New York State Snowmobile Association Annual Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

April 23, 2009, Syracuse, NY – NYSSA’s educational Forum and Annual Meeting was held April 17-19 at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center in Liverpool, New York.  Snowmobile clubs from across New York State gathered for meetings and educational seminars. Over 25 seminar sessions occurred during the forum covering the topic areas of safety & trails, Club Operations, and Public Affairs.

Carmella R. Mantello, Director, New York State Canal Corporation, addressed the attendees at the Awards Luncheon on Saturday.   NYSSA Awards were presented at the Saturday’s Award Luncheon for the following categories:

Snowmobile Family of the Year    Bonanno Family, Pulaski-Boylston Snowmobile Club   
Snowmobiler of the Year            Ken Radley, Sleds of Stafford               
Club of the Year                        Brantingham Snowmobile Club           
Groomer of the Year                  Don Busch, Brantingham Snowmobile Club
Groomer of the Year                  Tim Rosenberg, Lafayette Trail Riders   
Snowmobile Dealer of the Year    Progressive Motor Sports, Hudson Falls, NY   

Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito, 116th Assembly District, and snowmobile club member, greeted snowmobilers at an afternoon reception where she was presented with NYSSA’s Legislator of the Year Award for her work in support of snowmobiling across New York.  Senator David J. Valesky, 49th Senate District, addressed all the attendees during Saturday evening’s Annual Banquet as he also accepted the NYSSA Legislator of the Year Award.

OPRHP 2008-2009 snowmobile report available

The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Snowmobile Unit has published their 2008-2009 season report.  The report issued each year contains an overview of previous seasons snowmobile and funded trail statistics as well as the activities of the OPRHP Snowmobile Unit. 

The report can be viewed HERE or at the NYS OPRHP website

2009 Super Raffle Winners

Betty Haig sits astride her new Ski-Doo, with Keith Horn,
District Sales Manager for Bombardier Recreational Products,
Mike Fischer, NYSSA President, and Rich Rozzi, Raffle Chairperson.

2009 Super Raffle Winners Drawn at NYSSA’s Annual Meeting and Forum!

On April 18, 2009, the winners of the 2009 Super Raffle sponsored by the Onondaga County Snowmobile Association, Inc., in support of New York State Snowmobile Trails were drawn.

The top five prizes were drawn at the evening’s Dinner Banquet. Grand Prize winner Betty Haig was present, and selected the Ski-Doo as her choice of sled. Congratulations to Betty, and all of the winners!

View the complete list of winners and prize sponsors here!

2009 Super Raffle Winners

Betty Haig sits astride her new Ski-Doo, with Keith Horn,
District Sales Manager for Bombardier Recreational Products,
Mike Fischer, NYSSA President, and Rich Rozzi, Raffle Chairperson.

2009 Super Raffle Winners Drawn at NYSSA’s Annual Meeting and Forum!

On April 18, 2009, the winners of the 2009 Super Raffle sponsored by the Onondaga County Snowmobile Association, Inc., in support of New York State Snowmobile Trails were drawn.

The top five prizes were drawn at the evening’s Dinner Banquet. Grand Prize winner Betty Haig was present, and selected the Ski-Doo as her choice of sled. Congratulations to Betty, and all of the winners!

View the complete list of winners and prize sponsors here!

New York State Snowmobile Association to Meet in Liverpool

April 13, 2009, Syracuse, NY – The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) will host 700 club delegates this weekend at the 2009 NYSSA Annual Meeting and Forum at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Liverpool, April 17th through 19th. The event includes an array of educational sessions, the NYSSA Expo, and awards presentations. Invitees for the forum include Senator David Valesky (D-Oneida), Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito, (D-Rome), NYS Canal Corporation Director Carmella Mantello, and David Holder, President of the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Monthly Meetings

The Board of Directors will resume regular meetings the 1st Thursday of the month starting in September 2009.  Meetings will continue to be held at the Mill on Route 9 at 6:30 with membership meeting to follow. 

Equestrain Chapter Meetings will be posted by Karen Paul.

2nd Annual Adirondack Park Snowmobile Trails Conference

April 11, 2009, Long Lake, NY – The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) hosted the 2nd Annual Adirondack Park Snowmobile Trails Conference at the Adirondack Hotel in Long Lake, NY on April 4, 2009.   This event is designed to gather snowmobilers and other stakeholders with an interest in snowmobile trail issues, to share information and seek solutions.  Dave Perkins, NYSSA Trails Coordinator, served as facilitator for the conference.

