9359-R3_MSA_May2026_Newsletter

r The Maine Snowmobiler r

r

r

58 th Anniversary Season Wrap Up

An Official Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association

r

2026 Youth

Snowmobiler of the Year: Morgan Lee

I n the heart of Maine’s snow-covered woods, where the hum of groomers echoes through frosty nights and the trails stretch like ribbons across the landscape, a new generation is stepping forward to carry on a proud tradition. In 2026, that future shines especially bright with the naming of Morgan Lee of Limington as the Maine Snowmobile Association’s Youth Snowmobiler of theYear. This prestigious honor is reserved for young individuals who go beyond simply enjoying the sport—those who embody the spirit of volunteerism, dedication, and stewardship that defines snowmobiling in Maine. At just nine years old, Morgan Lee has already distinguished himself as one of those rare individuals. While most children his age are wind ing down at the end of the day, Morgan is often just getting started. Night after night, he can be found alongside seasoned club members of the Baldwin Belt Burners, helping groom trails that hundreds of rid ers will enjoy the next day. His commitment is not symbolic—it is real, hands-on, and tireless. From clearing brush and cutting limbs to assisting with grooming equipment and maintenance, Morgan has embraced the demanding work that keeps Maine’s trail systems among the best in the country. And he does it all with enthusiasm.Those who nominated him describe a young boy who takes pride in every mile of trail he helps shape, understanding that behind every smooth ride is hours of unseen effort.

Morgan’s love for snowmobiling began almost as soon as he could walk—he has been riding since the age of two. But what started as a childhood joy has grown into something far greater: a sense of responsi bility to the sport itself. He doesn’t just ride the trails—he helps build them. He doesn’t just participate—he contributes. At club meetings, Morgan lis tens, learns, and engages. In the field, he works side by side with volunteers decades

Continued on inside of this cover

An Off-Season Special Publication of the Maine Snowmobile Association May 2026 • Vol. 57 • No. 8 MSA, PO Box 80, Augusta ME 04332 www.mainesnowmobileassociation.com

Find us on Facebook

United we trail, divided we fail

vidual. Morgan’s journey is deeply rooted in that tradition. Working alongside his father and fellow club members, he has learned not only the technical skills of trail grooming, but also the values that sustain the sport: commitment, teamwork, and pride in a job well done. The Maine Snowmobile Associa tion’s Youth Snowmobiler of the Year award honors young people who demonstrate exceptional contributions through volunteerism, service, and passion. Morgan Lee exemplifies all of these qualities—and then some. He is not just participating in the future of snowmobiling—he is helping shape it. As the winter sun rises over freshly groomed trails and riders set out across Maine’s vast network, many will never know the name of the young boy who helped make their journey possible. But they will feel his work in every smooth mile. Congratulations, Morgan Lee—2026 Youth Snowmobiler of the Year. Your dedication, passion, and spirit have already left their mark on Maine’s trails—and your journey is just beginning.

Continued from cover

older than him. Whether searching for equipment, assisting with repairs, or helping ensure trails are in top condi tion, his willingness to step up speaks volumes. Perhaps most remarkable is the effect Morgan has on those around him. Vet eran club members—some with gen erations of experience—speak of him with admiration. They see in Morgan not only a hardworking volunteer, but a symbol of hope for the future of snowmobiling. At a time when many clubs are searching for the next gen eration of leaders, Morgan stands as a powerful reminder that passion, when nurtured, can flourish at any age. Even more inspiring is his willing ness to sacrifice. While many kids his age are at home, Morgan chooses to spend late nights on the trails, helping ensure others can enjoy a safe and smooth ride. Snowmobiling in Maine has always been about more than machines— it’s about community, family, and the shared responsibility of maintaining something bigger than any one indi

2

2 0 2 6

y

M a

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

i l e

r

x

Photo of The Year By Daniel Champany

F.M. Abbott Power Equipment Named 2026 MSA Snowmobile Dealer of theYear

Owned and operated by Dave Abbott, the dealership has become much more than a place to purchase or service equipment— it is a cornerstone of the local snowmobiling community. Abbott and his team are known for their willingness to step up whenever needed, consistently supporting area clubs and riders alike. The Hollis Honkers Snowmobile Club, which nominated F.M. Abbott Power Equipment, highlighted the dealership’s critical role in supporting trail grooming operations. When equipment requires maintenance or parts, the team at F.M. Abbott responds quickly—often ensuring needed components are in stock and ready to go. This responsiveness helps minimize downtime and ensures that trails remain safe and enjoyable for all riders. Beyond service and sales, the dealership has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to

local snowmobile clubs through membership, sponsorship, and hands-on support.Their partnership with the Hollis Honkers and other organizations underscores the important role local businesses play in sustaining Maine’s trail system, which depends heavily on volunteers and community backing. F.M. Abbott Power Equipment also contributes to rider safety by ensuring snowmobiles are properly maintained and trail ready. Their knowledgeable staff provides guidance and dependable service that helps keep riders safe throughout the season. The MSA Snowmobile Dealer of the Year Award honors dealerships that go above and beyond in their support of the sport, their customers, and their communities. F.M. Abbott Power Equipment exemplifies these values through decades of service, a commitment to excellence, and a genuine passion for snowmobiling.

