Many fundraisers and events are planned throughout February. Get out & support your local club or charity by attending or helping with these events. You should be able to find something to do every weekend spread across the State. We at the MSA have been keeping track of the Trails Bond funding and grant application process. As soon as we know the details of how clubs can apply, we will get this information out to you and work to assist clubs with the process in any way we can. We also have submitted a bill for more funding for snowmobile grant programs that the State of Maine DOC office offers to clubs and our lobbyist (James Cote) is monitoring its progress. Once we have more info we will get this out through a club email blast from the MSA. 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. Reach out and leverage the knowledge of neighboring clubs, MSA regional folks and the whole MSA board. We may not know the answer either but can get a resource to help you & your club. 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 listed under my photo to the left.. Matt As I write this article it does look like we FINALLY are starting to string some small but very helpful snowstorms together which is opening up more parts of the State to some really good riding. As we all are more than anxious to get out and put some miles on, we need to all be constantly reminded to be safe out on the trails, and by that I mean to be first and foremost courteous and thoughtful toward other fellow snowmobilers, we are all out there for the exact same reason, to have fun period. Secondly, always be aware and focused on your surroundings, constantly reading ever changing trail conditions and making a mental note of each trail sign that you pass, because believe me Road Crossings, Junctions, and corners can come up on you SO fast it can be scary especially if you happen to miss a sign and just like that you are locking the brakes up and being that guy.. Not intentionally maybe but being that guy nevertheless, I’ve been there, we’ve all been there and it’s not a good feeling, so just be aware and thinking a step ahead. And lastly for today, use proper Trail etiquette. Now the really cool thing about Trail etiquette is that there is nothing hard about it and it is all common sense things that are easily learned as you become more experienced on the Trail. For instance when you come to a junction (Intersection) pull through the intersection in the direction that you want to go, once through a safe distance if you want to take a break or are waiting to were mint, show them your appreciation, or if you’re preparing food back at the Cabin or Airbnb try to shop maybe at one of the smaller local grocery stores, no they may not have the huge selection that the big box grocery stores have, but really who needs 27 varieties of rice pilaf anyways! When booking accommodations please be thoughtful that each night’s stay means a lot to them and that last minute cancellations can be devastating to a small mom and pop business. And maybe if the plans were made for a long weekend snowmobiling stay and snow conditions are less than stellar, go anyway! Show your support, go out to eat, go shopping or maybe if Ice fishing is your thing leave the sleds home and try something different. You may not be getting any miles on but you are still getting outside and enjoying your time away, because at the end of the day it beats sitting home on the couch surfing FB!

make sure everyone in your party behind you is following, pull as far to the right as safely possible (please not on a corner) Another very important one that unfortunately we have all been guilty of at one time or another is please don’t come into a corner so hot that you can’t stay on your own side of the trail and end up being left of center. Now, as well as some of us may have our sleds set up to corner correctly (like on the snowmobile promo ads) they are still not rubber tires on asphalt, they are skis and a rubber track on snow and they ARE going to slip to some degree when cornering, so just try and anticipate that they are going to do just that. If you are riding alone or in a group that moves right along and you come up on some slower riders, please don’t try and pass them all, wait until they realize you are there and most times they will wait for a straight stretch and pull over to let you by. And last but not least, just remember that etiquette is not restricted to just the trails. Remember that when you pull your truck and trailer into a busy Park & Ride try to be respectful of everyone else, because they are just as anxious as you are to get on the trails. Keeping in mind also that not everyone negotiating a busy Park & Ride may have the same experience or knowledge of what works and what doesn’t work as you may have, so try and have patience and maybe even offer some assistance to them, remember, that may have been you 10 or 20 years ago! Trust me when I say I’m not trying to preach, but more to reinforce things that we already know but might possibly get complacent on, it’s easy to do and I am guilty of that for sure. So next time your adrenaline is flowing and you are almost giddy as you pull up to the Park & Ride or walk out of your Airbnb to put on a full day of Smiles, maybe just by reading this will have somehow made it a better day for you AND someone else. Because at the end of the day we all want to look back and say “WOW that was a blast and a “good feeling” day as we banter back and forth and tell stories about the day. Well that’s all for today folks, and if you have a question, concern, or just want to talk about snowmobiling, please reach out to me whenever and however you’d like. And remember my door is always open, so come on in and pull up a chair! Thank you 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 All, I hope February finds everyone well and at least racking up a few snowmobile miles. As we all plan out our snowmobiling trips and Winter activities, especially in what appears to be another shortened season, I feel that it is more important than ever that we do all that we can when booking our plans to try and patronize our local businesses. Most of the businesses in the Western and especially the Northern Region of Maine rely heavily on winter tourism to see them through the rest of the year. With a late and shortened season for these folks, it makes it extremely difficult to take in enough revenue to make ends meet until the next season. It is no doubt a double-edged sword, because while we are embarking on our ever awaited snowmobile trips, we are constantly reminded of how expensive every aspect of our trip can be and are doing our best to get the most bang for our buck, all the while enjoying ourselves at the same time. So I suppose that what I’m saying is, when stopping for food, try and make it a Snowmobile Clubhouse along the trail or a small local restaurant and remember if there is a tip jar please throw a couple bucks in because we all know that fuel for the groomer is not cheap! Especially if the trails

