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NYSSA Online Magazine
President’s Message
by Mike Fischer mfischer@nysnowmobiler.com
Trail Funding
The New York State Budget contained a surprise for snowmobilers in the Empire State with a sweep of $1 Million for
this year, with another million in next year‟s budget as well as over the next 3 years. In discussions with the state before
the budget was released, NYSSA was made aware that New York would try to recoup every possible expense for
trail development and maintenance on state lands. When the draft budget was released, however, it became apparent
that the state planned to simply transfer monies from the snowmobile trail fund to the general fund without any justification
or accountability by expanding the use of the funds to “other recreational activity”. While NYSSA supports the
efforts of New York State to help with snowmobile trail development, we cannot support spending snowmobile registration
fees on golf course maintenance, picnic tables, lifeguards, or softball fields. Please be sure to write your
elected officials in Albany to express your outrage, using the NYSSA Action Alert in this edition of the NYSSA Magazine.
The Business of Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling is a BILLION dollar industry in New York State, and we are
proud of the fact that through our enjoyment of the sport we are able to
boost the economy. I recently dropped in to visit with one of NYSSA‟s new
sponsors: KMT Service Parts in Canastota, home of the Kristi Trailer factory.
I spoke with Fred Edmunds, President, and Fred gave me the 50-cent tour
of their facility. KMT employs about 20 but with the economy and the season
have just 8 on the job this month. Fred shared that snowmobile trailers
represent an important part of their production at around 20% of their
sales.
KMT is offering a 20% discount to NYSSA members. Look for their ad in the
Membership Discount section. I also had a chance to watch John Schenk, of
Bouckville, put the finishing touches one of Kristi‟s enclosed inline snowmobile
trailers. John has been at Kristi for six years. The photo here shows
John applying a bead of caulk on the roof.
North Central Region Meeting
The NYSSA Board of Directors will meet on March 6 at The Beeches in
Rome. The North Central NYSSA regional meeting will take place at 11:00 a.m., and is open to all club officers and
members from the area. The North Central Region includes Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Madison, and Oswego, Onondaga,
Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne and Ontario counties.
Global Warming Update
Welcome to winter 2010! The record setting weather, with Washington and Baltimore buried in snow came as a surprise
to many, but not to the Farmer‟s Almanac. Here is a quote from the forecast recap for this winter from famersalmanac.com:
“While three-quarters of the country is predicted to see near- or below average precipitation this winter,
that doesn‟t mean there won‟t be any winter storms! On the contrary, significant snowfalls are forecast for parts of
every zone. For the Middle Atlantic and Northeast States, for instance, we are predicting a major snowfall in mid-
February; possibly even blizzard conditions for New England (indeed, even shovelry is not dead).”
Blizzard or not, I have had the chance to ride and meet with club members and leaders on the trails. While studying
the trail map at a junction in Oneida County last Saturday, I had the privilege of spending a few minutes talking with
Dave Haflett, president of the TC Riders in Camden, as he finished up a grooming run. Dave is one of thousands of
dedicated volunteers who make up the NYSSA Army. Without the clubs and volunteers like Dave, we would have no
sport.
Contact NYSSA: PO Box 612, Long Lake, NY 12847-0612 * EMAIL - nyssaoffice@nysnowmobiler.com February, 2010 - Page 12
TOLL FREE: (888) 624-3849 * FAX: (518) 624-2441 * www.nysnowmobiler.com