T he Maine Snowmobile Asso ciation is pleased to announce that F.M. Abbott Power Equipment of Waterboro has been selected as the 2026 Snowmobile Dealer of the Year. This annual award recognizes a Maine dealership that demon strates outstanding service, strong community involvement, and a lasting commitment to the sport of snowmobiling. Located on Main Street in Waterboro, F.M. Abbott Power Equipment has been a trusted name in the industry for generations. As noted in the nomination materials, the dealership has served riders and outdoor enthusiasts since the 1960s, building a reputation for reliability, expertise, and dedication to its customers.

3

m o b

0 2 6 l M a i n e S n o w

i l e

r

a y 2

M

William “Bill” Heinzelman Named 2026 Recipient of the Larry Lafland Legacy Award

T he Maine Snowmobile Associa tion (MSA) is proud to announce that William “Bill” Heinzelman of East Millinocket has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Larry Lafland Legacy Award—an honor rec ognizing outstanding trailmasters and trail workers whose dedication strengthens Maine’s snowmobiling community. A member of the East Branch Sno-Rovers Snowmobile and ATV Club for more than four decades, Heinzelman embodies the spirit of volunteerism and commitment that the Lafland Legacy Award was created to celebrate. Known by many sim ply as “Bill,” his contributions to trail development, maintenance, and club leadership have left a lasting impact on the Katahdin Region and beyond. Heinzelman has served not only as a long-time club member but also as an executive board member and Assistant Trail Master. His passion for snowmobiling dates back to the mid 1980s, when he began traveling to the region annually to dedicate a week each fall to trail maintenance—long before he made East Millinocket his

permanent home in 2018. Over the years, Heinzelman has played a vital role in numerous infra structure projects that have improved trail access and rider safety. Among his most notable contributions are his involvement in the Carlton Brook Bridge rehabilitation on Trail 105/66 and a key bridge project on ITS 83 South in Medway. These efforts have ensured continued connectivity for riders traveling through central Maine. But it’s not just large-scale projects that define Heinzelman’s legacy. Fel low club members describe him as someone who is always present— whether brushing trails, installing signage, coordinating volunteers, or assisting with reroutes. His attention to safety and willingness to step in wherever needed have made him an invaluable asset on every workday. Heinzelman has also worked to promote snowmobile safety educa tion, helping incorporate MSA safety courses into local school systems. His commitment extends beyond a single club, as he maintains membership in multiple snowmobile and ATV orga

nizations, supporting the sport on a broader scale. In addition to his time and leader ship, Heinzelman has made gener ous personal contributions, including providing the use of his own equip ment—such as a mini excavator—to reduce costs for trail work projects. These quiet acts of generosity reflect his selfless approach and deep dedica tion to the snowmobiling community. Those who know Heinzelman say his character is best summed up in a phrase he often shares at the end of a long day: “If you need anything— call.” It’s a simple statement that cap tures a lifetime of service, camarade rie, and commitment. The Larry Lafland Legacy Award honors individuals who exemplify the values of leadership, dedication, and passion for Maine’s snowmo bile trails. In selecting William “Bill” Heinzelman as the 2026 recipient, the MSA recognizes not just a volunteer, but a cornerstone of the snowmo biling community—someone whose efforts have helped ensure the sport continues to thrive for generations to come.

4

2 0 2 6

y

M a

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

i l e

r

From The Executive Board

Director of Operations

From the President

opportunity to spend some of their spare time on themselves or their family. It takes all those hours of volunteerism to make it so we can hop on our sled and go have a great ride for the day, weekend or longer. Thank you to everyone who chooses Maine as your place to ride. Whether you pack up from home in Maine or somewhere else we are thankful you choose Maine snowmobile trails to explore and make memories on. You help make some of our rural communities survive. The additional business they receive (thanks to the landowners & volunteers) helps to make ends meet. That keeps a store open, a local restaurant open, employment close to people so they don’t have to commute. This is key in a rural state like ours. This is my final article in the Exec VP column. I have had a great time in this role, working closely with the regional VP’s the last 2 years, supporting them and meeting new people in every region and even on zoom at directors’ meetings. Thank you all for what you do. It seems like just yesterday when Mark Chinnock took me outside at the Madawaska showcase ride & meeting to ask if I would be his VP candidate. Don’t worry, I won’t be far away, just a slight change to the Presidents column. I appreciate all the support and am humbled by the opportunity to be elected as the President of the association. I ask that as you go through your summer that you think of 1 or 2 individuals or families that ride but are not involved in a club. Check in with them and ask them why, invite them to a meeting. And then the next step, if you are involved with your local club, is the club attending MSA director’s meetings? You can do it from the comfort of your home as they are all hosted in person & on Zoom. This is an opportunity for your club to meet people and learn and engage in topics that matter to you and the snowmobiling in Maine. We have something unique here in Maine and want to make sure we can pass that on for generations to come. I know that’s what I am involved for. And why many of us at MSA spend time going to meetings, being on a zoom call or traveling to meet with other state/provincial agencies. Enjoy your summer, get your sleds ready for next season and I hope to see you at an event this coming season. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns. Matt Stedman I said earlier that I couldn’t have made it through these two years without the help of everyone from our executive committee members, steering committee, the boots on the ground being the Trails Committee as well as roughly 280 individual clubs Statewide. It takes thousands of people each year to make our sport successful. And THAT is why we put out the best product and are a benchmark for many great people, passionate snowmobilers, that give their heart and soul to the sport of Snowmobiling every day. People that are willing to help you and not expect anything in return. I couldn’t ask for a better team around me to walk me through the last two years. The ups and downs, the adversity and challenges that I faced these last two years, I honestly couldn’t have done it without the support from you all. I never in my wildest dreams thought that when I became active in the MSA many years ago that I would someday be speaking to you as President. And I want to thank you for having the confidence in me to do just that. The MSA, and that includes everyone reading this, have made great strides in the last 4 or 5 years from working tirelessly on funding for our Clubs, to stepping into the 21st century with many online portals for membership, raffles, the MSA website and countless others. One year ago, MSA entered a partnership with Mapgears and launched a digital trail mapping app, which I am very pleased to say that it has been an overwhelming success and the mapping team of Brent Spaulding, Mike Grass and John Monk have hit it out of the park with this one! This online Map would not even be possible without the input, suggestions and trail data from each individual club. One year into it and it has grown like wildfire and we have so much more room to grow.

