Wales Tales - November 2011

We have been hearing some encouraging weather forecasts for the upcoming winter season. Many sources are expecting us to have a wetter and colder than normal season this time around. These two events are a recipe for SNOW. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Our next membership meeting is Thursday, November 17th 2011 at the township building. Please note that we are planning to place trail signs on 11/19 and 11/20 this year. Details are below…please help if you can.

 

Membership Meeting: On Thursday night, October the 27th the membership meeting was held at the Greene Township Building. Attendance was good, with 7 Board members and 14 club members in attendance.

Member Kent Kessler discussed Round 1 and Round 2 mini grants that we should participate in to obtain funds to help the club. We will be working to send in the necessary paperwork. The grants will help us with expenses related to items such as steel and wooden trail stakes, trail signs and groomer fuel. We are also in the market for a new pull-behind brush hog mower for clearing trails and the grants will help with this.

 

Club Support Program: Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s "The Million Dollar Club Support Program". This is a real easy way for you to help us raise some needed cash – Thanks!

The program ends on 11/15/2011, so as you read this, it may be too late to get your forms turned in if you have not yet done so.

 

Trails: A special thanks goes out to everyone that has helped with our trail work so far. Although some work has been done, more is necessary to make the trails ready for the upcoming snowmobile season. This is where you can help. If you have a favorite trail section you are familiar with and would like to work on, we would appreciate your help!

If you are interested in lending a hand to ready the trails, please give Travis Clabbatz a call at 725-3730 or Rodney Bootes at 899-7871 and get on the schedule. If they are not there, please leave them a message.

The next major trail work undertaking is to place all the trail signs and markers.

The weekend of November 19th and 20th has been planned for placing the signs. If you can help, please plan to meet at our storage barn on Backus Road at 9:00 A.M. each morning to get assignments. The barn is located on the left side of Backus Road about a mile or so from Route 8. Look for all of the activity when you get close! With enough help, this one weekend should be enough. Please consider lending a hand.

Last year we had a spectacular turnout and we hope to see everyone again this year. With enough help, we can get the job completed on Saturday alone.

 

Please remember to stay on the trails when you are riding this season. Do not stray from the trails onto other’s private property – especially when marked with signs to stay off.

Notice: We will continue to caution everyone to only ride on the trail which the Game Commission approves for us to follow through the Game Lands. Snowmobile trails are open in the Game Lands from the 3rd Sunday in January until April 1st, only on marked trails for registered and insured snowmobiles.

Riding is not permitted in the Game Lands this season until January 15, 2012.

Memberships: Have you filled out and submitted your membership application for this season yet? There are two big reasons to get it done. First, your current membership expires at the end of this month. Could this be your last Wales Tales newsletter? Secondly, your membership fee helps the club’s bank account so we can pay the bills. Grooming is not free or cheap. Although it’s only been a few weeks since this year’s applications were first mailed, we currently have 1 new member and more than 32 renewals.

To assist those that have not yet renewed their membership, an application has been included in your mailing. If you have not joined yet, please take the time to fill it out and return it. We need every one of last year’s members to renew their membership and help keep Wales Sno-Drifter’s trail system open and groomed. If you have already sent in your renewal, thank you very much, but don’t throw the attached application away! Give it to a friend or riding buddy that’s not currently a snowmobile club member.

Poker Run: We have been looking at January 21st as the possible date for this season’s Wales Poker Run. With good snow conditions and great support from the membership, this event should be great. The trails were great last year if you missed the run. More info to come as plans are finalized.

 

Snowmobile Safety Class: Member Jim Johnson is working to hold a Snowmobile Safety Class for those riders aged 10-15. He is exploring having the class on Saturday, December 17th at the Township building on Tate road. The hours would be 9AM-5PM and lunch would be provided. There would be NO COST and parents would not need to stay for the class. Some insurance companies even provide a discount if a safety class is taken. Please call Jim at 825-9501 for details and signup.

Sunshine Person: Mary Ann Matasowski is our sunshine person. If you know of any of our members that have fallen ill, please contact Mary Ann at (814) 825-2067.

Upcoming Events:

Next meeting: The next general membership meeting will be held Thursday, November 17th at 8:00 P.M. at the Greene Township Building. Please take note of the week earlier date. This happens in November and December due to the Holidays. Mark your calendar, plan to come out and hear what the club is planning or just come to deliver your completed membership renewal. Whatever the reason, see you there.

T. Bowers