Well, Mother Nature has not been  kind to us  this year. With a little luck, maybe February and March will be more winter-like! Considering the increased traffic on the trails due to the lake not being frozen and riders cannot take short-cuts across the lake,  the trails held up well all weekend. We do need snow badly and the weather forecast says we are going to get a good storm this week with much colder temps. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

It was brought to my attention that I forgot to list an individual who spent time doing trail maintenance in preparation for the season in the January newsletter. This was Jim Mullen, Jr. from Billerica, Mass.  Sorry Jim and thank you for your work!!

Snodeo 2002 went very well considering the cancellation of the radar run. An obstacle course race was held in place of the radar run and was surprisingly successful. Everyone seemed to enjoy this event and we will probably hold it again if we can find the volunteers to help with it. A lot of work went into building the course and running the race. The winners were L.A. Thomas of Newington, NH in the age 11 and under group;  Adam Pierson of East Corinth, VT in the age 16 and over group; and Adam Herrick of West Paris, ME in the age 12 to 15 group.

Thanks a bunch to the Snodeo Committee and all volunteers who helped with Snodeo. Snodeo is a lot of work and very time consuming and we do appreciate your help.

We had a 50/50 raffle on Friday Night at the Opening party for  Snodeo. The winner was Todd Welsh of Scarborough, ME.  Todd won $756.00.  Todd is an active member of the Saco Pathfinders Snowmobile Club of Saco, Maine.

The RLSC is planning a one-day “Mini Snodeo” on February 23^rd with a radar run, poker run, obstacle course, dance in the evening at Peoples Choice, drawing for the ZR 120 Arctic Cat Snowmobile.  We need volunteers for this event.  We won’t be able to pull this off without some help. With both the radar run and the obstacle course, we need men to prepare the courses, etc. and to be at the events on the 23^rd.  PLEASE – consider helping us with this!  We are hoping to make up the lost income we usually get at Snodeo by running this Mini-Snodeo. Local businesses will be asked for their help with this also. We will be looking for local sponsors to provide funds for prizes for the poker run. We will also do another giant 50/50 raffle on Feb. 23^rd during the dance – tickets are enclosed if you wish to participate. Please return the stub with your name and address on it.  You don’t need to be present to win.  Remember, you can’t win if you don’t buy tickets!!  Each ticket cost $1.00.

Trophies will be given out for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners in each class for the radar run.   The funds generated from the Mini-Snodeo will be spent directly on the trails, for maintenance and grooming.

Winners of the Easy Bucks drawing at the January meeting were Lee Holman of Rangeley and Mark Kelley of Stoughton, Mass.  Neither were present so they won $50.  Congratulations to both.  (Lee Holman donated his winnings back to the club – thank you!)

You still have plenty of time to get those raffle tickets in for the ZR120.  If anyone wants more tickets, please let us know and we will mail them to you. 

We have long-sleeve T-shirts for sale with the Club Logo on them.  They are quite nice.  The cost is $18.00, plus $2 shipping costs and they are available in gray and tan.  You will see them pictured on our web page in the near future. 

The Fundraising Committee for the new club house has T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts for sale to help raise money for the building fund. The T-shirts are $12 and the sweatshirts are $25.   There will be photos of the shirts on our web page soon. If you are interested in ordering one of the shirts, please contact the club through the email address below.

The next membership meeting will be held on February 9^th at the Congregational Church – social hour at 5:30 PM, dinner at 6:30 PM with the meeting to follow.  Dinner will be prepared by Linda Whitford and Daphne Scribner – the menu is a fried turkey dinner – Yum!!!  (I’m getting visions of homemade crescent rolls).

The March meeting will be prepared by Daphne Scribner and Charlie Brown – the menu is surf & turf (Lobster and steak).  Since the lobster has to be ordered in advance, we require RSVP’s if you plan to attend.  You can contact Daphne by e-mail at scribner@rangeley.org or drop us a note at the above address with the number of people in your party that will be attending the dinner meeting.

Those of you who have not renewed your membership this year will find a membership form enclosed with this newsletter.  Your name will be removed from the membership list this month if you do not renew – this will be your last newsletter.  Please join now – your support is important to the club!  Let’s make RLSC the number #1 Club in Maine again this year.  I hear we will have some stiff competition from some other clubs that are trying to  get this trophy away from us this year!

Until next month – Happy Riding and THINK SNOW!

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!