every other State. I would like to thank Eileen and Liz for countless hours taking care of memberships and making sure every member is entered into the database. Al for making my job as president a little easier by being Director of Operations and traveling from one end of the state to the other. To Bob for being my voice of reason and also taking care of all the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff that most people don’t see. To Matt for always having my back and ready to take on any challenge, and for spending many hours on funding, crunching numbers and working closely with James, Joe and myself with one goal in mind, how can we put more money back into the club’s hand. His even keel demeanor often kept me in sight of what was important at the moment. And to Lori for working many nights to make sure we have a quality newspaper, one that is worth reading cover to cover, for creating the Maine Guide, for updating the social media page and the helping Bob with the web page, for creating numerous online portals through Formstack and for taking care of the office accounting and bill paying. Honestly, I don’t think there is anything she can’t do or teach herself to do! All of these components are needed to have a successful association because there is no I in team. I am proud that I had the opportunity to serve as President of the MSA. I hope to stay with my MSA family and will serve the association whenever and wherever needed. I truly feel that the MSA is in a very good place, largely in part to the thousands of passionate members who are determined to make Maine one of the premier snowmobiling destinations hands down! Thank you, Outgoing MSA President Mark Chinnock

Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com W e had a pretty good winter here in Maine. More cold weather, ice, and a few more snowstorms would have been better. But, with the best groomer operators, large and small, in the Northeast, we had some great riding. The best thing I’ve noticed over the last few years is that clubs are working together more; we’re no longer just an ‘I-team’ bunch. We’re a group of statewide snowmobile clubs that want the same thing: the best trails in the Northeast. And we’re making it happen. Every club from Limerick to Madawaska have gone above and beyond this year to make Maine a destination point for folks from all over the Country and Canada to visit. These clubs are a piece of the trails puzzle that make sacrifices every season, and I’m sure proud of this team. The signage has improved, and good signage makes riders feel safer on the trail network. Thank you all. I traveled to a few events last season, but my mom became very ill, so it was hard to get away. I didn’t travel as much as I wanted to and usually stayed within 80 to 100 miles of my home base. It’s been a sad time. But I did get to some cookouts, club meetings, and a fishing derby. Unfortunately, I also attended a few funerals along with a couple of vintage sled shows, which are always a great time! Maine Snowmobiling is a life of adventure and friendship. Snowmobilers are grateful to our generous landowners who open their land for us to have fun on. Yes, there are some bad apples in the bunch, but most folks take pride in how they act on the trail. We finished up with close to 80,000 sleds registered. That’s a great improvement from the early years. We were in the top five nation wide registrations. Wisconsin had 224,665, Minnesota 200,595, Michigan 167,140, New York 94,700, and Maine over 78,000. These numbers came out in early March, so they may increase as more registrations come in. The Powersports show will be on October 23, 24 and 25 this year at the Augusta Civic Center. The Super Raffle is coming together; we have some awesome prizes, along with trailers and snowmobiles, again this year. We’d like to start ticket sales in early June. Please check online and follow our clubs’ fundraising events this summer. It was wonderful to see many of you at the Year-End Banquet. I got lots of positive feed back, sorry I was under the weather. I’d like to thank Mark for the great job he did as Presi dent. He’s a hard worker who runs a business, plus his passion for the MSA was overwhelm ing. Thank you all for making snowmobiling in Maine a lifetime of memories. Please call if I can help out Be safe out there! AL In order for MSA to have ALL the correct information about your club you need to complete an OFFICER UPDATE FORM EVERY YEAR. Please go to the MSA website: www. mainesnowmobileassociation.com click on memberships, scroll down to MSA forms, open it and you will see Officer update form. Fill it out with all the information and submit it. This information has a variety of uses for MSA including membership info, club address, officers and more. It is placed on file and if someone contacts to MSA asking about your club it is used to give them infor mation. Thank you ATTENTION ALL MSA SNOW MOBILE CLUBS!! WE NEEDYOUR HELP!

