The dog ate it. What’s that? You were wondering why the newsletter is so late, right? Truthfully, winter ended so quickly I just got a little despondent. I even had a trip planned to Eagle River, Wisconsin that had to be cancelled. Now after being released from suicide watch, I will attempt to finish off the season with the last newsletter.

Getting back to good news, we actually had snow for the Winterfest this year. Can you believe it? The first one with snow! And boy, it sure brought out the people. There were a thousand more through the gate this year than in past years. Nice turn out. One problem though, with the snow that was in the area, snowmobile dealers had almost no sleds to show. They were plum out. Time to get the manufacturers involved so we can finally have those demo rides! The kitchen did not make as much profit as it has in the past. We bought some items that we will be able to use every year from here out and we did a lousy job of putting it on the loudspeaker Saturday. Now the Arctic Cat Raffle tickets were a different story. After having disappointing sales up to the Winterfest, we more than made up for it selling a total of more than last year. Thanks to all workers in the kitchen, at the Winterfest, and selling tickets, our treasury looks good again. The Czar (President Moody) wishes to express the gratitude of the club for all the volunteer help during the Winterfest. Without each and every one of you, it would not happen.

We did manage to squeeze in a Fun Run this season. Sure was nice to see all the snowmobiles sitting around the clubhouse. Inside the heater kept the whole place warm and toward dusk, the lights were turned on so we could see. Thanks go to Bob Murphy, our resident cook that day for cooking up hot dogs, hamburgers, and potato soup. Aaron Norton brought out his chili, this time leaving it in the pot till he got to the stove. Had a nice turn out on short notice. Had a couple of riders wander through, stop to say hello and then join the club. I don’t remember their names but welcome. Sure was nice using the clubhouse for its intended purpose. I even got to meet the Murphy’s dad. What a treat! He even has stories from before I started riding. Didn’t think that was possible.

On June 18^th (tentatively), we will be again holding our Club Appreciation Summer Picnic. The reason for this is to say thanks with a little pay back to the volunteers of the Winterfest. If you worked at the Winterfest, no charge. If you did not have a chance to work at the Winterfest, for whatever reason, your still invited, we just ask you to help offset the cost of the steaks. Trust me when I tell you it is very cheap when you see the food that is there.

This year, the PSSA (Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association for those uninformed ones) will be holding their summer campout in our backyard over at Pine Cradle Lake just outside of Rome the end of July. They are going to try a Vintage Sled Display there this year. That particular weekend, the campground has a Talent Show and a Male Beauty Contest scheduled. They are two events by the way. I have listened to accounts of prior camp outs and it sounds like riotous fun. The PSSA comes up with a lot of silly games to keep your laugh quotient at a high level. You do not have to camp to be able to go over and enjoy the fun. Cost for the weekend (food mostly) will be $45 per family. Not bad really when you consider that includes Friday night, breakfast Saturday and Sunday and the banquet meal on Saturday night. The dates are July 27^th thru the 28^th. For more information on this, contact Dennis Smouse at 265-8073.

The trail signs have not been received from the DCNR yet to put up on Franklin and Leroy Township roads. They were contacted and have not had a chance to do the paper work. The signs will be installed before winter this year. With this phase over, decisions need to be made as to where to go from here. Some brainstorming was done at the last meeting and a list was compiled. Here is the tentative list and the order of importance. (1) Map out and gain permission on existing non-maintained winter roads on Barclay. While visiting with Senator Madigan (see below), I had a chance to ask about trails on State Game Lands. He said there might be something he could do to try and help out. (2) Get bridge at Masten replaced. This is the one the State Forest removed when inspected because it failed. There have been rumors they plan on replacing. (3) Repair road to Lacquin from Sunfish Pond. Rumors this is going to be done this summer also. We will have to check to see and maybe we can help somehow. (4) Make improvements to the "Rusty Trail", trail from Barclay to Armenia Mountains. Several washouts throughout the trail. Hey, it’s on the side of a mountain, what do you expect. Maybe we can install a couple of sluice pipes this summer to make it better. (5) Joint use road approvals in Fox Township, Sullivan County. This township is the northern tip of Sullivan County directly south of our clubhouse. (6) Make trail to Wellsboro. I have a contact and so does another member. Both indicate we can ride from Ralston to the Wellsboro Grand Canyon trail system. More work will continue at the next meeting. Remember, trails are made in the summer months. If you put your sled away and forget about the sport till next fall, you will be riding the same trails in the same condition you were riding them this past winter. Off my soapbox now.

Ron Colton and I had the pleasure of meeting with Senator Roger Madigan in March to discus the Gas Tax bill the PSSA would like to see passed. The Gas Tax bill would rebate taxes paid by off-road vehicles to trail construction. This would put us on the same footing as boating as they already receive this type of money. It was the first time I had a chance to step inside the capital building and it is definitely worth the trip. I was plumb awe struck by the magnificence of the building. Hopefully the time Ron and I spent with Senator Madigan will spur the legislation along. Some have been working on this for 15 years. Thanks to Fred Brown, lobbyist for the PSSA, for taking the time to show us around the capital. PSSA is lucky to have a man with the talents of Fred helping them, or I should say us. Staying on the legislative theme, I hope to put a list together of around three dozen taxpayers that I can count on to send off a letter or make contact with your state or federal legislator on short notice. The first might be the Gas Tax as time is getting critical. Also the so-called environmentalists continue to try and have snowmobiling banned in National Forests. If you would like to be on that list, contact Dennis Smouse at 265-8073. Need more info? Same person. Make your voice heard.

