The usual…
The meeting was called to order at 8:10.The minutes from the February meeting and the Treasurer’s Report were read and approved. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45.

WORK DAY!!! We finally had some good snow, but all the downed trees made it difficult to ride. The trails are a mess. We need to schedule some work days to clean up the trails, and the Horse Riders that also use the trails want to help!

April 24th we’ll be working on the trails at Stewart State Forest. We need a lot of help! We’ll be meeting in the Rte 207 parking lot at 9:00 a.m.

We’ll need at least 1 chainsaw, pickers and people to bring their clippers for each crew.

The club also voted to purchase a chain saw and clippers for the club to own.

PLEASE ATTEND THIS WORK DAY – WE’D LOVE AS MUCH HELP AS POSSIBLE!!

And from the rest of the meeting.....
Due to the economic climate, we need to assess how much we spend on a sled to ensure maximum return on our investment. Perhaps we should purchase an ATV for the raffle instead? Or a snowblower or generator? Jocelyn will send an e-mail to the club asking people for their thoughts on what we should raffle – an ATV? Snowblower? Cash? Gift Card?

The annual NYSSA forum is in April and there’s an open spot if someone wants to attend. Please contact Sue if you are interested in attending.

Two years ago, then-governor Spitzer removed $1 million from our NYSSA fund. We got 2/3 of it back after a vigorous letter campaign. Now Governor Patterson is going to take $5 million over the next 3 years. There are form letters on NYSSA’s website and it’s incredibly easy – we need people to send the letters! Go to http://www.nysnowmobiler.com - the letters are right there on the home page along with a call to action from the President of NYSSA.

The Sno Riders’ Peak

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
Thursday, March 18th at 7:30
at Sculley’s Tavern on Rte. 207 in Rock Tavern.

The meeting was called to order at 8:00.The minutes from the January meeting were read by Sue, as the wayward Secretary was absent, as usual. Both the minutes and the Treasurer’s Report were read and approved. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30.

Brian Nimmo of Campbell Hall was killed on February 10th while snowmobiling. The Rock Tavern SnoRiders extend their deepest sympathy to Brian’s family and friends and we mourn the loss of a fellow rider.

Donations can be made to a College fund set up for Brian's four children. Please address all donations to Brian Nimmo's College Fund, c/o David T. Ferguson Funeral Home, 20 North St., Washingtonville, NY 10992.

The club collected donations for Brian Nimmo’s family, including all monies from the 50/50 raffle, and the club matched every dollar that was donated.

Please be safe while riding. Brian’s death is an awful tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with Brian’s entire family.

• Eric went to the Stewart User Group meeting in Maybrook. The various groups that use the Stewart lands are attempting to work together for the good of the buffer zone.
• Eric also reported that the Skandic and rescue trailer are ready to go! If you are interested in joining the Rescue Team, please speak to Eric if you were unable to attend the review on February 20th
• Kevin reported that NY State is going to raid the NYSSA fund again - $5 million over the next several years, including $1 million this year. Information can be found on NYSSA’s website. Letters must be written to our legislators to oppose this action.
• Kevin also announced that the Jessup River (Speculator) Unit Management Plan is up for review. Lake Pleasant/the Piseco Lake trail is in danger of being shut down. Eric will bring copies of the letter we can send to legislators to the next meeting.
• Eric asked all club members to be on the lookout for a raffle sled. We may need to purchase a less expensive sled this year, or consider raffling an ATV instead of a sled.

The Sno Riders’ Peak

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
Wednesday, February 17th at 7:30
at Sculley’s Tavern on Rte. 207 in Rock Tavern.

We now have a blog on our website to discuss trail conditions, to advertise something to sell or invite members to go riding, among other things. Check it out!

There will be a Poker Run at Schroon Lake on President’s Day Weekend. Please contact Sue for more information!

There were some blow downs in the Stewart Lands and the Scandeck was used to clean up the trails. The trails look good – now all we need is some snow! The signage is up, but we’re awaiting a decision from the DEC as to whether we can put our name on the signs.

Be on the lookout for raffle sleds for this year’s raffle. We have time, but keep an eye out for 2010 sleds that may be a good price.

Eric raised the idea of holding a vintage sled show, possibly at Orange County Park? Sue suggested we speak with the local car and tractor shows. Any thoughts from the members are welcome!

