SNODEO 2003 was a tremendous success with record-breaking attendance!  If you didn’t attend, you missed a great time and you should really start planning to be here next year.  The dates for Snodeo 2004 are January 22, 23, and 24^th. 

Many thanks to the people who helped us out with Snodeo.  Without volunteers the event couldn’t happen.  Special thanks to E. L. Vining & Son for the donation of Hay and traffic cones;  Charles Budriss for the use of his property, The Town of Rangeley Fire Dept., Police Dept., Parks & Rec. Dept., and the Chick Hill Treatment Facility, for their assistance, and the Rangeley Cross Country Ski Club for the use of a portion of their trail system for Demo Rides.

Also, the following individuals who spent time helping us out with the events:  Ed  White, Don Dumont, Don  & Patty Hayes, Vince Banaitis, Gail Gavigan, Karen Worcester, Bob Brown, Lewis Haley, Stephanie Vignault, Tim Haley,  Judy Morton, Tim Lyons, Lee Libby, Dominick Pono, Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Leach, Judy Colgan, Bob Hart, Paul Leblanc, Alan Whitford, Phil Weymouth, Linda Whitford, Daphne Scribner, Judy Waterman, Sandy Dumont, Donna Allen,  Nancy Caron, Pat Allen, Paul Packard, Richard Morgan, Paul Delong, Willie Ruprecht, Dennis Muzzy, Jim Reynolds, Chad Alexander, A-One Builders, Oquossoc Marine, Greg Ferrari.  Please let me know if I’ve left anyone out so that I can correct in next month’s newsletter.

Easy Bucks winners for January were Robert Reynolds of Billerica, Mass and Willliam Perry of Augusta, Maine.  Neither were present.

The February membership meeting will be held on February 15^th and will not be held at the usual place.  The meeting will be held at the Episcopal Church on Main Street in Rangeley.  This will be a special meeting where we will honor Mr. Ron Sargent, the “pioneer” of the Rangeley Trail System.  A flyer is enclosed with this newsletter regarding this meeting.  At the January meeting, the membership voted to name the Rangeley Trail System the “Ronald W. Sargent Trail System”.  Mr. Sargent is in failing health and without his past dedication and hard work during times when many of the luxuries we have now didn’t exist, we wouldn’t have the elaborate trail system we all enjoy today.   We  hope to have good attendance for this ceremony to honor Mr. Sargent.  Hopefully, he will be well enough to attend himself.   I’m sure we will all be very thankful to Mr. Sargent for the things he did years ago to create the trails after we listen to the program and watch the slide show his sons are putting together for this evening. 

Also, Don’t forget the February 22^nd RLSC dance at Peoples Choice.   This is the night we will be drawing the winning the ticket for the Mini-Rev Ski-Doo snowmobile.  If you haven’t sent your tickets in yet, you still have time. If you need tickets, you can request them by regular mail or e-mail. The dance will start at 8:30 PM. 

All reports are that the trails are in exception condition this year.  We have less snow than usual so far this winter, but with the cold weather, we have been able to keep the trails well groomed and the riding is excellent!!!! 

The RLSC Board of Directors voted to take on a fundraising project called the “Cash 4 Gas Program”.  We have bought 50 books to sell.  If the fundraiser is successful, we will buy more books.    You can only gain!  It’s a great way for you to cut down on gas expense and the profit the club realizes from this program will go directly into trail grooming.  You will find the details and an order form enclosed with this newsletter.

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!