This newsletter goes out to those that have paid their dues this year.  If you mention you got your newsletter and your buddy did not, chances are they have not sent in their renewals yet.  Might want to mention to them to get their money sent to Patty Weaver, R.R. #3 Box 3136, Rome, PA 18837 right away.  Membership dues are $15 family and $10 single.

The PSSA Sled Raffle tickets are still available.  Remember I mentioned this last month, this is the 50/50 Raffle the PSSA is sponsoring this year.  The sled is a brand spanking new Polaris 340 Indy Deluxe.  That includes electric start and handwarmers.  Tickets are a buck a piece or six of them for five.  We are not going to be sending tickets out to each member this year.  Last year we got very little response.  Tickets are available from me, Rolling Acres or Colton’s Alba Grocery and Gas.  If you cannot get to one of those places, send a check made out to the Scenic Mountain Snow Riders to Patty Weaver, (see address above).  Don’t forget to tell us how many tickets you want.  Please include a self addressed stamped envelope to get your ticket stubs back.  No return envelope and we don’t send the stubs back!  Get out there and start pushing those tickets.  A couple of other clubs are finally catching on to how profitable this is.  To remain top dog, we are going to have to get busier this year.  Remember, our club treasury gets 50% of the money we collect from this raffle.

This newsletter cannot cover all of what is happening in the club.  Every once in a while, something gets scheduled that does not have a chance to make the newsletter before it is over.  As an example, today there was a work bee at the clubhouse.  A deck was added off the kitchen door for the grill and soda to set during events at the clubhouse.  No access just a place to put some stuff outside.  Also did a little trail work clearing the one that goes out to the road to Sunfish.  In order to keep up with some of the impromptu stuff that happens, keep in contact with our Club Voice Mailbox at (570) 265-7004.  I will try to keep it up to date.  No guarantees though.  After the snow starts flying, you can call that number to get trail condition updates.  Just to set the record straight, no Roger and I did not burn Bob's house down!  It has been suggested several fire extinguishers be purchased for the Clubhouse.  I’m pretty sure we can get Roger and Bob to agree.

What does the club have planned next?  Black Friday shopping spree to Coudersport.  This started several years ago when someone, I can't even remember who now, needed to make a run to Coudersport to pick something up.  Or somebody was sled shopping.  I can’t remember which.  Whatever, it has grown every year with last year taking a bus rather than a caravan of cars and trucks.  Ray McGuire graciously agrees to be our chauffeur borrowing his dad’s school bus.  Ray can really handle a bus.  Too bad he can’t handle a sled that well……..er only kidding Ray.  Can I still go?  Back to business, all those riding the bus have to cover the gas money it takes to go out and back.  I think it was around $5.  Not sure how many are planning on going, but we expect around 25 this year.  We are going to send out a little note to the dealers we plan on visiting and an approximate schedule.  A couple of them said they wished they knew we were coming.  This year they will.  I asked them to not lock the door and turn the lights out making like they were closed!  Going to find a different place to stop and eat this year. Last year we ate kinda late and I don’t think I could take all of Harrison’s whining about it again this year.  Meet at the OLD Sears parking lot.  That would be behind the Exxon Gas Station in Wysox.  There used to be a Sears Catalog Store there years ago.  We will be leaving at 8:00 am sharp.  You not there, you not ride the bus.

Time to get your ’01 New Years Ride reservations made.  The Steelhead Lodge is the place again this year.  Gotta go up and visit Big Earl and Karen.  The Steelhead Lodge is located just outside of Pulaski.  Big Earl and Karen are more like family than innkeepers.  The club has booked Friday night, December 29^th through Sunday night, January 1^st for the ride.  Price will be the same as last year, $20 per person per night.  We have the whole motel reserved for our club. We will be looking for a chairperson for this event at the next meeting.  The phone number is (315) 432-9570.  Ask for Karen and don’t forget to tell her you are a member of the club or she won’t book you a room.  Usually have around 25 that make the trek.  Hope you can join us this year. 

Before moving on, an update on our newest snowmobile dealer, Rolling Acres, selling Polaris Snowmobiles.  They will be getting in a few sleds this year.  I am not sure on how many, what flavor or when.  I am guessing they might hold some kind of special announcement when they get them in.  Be sure to stop over and say hello to them and welcome them to the ranks of nuts who like winter type activities. 

Anyone see the Towanda Halloween Parade?  Our crack crew put together another fabulous float to enter in the parade.  I have not seen pictures yet, but I have been told by more than one source this was our best float yet.  Congrats need to go out to Jim and Patty Weaver for chairing this event.  They have done an outstanding job the past three, four, how many years?  And what a great way to keep our club name in front of the public in a positive light.  We need all the good PR we can get anymore.  Way to go to all that had a hand in the float.  A big thank you needs to go out to Scott Cole of Warren Center for use of the truck and flatbed trailer.  This is not his first year of donating his truck either.  As a club we are lucky to have many many friends.  Thanks Scott. 

