Keystone Snowmobiler

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May 2021

Moving Forward

A message from the President...

Happy Mother’s Day! Celebrate and Be Safe!

Snowmobile Registrations have increased by approximately 4,200 from last year! JOIN PSSA!

Thank you to all those who attended the Annual Membership Meeting held on April 21, 2021. Speakers did try to include information concerning comments sent with the registration form. Those not addressed will be researched and discussed at a future meeting. Kudos to all the Board members and speakers who made many timely and informative comments.

Please note that future Board meetings will be held on the third Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30pm. You can register online or email member@pasnow.org for information. Comments will be accepted as always and the Board will try to provide an answer for your comment.

PSSA Awards were given to: Matt Beaver – District Forester for Bald Eagle State Forest. Matt has been a partner with PSSA for many years and is a promoter of snowmobile recreation. Also, Willow Creek Snowmobile Club of Bradford, PA received Special Recognition for Club Volunteerism. This is a new club whose members have worked tirelessly to build and maintain the trails in the northern Allegheny National Forest (ANF). Norm Strotman, President, is presently searching for ways to provide a legal trail to connect/cross Route 219 and connect to the Kinzua Bridge area and beyond. Congratulations to both Matt and Willow Creek Snowmobile Club!

PSSA Board accepted the following representatives nominated by their clubs: Scott Watkins (Region 11), Rob Housley (Region 9), and Clinton LaTourette (Region 12). Thank you to Tim Holtz for his service in Region 9.

The following were re-elected to the Board: Charles Walter, Arline LaTourette, and Terry Wood. Officers will be elected at the next Board meeting in May.

Yes, PSSA is having a cash raffle. Everyone should receive tickets shortly. There are several prizes with the top prize of $2000.

The PowerSports Show Committee is continuing to assess the situation. Vendors are being contacted, etc. Stay tuned.

The Trails Committee has been divided into five sections of the state. PSSA Board members will be contacting clubs. The purpose of this committee is to communicate with clubs. How can PSSA help you? What do you need? Can trails be expanded/connected in your area? Riders are asking for more connectivity across the state. How can you promote PSSA to your members?

All clubs were sent Data Worksheets to complete. PSSA needs this information to demonstrate the need for more money for snowmobile recreation. Please return the completed sheets ASAP.

V&V Insurance is in the process of finalizing paperwork concerning a new insurance underwriter for clubs. The current plan will continue thru June 30, 2021 at no cost to clubs. Clubs will receive paperwork to be completed and returned per directions you receive. Thank you to Dale Vagts for his patience and hard work to resolve the insurance situation.

Presently there is movement at the Federal level to research and possibly increase the liquid fuels tax reimbursement to motorized recreation which will include snowmobile recreation. Contact your Federal representatives and ask for their support.

Think Snow!

Liz Krug, President PSSA

One of the things we treasure most about snowmobiling are all the people we have met on the trails, at meetings and online. We may not always agree on everything but that is what makes snowmobiling great - people working toward a common goal & having good discussions on how to get to that goal.

Congratulations and Many Thanks!

Congratulations to Matthew Beaver for receiving the “PSSA Forester/Government Official” award.

PSSA recognizes your interest and extra work for many years. Thanks to you and your willingness to promote outdoor recreation PSSA has been able to extend trails in your area. Safe trails thru proper signage are appreciated.

Congratulations to Willow Creek Snowmobile Club for receiving a “PSSA Special Award for Club Volunteerism”! Your work and enthusiasm for increasing snowmobile trails in the ANF and Kinzua Bridge area and beyond is greatly appreciated.

Norm, your willingness to be involved in committee meetings and share your expertise adds value to PSSA. Thank you for everything you and WCSC are doing to promote snowmobile recreation and PSSA.

Many thanks... to Sugar Valley Snowriders for their $500 donation to PSSA.

Club News

Glendale Lake SMC

Greeting Fellow Sledders. Mother Nature was playing tricks on us with several inches of snow two weeks ago. But that didn’t stop trail plans from moving forward.

DCNR approved the Top section of Troxell Trail to Muskrat Beach Trail and Plessinger trail to Marina for Snowmobile use. Prince Gallitzin SP is going to put a gravel parking lot at the corner of Slate Lick Bridge and the new Shomo Run Snowmobile trail for trailer parking. The area by the PSGC maintenance building is still not mapped on which way to go. The mid-section Shomo Run will have the Club slate and extend some of the drainage pipes.

The Park is reviewing an alternate trail to Gazebo. The lower trail that was proposed is too wet to use.

They will look at running near the road and dropping down at the skeet field. We have this tentatively mapped. Adopt-A-Trail was held April 17th, see the attached pictures. The mining belt was removed off of Shomo Bridge and stored at the Park maintenance shed at the same time. Jessica, the Park Superintendent also shared with the club that she received many compliments on the good condition of the park trails. The trail signs at the rout 53 railroad crossing were removed for the season. And for the Phase II trail, a meeting with Senator Wayne Langerhoic has been tentatively scheduled.

Rob Housley, from our club, has been elected as the new PSSA Region IX Director at that PSSA Annual Meeting that was held on April 21st. We have also completed the six page PSSA Club and trails informational form. It was noted that members need to monthly turn in their volunteer hours to the club secretary.

Plans are in the works to revive our Website. Stay tuned on that. Our Adopt a Highway clean up is planned with several club members taking care of that.

Club meetings continue year round the first month of the month at Patton Sportsman’s Club at 7:30. Hope to see you there.

What a wonderful snowmobiling season we had - till next season - THINK SNOW!

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