Jan, 23 , 2010
Up coming events will include a April 24th or 25th rally to start the season off, (AuSable Recreation Expo Weekend ) we will be having a hot dog and marshmallow roast during the ride, we will rally at the trail head on M-72 just West of town
(same as the snowmobile parking )( subject to change ) for anyone who wants to go for a get together ride .
On the 4th of July we will ride to see fireworks on our ATV's. If we like that ride we can do it again later in the summer when Waters has there festival.
There's going to be a ATV ROAD RALLY treasure hunt , possibley a poker run , a geo caching run. We are working on having an over night at some destination with camping or motels for our nights stay. We are also going for a lunch ride to a hidden destination ?
I sure do miss riding, the only riding I due now is snow plowing with my 4 wheeler, better then nothing I guess, so come on spring.
If you already haven't read the reports on what's going on you definitely should read the MSA'S
(Michigan Snowmobile Association) web site- http://www.msasnow.org/ . There are some hard facts that need to be looked at and it effects us all. So please read the web site it explains a lot of things.
We seem to have had a good response to our club. We would like to make the membership dues due at the 1st of AUGUST every year, we need to do this so we can budget for the coming year. We are going non-profit with a LLC . This will benefit us greatly in order to apply for grant monies if needed .
There's a lot of work that needs to be done even before the season starts, I have already signed up to help at the Saint Helen Jamboree for 2010, so if you would like to be part of this please contact me .
We are working on having three instructors for ORV safety classes available during the summer, it's going to a be a hands on course. We have a lot of things in the works and we are going to need help with, if everybody just gave a couple of hours a week that would great.
I found out more about the connector between Lewiston Grade road and M-93 and US-27 intersection. That's imperative to have, so traffic can get through to downtown Grayling from the North end of the county.
I received an email from Susan Thiel (DNRE):
John:
I need to get the Cameron bridge connector GPSed and then will be submitting it as an official piece of trail. I anticipate that being available come spring once the trails are open.
I remember discussion of potentially using the snowmobile trail between Lewiston Grade and M-93 but have not done anything in terms of considering that as "designated trail" If that is to be shifted over as designated trail, that requires a trail proposal and I need to get input from snowmobile interests and military permission as part of that trail is on state land under military lease. I would need a formal request from the county or your group to start looking into the possibility of making that designated trail. Note, that would not preclude use of that section of trail for a specific event - but it would still have to get approvals via the event permit process.
If you are planning trail runs that use designated ORV trail or any state trail roads, you will need to apply for event permits- which requires a fee and liability insurance. We need at least 60 days to process the permit- so I would recommend you submit applications soon. If the rides are entirely on county roads open to ORVs and do not cross any state land, then an event permit is not needed. Attached is an event permit application for your reference.
A return request will be sent for a formal request within the week.
Dues for memberships for the 2010 season is as follows:
Businesses - $40.00
Family- $25.00
Single - $15.00
Dues are due 1st of February (yearly)
Next meeting sometime in Early Feb.
Happi-Trails for now.
John