There are two subjects that should never be discussed, religion and politics. As you can tell from the last paragraph, in order to be able to use your recreational time in the future to snowmobile, it will be tough to ignore politics. Almost every day there is some type of environmental group attacking the recreational sport we love, snowmobiling, plus other off road vehicles (OHV). They claim to know what is best for you and me by trying to convince the government through public opinion that snowmobiles should be banned from use in National Forests and Parks. The fear is this is only a starting point for them. They make outlandish statements that cannot be backed with any fact. Any attempt to initiate dialog for the purpose of compromise is met with a ‘my way only’ attitude. A huge supporter of the environmental groups and their agenda of closing snowmobile trails is presidential hopeful, Al Gore. Right now a huge war is being waged over allowing snowmobiles continued use of Yellowstone National Park. You say, "Big Deal, you have no intention of riding in Yellowstone’. The sad part is that is only the beginning. From there it will spread like a cancer across the country. Regions in our area that are already under attack are the Allegheny National Forest in western PA and the Adirondack Mountain area in New York State. Why bring this up in our little newsletter? There is an election this fall that is going to go a long way in deciding the outcome of the battles now being waged to retain snowmobiling in our National Forests and Parks. You will have a chance at that time to show your support of the recreational sport you enjoy. When going to the polls, please keep this information in mind when marking your ballot. Oh yeah, and get out there and VOTE!

I’ve heard of several members have decided to take the plunge and get new rides for next year. Even heard our esteemed president has decided to try another new one for next season. I myself have decided it is time to part with some of the green to acquire a new sled. Keep in mind the 4^th Annual Cruise In will be September 30^th. Have that new sled, or the old ones for that matter, ready to show off to the public. More and different new vendors already lined up for this show.

There has been talk of having a Snow Cross Race at next year’s Winterfest. Sorry to say that is not going to happen. More of a logistics problem trying to do both events at the same time.

I would like to close this newsletter by saying "Happy Retirement" to a good snowmobiling friend, Joe Chaapal. You might recognize his name from the sign out front of the Arctic Cat dealer in East Canton, Joe’s Sport Center. After thirty years, Joe said it was time to relax and take a break, so he has turned over the business to Larry his son. Now sitting around all day in amongst snowmobiles sounds like a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Not sure how Joe managed to hold up all these years. I’ve had the pleasure of going with Joe and a bunch of friends north to ride the past couple of years. We stay on Brantingham Lake and ride the Tug Hill Plateau during the week. Different world there then with no one around. Trails are spectacular with us putting on around 150 miles per day this past year. This year I dubbed the ride ‘Joe’s Retirement Trip’ as he is planning on spending next year at this time in Florida(?). Now Joe and I have had this running feud the past couple of years and I cannot understand why. Some folks say it has something to do with Joe riding a Cat and myself on a Doo. Whatever the reason, we do amuse ourselves with it. Well last year, before we could even get to our cabin, Joe is out there hanging this huge Arctic Cat banner on it. Now there wasn’t even anybody staying in our cabin that rode a Cat. Therefore this year it was my turn. We always eat breakfast at the same little diner on the corner in Brantingham. I arrived early the first morning and asked the girls who run it if they would do me a favor for the week. I had taken along a drinking glass and a coffee mug with Ski Doo’s logo on them. When Joe came in, I pointed him out to the girls and they were to make sure anything he got to drink that week came in one or the other of the drinking utensils I brought along. With Joe being a little under the weather, all he ordered the first morning was orange juice. Being etched in the drinking glass, someone had to point it out to Joe he was drinking out of a Ski Doo glass. Smiles all around. The next morning, when I again pointed out he was drinking from a Ski Doo glass, he politely turned the logo away from him so he did not have to see it. Joe then asked for an Arctic Cat glass to give to me. The waitress said they don’t have anything like that. Joe came back with you have this Ski Doo glass. It was then the waitress informed Joe the Ski Doo glass was not theirs, but brought in by yours truly. Scream from Joe; elsewhere, smiles all around. Friday morning Joe was having his juice again. I asked the waitress to bring Joe a CUP of hot chocolate. When she sat the cup down, Joe was trying to figure out how and why it got there. Then he noticed the Ski Doo emblem brazenly sticking out from the side. A huge howl from Joe with screams of laughter from all around. Joe did take some solace in the fact I paid for a cup of hot chocolate for him. Needles to say, the waitress got a very nice tip at the end of the week. Joe, I’m gonna miss you next year. I hope you and your wife Joanne enjoy a long, happy and relaxing retirement. Good luck. And think Yellow Snow!!

Our club continues to meet the second Wednesday of the month right through the summer months. These take place at Steward’s Family Restaurant located on the Golden Mile in Wysox, PA. We meet in Doug’s back room starting at 7:00 pm. That makes the next meeting April 12^th.

Member for Sale: Full Face Black HJC Helmet for sale. Size Large, with an electric shield. Contact Mark Moody at (607) 565-7545 or (570) 265-3397.

If any other member (has to be paid up and current) has anything they think still has value, you can advertise it here. Just get the information to Dennis Smouse and hope the dummy remembers to put it in. By the way, there is no charge for this advertising. We have never limited it to snowmobiling. So if you have an old truck to sell or want to get rid of that sofa to get a new one, try putting it in here.

That brings me to the end of this season’s newsletters. I appreciate all the nice comments about the newsletters. I have a lot of fun writing them. This issue will conclude this season. We will start up in September again. So stay tuned. Remember you can always keep abreast of what is going on by coming out to the monthly meeting. Next you will find our advertisers section. As I have admonished all to do before, make sure you go see these guys. And when you do, thank them for supporting our club with their advertising dollars. Then thank them again by spending your money with them. Sure makes it easier the next year when we go in with our hand out again.

See ya in the fall………Dennis