Monthly Income Monthly Expense

$ 31,692.10 $ 21,806.71 $ 9,885.39 $ 85,600.00 $185,549.33 $156,559.99

Net Revenue

Short Term CD (1/31/25)

Checking (1/31/25)

Dedicated Account (1/31/25)

Pay Pal (1/31/25) $ 1,373.10 Special Events Account (1/31/25) $ 4,987.53 Credit Line (1/31/25) $ - Building Fund (1/31/25) $ 55,207.10 Brian Wass Safety Fund (1/31/25) $ 3,997.08 Scholarship 12 Month CD (1/31/25) $ 5,000.00 Scholarship CD (1/31/25) $ 60,918.47

when we get closer to the meeting. Liz and I are at the office doing our daily duties. Even without the snow cover, the busi ness keeps going strong. We’ll be planning the 2025 Super Raffle soon. Many clubs want to start selling tickets in June, so there is a lot of work to be done on that subject. We have maps from different areas of the State and our ITS maps are available if you need any. The MSA has one of the best teams of vol unteers in the industry. Wherever I go, I’m so proud of your passion, dedication, and hard work you folks do. From reroutes to bridge building and from devastation from the weather, you all make snowmobiling in Maine one of the best destinations in the Country to ride. I feel bad for our supporting businesses. They count on us to make it through the winter season. They’re the best, always there to lend a hand to the clubs. Thank you all for your support of our sport! 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

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Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com W elcome to winter 2025! Just where is it? Mother Nature has not been good to us in the last few years. Our supporting busi nesses are suffering, and we here at the MSA all feel bad about that. They count on us to make it into the next season. Hopefully, by the time you read this, we’ll have had a big storm. At least we have had a lot of cold weather to freeze up the ground. Question 4 has passed and will bring us some much-needed funding. Everyone in the outdoor world will benefit from this. I’ve met with a member of the Q4 team who has offered to help our clubs when applying and writing for their grants. We’ll keep you posted

ello fellow snowmobilers, Brrrr, this week sure has been bitterly cold. For those clubs with enough snow to groom, it should set up great and hold up well with these temperatures. Again, this winter most of our State has not been blessed with plentiful snow, but clubs and volunteers are making the best of it. Thank you for your endless passion & energy for the sport. There are places to ride, and it is great to see folks spending time with family and friends on the snow. 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 mean additional hours spent getting ready, then getting ready

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From The Executive Board Secretary’s Report - Betsy Watson Directors Meeting - Mason - Leeds, Maine - January 25, 2025

