Winter has surely arrived with very cold temps and the ground is white.  We need a couple of good snowstorms before grooming can begin but it’s looking promising........

The November meeting of the RLSC was held on November 8^th.  Linda and Alan Whitford were the hosts and served up a delicious turkey dinner with the help of Bobby and Debbie Nicoll Daphne Scribner and  Charlie Brown, and Andy Avelis.   Thanks for a great meal!!!

Easy Bucks Winners for November were Don Hayes of Brockton, MA who was present and won $100 and William Perry of Augusta who was not present and won $50.  We still have 7 drawings for Easy Bucks this season so get your entries in if you want a chance to win some bucks.

Pine Tree Camp was present at the November meeting and showed slides and explained exactly what the camp’s function is.  I think many people at the meeting were amazed to hear how much funding comes from Maine Snowmobile Clubs to support the camp.  A collection was taken at the meeting and the RLSC turned over $360 to the camp.  For those of you who don’t know about the camp, it is a place for crippled and handicapped children to go for summer vacation and it is just amazing what the counselors do with these children. 

Don’t forget about the Christmas party on December 13th!!!  A count has to be given to Saddleback Motor Inn no later than Wednesday, December 10^th.  Please e-mail me at gavi2@verizon.net and let me know if you plan to attend.  You can pay at the door but we definitely need your reservation.  You can also mail in your reservation to the Club’s mailing address or call me at 207-864-9047.  If you plan to attend the party, don’t forget to bring a toy (unwrapped) or a non-perishable food item to be given to local needy families.

Orders are coming in for “River of  Fear”.  Please check out our web page if you haven’t read about this book.  We will be at the Rangeley IGA on December 13^th selling autographed copies of the book so if you’re in the area, stop by.  This would make a great Christmas gift for someone on your list.

If you are receiving a membership form with this newsletter, that is because we haven’t received your renewal for this year.  After the January newsletter, if you haven’t renewed, you will be taken off our mailing list.  Remember, you must join the club to continue receiving this newsletter, the MSA monthly newspaper and MSA insurance.  Our program depends on memberships to survive.  It is to your benefit to join the club.  Membership fees are one of our major sources of income.

We still have long sleeve t-shirts and hats for sale, you can check them out on our web site store.   We have all sizes available in tan and gray and we have 3XL shirts available in white.  The cost is $18 plus shipping costs.  Just write or e-mail the club if you would like one and it will be mailed to you with an invoice. 

With the weather predicted for the next few days, I suspect we will be riding very soon and first and foremost on everyone’s mind should be safety issues.  We had several accidents on our trail system last year. Please take the time to read the enclosed material on safety.  As much fun as we have snowmobiling, we always have to keep in mind the dangers of the sport.  Most snowmobiling accidents happen because someone did something to cause them.  Let’s be safe and have fun!!!

A big thanks to all the guys (and girls) who have been out on the trails working to get them ready for grooming.  

Many of you are aware of the insurance problem facing Maine Snowmobile Clubs this year.  Well, we are happy to say that it looks like the problem is being resolved.   The Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary voted unanimously “ought to pass as amended” on LD-787 this past week.  This amendment changes wording regarding Limited Liability for Recreational or Harvesting Activities and will  read as follows:

“Occupant” includes, but is not limited to, an individual, corporation, partnership, association or any other legal entity that constructs or maintains trails or other improvements for public recreational use.     The unanimous vote of the Judiciary Committee and the emergency status are both very important in that this clears the way for the bill to go on the consent calendar and pass the House and Senate quickly when they return in January.  The Governor will be signing the bill as soon as it is passed and as an emergency, it will go into effect immediately.  The MSA is working with the Legislative leadership to ensure that it is acted upon quickly.  While this legislation goes a long way towards protecting us in the future, the MSA is still actively working to locate and provide affordable liability coverage for all clubs for the grooming and trail maintenance activities.   Breathe a big sigh of relief.  Just two months ago, Bob Meyers, Executive Director of the MSA was warning clubs that it would be wise not to start grooming this year unless the insurance problem was resolved.

You can keep up with the actions on this and other important MSA issues by requesting to be put on their alert list.  Just e-mail them at msa@mesnow.com and ask to be put on their alert list. 

Enclosed you will find the schedule for SNODEO 2004.  It is almost final – the only things not listed are sponsors for the event because we haven’t heard from all of them yet.  If you have never attended Snodeo, you should think about it, it’s a great time.  A final program will be mailed to you with the January newsletter.

Hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy  New Year!

Until Next Month......

Gail Gavigan, Secretary

 Please visit our Sponsors page to check out businesses who have donated or pledged to donate to our grooming and trail maintenance program for this season. Be sure to patronize these businesses when in the area. It is due to their donations that we have the great riding conditions we all enjoy!