ISC Chapter Meeting Notes

If you weren’t able to attend ISC in Boise, these notes will give you a good idea of what buiseness was covered. Submitted by: Jim Jennings

Mike Grant of Snow Trails TV gave a presentation regarding his TV show only seen on Public Broadcasting. Because of Snow Trails affiliation with PBS his company is not able to sell advertising however in the past he has been sponsored by ACSA and the ISC. Recently states have stepped up to the plate with NY donation $1500 each of the last 2 seasons. The Northeast Chapter will donate an additional $1000.00 to Snow Trails TV.
NEC has traditionally awarded 2 $500 scholarships each year, today the NEC voted to increase the amount to $1000. Winners of the 2008 NEC Scholarship are McKayla Nuffer of New York and Patrick Hanas of Massachusetts.
The NEC will be auctioning a snowmobile scene etched onto granite. In addition granite coasters with Idaho ISC Logo are for sale at $10 each or 4/$35. All proceeds go to the NEC Scholarship Fund.

The Spring Ride/Meeting will be in Vermont with a date to be determined. In addition to the meeting/ride a speaker will be invited to discuss land trusts, and someone to speak on other users of snowmobile trails. It came to our attention Russia has submitted paperwork to become a member of ISC. More than likely they would become a member of the NEC, therefore we will extend an invitation to Russia to come and join us at our Spring Ride/Meeting. ACSA has asked the NEC to provide ideas for the DC Fly-in. A session on “working with private landowners”, “Rails to Trails” and “another trail organization” were discussed.
Elections were held with Chair Ann Shangraw, Co-chair Dan Gould and Secretary/Treasurer Jim Jennings all being reelected.

NY State Funding Nearly Doubled

Snowmobilers Join Governor in Historic Announcement
Guarantees Registration Fees Will Be Dedicated to Trail Maintenance
State Funding for Local Trail Improvements Nearly Doubled

July 10, 2008, Albany, NY — The New York Snowmobile Association (NYSSA), the volunteer organization representing more than 100,000 New York snowmobilers throughout the Empire State, praised Governor David Paterson for his announcement that the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) will put in place new procedures to help ensure that funds paid to the state for snowmobile registration fees in a given year will be spent specifically on trail maintenance and other related program activities. As a result, the state will be able to nearly double the amount of funding it is projected to provide for local snowmobile trail maintenance grants from $2.87 million in 2007-08 to $5.34 million in 2008-09.

“We commend Governor Paterson for taking this action to guarantee that monies dedicated from snowmobile registration fees will be spent specifically on snowmobile trail maintenance and safety,” said Mike Fischer, President of New York State Snowmobile Association (www.nyssnowassoc.org). “This is great news for the state’s 100,000 snowmobilers and the upstate businesses that rely on the $1 billion snowmobiling adds to the state’s economy.”

The amount of funding provided each year for local snowmobile trail maintenance grants is determined based upon projected revenues from snowmobile registration fees. Previously, the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) set grant levels and reimbursements in the fall of each fiscal year based on its initial revenue estimates. If income from registration fees came in higher than projected, grant payments were not enhanced to reflect this increase.

Under the new procedures announced by Governor Paterson and NYSSA today, at the end of each fiscal year, OPRHP will reevaluate the amount of revenue the state has received from snowmobile registration fees. Surplus funds will then be dedicated to trail maintenance efforts through additional grant payments. This will help ensure that, going forward, money from these registration fees will be spent in a way that specifically benefits snowmobilers.

Based on a review of revenues collected in previous years, as well as the current balance in the account built up during the past, OPRHP projects that it can nearly double its 2008-09 local trail maintenance grant payments to $5.34 million. This represents an increase of nearly $2.5 million or over 85 percent. Over the next several years, the remaining excess balance will be spent down – solely on trail maintenance activities and related program activities.

Governor Paterson also announced other actions to ensure that increased funding will be available for local grants. Currently, OPRHP and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are authorized to spend $1.1 million annually from the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Account on activities those agencies undertake to help maintain approximately 2,500 miles of state-owned snowmobile trails. Over the next three years, Parks and DEC will reduce the amount of funding they are authorized to draw from this account by a cumulative total of $1 million ($200,000 in 2008-09, $400,000 in 2009-10, and $400,000 in 2010-11). This money will be used instead to help fund local trail grants and reimbursements.

However, state officials confirm that reducing the amount that OPRHP and DEC are authorized to draw off the account will not have any adverse impact on the maintenance of state-owned trails. Through increased efficiencies and the identification of other financial resources, these agencies will still be able to maintain the high quality of New York’s state-owned trail system even after this change in funding structure.