There a push by NYSSA to encourage the use of LED Safety Lights. The lights mount on the handlebars; two systems exist – one used numbers to let oncoming sleds know how many vehicles are behind you, the other uses a color system. There are no insurance reductions for using the lights – it’s a safety and courtesy effort, and are very popular upstate. The lights generally retail for $70.

There’s an interim Director for NYSSA, Dave Perkins, until a new Director is appointed.

NYSSA is investigating issues surrounding hunting season, and trails not being open.

The upper Hudson Rail Bed currently allows snowmobiling, but there is talk of paving it. NYSSA is opposed to this.

Only one fatality that Kevin knows of this year so far, but be safe and use your head.

The Sno Riders’ Peak - November 2009

THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON
Wednesday, December 16th at 7:30
at Sculley’s Tavern on Rte. 207 in Rock Tavern.

HOLIDAY PARTY
The Holiday Party will be held at My Place on December 5th from 7-10. The cost is $10 per person ($5 for children under 12) and includes food, beer and wine. Santa Claus will be there and there will be a lot of prizes.

Raffle Sled – Get Your Tickets to Rick or bring them to the party!

Club Shirts!
Club shirts are available! Long Sleeve T-Shirts, Zip Front Hooded Sweatshirts and Regular Hooded Sweatshirts are available.

And from Eric and John during the rest of the meeting…
The Safety Course went really well. The course was full, mostly with children. Sue did an excellent job teaching the course and we hope to schedule another before the end of the season.

We’ve been reminded by the DEC to stay on the marked trails inside the Stewart Lands, especially as some zealous Rangers are patrolling! Also remember to be conscious of other people using the lands, and always be courteous.

The Trail Maintenance also went very well. We got the trails cut and cleared and put up or repainted signs.

October 30th, Eric, Jocelyn, Sue, John, Anne O’Dell and Dave Cordner attended the annual SPARC dinner where Anne gave a nice speech about Mark and the SPARC members had a moment of silence in his memory.

Eric also thanked everyone for participation in the SkiDoo fund-raiser!

From Kevin Makuen, our NYSSA Rep:

NYSSA membership is up almost 2,100 over what it was last year. NYSSA’s Executive Director and Trail Coordinator are both stepping down and NYSSA is looking for replacements. Make sure to renew your registration soon! NYSSA is also exploring a program involving $2 bills being spent throughout the state by snowmobilers to show how much we contribute to the economy. They’re thinking of doing this President’s Day Weekend – more info to come.

NYSSA SuperRaffle is here. Over 50 prizes, including 3 sleds. Tickets are $5 and half of the money goes to the clubs. Please see Sue if you wish to buy or sell any tickets.

A number of state forests have sign-in logs at small kiosks throughout the parks. If you see one of these, make sure you sign in, and state you’re a snowmobiler so that parks officials can see that the trails are being used by snowmobilers. When the management plans for these parks come up for renewal, we can then show that we’re active users of these lands.

REMINDER ~ TRAIL WORK PARTY!

There are two Trail Maintenance work parties scheduled, for
SUNDAY October 25th and SATURDAY October 31st.

Meet at the Weed Road Parking Lot for Stewart State Forest on Route 207
at 9:00 am.

Kevin Makuen will bring a tractor, we'll be filling holes on Barron Road;
There are down trees to be removed;
Plenty of brush to cut back;
and some signs that need to be re-painted.

Please bring loppers, pruners, and other appropriate tools.
Be sure to wear sturdy boots and bring gloves.

Please sign up or e-mail Eric at millervet@frontiernet.net if you can help.

See photos from Oct 25!

The Sno Riders’ Peak

October 2009

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

There was a meeting of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board prior to the club meeting. Eric was officially installed as the Interim President, and John Kissel, by unanimous vote, was assigned as the interim Vice-President. Frank Lange was voted unanimously to assume John Kissel’s spot on the Board of Directors.

Additionally, Joe Reilly was selected to be the new member of the Election Committee, to replace Frank Lange.

Rick - For the raffle sled, please get tickets back to him as soon as possible. Some tickets are still available if you need more to sell.

The new Trail Maintenance dates are October 25th and October 31st. We’ll have a tractor and will be doing work to clear trees and fill in potholes, as well as paint and replace signage. The October 31st date should mostly be about signage. For both dates, meet at the Stewart Land Route 207 parking lot at 9:00 a.m. The Shawangunk club is going to help us!

