The weather is a bit confused as warm temperatures continue to hold on but no complaints should be made yet as this provides us the opportunities to complete those last minute bridge repairs and trail clean ups that are on our to do lists. Nevertheless, the leaves are not confused and are in a timely fashion performing their miraculous color transitions to bright reds, oranges, yellows, and all the colors in between. With these phenomenal leaf transitions, we all know that winter is approaching and soon enough our ground will be blanketed by snow and our trails will be stocking up with their share of the white gold in anticipation for opening day. Fingers crossed that the predictions of abundant snowfall for the Northeast is accurate!
Getting Ready for Winter
Just as Mother Nature is preparing for the season transition, the association and all of our member clubs are also preparing for the upcoming season as well. Many clubs are performing trail work to prepare the trail system, hosting safety courses to educate fellow snowmobile enthusiasts, and holding a multitude of fundraisers to raise funds for their operating expenses. There is plenty of work to complete so I encourage each and every one of you to reach out and offer some assistance to your local clubs – if every snowmobiler would donate even one-hour of their time, the benefits would be tenfold. It is imperative for this industry and the sport of snowmobiling that more snowmobilers step up and offer assistance to maintain and improve the system. There is a vital role for each and every one of you that will enhance the snowmobiling experience – reach out, make a difference and be a part of this amazing ride!
The association’s schedule is busy as well with meetings weekly at the office from the various committees collaborating ideas to perform their various tasks to the board of directors meetings which joins together the entire team, including Bureau of Trails, Fish & Game and Easter Seals representation to discuss progress, change and ongoing issues as they arise. With this said, the executive board and board of directors continue to work diligently on a solution to the membership program. We fully understand the impact this program shut down has had on many of you and are working whole heartedly to come to an amenable solution for all. Please be patient as we face the many challenges and understand that we will reach a solution as soon as we are able.
As many of you know, the association’s primary fundraising event took place on Columbus Day weekend. A huge congratulations to Evelyn Ferrell and her entire committee for another successful Race into Winter ~ Grass Drags & Water Cross! Every year the committee enhances this event and with this every year the event continues to be a top notch attraction to all. This year 41,900 spectators entered through the gates over the weekend to enjoy the great deals the vendors had to offer, grass drag racing, water cross racing, and again this year the lawn mowers returned and took to their track to race! Again, congratulations to everyone that makes this event so amazing, the team’s dedicated hours for months in advanced and months after are greatly appreciated – your devotion to this event is above and beyond – Thank you!
Next calendar event to shift our gears to is the Trailmasters Meeting at Attitash Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center on November 18, 2017. The meeting schedule is filled with educational seminars that will benefit the attendees and the clubs they represent. I encourage every club to send a representative or two to participate in this meeting. Thank you for all that you do! From my house to yours, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!