9147-R2_MSA_September2025_Newsletter

From The Executive Board

Secretary’s Report - Shanna Towle Directors Meeting - Governor’s Restaurant, Waterville, Maine - August 19, 2025

President Mark Chinnook. Salute to the American flag

and prizes to help you folks. These grand prizes are 2 snowmobiles; 2 trailers a $5000.00 gift card to use at your favorite MSA affiliated dealer/vendor. And I like this one, from Shin Pond Village a 3-day meal and sleep package for 14 people this is an awesome prize from a great group of dedicated people. This prize has special winter dates. These grand prizes are incredible. A Polaris Prostar S4 137 4 stroke from Mainely Action Powersports in Oxford. This is one great dealership always supporting their ATV and snowmobile clubs. The Ski Doo is a Renegade 600 EFI 137 track in traditional ski doo yellow and black colors. And brought to us by MSA dealer of the Year Chase Toys in Unity. We also have many statewide gift and lodging certificates from some special ven dors. Do you know we have 2 of the best trailers manufactures in the United States? Located right here in Central Maine. Alcom/ Sno Pro headquartered in Winslow is a nation wide corporation making some awesome trail Funding: Matt said that one of our bills carried over to the next session and will be discussed on looking at more funds for the CEG & Trail grant. The MTP grant deadline is coming up on 9/26/25 for the first round of funds from the 30 million bond that passed. Looking at having a workshop at the Powersports show on how to complete the MTP grant for next year. Held one workshop on 8/05 with a small number in attendance, but the second workshop that was scheduled for 8/16 was cancelled because no one signed up. Matt urged clubs to please take advantage to the MTP grant because it is above and beyond the CEG and Trail grants that clubs get each year. Old Business: Super Raffle update: reminder that now the little sled prize has now become a $5,000 gift So that brings us to the new season of 2025 26! The scholarship committee has been meeting and discussing ways to increase the funds again this year with the hopes of award ing at least three scholarships again this sea son. We have been selected by the Route 11 Streakers to once again receive all proceeds from their annual T-Bone Cookoff. This gen erous donation could fund two scholarships as it did this past season. As always there will be a MSA Scholarship Committee 50/50 booth at the MSA Snowmobile and Powersports Show in October. It was also voted again this year at the August directors meeting that all pro ceeds from the 50/50 drawings held at each director’s meeting will go in to the scholarship fund as well. At that meeting Brad Donovan was the winner of the drawing and he donated all the money back to the scholarship fund so we already have $195 into the fund. Thank you, Brad. We are also in the process of reviewing the by-laws and increasing the number of com scholarship funds, copies of the applications were on the tables and available, RT 11 Streakers doing a BBQ fund raiser for the scholarship fund. Trails: Mike discussed the new app and how hoping to have ready to roll out at the powersports show in October. Still working on some of the details with adding club trails, points of interest, etc. App has lots of cool features. Still need clubs to sign release to get trails in the app. Membership: Eileen thanked Liz for all her hard work on putting the membership packets together for the clubs, all club packets available to circulate to clubs. Eileen reminded that if a club gets an online membership to please acknowledge them and say thank you. Please reach out to them and let them know they are appreciated. Hospitality and Hall of Fame: Gail said start thinking now about nominations for Hall of Fame don’t wait for last minute. Gail read a joke for all.

card with any MSA partnering business IN the state of Maine, there is now an online option to purchase raffle tickets that some minor adjustments are being worked out, currently only option online is to purchase $10 ticket option. Powersports Show: In need of volunteers for all parts of the show, show will be in Augusta but the layout is much different, will be held October 17-19th at the Augusta Civic Center Fall Summit Roundtable: will be held Saturday September 20 th starting at 10am located at the Eastern Maine Snowmobilers Club on 263 Levenseller Rd Holden GPS Mapping update: given during the trails report New Business: Club membership packets distributed at the meeting, also reminder that MSA website has forms available if need more copies Alan did discuss that there will be an ad done for the 96.3 radio station and that there will be 2 other stations and a Channel 8 TV spot being done, also MSA will have a table at the Maine Mariners games with a feature spot on the Jumbotron. Announcements & Events: Pot of Gold: Vienna Moutaineers won $400 toward the club but no one present so goes back in. 50/50 drawing: $98 to winner 959837 winning number Brad Donavan. 8/31 Lexington Annual BBQ 11-2pm 9/06 Andover doing Landowner appreciation 9/13 -14 Ashland Grass Drag 9/20 Northern Timber Cruiser Swap Meet 9/20 MSA Summit Roundtable Meeting adjourned at 8:29pm. Respectfully submitted Shanna Towle, Secretary ers for everyday use. Every year they donate a snowmobile trailer to help our clubs. Their generosity is overwhelming. SR1 in Manches ter handles the paperwork and their always happy to help. Nitro trailer located in Pittsfield is growing fast with quality-built trailers. Snowmobile, Utility, car haulers, ATV trailers, racecar trail ers and even ice fishing shacks. Owner Chad Dow does not hesitate to give away a trailer to help support our Statewide MSA Club net work. He knows the importance of our busi ness and is a great friend. Charlie and Son of Madison handles the paperwork another dedicated MSA vendor. All these folks are a piece of the puzzle that make snowmobiling in Maine a Worldwide destination point. Please don’t hesitate to call if you have any questions about anything. I’m here to help. We have a great team from Kittery to Madawaska our passion for Maine riding is second to none. Be safe out there! Al mittee members. Presently there are six mem bers and a seventh was added recently. We have two more members that will be joining the committee bringing the total to nine. As the committee moves forward this year, it will explore other ways of increasing the fund so that more of our MSA members who want to further their education can. If any member, club, or organization wants to contribute to the scholarship fund, all you have to do is send the donations to the MSA office and specify it is for the scholarship fund. Your donations are funding the future education of our members who are also the future of this sport. If you want to apply for a scholarship, you can find the information on the MSA web site. Deadline for the applications is April 1st and you are encouraged to get them in early. These scholarships are available to any MSA member of any age or their immediate family member. Past recipients can apply again by filling out a new applications and submitting new information.

