Here it is 2002 already! Time sure does fly by – hope everyone had a great holiday season - now let’s get down to the business of snowmobiling.

Mother nature brought us some unusually warm weather during November and has slowed down the start of the season, but winter has finally arrived, the ground is white and grooming will start very soon if the weather cooperates.  We need another good storm on top of what we have.

The US Border Patrol has asked us to inform snowmobilers that riding along the US/Canadian Border is illegal and crossing the border into Canada without going through Customs is illegal.  The Border Patrol will be patrolling heavily this winter, both by snowmobile and plane.  Anyone caught riding the slash area along the border and crossing into Canadian Territory will be fined  $5,000 and their snowmobile will be confiscated.  Please if you want to go into Canada by snowmobile, do it legally, go through Customs. See our Along the Border page for more information.

Congratulations to Mike Maroney who won the Christmas 50/50 raffle.   The prize totaled $1,022.00 and Mike donated $250 of it back to the Club.  Thanks so much Mike!  Mike is a brand new member who recently moved to the Rangeley area – Welcome to the area and to the Club.

December Easy Bucks winners were Christian Raymond who was present and won $100.00 and Bill Mercier who was not present and won $50.00.  Both are from Rangeley.  Bill donated the $50 prize back to the club for the trail fund.  Thanks Bill!!

A new fence has been installed at the Town Park behind Parkside & Main Restaurant.  There is a walk-through opening in the fence and both Parkside & Main and The Red Onion Restaurants would like everyone to know that they are easily accessible when you park your machine in the Town Park and they certainly welcome your patronage.  Both of these businesses are supporters of the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club.

Thanks to Dockside Sports, Rangeley’s Arctic Cat and SkiDoo dealer, for their generosity this year!!!  Dockside teamed up with Arctic Cat to donate in part, the cost of the ZR120 the club will give away in a raffle on February 23^rd.  Dockside has risen to the top this year with their donations to the club.  They have given us the only $2,500.00 pledge of cash towards our grooming and trail maintenance program; they sent their personnel to work on the Magalloway River Bridge, they have given Clark Allen, the Club’s Trailmaster, the use of their  ATV’s when he has needed them to go out on the trails with a crew to cut brush, etc.  And Marshall Swain, owner of Dockside spent a weekend of his time at the Eastern States Snowmobile Expo promoting our sport in the Rangeley area.  Dockside certainly deserves a round of applause.  Thanks so much for all you have done!!!!

By the way, get those raffle tickets in for the ZR120.  This is a nice little sled that will make some child really happy.  If anyone wants more tickets, please let us know and we will mail them to you. 

The RLSC Board of Directors voted to have long sleeve T-shirts and hats printed with the Club logo on them to sell at SNODEO.  They will also be for sale by mail-order through our web page.   Proceeds from the sale of these items go to our trail fund.

We have received our first cash donations for the Club House building fund.  Donations were given at the Christmas party on December 15^th.  We have also received a donation of assorted doors and windows from one of our members.  Thanks so much.  Still working on the plans for the club house and welcome any suggestions anyone may have.   Daphne Scribner and Linda Whitford will be selling merchandise at SNODEO for this cause.  Please stop by and see what they have to offer!! 

SNODEO, as you all know, will be held January 17 – 20^th.  An added attraction this year will be an antique snowmobile exhibit.  Alan Whitford, who has his own collection of antique snowmobiles, is organizing this event.   Enclosed with this newsletter is a Schedule of SNODEO Events.  Hope to see all of you here!!  SNODEO Headquarters will be at People’s Choice again this year.  Thanks to the guys at People’s for letting us “take over” your lounge for SNODEO. 

Enclosed with this letter is a list of individuals and businesses who have donated labor, equipment, supplies and material this Fall to get the trails cut, trimmed and ready for the winter season.  If anyone who helped is not listed, please let us know so that a correction can be made in the next newsletter.  Thanks to all who have helped – it takes a lot more than snow to have a nice trail.  Before any grooming is done, brush has to be cut, bridges are repaired, and it seems every year we find it necessary to re-route a trail.  The Club couldn’t afford to pay for this labor.    Without these volunteers, we couldn’t do it.  Thanks so much.  On the reverse side of the sheet is an article which appeared in the Rangeley Highlander acknowledging all who volunteered on the Magalloway River Bridge since construction began last June.  Again, can’t say “thank you” enough!!!

Next membership meeting will be held on January 12^th at the Congregational Church Hall on Pleasant Street in Rangeley.  Social hour at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 meeting to follow dinner.  Hope to see you all there!!!

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!