9199-R2_MSA_October2025_Newsletter

Be a Safe, Responsible Snowmobile Rider by Completing a Safety Course

Snowmobile Safety Courses IF&W Recreational Safety Unit: 207-287-5220 Total Course = 6 Hours

Below for your convenience is a list of in person classes: The snowmobile and ATV course that can be taken completely online (for ages 12 and older). The online course is $34.95 ( course fees go to the vendor who produced the online course ). This course combines both Snowmobile & ATV content, and while snowmobile education is not mandated by law, it is encouraged. Many of the in-person courses also combine both snowmobile and ATV information. Register online www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/educational-programs/safety courses/snowmobile-safety.html Below for your convenience is a list of in person classes: Be a Safe, Responsible Snowmobile Rider by Completing a Safety Course Riding a snowmobile is a great way to enjoy the Maine outdoors. It's important to ride safely, responsibly, and to be prepared before you go. Many of Maine's snowmobile trails reside on private land. Respecting these generous private landowners by riding responsibly is critical to maintaining trail access in Maine. Consider completing a snowmobile safety course to be a more safe and prepared operator! Maine offers safety courses online and in-person.

Riding a snowmobile is a great way to enjoy the Maine outdoors. It’s important to ride safely, responsibly, and to be prepared before you go. Many of Maine’s snowmobile trails reside on private land. Respecting these generous private landowners by riding responsibly is critical to maintaining trail access in Maine.

Consider completing a snowmobile safety course to be a more safe and prepared operator! Maine offers safety courses online and in-person. The snowmobile and ATV course that can be taken completely online (for ages 12 and older). The online course is $34.95 (course fees go to the vendor who produced the online course). This course combines

both Snowmobile & ATV content, and while snowmobile education is not mandated by law, it is encouraged. Many of the in-person courses also combine both snowmobile and ATV information. Register online www.maine.gov/ifw/programs-resources/educa tional-programs/safety-courses/snowmobile-safety.html

York

Combination ATV/Snowmobile

Wells - Wells High School Rm 215

Tammy Daly - (207) 646-4565 or tdaly@wocsd.org to register

October 25, 9am-4pm

Androscoggin

Lewiston - Central Maine Powersports

Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information

December 06, 9am-4pm

Combination ATV/Snowmobile - $10.00/person lunch provided

Can’t find a course for your area? Contact the Recreational Safety Division Office at (207) 287-5220 Can't find a course for your area? Contact the Recreational Safety Division Office at (207) 287-5220 MSA – Directors By Charlie Huntington

I ’ve been involved with the MSA for a number of years and it’s been a very rewarding expe rience. I wanted to share my story as a way to encourage others to get involved. A little back ground – I snowmobiled a little in the Augusta area as a young fellow in the 1970’s. My fam ily toyed with the idea of getting a sled but unfortunately never pulled the trigger. Later in the 1980’s I owned a place in West Gardiner and had some excellent adventures on a 1972 Moto Ski. Fast forward to 2012 and I decided to take the plunge and get serious about sledding. This eventually led to becoming a member of the Wiscasset Sno-Goers. They were (and still are) a great group. I became a MSA Club Director for the Club and began my “MSA Journey.” One of the aspects of being a Club Director is that only a Club with a Director in attendance can win the $400 “Pot of Gold” drawn at each MSA Director’s Meeting. I would have felt very guilty if my club was drawn and I wasn’t there! So this is the first opportunity for anyone reading this

to get involved. Become a MSA Club Director for your Club! (Make sure the club updates their officer list with the MSA) Every club in the state is entitled to MSA club director(s) and alternate(s). From 1 to 50 members a club is entitled to one MSA director and one alternate. From 50 to 100 club members, the club can have two MSA directors and two alternates. A club adds one director and alternate for each fifty-member increase. If your club director attends all MSA directors’ meetings in a year, your club will be recog nized at the MSA annual meeting with a Phil Fletcher Award. It’s not a lot of work in fact you can even attend the meetings via Zoom if the travel distance is too great. I can attest that I learned a lot about the sport of snowmobiling not to mention making a bunch of new friends in this role. My next step was becoming a Regional Director. By 2015, I was riding very heavily in the Millinocket Area and wound up buying a house there. I became involved with several

clubs in the region. I must have become visible enough as a couple of years ago I was asked to become a Regional Director for this area. The Regional Directors work under the umbrella of the Regional Vice Presidents. As a Regional Director, I work with a half dozen clubs. My personal routine is to attend as many of their meeting as I can. I send out a set of minutes to them after each MSA Meeting that I attend. We have regional meetings generally quar terly. I’m proud to report that communication between these clubs has improved since this started. My biggest gratification is when one of the clubs ask for help with an issue and I’m able to be a resource. I know that many of the Regional VP’s would love to have others in their region step up to help. I encourage any one to talk, reach out and help with this. You don’t need to make it a big task but if you’re able to help open the lines of communication between some local clubs you’ll find it to be a very rewarding experience. VP’s are listed here in the paper – reach out today!

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