Mark Chinnock, President 207-754-9874 544 Plains Road, Poland, ME 04274 napadude66@hotmail.com

T his is truly a bittersweet time for me in that on one hand it’s hard to step down and a lot of you reading this know exactly what I’m talking about. But on the other hand, you’re like thank the lord, I’m ready for a little bit of a break. You might say well it’s only a two year term but in all reality it’s more like a ten year term because you start out as say a Director or Regional V.P. then in my case four years as Trails Committee Chairman then Executive Vice President and then President, unless you’re Eileen Lafland then it’s more like a 40 year term! God Bless you Eileen. But you know the truth is I wouldn’t have given up any of those years for the world. It’s been an awesome journey and I have met so From the Executive VP

Trails Committee Chair Report

Matt Stedman 207-557-1921 (call or text)

Y esterday was the MSA annual banquet and final directors meeting of the season. We had a packed house, one of the best attended meetings and awards banquets that I remember with close to (or over) 200 people in attendance. Thank you to those who helped organize and throughout the day. It is wonderful to see everyone there and thank so many for their support & contributions to sport, their clubs and communities. It is bitter-sweet. Another snowmobile season has come & gone. I made many memories, I met new snowmobile people, rode in new locations, purchased a new (4-stroke) snowmobile and new legislation passed. The winter was filled with events hosted by & for clubs from Sanford to Sinclair, Vassalboro to Van Buren, Alna to Allagash. It was a good winter, not a record setter but people rode their sleds from home in almost every community. This is very important to keep riders and club members engaged. I was very impressed to see clubs out & about packing snow and dragging trails as soon as the snow ended. If you are reading this, that means you are a club member and I thank you. If you helped your local (or far away) club by means of volunteering or financial support above membership I REALLY want to extend a HUGE thank you. This matters so much. Most individuals who do not help do not have any idea how much 1 weekend of help means to a club. The “regulars”, the dedicated core from each club works tirelessly throughout the year to ensure their club is ready when the snow flies. Your help may give them the PO Box 621, Ashland ME 04732 Stedman.matt@jdirving.com

G reetings from Brewer, The 25-26 season is well in the books. Although relatively short, it was a good year for the entire state. There was riding everywhere and most people had the convenience of riding from their hometown no matter where they were. I didn’t meet them, but I just missed a group in Washburn that had left from Saco. There were clubs that had the best conditions they’ve had in several years. As of the end of February, there were over 76,000 snowmobile registrations and the final number will be a bit higher. We’ll take it! It was a busy year for the Trails Committee. Inspection rates were very good and we completed 5 signage workshops throughout the state. Inspections and workshops are part of our normal function, but the big news was the release of our new MSA Trails App. We appreciate all the clubs that reached out with trail updates and POI data. The admin team worked every day from November to mid-March to continually improve our App. We managed over 900 trail updates, over 100 POI updates, and about 200 general APP questions and technical support. We all have learned many aspects of the App and the processes. We will continue to inform and educate about the App and will assess where we still have missing trails. We will also continue to accept trails and POI data over the summer at TRAILS@MESNOW.COM I hope you all have an enjoyable summer, Brent Brent Spaulding, MSA Trails Chairman 207-944-7762 41 Madison Ave Brewer ME 04412 msatrailchair@gmail.com

(207)557-1921 – call or text stedman.matt@jdirving.com

5

m o b

0 2 6 l M a i n e S n o w

i l e

r

a y 2

M

From The Executive Board Secretary’s Report - Shanna Towle Directors Meeting - At Jeff’s Catering, Brewer, Maine - April 25, 2026

Joe Higgins, DACF: welcome, my office financial part of what you do, 3300 registrations over last year, signs more important than grooming so thank you for signing. Get reimbursement grants in, deadline is next week. With LD1547 thanks to Matt & James for all you did with this, this will increase the CEG funding and help decrease the shortfall for funding. Updating the CEG some. Joe will be retiring August 1st this year. Standing Committee Reports: Safety- Al said 2 deaths this year. Been talking about safety to the kids. Safety signs have been a big hit. There are signs in the back of the room to take. Scholarship- Barry recognized the committee, awards presented later this afternoon. MSA Trails & MapGears- Brent was a short season but riding in the entire state. Clubs did awesome job with what we got, we have a few holes to fill for inspectors but working on that, we did reduce the number of maps this year and did have 2 cases left, as of March 31st had 14,271 download 5,527 subscriptions & MapGears is very pleased with MSA. Did approximately 900 updates, 200 POI’s and several hundred email responses, we have about 2500 miles left to go for data on club trails, we share our data with BRP & Polaris, come a long way in 1 year when we started this app, communication is going to be key to this. Hospitality & Hall of Fame- Gail been sending cards out left and right but left list at home, read a story/joke. Membership- Eileen has the Phil Fletcher award with 9 to present today Old Business: 2026 Budget- Are there any questions on the budget? Jerry motioned accept, Ron seconded, motion carried to approve as written. Election of Officers for 2026-27 Season- Read by Mike Grass Jr., Jerry motion to accept as read, Ron seconded, motion carried & new officers accepted. President: Matt Stedman Ex. Vice President: Eileen Lafland Treasurer: Lori Hemmerdinger Assistant Treasurer: Barry Ryan Secretary: Shanna Towle Eastern Region VP: Barry Ryan Eastern Region Directors: Charlie Huntington, Craig Lemieux Northern Region Directors: Jeff Brooks, Denise Duperre Central Region Directors: Alan Dugas, Dave Cogley Western Region Directors: Paul Gallant, Paul Kennedy, Brad Barker Coastal Region VP: Dave Watson Coastal Region Directors: Tom England, Joe Walsh, Matt Barron Northern VP: Nick Morrill Central Region VP: Ron Nunes Western VP: Jerry Major New Business: Super Raffle- Al gave update on sleds for prizes, have Nitro trailer in production soon, have some great prizes this year too. Working hard to get tickets out earlier this year. MSA Powersports Show- Oct 23-25, 2026 this year. Golf Scramble- Mike says will be on June 27 Hermon Meadows 9am sharp, let’s see if we can duplicate last year, hope for better weather, see you there. There are 60 silent auction items on display Special Presentations Matt presented Super raffle sales top winners in each region. John Monk (started as a joke) presented “Goofy” awards Matt presented to Mark appreciation gift for dedication to the MSA Pot of Gold: Every club that is here today is in the bucket. Chris Gamache picked Narraguagus SC who won $400 to take back to the club. Meeting adjourned at 11:46 and after brief lunch break hosted by Jeff’s Catering, the awards presentation started after lunch.

