Despite below zero temperatures, everyone that attended seemed to have a fun time at our Lake Carmi ride-in/cookout on January 25th. Andy plowed an oval track on the ice as well as an area in the middle to spin in. The ice was a little more challenging than some thought. It was fun to watch everyone. Thank you again to Mr. and Mrs. Loiselle for their help and the use of there camp!
Saint Albans Maple Festival
April 23-25, 2004 is the Maple Festival held in Saint Albans. Once again we will be participating in the parade. So anyone who would like to attend please keep this weekend free. We will be pulling a float with a truck and members can ride their ATV’s. We had a great time doing this last year, we expect more of the same this year. We will have more on this as the date gets closer.
VASA Annual Meeting
April 17, 2004, 12:00 noon at the Barre Elk’s Club will be the VASA Annual Meeting. We are asking you, our members to please try and attend this very important meeting. We are the second largest club of ATVers in the State and we need to make a strong showing. There are many changes trying to be made at VASA that you all have a say in. If you like something or dislike something, please speak up at the Annual Meeting.
The other thing happening at the meeting is the nomination and voting in of Officers for VASA. Again, make your voices heard.
We will have more information on this as the meeting date gets closer.
Changes going on at VASA…
1. VASA hired a lobbyist firm to represent our ATV mission and be recognized with the State of Vermont.
2. Todd Sheinfeld was named the new Executive Director of VASA. The VASA Board of Director’s unanimously voted to hire Todd Sheinfeld with a trial period of six months. Todd brings to VASA an extensive knowledge of OHRV management. Todd will be doing the day to day operations, meeting with the lobbyist firm, writing much needed grant proposals and many other duties.
3. The VASA Board of Director’s voted to raise the dues from $15.00 to $25.00 starting after the Annual Meeting. VASA has not had a dues increase since its inception. The increase will help defer the raising cost of insurance and help offset Lobbyist costs. Non-Member dues will also be increasing to $45.00. VASA also voted to set a minimum dues fee for local clubs. This hopes to alleviate problems when clubs have a large trail system and have to charge larger dues to support it.
4. VASA is proposing to change the way clubs are to be funded for trail maintenance/expansion. They are requesting that we submit in writing 30 days in advance our proposed maintenance/expansion to then be approved by the Board of Director’s of VASA before any money is allocated to the clubs. This proposal worries us a little due to the fact of possibly delaying trails. This will be discussed further with VASA at the next meeting, Monday, February 9th.
E-mail Address
Thank you to everyone who has let us know of your e-mail address. This helps cut down on the postage cost for mailings. One reminder, if anyone of you has a Hotmail address, please if you have another e-mail address, let us know of it. Hotmail does not let us send you large files (and most of them are) and it kicks it back at us. Again, please if you have not given us an e-mail address, send a quick note to secretary@ncaa-inc.com and I will put it on my list. Thanks again!
New Membership Year
It is almost time to start a new membership year once again! We were the second largest club in VASA in 2003. Please stay with us for the new year. Maybe we can make it to #1. We will be working on trail expansion this year and it is important for all of you to lend a hand. We have hearty goals for expansion this year and members are already getting landowner permission for trails. We will be doing Officer nominations at the March meeting (March 12th), so please plan on attending this important meeting.
March meeting date
The next meeting of the NCAA, Inc. will be held March 12, 2004, 7:00pm at the Abbey Restaurant. Please make note of the date change! Also, we have been discussing changing the day the meetings are held on. We will have more discussion at the March meeting. Please come let us know what works for you.
Trail Maps
We are in the process of pricing out the cost of producing a trail map listing area businesses that support ATV’s, like restaurants, stores, bed and breakfasts, etc. We will be soliciting advertising donations from the area businesses to help pay for the maps. We will need your help to get to them all. We will update you about this at a later date.
Les Cedres, Quebec Ride-February 21st
Brian Douglas has set up another ride to Quebec. This time they are heading 1 ½ hours Northwest of the border to Les Cedres. Everyone is to meet at the Swanton McDonald’s at 7:00am sharp. This will be an all day ride (approx 80-100 miles) with lunch being purchased at a restaurant along the trail. The ride will move along at a quick pace with minimal stops. We ask that experienced riders only on this ride until we know the trails better. Brian expects nicely packed/groomed trails. Not like the rough, rutted trails in Cowansville last month. Day/Seasons passes will be purchased that day. Canadian enforcement is cracking down on aftermarket exhaust. Please have quiet pipes. If you have any questions in regards to the rules/regulations for riding in Quebec, please call Brian Douglas at 868-9991 or e-mail him at vicepresident@ncaa-inc.com and he will answer your questions/concerns.
Landowner Permission needed!
Now is the time to actively approach landowner’s for ATV trail permission. We are focusing on trail expansion this year and it is important that each of us does our part in getting landowner permission. Even if you approach the landowner for now just letting them know of our existence and see if in the future we may be able to use their property for trails, let us know so we can “map out” a possible trail. If you need help approaching a landowner, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Something to think about…
In late September the Montreal Olympic Stadium will be holding its annual Motocross event. The motocross races include the 125cc, 250cc classes, ATV races, autocross (buggies), motocross freestyle and the peewees. We have checked in with a tour company in Saint Albans to see if this is something they can arrange. They can put us in a 46 passenger coach bus, arrange for our tickets and take us home for approximately $45.00 per person if we fill the bus. Different size busses are available if it is needed. Is this something you would be interested in us looking into further?? If so, please let us know. You can e-mail us or let us know at one of the next meetings. This event usually brings in 50,000-60,000 people each year!
Calendar of Events
February 9, 2004-VASA monthly meeting, 6:00pm Berlin Comfort Inn
February 21, 2004-Les Cedres, Quebec ride-meet at Swanton McDonald’s 7:00am sharp!
March 8, 2004-VASA monthly meeting, 6:00pm Comfort Inn, Berlin
March 12, 2004-NCAA monthly meeting, 7:00pm at the Abbey Restaurant, Sheldon
Contact Information
Andrew King, President-868-9909 or e-mail at president@ncaa-inc.com
Brian Douglas, Vice President-868-9991 or e-mail at vicepresident@ncaa-inc.com
Claire Willette, Secretary 849-6729 or e-mail at secretary@ncaa-inc.com