gained back. VP Reports

so it should move through the process. The issue is how to separate snowmobile sales tax from ATV, motorcycle, camper, and golf carts. From his rough figures based on new registration totals only it could generate $250,000 to $500,000 in new money. The benefit of this is it is not an increase in registration fees. A question was asked if there was a way to get some of the Lands for Maine’s Future money to secure permanent access to land for trails. Matt will look in to it and ask James as well. Some landowners have been putting in to their deeds permanent access for snowmobile trails on their lands and others have placed it in their wills. Membership- Eileen reported she has lists for regional VP of clubs with no memberships. Reach out and see what’s going on and if we can help. If your club is sending transmittals in the mail, please make copies of everything including your check or payment method for your records. It appears some memberships have been lost in the mail. Also, please include payment with your mailing. The office has received some without payment. Eileen asked all clubs to access the MSA website and download the applications for the MSA contests. We need submissions and every club should be able to submit at least one. Membership totals- Family 6,663 Business 1,623 Total Memberships 8,286 Total by region Central 1,291 Coastal 907 Eastern 2,067 Northern 1,862 and Western 2,152 MSA Trails- Brent Spaulding indicated some of his inf ormation had all ready been covered. He wasn’t sure if any bridges in Maine were affected by the National Park Service and it was stated there is one on the Wild River Riders trails in Gilead. He gave a shout out to Moosetown Riders in Allagash as they are doing a good job promoting themselves. There was a meeting in Strong that also brought up the idea of landowners deeding access for snowmobile trails. Hall of Fame- Gail indicated she is still looking for volunteers to help her on this committee. Hospitality- Gail stated she has been sending out thank you cards to those that have made donations in Larry’s memory. She has two other cards to send. She then read a joke. Old Business- T he next two directors’ meetings are showcase rides as well as meetings. Feb. 15 th starting at East Branch Snow Rovers, riding to the trail dedication, then Timber Cruisers for lunch and back to East Branch. Supper and meeting that evening. March 15 th showcase ride starting in Benedicta, going to lunch at Rockabema with dinner and meeting back in Benedicta that evening. Details and sign up for both will be on the MSA website. Question 4 Update- A line item is being added to the state budget to fund a senior planner position to head the grant process. The money will be budgeted not from the bond that was passed. There is a 3% in the bond for administration but they cannot use that to fund this position. That means applications are now pushed back to at least June with results in the fall. Still trying to make the grant application as simple as possible for clubs to fill out. James has reached out to express our concerns on the delay. Motorized portion is 25% so clubs should flood them with applications for infrastructure. Clubs should be thinking now what they want to apply for. Clubs will need much more information than regular grant process. This is a chance for clubs to get projects funded and use the regular grant money for grooming and trail maintenance. We have four years, so clubs should be looking for projects now. Grant application does not speak to permitting issues, so clubs should be following the same process they do now for permits. Al stated he has a lady who is willing to help clubs write these grants. New Business- P ine Tree Sponsorship/Egg Ride- Each year they do a ride to benefit the camp. In year’s past MSA has donated $500 to this cause. It has been handed down by the

Eboard as a recommendation that we donate $500 this year. Mark asked for a motion which was made by Louie and Ron seconded. The motion passed. Bob Lafontaine is riding this year in memory of Larry. Loud Exhausts- There is a lot of talk recently about the loud exhausts. The original fine is $250 and may be it is time for it to go up to $500 which was the original proposal. James is looking in to how to increase it and possibly incorporate it with other I F & W bills. Scholarship Program- Brad Barker has started an initiative to start a scholarship program in memory of Larry which he approached Grand Lodge and they agreed to match up to $2000. The match is available to every Masonic Lodge in Maine. Each individual lodge must ask for it. At this point from tonight $1000 has been raised but it is not over yet. Brad didn’t realize how much is involved in the scholarship committee. He wants everyone to know it is a work in progress and his vision is to make this a permanent fund. He is challenging the clubs in the state to raise funds and reach out to their Masonic Lodge. There are details to work out, but investing the money so that it can be a continuing scholarship is what the vision is. Question was is this separate from MSA and Brad stated those details need to be decided. How can some body donate to this fund electronically. Lori, asked for a few days to set it up through MSA Pay Pal and then she will cut a check to this separate account. Brent Spaulding made a motion to proceed with Brad’s proposal, which was seconded by David and the motion passed. Brad auctioned off extra rolls from dinner with the money going in to the scholarship fund. MSA Lafland Legacy Award- Mike Grass Jr proposed a new award to be given out at the MSA Annual Meeting. Mark read Mike’s proposal. Awarded to the Outstanding Trailmaster Or Trailworker. Winner would be nominated by standard Formstack submission and chosen by Eileen Lafland or a panel of MSA Peers chosen by Eileen. (This Award is not only for Larry but Eileen as well for both her and Larry’s dedication to MSA for many, many years.) He asked for a motion that was made by Ron and seconded by Jerry and the motion passed. Snowmobile Liability Insurance- Al has been talking with others about our liability coverage He was advised to talk to check with Insurance Commissioner’s Office and may be they could find away to reduce the cost. Al presented Eileen with a print that he had made from the Golf Tournament of Larry, Al and Joe. Mark had President’s shirt for sale. The club also had sweatshirts for sale. Al also showed a new sign that has a QR code on it to join MSA. He had 75 of them and the thought is to put them at Park and Ride and clubs on the trials. Mark then asked if all the current club presidents would come forward. They were presented with a coffee mug in appreciation of their support of MSA and their work with their clubs. 50/50 Drawing- Tonight’s amount is $85 was to go to the scholarship fund. Three members of the committee were present and they made the decision to add this amount to the funds raised by Brad’s program tonight to increase the match. The winner was Ken White and he donated it back to the scholarship fund. Pot of Gold- Canton Hi- Riders was drawn. They were not present. Snowdo in Rangely and Groomer Rodeo in Medway. Eileen asked to speak to a funny story that happened at Larry’s memorial. Larry’s niece had a bouquet of flowers made. She sent a friend of hers to get a snowmobile to be placed in the flowers. The friend is not a snowmobiler and he came back with a Polaris. When we discovered it was a Polaris, we nose dived it into the flowers. Motion to adjourn.