Eric – There is a SkiDoo promotion going on, in which the club stands to earn up to $1500 simply for turning in a form to an authorized SkiDoo dealer. It is easy money for the club – please see Eric if you’d like a form (which will also be available on our website.) The forms must be turned in by November 15th! Ray Mulligan made a motion, which was seconded by Gina Gatto, to pay the bill for $200 for the flowers that the SnoRiders sent for Mark’s funeral. The motion was unanimously passed.
Eric - went to the Salisbury Ridge Runners party upstate and donated 10 tickets to their club. It was good advertising for the club. Rick made a motion that Bill Kelly seconded to make the ticket donation “official.” The motion passed unanimously.
Eric - on October 30th, the annual SPARC dinner will take place. Tickets are $45 per person. Gina Gatto made a motion that Bill Kelly seconded to purchase 5 tickets for the SnoRiders to attend. Eric, Jocelyn, Sue, John and Dave Cordner will attend.
Eric - Club shirts will be available soon. At the next meeting, we need pricing from interested vendors and then we will order the shirts. We hope to have them by the Christmas Party or the December meeting. Please see Eric if you wish to order shirts.
Eric - The Holiday Party will be held at My Place on December 5th from 7-10. We need door prizes! Pricing will come. Anne - The NYSSA raffle is taking place!

The Fahnstock State Park in Putnam is undergoing a review for an eventual Management Plan. There appears to be little opposition to keeping snowmobiling available there. However, the Minnewaska State Park is also undergoing a review for their Management Plan. Although Anne will write a letter on behalf of the clubs and NYSSA, and will post it on the website for anyone else who wishes to send one, it is likely that snowmobiling will not be allowed in this park in the future.
Eric - The club will investigate with the DEC the possibility of placing a memorial bench for Mark in the Stewart lands.

The Rock Tavern Sno Riders
Mourn the Loss
of their fearless leader
Mark Heinzelman.

12/10/67 - 10/11/09

Rest in Peace, Mark...

Obituary ~ Light a Candle for Mark

On October 11, 2009, our fearless leader, and very dear friend, Mark Heinzelman, passed away.

For those of you who knew Mark, you know that he was a fighter. He he fought long and hard to form and sustain this club, he fought for access to the Stewart lands for snowmobiling, and he fought to ensure that the Rock Tavern Sno Riders would have a place to enjoy riding for a long time to come.

Mark's most recent fight against a brutal form of cancer only exemplified his amazing strength, and capacity for hope. For as long as he was able, Mark maintained his unique and hearty sense of humor. The absence of his big, booming laugh will be acutely felt.

Mark's wife, Sue, and their two children, Jessie and Robbie, have lost a wonderful husband and father, and our hearts and prayers are with the entire family right now.

We have lost a good friend, a man of boundless energy who inspired deep affection, and love.

Quite frankly, there are no words to capture the entirety of Mark. He was a dear friend, whom Eric and I, and many club members, adored.

As soon as we have any information about funeral services, we will share it with you.

Jocelyn Lange, Secretary
Rock Tavern Sno Riders

The Sno Riders’ Peak
September 2009

IMPORTANT CHANGE TO THE BY-LAWS

There was a lengthy discussion about changing the by-laws should an Executive Board member (President, Vice-President, Treasurer or Secretary) need to step down or be removed. The club voted to amend its by-laws, through a motion by Ray Mulligan and Danielle Bull, and seconded by Scott Randazzo, with a unanimous vote, to amend the by-laws as follows: If an Executive Board member steps down or is removed, the remaining members of the Executive Board and the Board of Directors will appoint an interim replacement from the Board of Directors until the next election. The subsequent vacated position on the Board of Directors will be filled with an interim Board of Director appointee, so appointed by the Executive Board and the remaining members of the Board of Directors, until the next election. In the event of the President of the Executive Board stepping down, the Vice-President of the Executive Board will assume the position as Interim President, to be held until the next election, and the Executive Board and Board of Directors will appoint an interim Vice-President, that position to be held until the next election. In no other instance will a member of the Executive Board assume another position, nor hold two positions on the Executive Board.

Raffle Sled

Eric: We need to push the raffle tickets for the sled. This raffle is an excellent way for the club to make money. If the raffle goes well, the club should be financially stable into 2010. Strong membership also helps us financially. All members contribute to the financial success of the club, but participation is very important! The financial viability of the club means we can continue maintaining trails, posting signage, etc. All members should have received their tickets in the mail, and the tickets, with the money, must be returned to Rick Bonita by November 18th or sooner (sooner is better!).