Coastal Region VP

developing new trails. To all those volunteers, I extend a sincere thank you for your dedication and effort. I would also like to give a very special thank you to all our landowners. Without your continued support and permission to use your land, we simply would not have the trail system we enjoy today. To all riders, please remember to always respect the landowners and their property – this respect is essential to preserving our trails for the future. At the annual banquet and awards, the Central Region had a strong and respectable showing. We received a number of awards and recognitions for both our clubs and individual members. Congratulations to everyone – well deserved. On a personal note, I would like to extend my appreciation to Dave Cogley and Alan Dugas for their service as Central Region Directors. Your leadership and commitment have made a meaningful impact. Finally, I want to recognize the efforts of our legislative team and the MSA as a whole. Their continued work ensures that riding in Maine remains among the best in quality anywhere. As always, if there is anything I can do to help, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for everything you do. Ron Nunes Last and certainly not least- You all don’t know how much the Hall of Fame award means to me. It is an award Larry and I share together and something I am soooo proud of. I was totally taken by surprise and couldn’t think straight but know I cherish it immensely. Have a great summer everyone. Come back in September ready to start the new season. Eileen to Lori Hemmerdinger for being such a great friend and everything she does for MSA to Mark Chinnock for the support and your leadership the past two years to Liz in the office for your assistance when ever I called with a request to Matt Stedman for choosing me and having confidence I can do the job to the Steering Committee members who have done so much to keep MSA moving forward to all the clubs in the state and their members for everything you do to make Maine snow mobiling the best and to everyone who has supported me these past 23 years!! Good luck to your new Eastern Region VP: Barry Ryan. Our season is over, but we never stop loving the snow. Enjoy your summer and be safe. Dave clubs for being ready for snow, which we got this year. The trails were great. The grooming was great. It’s great that you all responded incredibly quickly when the snow arrived. I also want to say thanks to my regional directors for being there if something needed to be done: Tom England, Joe Walsh, and Matt Baron. I have a great team. The MSA Annual Awards Banquet also recognized the coastal region. MSA Dealer of the Year, FM Abbott, received this award for the third time. Their dedication to helping clubs has been going on for years. Congratulations to Wayne Keniston for being introduced to the Hall of Fame. His dedication to clubs certainly was recognized. MSA is already working on next year, and we are always looking for your thoughts on how to keep Maine the #1 place to ride in the East. Please reach out to me or my directors with your thoughts or questions.

David Watson • 207-205-1558 412 Roberts Ridge Rd, E Waterboro, ME 04030 Dwatson6841@gmail.com S pring has certainly been a cold one: rain, snow, but today, with the sun shining, it’s 76 degrees and sunny, the way it should be. I want to say thank you to all the coastal

Shanna Towle, Secretary 207-341-1747 878 Main Steet, Palmyra, ME 04965 shannatowle@gmail.com

Attendees: Not available Meeting called to order at 9:14 am by President Mark Chinnock. Secretary’s Report: Jerry Major made motion to accept as written, Jon Raymond seconded, motion carried. Treasurer’s Report: Jerry Major made motion to accept as written, Jon Raymond seconded, motion carried.: Lori read report, no errors or omissions so will be placed on file at the office. President’s Comments: Mark welcome all. Bittersweet goodbye as president and wouldn’t change the experience, couldn’t ask for a better team for the past two years. Ex VP Comments: Matt great to see everyone out to wrap up another season. Good year in legislation too. This is a great team and proud to be part of the association. Director of Operations: Al been chugging along. VP Reports: Western- Jerry went to a lot of club meetings this year. Want to recognize my directors. Thank you Central- Ron thanks all for coming. Everyone worked really hard this year, and the cold weather held everything together with the lack of snow. Recognize regional directors. Northern- Nick recognized regional directors. Largest storm in the county was 9” but kicked off in November then got snow in December and clubs did amazing job with the snow we got this year. School vacation week went well, good influx for businesses this season. Frenchville will be joining the MSA in the next season, great to see them come on board. Moosetown just wrapped and ended last Wednesday. Eastern- Eileen said Tom West part of the Narraguagus Club lost this week. Been doing this for 23 years. Recognized regional directors. Coastal- David thanks for being here. Thanks Mark for your two years. We finally got snow. Recognized regional directors. Guest Speakers: James Cote, Lobbyist: best news to deliver MSA has made a lot of progress this year. Big win last year was the MTP. LD1547 was our bill to two-tiered registration in July 2027 passed (extra after Dec 16th portion goes to trail fund). Any new bill will be introduced in December. Tyler Leach , Maine Game Warden Aroostook County: Enforcement efforts- had 13 OUI’s; 20 details (landowner/complaints); Jackman detail (near Sugarbush); 2025-26 stats- 59 crashes with personal injury, 2 fatal crashes, 60 trespass complaints addressed, off trail riding signage working, none traditional users (using sled as mode of transportation), modified exhaust 68 “cans” addressed: how can wardens help- know your local warden & be in contact, good signage, (if you put no off trail let wardens know), contact landowners when issues arise.