Western Region- Jerry Major thanked the Leeds Stumpthumpers SC for the wonderful meal and hosting this event. He reported he attended the funeral of Libby Nilsen from the Pejepscot Sno-Chiefs. She was an extremely active member of that club. Not much else to report except that he is selling his sleds and trailer and getting a side by side. Contact him if you are interested. Central Region- Ron Nunes also stated there was not much to report. Clubs are waiting for snow. Northern Region- Nick Morrill reported there is some riding in the County. The central to northern part is out panning and putting up trail markers. Just like every place else more snow is needed. Eastern Region- Eileen Lafland reported there is also limited riding in some parts of the region. Millinocket area, Shin Pond and around Pittston Farms do have riding. The February meeting will be Feb. 15 th at the East Branch Sno-Rovers in Medway. There is a showcase ride in the works for that day. There is also a trail dedication for Rick Levasseur and it is hoped the showcase ride will attend that. More info to follow. Mark and Matt are heading the ride up along with members of the East Branch Sno-Rovers. From the trail dedication the ride will go to the Timber Cruisers for lunch and back to Medway. The directors meeting will be that evening with a meal at 6 and meeting to follow. On a personal note- Eileen thanked everyone for their support this past month. She expressed she appreciates everything everyone has done. Director of Operations- Al Swett thanked everyone for coming as well. He stated this past month has had a great deal of hardships for everyone. He quoted a statement that past president Jim White once told him, “When we change seasons to winter, we turn in to a snowmobile family.” He spoke about Larry being a great friend and one he will miss. He and the office have been receiving calls asking where the riding is. He stated Safety Never Ends, and Safety First should be on everyone’s mind. There has been one death in Fort Fairfield and two snowmobiles went through the ice on Moose River in Rockwood. They both survived. Al mentioned he has seen some very unsafe riding all ready this year. Some people are riding way too fast for the conditions. There are safety posts on the MSA Facebook page. He is trying to work with IF&W to do safety spots as well. Eileen mentioned we do have a connection with Channel 5 news in Bangor. Al thanked her for the recent safety piece that was aired. Al has done a safety presentation to 5&6grade students, 7&8 grade students and high school students in Medway. On Feb 3rd he will do another one in Rangeley. Mark introduced Chris Gamache from Polaris Ride Command. Chris stated most of the United States and Canada are not riding yet. He is working to update trails in Maine and will continue to get a good base layer that could include trails other than ITS trails. He is also working with some clubs to get their landowners digitized. He shared a screen shot of Mark ( a Ski-Doo owner) sitting on a Polaris at the Lexington BBQ. Scholarship- Barry Ryan reported the MSA Scholarship fund is doing very well. The committee will be awarding three scholarships this year. He thanked everyone for their donations and stated the donations are for our future as the students who receive them will hopefully be the next generation of club members. A question was asked if the committee had thought about expanding to include grandchildren. The answer was- they could look in to it. Funding Committee- Matt Stedman reported there has been legislation submitted through our lobbyist James Cote to take 40% of snowmobile sales tax and put it directly into the snowmobile trails fund. There is no final language on this yet, so stay tuned. The bill was submitted early,