NYS Canal Corp OK’s amendment to allow additional snowmobiling on canal lands

The New York State Canal Corporation has begun the process of revising its rules and regulations to allow snowmobiling on Canal Corporation owned lands beyond canal sections currently in use.

Under the Canal Corporation pilot program, approximately five snowmobile pilot programs have operated in different parts of New York State on Canal lands since 1998.  All clubs have acted responsibly during this time and have helped to maintain the trails.

Dave Perkins, Trails Coordinator for the New York State Snowmobile Association, said, “This action by the Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation Board represents an opportunity for snowmobile clubs to utilize canal lands to complete significant trail linkages in the statewide snowmobile trail system. As shown in Washington County, Montgomery County, Onondaga County and Orleans County, snowmobile clubs will accept the responsibility to work with state and local government to provide safe and well-maintained snowmobile trails. Canalside businesses and those on adjoining trails will benefit economically with these trail linkages in place.”

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, said, “By working with local municipalities to allow snowmobiling on Canal lands, the Canal System will truly become a year round destination.  In addition to the activities already taking place throughout the winter months, communities will now be able to reap the recreational and economic benefits of snowmobiling.  The Corporation is pleased to partner with New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Snowmobile Association to make this a reality.”

Canal Corporation staff will begin the State Administrative Procedure Act (SAPA) process to amend the Canal Rules and Regulations to provide flexibility to allow snowmobiling by permit on a case-by-case basis.  The SAPA process takes approximately nine months to one year.

Press Release by The New York State Canal Corporation;
http://www.nyscanals.gov/news/pressrel/2009/2009-04-02-snowmobiling.html

Snowmobiling to Benefit From Sale of Adirondack Lands

The Nature Conservancy(TNC) has sold 92,000 acres of the 161,000 acres of Adirondack lands it purchased in 2007 from Finch Paper LLC to Danish pension fund ATP Timberland Invest, an investor client of RMK Timberland Group.

“Now that the sale of this property by TNC to RMK Timberland Group has been completed, action on the snowmobile trail plans can begin,” said Dave Perkins, NYSSA Trails Coordinator, adding, “NYSSA is looking forward to continuing our collaboration with DEC forestry and the new land owner to ensure these important community connector trails can open soon.”

TNC’s first action when purchasing the land from Finch was to reach out to parties that had a stake in the disposition of these lands.  The major group to be contacted by TNC was the various towns that had former Finch property.   TNC asked towns to provide them with some ideas of their needs that might be met by the property.  One request made frequently by towns was the need to snowmobile trails that would connect their community with others.

In June of 2007, Jim Jennings, NYSSA Executive Director, and Dave Perkins, NYSSA Trails Coordinator met with Mike Carr, TNC Executive Director and other members of the TNC staff.  The purpose of the meeting was to gather input on snowmobiling needs and to discuss potential community connector trail routes needed by the towns.

Since that time, NYSSA has continued to work with TNC, DEC foresters, and Finch Paper LLC to scout and evaluate potential snowmobile trail routes.

Press Release by The Nature Conservancy, RMK Timberland Group, ATP Timberland Invest and Finch Paper LLC;
http://finchpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/TNCForestSale.pdf

NYSSA helps avert another possible trail fund raid

NYSSA and it’s lobbyist, the Capitol Group, discovered that an early version of this years NYS budget included a proposed increase in the registration fee portion of each snowmobile registration.

The proposed registration amount of $12.50, a $2.50 increase if passed, would have resulted in about $350,000 less money in the snowmobile trail maintenance fund next year.  The proposal would not have changed the current snowmobile registration cost to owners, however it would have reduced the amount of the registration revenue that is directed to the snowmobile trail maintenance reimbursement fund.

The impact would have been more than a $20 per mile reduction in trail funding for the 09-10 trail fund year.  The proposed change would have caused the average snowmobile club about a $1500 reduction in trail maintenance expense reimbursement.

Our lobbyists discussed the proposed change with NYS Department of Motor Vehicles, leading to a response that the change would be removed.  The proposed increase is gone in the latest version of the NYS budget.

“NYSSA is working diligently to represent snowmobilers in NY. Thanks to the efforts of our Governmental Affairs committee and our lobbyists, we were able to achieve a favorable outcome on the registration fee issue,” said Mike Fischer, NYSSA president, adding, “The NYS DMV has proven to be an important partner for NYSSA, and we are grateful for their response to our concerns.”