Eastern Region VP

Eileen Lafland, 207-843-7813 PO Box 733, Holden ME 04429 L.andE.lafland525476@gmail.com O for 23 years to my regional directors from this past year: Barry Ryan, Charlie Huntington, Craig Lemieux, and Gary Dowling ne last time. Here it is short and sweet! Thank you- to all the Eastern Region clubs

Central Region VP

Ron Nunes, 401-527-5370 260 Last Round Up Rd, Lexington Twp, ME 04961 Thelastroundup2018@gmail.com W e’ve had a very respectable season. While snowfall was modest, the consistently cold temperatures helped preserve what snow we did have, making for durable conditions and some great riding throughout the region. All our Central Region clubs worked incredibly hard to keep trails open – whether dealing with landowner concerns, rerouting or

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

6

2 0 2 6

y

M a

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

i l e

r

From The Executive Board

nearly 200 folks in attendance. I’m so proud of all the recipients of awards, they all were well deserved. Especially to be able to induct my old friend, Leon Dunn (now deceased) into the Hall of Fame with so many of his family and members of the Windy Valley club of Newry in attendance. This was special to me as Leon friended me when I got into inspecting trails, and the wife and I unloaded our sleds in their yard many times. Another special award was Groomer of the Year, awarded to my friend Ken Gammon, it was great to see so many of the Norway Trackers in attendance to honor Ken. As I have stated this numerous times, but it was truly a pleasure to visit many clubs this last season. The wife and I are hoping to do the same next season, so you folks that we didn’t get to see in the Western region, be sure to let me know the time, date and location of your meeting. I wear many hats and am extremely busy this time of year, so I am wishing you all a fun, playful, enjoyable summer. Till next fall, God Bless Jerry Major

Western Region VP

Jerry Major, Cell: 207-838-0892 137 Morrill Rd, Norway ME 04268 mrfun101jem@gmail.com S adly, the season is over, not a lot of snow, but what we got was put to great use. The annual banquet was a great success,

MSA Scholarship Fund Committee Awards Annual Scholarships At this year’s MSA annual banquet the Scholarship Fund Committee had the pleasure of awarding four $1500 scholarships. The committee would like to thank the family of Robert (T-Bone) Libby Jr and the Route 11 Streakers Snowmobile Club for their generosity again this year. Once again their dedication allowed the Scholarship Fund to award scholarships inT-Bone’s memory. Madisyn Niles of Benton, a member of the Forks Area Trail Club. Madisyn is attending the University of Southern Maine in the Health Science Program. Kally Price of Skowhegan a member of the Abnaki Sno-Riders and Skowhegan Snow Hawks Snowmobile Club. Kally will be attendingThomas College in the fall to earn a master’s degree in Accounting. In addition to the twoT-Bone memorial scholarships the Scholarship fund also awarded the following scholarships. Kelsie Daigle of St. Agatha a member of the Red Arrow Snowmobile Club. Kelsie will be attending SPA Tech and then on to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, studying acupuncture. The Scholarship Fund committee is pleased to say due to the generosity of a recipient from last year, we can award a fourth scholarship this year. Emily O’Donnell of Bangor, a member of the Eastern Maine Snowmobilers, received a scholarship last year. When she was contacted this year to submit the necessary paperwork to have her money sent to the school, she very graciously stated she had also received other scholarship money and wanted MSA Scholarship Fund to award her unused scholarship to someone else this year. That money has been awarded to: Baylee Ward of St. Albans a member of the Sno- Devils Snowmobile Club. Baylee is transferring to the University of Maine fromThomas College and is studying food science and human nutrition, with the goal of becoming a registered dietitian. Congratulations to all the recipients and good luck in the future! The Robert (T- Bone) Libby Jr. Memorial Scholarships were presented to: MSA Scholarship Fund Award