P resident Mark C. opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. He then thanked everyone for coming, thanked Brad and Marie for organizing the meeting, thanked Leeds Stumpthumpers for cooking a great meal and the Asylum Lodge for allowing us to meet here. Secretary’s Report- Everyone was asked if they had read the Secretary’s report from the December meeting. It was commented there were spelling errors but otherwise it looked fine. Ron Nunes made a motion to accept, Jerry Major seconded and the motion passed. Treasure’s Report- Assistant Treasurer Barry Ryan presented the following report: Monthly Income $60,443.95, Monthly expenses $49,880.28, Net Revenue $10.563.67. The Checking Account has $178.171.00, the Dedicated Account $157,204.47, Special Events Account $4,987.53, Building Fund $54,994.37, Short Term CD $85,600.00, Brain Wass Safety Fund $3,997.00, Scholarship Savings $7,380.37, and the Scholarship CD $60,563.56. There were no questions for Barry or Lori so the Treasurer’s report will be placed on file. President’s Comments- Mark stated this is the third week of January and we are going to look at the positive not the negative. Positives- the ground is frozen; we just need more snow. Another positive- clubs have had plenty of time to brush back the trails, fix or replace bridges, and to get their signs out. Vice President’s Comments- Matt Stedman said it was nice to be here as he doesn’t get down this way much. He thanked everyone for having us. He reported on the National Park Service connection issue in to NH. They had an engineering study done and reported the bridges no longer meet their new standards. Multiple states have been in contact with them as well as Joe Higgin’s office to work this situation out by stating the bridges are safe and were engineered to a standard. With low snow state wide there is not a lot of traffic yet, but we will continue to move forward while we wait for snow. Trail Signage- If you are opening your trail system, you should have ALL your signs in place FIRST. There have been posts by clubs that their trails are open and that they will doing their signage now. Signs should be first. Clubs need to do due diligence for safety reasons both for the riders and for the club’s liability. Clubs that say their trails are open will have riders because others places do not have snow, so please sign first. Safety First, Riding and having fun second. Snowmobile clubs don’t have an official Trail Open or Trail Closed sign, so in lieu of that, please use common sense. Mark, Matt, James Cote and Joe Higgins have been meeting biweekly or monthly on a regular basis. Notes from the last meeting – year to date registrations numbers are down which is no surprise in a low snow year. Please remind people that registration money is what pays the club grants and encourage them to register their sled. On a positive note- gas tax revenue is ahead and coming in strong. There was a bill last year to increase ATV and snowmobile portion of the gas tax. Preliminary numbers show this could bring in $200,000 to $250,000 to the fund. Ron Nunes asked about the bridges and what brought this issue up. Matt noted he wasn’t sure. NH is keeping us up to date and the hope is at least recreational use can be Betsy Watson, Secretary 207-205-1559 412 Roberts Ridge Rd, East Waterboro, ME 04030 watson.betsy29@gmail.com

