The New Hampshire Snowmobile Association and the New Hampshire Office of the Attorney General reached an agreement in regards to complaints against the NHSA.
In 2015, the NHSA developed an online club membership sales portal on its website to facilitate local snowmobile clubs selling memberships. The NHSA member clubs that chose to utilize the online system determined to charge unified dues (including memberships in NHSA) at $35 and adjusted their bylaws accordingly.
The State received complaints against the NHSA relating to, among other things, NHSA’s operation of its website to solicit and procure online membership sales for local snowmobile clubs as allegedly violating state antitrust laws and state consumer protection laws.
Although the NHSA was not presented with the actual complaints, the Executive Board and Board of Directors voted and approved to shut down the online membership system and meet with the Attorney General’s Departments of Charitable Trusts and Consumer Protection Divisions to develop a plan for the betterment of the association and its consumers.
The NHSA is excited to announce that an agreement with the Attorney General’s office has been officially signed. With this agreement, NHSA clubs have the ability to set the price of their own membership dues, have access to membership sales through an online market hosted by NHSA, and can provide their members the option to receive the benefits that NHSA has to offer within their own memberships, including but not limited to the organization’s Sno-Traveler magazine, news blasts, educational seminars, and up to date information related to snowmobiling. Ultimately, this agreement allows the NHSA to once again offer online club memberships which will enhance a club’s ability to sell their memberships with less work and greater outreach.
“This agreement opens many new doors for the NHSA and its member clubs.” said Beth Horvath-Palmer, President of the New Hampshire Snowmobile Association. “The snowmobile industry is critical to the NH economy, with an economic impact in excess of $586 million. It is imperative that we strive to preserve and enhance the snowmobile industry as a whole.”
For more information please contact Dan Gould, Executive Director, at 603-273-0220.