7

m o b

0 2 6 l M a i n e S n o w

i l e

r

a y 2

M

MSA Club News

day night in the “Bull Pen” at 6:00 during the season, discussing any problems and making a plan to correct any problems, or repair any hiccups with our equipment or set up groom ing for the week. We have so many talented groomers and hard workers in our crew and we are thankful for them. It’s still too early for us to work on our ATV trails but plans are being made and equipment will soon be readied for the season. A trail change may need to be made due to a hous ing development but the landowners and farmers are always so cooperative and we are very careful to get permission and to keep them informed about any work being done on their property. Landowner relations are very important and we often help them out with any problems they may have by using our own equipment. Reputation is everything! Enjoy the Spring and be careful out there! Sue Maynard Secretary PORTAGE LAKERS sc Portage Lake, ME Well folks, we made it! Another snowmo bile season is officially in the books, and what a season it was. Considering the mountains (insert eye roll here) of snow Mother Nature dumped on us this year, the fact that we had minimal breakdowns is nothing short of a small miracle. Either our grooming crew has wizard-level skills, or the trail gremlins were on vacation. Either way, we’ll take it! As always, the club had some fantastic fundraisers this winter. The Fas Phil Poker Run once again brought out a great crowd of riders for a good cause. Chad the Hypnotist had folks hiding behind chairs and dancing like no one was watching and possibly volun teering for next year’s grooming shifts (we’ll have to check the fine print on that one). And of course, the legendary Annual Pie Auction delivered exactly what we expected: fierce bidding wars over baked goods and the occa sional pie selling for roughly the price of a used sled. Thanks to everyone who baked, bid, laughed, and supported the club. Thank you to all our members, officers and board members who generously donate their time and money to keep our club fun, as well as up and running smoothly. We are all ready for a few months off! We also would like to thank Susan Rogers, who has been an integral part of PLSC for the last 33 years. Sue has decided to resign from her position as Grant Writer. Thank you, Sue, from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done over the years. I’m sure the next Grant Writer will turn to you with questions going forward, as you know this process well. Just because the snow melts it doesn’t mean the fun stops in Portage! The Portage Lake Whoopie Pie Festival is scheduled for August 6–9 , and the Portage Lakers Snow mobile Club will be set up with hot dogs, burgers, and club merchandise for sale . It’s always a great weekend with tons happening around town, great food, and plenty of laughs. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out— Portage is FUN without snow, too! While you’re enjoying spring and summer, just remember—you have about 9 months to get ready for next season. That might sound like a long time, but we all know how this goes. October shows up, the first flakes start flying, and suddenly everyone realizes the sled is still exactly where it was parked in March. So, use your time wisely… if you catch my drift… if you want to hit the trails next year. From all of us at the Portage Lakers Snow mobile Club, thanks for making this season a great one. Have a fantastic spring and summer, stay safe, and we’ll see you on the trails before you know it.

land owners who made the season possible. Without you folks we wouldn’t have any trails to ride on. Our blessing of the sleds was a success. We hope to see more folks at the next one the second Saturday in February 2027. It will be celebrating 30 years of the event. Come join us and have some fun. Thank you to all the officers of the club. We have a great crew who gets things done. The season is over, but the work will continue in the spring, summer, and fall getting the trails ready for the next season. Our last meeting for the season will be the 2nd Wednesday in April at Sam’s in Dixfield. Sincerely, Joyce Whittemore The Saturday, March 14, 2026 meeting of the Pleasant Mountain Snowmobile Club, at the Bridgton Community Center, started off at 6PM with the Fabulous Pot Luck Supper. President Blaine Chapman opened the busi ness meeting at 6:45 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. He then asked for members to go around the room to introduce themselves, say where they were from, and if they had a position with the club. He requested a moment of silence to remember three former Club members who passed this month: Ken Towne, Emma Sens, and Sandra Gabardi. All were strong supporters of the Club and will be missed. Blaine reported that currently the Club has 122 members and 25 business members. Blaine then introduced the Guest Speaker, Eric Murphy, owner of GPS Trailmasters and Trail Intel. His companies have 18 years of experience making snowmobile and ATV maps that cover 27 States and Canadian Provinces. Eric described his newest business venture, Trail Intel, and explained how it would benefit Clubs and Riders alike. Club members were very interested, and Eric was able to answer their many questions. Thanks to Eric for the very informative discussion. Blaine reported Bridgton trails were closed on March 9th, and the Groomers will be ser viced and stored until next season. He also told the Club about a new recurring problem where 9 automobiles or trucks got stuck, trying to drive on Bridgton snowmobile trails. Appar ently, the trails are so wide and so smooth, the vehicle drivers thought they look like roads. We plan to install signs before next season to forestall this problem. Thanks to Ray Uttaro for GPSing new trails in the area and sending them to GPStrailmas ters.com Thanks to all of you who have been doing your snow dance—You are now relieved of your snow dance duties until December. The final Club meeting of the season will be on April 10th at The Bridgton Community Center on Depot Street. The Fabulous Pot Luck Supper begins at 6PM followed by the business meeting at 6:45. This meeting will be for the election of officers for the coming year. All are welcome! Bill Preis PMSC Club Correspondent See us on Facebook 207-647-2847 Pleasantmountainsnowmobileclub.com To See dozens of photos and vid eos—go to: https://www.facebook.com/ bridgtoneasyridersclub/ Club Secretary Club Reporter PLEASANT MOUNTAIN sc Bridgton, ME