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From The Executive Board

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ell, folks, winter has not started very well. But folks are trailering for snow, and they are finding it. With lots of riders they are all going to the same spots. This creates a hazardous environment. There are too many sleds in certain areas; with the low snowfall, the trails wear out fast, and the ice gives way to very slippery conditions. Many riders are not prepared for the changing trail, experience is a key factor. Many riders drive beyond their experience. Too fast, out of control, riding in the middle of the trail, not paying attention to the changing weather and trail conditions. This creates bad outcomes and even death. I hope people slow down and enjoy our trail system built by the best volunteers in the snowmobile industry. The East Branch Snowmobile Club and I promoted snowmobile safety last month at the Medway and East Millinocket Schools. It was a wonderful time, and the students were still the best option. The Moosehead region is another area with rideable conditions. Jack man, Pittston Farm, and Northeast Carry have been up and running for a few weeks now. The crews in and around Rockwood, Millinocket, and Shin Pond have finally been able to make a connection. It’s been one of those SLOW start years! I hope as you read this, conditions have improved greatly! Keep the Faith and do not stop the snow dances. Mother Nature has been fickle and, while we have not been blessed with a massive snow cover so far, our snowmobiling community has been steadfast, persistent, and dedicated to the sport. In my travels with work, I cover many areas and am always on the lookout for trail crossings and signage. What I have seen is that clubs have gotten it done. Signs are up and trails are marked. I have lost count of how many social media posts there have been showing brushing, stumping, culverts, bridge redecking (or entire builds), and groomer maintenance. There have been club sponsored events like dinners, radar runs, and rodeos that have still occurred. In a nutshell, our family of volunteers has been diligent and purposeful in getting it done just like last year, the year before, and ten years ago! Your efforts are commendable! THANK YOU! To the weath erman—WE ARE READY ! SEND IT ! All for now. Brent The State House is finally starting to heat up and MSA is working on a number of fronts to represent Maine’s snowmobiling community. Trails Bond Our highest priority in the near term is to help support and facilitate the suc cessful implementation of the trails bond funding. MSA continues to advocate for the most user-friendly grant requirements that also achieve maximum transparency and compli ance. We know that club volunteers are often faced with limited time and resources and we continue to talk to key staff and program stake holders about the need to make the grant appli cation process as simple as possible. The ulti mate goal is obviously to put these dollars to work as efficiently as possible and enhance the quality of our trail systems. As of today, we are hopeful that a grant application process will open later this spring so that clubs can begin to put some of this money to work in advance of next season. MSA leadership will continue to S adly, not much to report, Mother Nature is not cooperating. We had a very good meeting in Leeds, many thanks to the Stump Thumpers, as per usual they are very organized and do a great job.. Special thanks to Brad Barker and Marie they truly go the extra mile. Brad has set up a new scholarship in honor of our beloved Larry Lafland, who passed recently, and he has the Masons matching most of our money raised. Over $1000.00 was raised at the Leeds meeting. On a personal note I have decided to sell my sleds and trailer (two 2012/2014 Ski Doo 600 aces and drive thru trailer, $8000 and they are yours), I am and will always be an avid snowmobiler, however do to back complications I am going to upgrade my side by side (with tracks of course). This will limit my mileage but keep me out on the trails and involved in various clubs and the MSA. Everyone get out and do a snow dance, God Bless, Jerry

awesome. It is a pleasure doing these little safety-training exercises. Teaching safety to students and staff is a great way to learn more about being safe. Two sleds went through the ice near the Moose River and Moosehead Lake. Thank fully, they both got out. I am sorry to say we will have accidents, but I hope for no fatal ities. Most accidents are speed-related, and adding a cocktail at lunch or dinner is a recipe for disaster. Taking out an innocent person on the trail by making an unwise decision will affect you for the rest of your life. It has been cold, and yes, there is lots of ice. If you have to go on a lake check with the locals, most clubs do a great job marking the lakes with stakes, BUT remember, rivers are very dangerous, The power plants on the river control the flow under the ice many times of the day they raise and lower the gates at the dams to regulate the flow. With that comes