Maine Snowmobiling. The weather folks are predicting a lot of snow and cold weather for our State. Let’s hope so. The off-season has been busy preparing for a new Snowmobile Powersports Show this October. The Augusta Civic Center will come alive the 17th 18th and 19th displaying all things in the power sports industry. We are looking for volunteers. This year’s show will be laid out a little dif ferent outside. Construction and a new front lawn will keep us from displaying trailers and groomers on the front of the building. Instead, we will be in the North parking lot. More room to supply our vendors new and old to show off their equipment. The Vintage show is always a hit and will be this year as well. Charlies Motor Mall here in Augusta will be our official sponsor again this year, thanks to Jeff Hanson and of course, The Sherman Fam ily at Charlies that make our show happen. The Raffle is in full swing. This is a great time for your club to make some money. We supply the raffle tickets, posters advertising Safety: Alan said we lost a North Anson member, and the funeral was coming up. Al said, “be careful on the ice”. Al also said want to get out to more schools and clubs to get safety talks done. Scholarship: Harvey gave breakdown on the What a year the 2024-2025 season was for the MSA scholarship fund. It started in September with a very generous donation from the Route 11 Streakers SC and the fam ily of Robert Libby Jr. (T-Bone) when they donated the proceeds from their annual T-Bone cookoff to the scholarship fund. The donations continued due to the sudden passing of Larry Lafland and his family requesting donations in his memory to the fund. That meant three scholarships could be awarded. Then in April when the committee was reviewing the most applications we have received in many years an unexpected donation was received increas ing the committee’s ability to award five scholarships for that year!! Also in January, Brad Barker proposed the Lafland Scholarship Award funded by donations and matched by his local Masonic Hall. The money in that fund has not been used and continues to grow as more donations in Larry Lafland’s memory are added to it. Opening remarks done by President Mark C. Welcome to all in attendance and touch briefly on upcoming events. Secretary’s report: Copies were given out to read. Motion to accept report as written by Jerry Majors and seconded by Ron Nunes, all accepted, and motion passed. Report will be placed on file at office. Treasurer’s report: Copies were given out and were read by Assistant Treasurer, Barry Ryan. No objections so report will be placed on file at the office. Ex VP comments: Matt welcomed all in attendance. Indicated that there was lots to talk about. Regional VP reports: Eastern- Eileen recognized that Burlington club is back Western- Jerry said that ITS 89 in oxford has a landowner issue and efforts to resolve is ongoing Central- Ron said things are moving along for the start of the new season. Also welcome back to Burlington Coastal- David mentioned the T-bone trail cookout on Sept 16th by RT 11 Streakers Northern- No zoom link available so no report Director of Operations: Alan welcomed all in attendance. Indicated been busy but been good. Been taking the prize sleds around to sell tickets already, also summer has been good, we had rain at the Golf Scramble, but everyone had a good time H ello Folks,

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

Attendance: President: Mark Chinnock, Executive VP: Matt Stedman, aSecretary: Shanna Towle, Jerry Major, Terri Major, John Farrington, Donna Farrington, Tom England, Charlie Huntington, Brad Barker, Harvey Chesley, Joe Walsh, Joe Walsh Jr, Brad Donovan, Richard Merrill, Mick DeLong, Dave Taylor, Linwood Cowan, David Cogley, Barry Ryan, Gail Ryan, Marion Pinkham, Mike Grass Jr, Eileen Lafland, John Monk, Melanie Monk, Cathy Horne, Richard Horne, Jeff St Pierre, Kelley St Pierre, Lori Nunes, Ron Nunes, Bob Corthell, Andrew Merrill, Philip Ripa, David Watson, Bob Flagg, Theodore Misiaszek, Brad Porter, John Nelson, Tim Drake, Ed Brownell, Kathy Brownell, Al Swett, Liz Mahaleris Meeting called to order at 7:04pm by

Director of Operations

Alan Swett, 207-872-7282 234 County Rd, Waterville ME 04901 snowtraveler@roadrunner.com ello Folks, Welcome to another family season of

H

Scholarship Committee

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

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