This is only our 2nd article of this season because the weather was rather inconsistent on rideability. We didn’t really have a lot of news to report. When we had rideable snow our trail master and volunteers worked hard at maintaining them from Mercer to Farmington. Hopefully next year will be better riding. Submitted by, Rebecca Lemieux, Treasurer EASTERN REGION What can be said about the snowmobile season of 2025 / 2026? It was certainly one for the books, with snow, sleet, fog and rain changing almost on a daily basis, couple that with some really cold days and nights it was just like an ol’ fashioned Maine winter. We even got to groom and it was more enjoyable to ride our local trail system. Many thanks go out to Dave P., Hunter P., Mike B., Brian P., Gene B., Dale C., for get ting and keeping the trails in great condition all season. Also, we would like to say thank you to all of the volunteers, business supporters, and especially the landowners for allowing us to utilize their property for our trails-Thank You. Looking ahead on the calendar, the 1st KSRSC Meeting will be on the 2nd Thursday of October @ 7:00 P.M. at Dale and Joann C .house on Ames Road in Kenduskeag. This will be the last one with Dale C. Exit ing the President’s seat to a new member com ing in. Dale will be retiring from work and he and Joann will be touring the countryside in their newly acquired motor home (Congratu lations to you both). Just don’t go too far away -we will still need your support. I will close with this -please have a safe, enjoyable summer - see you in the fall to pre pare for 2026/2027. Hello again fellow snowmobile enthusiasts, It’s kind of a bittersweet time of year, the snow has been gone now for at least a few weeks, and we all are probably looking for ward (if not already done) to putting the sleds to bed, stowing away the gear, equipment and the trailers too. With that annual task behind us, take a deep breath, and get out the patio furniture, barbecue grills, lawnmowers, gar den tools, summer clothes and open the camps. The season of 2025 / 2026 brought quite a mixture of snow, sleet, rain at various times this winter - sometimes ALL at the same time, add to that some really cold spells (our wood pile took a thrashing this season) - working to correct that earlier this spring. Nothing says Maine winter, until you realize that you didn’t plan on enough firewood. I am going to keep this short, but not with out saying Thank You to all of the GLRSC volunteers, the Glenburn businesses, and cer tainly again this year all of the Landowners in Glenburn that have graciously allowed us to traverse their property to make a safe and enjoyable snowmobile trail system, without all of these components - we would not have one of the best systems in the region – Thank You! Just a couple more words - I promise. Over the last few months, there has been a lot going on at the clubhouse Eddie P, Missy P., Marion P., Bradley A., Gene B., Tommy G., Gail R., and I have been working inside and outside with some updates and renovations. Many Thanks to all, really looks Great. Looking for ward to starting 2026/2027 off with “boots on the ground”. You can see all of this and more at our 1st meeting of the season on Wednes day, September 2, 2026 @ 7:00P.M. On the agenda will be the election of officers, as well as other start-up business see you there. P.S. -almost forgot the GLRSC will be hosting our Chicken B-B-Q at the Glenburn Community Festival (at the Glenburn school) on Saturday, June 20th @ 4:30 P.M. until sold out - look for full details in the booklets and posters around town. Thank you and have a safe, fun, relaxing summer. Barry E. Ryan GLRSC Vice President KENDUSKEAG STREAM RIDERS sc Kenduskeag, ME Barry E. Ryan Club Reporter GLENBURN LAKESIDE RIDERS sc Glenburn, ME

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

NORTHERN REGION

MOLUNKUS VALLEY SNO-DRIFTERS Sherman, ME Greetings from Molunkus Valley Sno Drifters! Another Season has come to an end lots of things still to get done. The Grant was done by Trailmaster Rick Long and sent in. Stakes will be pulled when ground thaws, things main tained and put away for another season. Also had another certified groomer operator! Kevin Richards congratulations! We are always busy here and are blessed to have the many Volunteers we have and it doesn’t go unnoticed! We reached over 100 members again this year! Had lots of great reports on our trails! One thing for sure our guys and gals stay right on them for safety 1st and works out well, had some reports of off trail riders this year from landowners so we worked with them to get the issues solved! If landowners aren’t happy no one is! We are grateful to have the landowners that let us go they are appreciated more than they know! Very grateful for Qualeys to keep our yard sanded and safe for public! Safety 1st! Hard telling Not Knowing what’s next @ MVSD Stay tuned you’ll be glad you did! + Until next time ~Keep On Keeping On! Deb Long (Club President) MEDUXNEKEAG RAMBLERS sc Meduxnekeag, ME Well the snow is gone, at least gone so not able to ride the trails. We had a good season with no major breakdowns. Now to start pick ing up markers and signs. All volunteers are welcome. The breakfasts have gone well this winter with amazing crews to help with serv ing and cooking. Elections have been held, Landowner Appreciation Supper is scheduled and is com ing up soon. There will be yard work to do at the clubhouse as well. Rentals are going well and there are still vacancies available. Please call Tim at 207 651-7957 or you can visit our page and try to do it that way. Paperwork for Trail grant will be submitted soon. Any questions please call Tim at above number or reach out to any officer or club member. Respectfully submitted Judy CHAPMAN RIDGE RUNNERS sc Chapman, ME Dear Snowmobilers, Well, another short season, perhaps that’s our “normal” now. I certainly hope not. Snowmobilers in the County often sled in early April, especially if we could get to the ”big woods.” Remember those warm hot dog roasts, where we shed our jackets, headgear and gloves/mittens around a lovely warm fire in the sunshine? Wow, you’ll be guessing my age now! My children still insist they weren’t having that great a time. They sure fooled me. They always got thrown down a snow bank, pushed each other into the brush or had a snowball fight. I hope somewhere families are still doing this! Our last grooming day was March 6 and that’s early. We got rain after that and the fields were a little bare. I only got about 1,437 miles, and that’s in retirement. When we were still working, we used to easily get 2,000 to 2,500 miles per season. Just remember if you are coming from a distance to the County to sled, check with someone in the area for an update. We can be reached at 764-1236. Our grooming crew did a wonderful job keeping our trails in tiptop shape and we receive many compliments on them. We always pan after a snowfall to pack every snowflake down! Then we groom and later in the season that means grooming at night when the temps are down so our efforts are not wasted. Our crew meets every Wednes

NEW SHARON SNOW RIDERS New Sharon, ME

Tammy Kenney Club Secretary

WESTERN REGION POODUNK sc Dixfield, ME

Hello Fellow Snowmobilers; It looks like the snowmobile season has ended. We had a lot of fun out on the trails, thanks to Dave and Paul who kept the trails in awesome condition during the season. We want to give a big shout out to all the

8

2 0 2 6

y

M a

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

i l e

r