thin ice and recipes for a bad ending. Stay off the ice and take the trail. It may be longer, but the scenery is much better. I will be doing a safety presentation in Rangeley soon. If anyone else wants to sched ule a day, please let me know. We have safety posters available at the office, generously donated by Hammond Lumber. If you’d like some, let me know. Our MSA clubs are the best in the business. They work tirelessly to make our system one of the best in the Nation. Please join a club and volunteer to help with trail work. Please slow down, enjoy, and respect our trails. Respect our Landowners; they make it happen with their generosity. We use their land. Without them, we would be out of busi ness. Thank a landowner they will appreciate it. We value their friendship and support. Be safe out there, AL There are 235 clubs that have submitted memberships of the 284 clubs in the state. Clubs with over 100 memberships include: East Branch Sno-Rovers, Portage Lakers, Red Arrow, Pleasant Mtn, Moosehead Riders, Blue Ridge Riders, Penobscot SC, Linneus Sno Sports and Caribou SC. There is one club with over 200 member ships: Washburn Trail Runners Also one club with over 400 memberships: Rangeley Lake Way to go Northern Clubs: of the eleven clubs with memberships between 100 and 400, five of those clubs are in the Northern Region. Also, a shout out to the Eastern Region: out of these same eleven clubs, there are four of them in the Eastern Region. Keep those memberships coming in. Re member you only have until the end of March to submit memberships to be included in the final membership awards at the end of the sea son in April!! ing Maine’s snowmobile trail program. ATV Weight Restrictions, Joint Registra tions, and more! Earlier in February the IFW Committee of the Legislature heard a bill pro posing to increase the weigh limit of ATVs from 2,000 to 2,500 pounds. Size and weight restrictions have become a hot topic in Augusta, and we anticipate at least a couple more bills seeking to do the same. Additionally, we are hearing about some potential bills that would allow a joint-use (snowmobile and ATV) regis trations for some ATVs that have tracks. These discussions are all in the very early stages of deliberation, and MSA is keeping an active eye out on all of these issues. We are actively engaged with stakeholders and state agencies, and will keep the membership apprised of any new developments. I hope you all enjoy a safe and snow-filled end to this riding season! James Cote MSA Lobbyist sizable snow storms. Clubs are starting to get there grooming operations going, getting to try out there new equipment and trails are looking outstanding thanks to the club volunteers and groomers! Clubs are actively getting ready for their community events like BBQs, club rides, and fundraisers to help the cost of everyday operation. Check in with your local club to see if there’s any upcoming events in your area, see if they need help with anything on or off the trails. Also check out all the businesses listings, please go out and support the business that support the clubs and trails we all love to ride! Again thank you to all the club volunteers that have worked so hard this season for these awesome trails! Please remember to stop at all crossings and do a double check and be safe too. Remember never leave a friend behind, know before you go! Ride Right - Ride Smart Joe Walsh, Coastal region director Business Memberships 1,579 Total Memberships 8,197 Memberships by region Central Region- 1,288 Coastal Region- 902 Eastern Region - 2,030 Northern Region-1,841 Western Region- 2,149

Safety Committee

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

Trails Committee Chair Report

From The Membership Corner

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

M emberships have been coming in to the office at a slower pace than last year at this time. Currently we are over 900 member ships lower than in February of 2024. Of course, weather is not helping at all!! It’s Jan 19 th as I write this and it is Raining!!! What is going on? It is supposed to get colder this last week of Jan uary and hopefully by the time you read this it has and the ground is covered in snow!! Membership total as of Jan. 19, 2025 Family Memberships 6,618 Sales Tax As I have mentioned in previous articles, Senator Russell Black has submitted legislation on behalf of MSA that would dedi cate a portion of the sales tax on snowmobiles to Maine’s snowmobile program. This is a similar model to what happens with the sales tax on motor vehicles being dedicated to the highway fund. As of today we are awaiting the bill to be printed and scheduled for public hearing, where we hope that some MSA mem bers will be able to come and testify in support. We will keep you posted on more details. It is important to note that the state budget does not have the luxury of excess funding like it has in recent years, and any request that requires funding (which this bill would do), will be more difficult to achieve. With that said, MSA feels strongly that we should continue to talk about and promote the benefits of better fund advocate for these objectives and we will share more information as it is finalized.

Brent Spaulding, MSA Trails Chairman 207-944-7762 41 Madison Ave Brewer ME 04412 msatrailchair@gmail.com G reetings from Portage, I’m sitting at camp near the end of Jan uary, and the local club has only had enough snow to pan once. While flat, there are exposed hazards and dirt showing on the trail. Further north and west, there are sledding opportuni ties in the Allagash area but trailering there is

MSA Lobbyist Capitol Report

James Cote MSA Lobbyist G reetings Maine Snowmobilers! It sure is nice to be seeing a bit more snow in the forecast these days. Keep it coming, Snow Gods!

Coastal Region VP

Western Region VP

Matthew Baron, 207-608-3737 92 Emery Corner Rd, Limerick, ME 04048 msacoastalregion@gmail.com H ello fellow sled heads, Clubs in the coastal region have been doing their snow dance most of the season and is finally Paying off, Mother Nature has been cooperating the last few weeks with some

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

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