9044-R4_MSA_May2025_Newsletter

MSA Honors Larry and Eileen Lafland’s Legacy With Inaugural Award

Mike Grass Jr., Eileen Lafland, Ossie Stanley

D espite a winter that might not have delivered all the riding miles desired, the Maine Snowmobile Asso ciation recently gathered to celebrate the spirit of snowmobiling and, more importantly, to honor a man who dedicated his life to the sport. At the forefront of this celebration was the presentation of the first-ever MSA Lafland Legacy Award, a tribute to the late Larry Lafland and his wife Eileen, dedicated members of MSA, the East ern Maine Snowmobile Club (EMSC), and countless other organizations. Larry Lafland’s passing in Decem ber left a significant void within the Maine snowmobiling community. He was remembered as a driving force, a mentor, and a tireless advocate for responsible and enjoyable snowmo biling. His influence stretched far and wide, impacting not only his local club but also shaping the direction of MSA as a whole. “My time here at MSA has been filled with wonderful people who have made a difference,” noted Mike Grass Jr. the presenter of the award, draw ing parallels between Larry and other influential figures like Roy Tassinari, Dave Stevens, Dick Peck, and Maurice Marden. Larry, like these individuals, embodied the mission and purpose of the MSA. Larry’s commitment was truly remarkable. He had served as MSA Trails Chairman, actively participated in the Trails Committee, and acted as trailmaster and grant writer for EMSC. He managed local Municipal Grants with neighboring clubs and took on a

substantial trail inspection route, fos tering strong relationships between clubs, landowners, and snowmobil ers. His ability to keep these groups working harmoniously, and his close ties with state snowmobile program directors, ensured that his local trails remained a priority, even during lean snow years. Beyond his official roles, Larry was a mentor to many. He possessed an unparalleled ability to share his knowl edge and wisdom, emphasizing the importance of one-on-one communi cation.This “talk and teach” approach, as it was fondly called, became a hall mark of his leadership style, influenc ing countless individuals like Brent Spaulding and Troy Grass. This dedi cation to education is seen as crucial to the future of snowmobiling. Larry wasn’t alone in his endeav ors. His wife, Eileen, has long served as the Eastern Region VP, support ing over 75 clubs with their team of regional directors. Together, they formed a formidable team, constantly working to improve the snowmobiling experience across the state. “There were very few places I went and peo ple I met, that didn’t know Larry and Eileen,” Mike recalled, highlighting their widespread influence and dedi cation as volunteers. The Lafland Legacy Award was conceived to honor individuals who embody the same spirit of dedication and service that Larry Lafland exem plified. It’s for those unsung heroes who go above and beyond, whether they’ve spent decades securing grants

for their clubs, maintaining a cru cial bridge in their backyard, or con sistently dedicate their time to trail maintenance. And so, with great honor, the inau gural MSA Lafland Legacy Award was presented to Ossie Stanley of the East Branch Snow Rovers in Medway. Ossie, described as someone who embodies the “talk and teach” men tality even without realizing it, consis tently goes the extra mile for his local club and MSA. He’s been a constant source of support, whether it’s fixing a broken snowmobile or providing valuable trail information. He also tire lessly represents his club at the MSA show in Augusta. A brief anecdote further underscored Ossie’s commitment. During a back packing trip around the state, Mike encountered Ossie grooming trails, highlighting his dedication to ensur ing a quality experience for all snow mobilers, spending countless hours grooming, signing and volunteering for his club. Ossie Stanley, a truly deserving recipient, now carries the torch of Larry Lafland’s legacy, inspiring others to dedicate themselves to the better ment of snowmobiling in Maine. The MSA Lafland Legacy Award serves as a powerful reminder of the impor tance of volunteerism and the pro found impact individuals can have on their communities. It is a fitting trib ute to a man who dedicated his life to the sport, and a beacon for those who will continue his work in the years to come.

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