At the beginning of October, your club had a booth at the Winter Trails Show in York, PA.  Again this year, record number of people came out to enjoy the show.  As reported here first, Polaris showed up with their factory display.  I think that made a couple of the other manufacturer reps that were in attendance just a little jealous.  I heard a rumor that Ski Doo is considering bringing their factory show next year.  And your ever-alert reporter saw an Arctic Cat rep taking pictures of the Polaris set up.  Saw a few more club members at the show this year than in the past.  Those that had a chance to check it out, hope you liked it and spread the word.  I attended the panel discussion on Saturday morning with the representatives from the National Park Service.  It was an informative exchange of information.  I learned a few specifics, but when all the dust had settled, the bottom line of what I heard was political.  The policies start right from the top man in the agency and they are appointed by the president.  The poor girl from the National Park Service who was at the show was just following orders. 

While my blood does it’s slow boil routine, I will continue.  Don Barry was the one who originally announced the snowmobile ban in National Parks way back in April.  He was the Interior Assistant Secretary for the Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife and Parks of the National Parks Service until recently.  He got that job by being appointed as did Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.  Brucie was put there by good old slick Willy himself.  Don has left to take the job as executive director of the Wilderness Society, an extreme environmental group.  Now I ask you, how can someone so extreme on an issue be put in charge of a governmental agency that has that much control and power?!?!?!  Guess you will have to ask Willy.  That brings me to my point, this election day, November 7^th, is extremely important for snowmobilers.  I know I am looking at our presidential election through a single issue here.  Want to debate on others, give me a call.  The bumper stickers I have been passing out say it best, “Snowmobilers for Bush”.  On any issue of freedoms, George W. Bush comes out on the side free, not denying public access.  Two more names to look for come November 7^th, Don Sherwood and Rick Santorum.  Both are seeking re-election to their respective offices, Don Sherwood to the House of Representatives and Rick Santorum to the Congress, both on the federal level down in Washington DC.  I have had a chance to listen to both men and know they will do all they can to protect the rights of ALL citizens, not just a select few.  Bottom line is get out and VOTE!  Do not let someone decide what your rights are.  Get out and VOTE!  Did I mention I think it might be a good idea to VOTE!  That’s Tuesday, November 7^th.  Go VOTE! 

Sorry.  You see I get a little wound up.  After a deep breath, let’s take a look at some good news and talk about trails.  I know I have been promising that the signs for the joint use roads will be here soon.  Trust me, have I ever lied to you before?  Wait a minute, they are actually here and I have seen them.  Randy Field (most of you probably know him by his nickname Legs) went out to both Townships and picked them up.  He was a little surprised at how big they were.  Want them big nasty cars and trucks to be able to see them right?  Next step will be to get the posts to hold the signs up (stock item at Bradco).  Then we are going to check with the Township to make sure we do it properly and put the signs up where they belong.  Now on to some more mostly good news.  Our map is progressing.  We were just about ready to go to press when we inadvertently stumbled on to many, many more miles of trails in the Sullivan County area.  Seems as Fox Township, northwest corner of Sullivan County, has gone through the process to get a lot of their roads marked for joint use.  Your mapmaker Mike and I went out to visit Ed Minnier and he filled us in on a lot of the details.  That is the good news part of it.  Now it is just going to take some time to get the new trails and joint use roads put on the map.  It will happen, just not as quickly as we originally promised.  We still hope it takes place before the end of December.  As I mentioned above, there were several of us that did a little trail maintenance on the trail leading from the Clubhouse going to the road that takes you to Sunfish Pond that we would like the Game Commission to get fixed.  Cut back some brush, kicked a few rocks off the trail.  Bobby has moved the trail a little away from the creek.  Hopefully now no one, including our prez, will slide down the bank into the creek.  Not that anyone ever did, at least not that I heard. 

Next meeting: Steward’s Family Restaurant, Golden Mile in Wysox, PA. In the back room on  November 8^th (did you VOTE?) starting at 7:00 pm.  Come out and see how the inner sanctum works.  Spooky eh (give me a break, Halloween is only two days away). 

Here is where I always put in about supporting the guys who support us.  There are a lot of business people out there that support us.  Show your appreciation by supporting them with your dollars.  Then don’t be afraid to tell them.  Thank them for their continued support.  Advertisers, attention!!  This is your last newsletter of this season unless you renew your ad with us by sending your $20 to Patty Weaver.  Her address is earlier in the newsletter.  Continue to do those snow dances.  Oh and once last thing – GO VOTE!! 

Other Newsletters:

October '00
September '00
March '00
February '00
January '00
December '99
November '99
October '99
September '99
March '99
February '99

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