Safety Course

The club will hold another Safety Course on November 7th at the Newburgh Ambulance Corps on South Plank Road. The course is free and will be held from 8-5. Please bring a lunch. Please note that any child between the ages of 10-18 must take the safety course to be permitted to ride! Please contact Sue at dandiclocks@hvc.rr.com if you are interested in attending. Please provide your name, address, birth date and phone number when e-mailing Sue. Only 30 people can attend, so space is limited!

Sue made a motion, which Ray Mulligan seconded, to donate $100 to the Newburgh Ambulance Corps as a thank you for allowing us to use that space.

And from the rest of the meeting…

• Eric – The Christmas party will be held at My Place on December 5th. Please start collecting raffle prizes from dealers and local businesses. The party will likely be from 6-10 that evening and we’re awaiting the final pricing.
• Eric – There are two Trail Maintenance work days scheduled, for October 24th and October 31st. We need to cut back and clean-up the trails for the winter season. We’ll also be updating the signage where necessary. Please sign up or e-mail Eric at millervet@frontiernet.net if you can help.
• Eric – We purchased a Scandic! This will assist us both in grooming the trails and if we need to utilize the Rescue Sled.
• Kevin (by way of Sue) – As of 9/10/09, NYSSA membership had reached 8,073, which was up from the same period in 2009. Please renew your membership and registrations early so the state can allocate money to the various clubs. NYSSA is preparing a groomer video that will be posted on their website.
• Kevin (by way of Sue) – The Super Raffle is here again. The club retains ½ of the money on all tickets sold, and there are a lot of prizes. We should have the tickets soon.

The usual…

The meeting was called to order at 8:00. The minutes from the April meeting were forgotten by the forgetful Secretary, but approved anyway and the Treasurer’s Report was read and approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00.

Upcoming Events - PLAN AHEAD

2009-2010 Calendar of Events

September 16 - Regular Meeting, 7:30 pm, Sculley's, Route 207 Rock Tavern.

Oct TBA - Grass Drags, Wurtsboro (non-club event)

Oct 2, 3, 4 - Big East Powersports Show, OnCenter, Syracuse.

October 21 - Regular Meeting, 7:30 pm, Sculley's, Route 207 Rock Tavern.

October 24 - TRAIL CLEANUP DAY at STEWART (see below).

October 31 - TRAIL CLEANUP DAY at STEWART (see below).

November 7 - Safety Course, 8:00 am, Newburgh (see below).

November 18 - Regular Meeting, 7:30 pm, Sculley's, Route 207 Rock Tavern.

December 16 - Regular Meeting, 7:30 pm, Sculley's, Route 207 Rock Tavern.

2010

Jan 10-17 - SNOWMOBILE SAFETY WEEK.

Apr 16-18 - NYSSA Annual Meeting & Forum, Holiday Inn, Liverpool

Need a Safety Course?

Rock Tavern Sno Riders are hosting a Safety Course, open to youth or adults, on Saturday, November 7, 2009, 8:00 – 5:00 at the Newburgh Ambulance Corps, Rte 52 (So. Plank Road) in Newburgh . Please arrive at 8:00 AM to check in.

There will not be enough time to leave for lunch. Please bring a bag lunch so you can eat in the classroom. The Club will provide coffee, hot chocolate & donuts for the morning.

Please pre-register by calling Sue at (845)742-0429 – We need your name, address, phone, date of birth, e-mail address.

Trail Cleanup Days at Stewart!

There will be two trail cleanup days at the Stewart State Forest this year. Please plan to join us at the Route 207 parking area at 9 am on October 24 and 31. Bring clippers, gloves and other tools for trail clearing. Wear gloves and sturdy boots. For more info please contact Eric Miller at 845-341-7496.

View the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation Snowmobile Unit's
2008-2009 Snowmobile Season Report!

A big Thank You to our sponsors:

• Cycle Motion, 1296 Dolsontown Rd., Middletown, NY 10940,
  (845) 343-2552
• Loughran's Restaurant, 10 Schoolhouse Road, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577 (845) 496-3615
  
• Napa Auto Parts, Goshen, (845) 294-8197
  
• Sculley’s, Rock Tavern (845) 496-9807
  (845) 564-5400
• Showalter Equipment, Florida (845) 651-7569
• Stewart’s Tax Service (845) 342-5972
  
• Strawridge Rock & Tape, Wallkill (845) 895-1072

Help Keep Stewart Open for Snowmobiling!

Our Fearless Leader, Mark.

Read:

Read the Latest Club Newsletter here
 

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