“NYSSA has been very concerned about the projected funding levels for the upcoming season’s trail fund grants. We are pleased the Governor recognized the serious negative implications a shortfall in funding would have caused and the impact it would have had on the snowmobiling public. We’d also like to thank the many state legislators who supported us, including Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito and Senators Joe Griffo and Darrel Aubertine,” said Fischer.

N.H. Toughens Helmet Law

Starting in January, kids on snowmobiles and ATVs will have to wear helmets and eye protection in New Hampshire that meet strict standards.

 

Read more at the Insurance Journal

Did You Forget Something? Charity Reports!

Donna White, the ACSA Charity Chair is politely begging for information.
Can you help?
She’s a really nice lady but seems to get upset when we don’t give her our reports. I can’t blame her, can you?

Says Donna: I do not believe this years Charity report is complete and I feel we need to do a better job next season. Please inform me of any changes in your state or province charity person or any email address changes. We need to have every member of ISC report.  Mark your calendars now as in September you will receive a revised survey to put out to your clubs for them to return to you by the end of March so that you may total and get your figures to me by the end of April so that I may get the completed numbers to the ACSA office by May 15th.  Got those dates? SEPTEMBER = survey out to clubs, MARCH 31 surveys returned to you (you may ask to get them in sooner if you are pressed for time or have to beg for their help), APRIL 30 = totals to me. THANKS much and please be sure the proper person(s) get this info and I get correct email addresses. Your cooperation is sincerely appreciated as this information is very useful for us.

You can contact the ACSA office with any information or questions.

Canadian Snowmobiles & Trains in Russia?

At the ACSA NEC meeting we discussed how the Russian snowmobile market is expanding and that they are expected to join us at ISC in 2009. An article at Canada.com reveals that Canada’s Bombardier is investigating the Russian rail system.

The Russian transit market is of growing importance to Bombardier, but Laurent Beaudoin, chairman of the board, Bombardier Inc. would not confirm Russian reports that Bombardier is considering closer links with Transmashholding, including cross-share holding.

The story also has a brief, but interesting biography of Laurent Beaudoin.

NY’s $1 Million May Be Restored!

From NYSSA
Senate “Sweeps Back” Snowmobile Funding

June 16, 2008, Albany, NY — The New York Snowmobile Association (NYSSA), the volunteer organization representing more than 100,000 New York snowmobilers throughout the Empire State, praised today’s State Senate passage of legislation that would restore $1 million in funding to the State’s Snowmobile Trail Development and Management Account.

“We’re delighted the Senate has taken decisive action to have this funding that is solely generated by snowmobile registrations returned to snowmobile trail maintenance and safety. Snowmobiling is a critical part of the Upstate economy generating jobs and attracting tourism,” said Mike Fischer, President of New York State Snowmobile Association (www.nyssnowassoc.org).

In March of this year, the Director of the Budget directed the State Comptroller’s office to transfer $100 million in available fund balances to the state’s General Fund. As part of this transfer of these funds, $1 million was transferred from the Snowmobile Trail Development and Management Account.

“The money that was swept comes from the registration fees paid by snowmobilers and is desperately needed for maintaining and developing the statewide trail system. Trail maintenance is critical to safety and a priority for the 237 snowmobile clubs throughout the state who are willing to do the hard work, but are not willing to have their registration money taken by the Division of the Budget to plug a hole in the state budget,” said Fischer.

The Senate unanimously approved legislation, sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo and Senator Betty Little, that directs the Comptroller to put the $1 million back into the State’s Snowmobile Trail Development and Management Account, and directs the Commissioner of Parks to file an annual report with the Governor and Legislature accounting for all the money disbursed from the fund.

According to Fischer, in the past few years, NYSSA member clubs successfully urged the Legislature to raise snowmobile registration fees in order to increase the dedicated trail monies in the Snowmobile Trail Fund. These increases were desperately needed to keep pace with escalating costs to safely maintain the snowmobile trail system. Snowmobilers only agreed to these increases because these funds were to be set aside to reimburse snowmobile clubs for trail maintenance expenses including fuel for trail groomers, signs and other necessary costs.

“We commend the Senate for taking the lead. Now it’s up to the Assembly and the Governor to step up, stand up and restore this funding. Without passage of this legislation, many clubs will face severe budget cutbacks that will jeopardize their ability to safely maintain and groom the trail system next year,” said Fischer.

ISC Wrap-Up Photos

ISC Thursday June 12th

ISC June 12th

ISC Wednesday June 11th

Everyone is just arriving in Boise and catching-uo on old friendships and business.

Photos from Last Year’s ISC

Here are a few shots from the 2007 ISC.

I plan to post photos of the 2008 event in Boise all week long.