Meeting called to order at: 10:06 by President John Hurry
All board members present except Pat Peterson, Doug Lubahn, and Walt Sammut
Only 14 other members attended the meeting in the tractor barn.
Secretary report: Skip Schultz read the May Minutes. Motion to accept by Gary Yonkos, seconded by Jim Kelts. Motion carried.
He reminded members about renewals due September 1. He also said he sent application info for new commercial sponsors search. He announced new sponsors MaDeeter’s in Luzerne and Trappers Sports Bar in Rose City, and that Baderand Sons was bought by Hutson. He also read the complimentary letter by DNR rep Jessica Holley-Roehrs.
John Hurry mentioned the passing of longtime member Bud Martin recently. A card was sent. Several members attended ceremonies.
Russ Kleinhans gave the Treasurer report: We are solvent. We received a DNR payment for June/July grading. He also presented copies of a total club financial summary and income/expenses for January – July. He read the Thank you letter from Ogemaw Heights HS Scholarship recipient. Russ noted he sent Ski Do a grant request that was politely denied. KipBurger moved, Chris Ruppel seconded to accept report. Approved.
Grant Chairman Greg Ruppel reported we got our last scheduled groomer payment. Our request to DNR for equipment was turned in and approved. We have ordered a new John Deere 6195R tractor with loader, Degelman blade, a Trailsetter 10’ drag, and other equipment for it. If we are lucky, the tractor may be here by December. This is due to legislature backing payment of last year’s money. MISORVA reps spoke to state legislature and they 100% approved pushing payments.
Hutson (formerly Bader and Sons) will provide training. Greg plans to split use of the new equipment for east/west use so itwill get used on both sides. We will keep both our current tractors.
Don Carrol wondered if we were going to clean out clubhouse garage for storage or build new. Yes to cleaning needed. Greg has a plan for adding on to the tractor barn IF we get funding. There is a possibility of State money for buildings. He would add a new bay on east side, and add on across the north side of existing building for storage. Don suggested we move tools, oil, etc that should be heated into a room in add on area. Maybe use it as an office. The fact we spent over $36,000 onequipment maintenance helped us get the grant.
We will be making club signs to put on the groomers/drags.
Steve Johnson mentioned that he has put some old security cameras by warming hut to discourage vandals.
We have a new bulletin board on clubhouse wall. Greg noted the security camera there shows many people looking at it. It has a permanent display of our commercial sponsors, a trail map, advertisers on back side, and announcements of clubevents. Total cost was well under the $1000 allotted for it.
Greg asked that workers coming to clubhouse notify him so he can turn off security cameras to save batteries. Chris Vogt Is working with the John Deer weather network to get our snow camera online. Plan is to put snow depth chart by Flagpole. A non- Member has volunteered to make the sign.
Bryan Lerh and Chris Vogt put 30 and 50 amp outlets on the outside of the barns and rewired some things. Parking lotlighting is still in the planning stage. Greg will contact Consumers about putting a new pole and drop for lot and pavilion. LEDlights.
No word on Polaris grant for funding for parking lot project.
The eaves on clubhouse have been replaced by Fransee Seamless Gutters of West Branch. No more drips by the porch. Gregproposed we increase groomer/grader pay to $12/hr. The Board discussed this previous to this meeting. Denny
Manner moved, Chris Ruppel seconded. Approved.
We have lots of trail work to do after summer grading finished (soon). Need to use Duby and second tractor with bucket to move trees. Trails need to be brush hogged first. Soon. Denny is available for next few weeks to work.
No word on when insulation in tractor barn will be done. We will need many people to move everything 10’ away from walls so work can be done. Greg has purchased 9 6000? Lumen lights for tractor barn ceiling. Some were installed Friday, the rest after Saturday meeting.
DNR replaced many Frank Alley trailhead signs on Fairview and Rose City Roads. NICE.
The DNR is asking clubs to send in schedules for trail work Sept-Oct so they can put on their PR calendar.
Gary Yonkos reported that our website had 1291 hits in last 30 days. We are now accepting Paypal for raffle tickets, membership, and club gear. We have one card reader now and Chris Vogt suggested we get a second or third for use off site and to avoid the hassle of handing it back and forth. We pay 2.6?% for sales. When we decided to get card reader, we voted to charge the extra cost to customers BUT Gary found out we cannot do that on Paypal (and our card reader is through Paypal), so we will “eat” the extra. It is worth it for customer and club convenience in this cashless world.
Sasquatch Race info was that it was successful but not as many riders as they hoped. Some changes in procedures weresuggested for next year if they have it. We will probably be involved again. Mr. G’s catered the event, Griffin Beverage provided beverages, and Team Hodges provided transportation and had vehicles on display. There was a large portable stage for DJ and announcements. A timer station was set up on the roadside at start/finish line to keep track of rider times. Very high-tech. The whole event was pretty well organized for a first-time event. Our input will help for next year. There is a link on our website tothe Race information.
We will have presence at the Novi Snowmobile Show in November to sell raffle tickets, gear, and memberships. No info on the club Open House.
Trustee John Karl has been selling trail maps to commercial vendors. Over 400 this summer. He also plans to organize club rides on non-meeting days in winter, especially for newer members. Rides on weekends or during the week. Email, Facebook,(or phone calls) to announce rides. This is what many members joined for.
MISORVA: Jim Kelts explained the funding procedure. Nelson’s sport shop is hosting a show August 28th. Also the I500 is scheduled this year. State funding for programs was partially due to pressure from club groups.
John Hurry talked about camping at MISORVA gathering in UP. Jim Kelts mentioned there may not be any more due to low attendance. There are some gather rides planned for ORV and snowmobiles. We hope to host one of the snowmobile rides here.
Skip suggested we plan a trail stop at the warming hut. Members had positive suggestions, including hot dogs, cocoa, etc. Greg mentioned the hut gets a lot of traffic, especially from the east side.
Skip also suggested opening the clubhouse on non-meeting weekends for a few hours (8-10/3-5?) so people could see what we do and we could sell gear/memberships, answer questions. That led to mention that Kalkaska has HEATED pavilion at their trailhead. Maybe we should look into doing that at our pavilion?
Greg said we need stencils or vinyl to label new tractor and drag. No decision on which kind. We also plan to make CLUB sign for drags. New drag also will need a box.
Talk about long rides this winter. Several mentioned Watersmeet (10hr drive) or other multiple-day trips in UP or lower peninsula. John Hurry said Brimley will not have any group rates ($75/night). It was mentioned that the trails there have been taken away from the local group and will now be groomed by a different contractor.
Skip mentioned several members would like weekend trips in lower making it more feasible than 3-4 day trips that require taking time off from work.
Old Business: New lockable Display /bulletin board up. Thanks to John Karl, Pat Peterson, Jim Kelts, Gary Yonkos for help. The old board was put on the outside of the outhouse on south end of parking lot with a trail map in it. Several people have been noticed looking at it.
There is a list of destination rides under/over 100 miles. Created by Gary Yonkos. However we need trail mileage for a few places, like Long Lake, Rose City, Lupton, Glennie. IF you ride TRAILS (not just road) to these places, please check mileageand let Skip or Gary know.
December Dinner meeting at Quality Inn West Branch. December 4. All members and a guest are welcome. No charge except cash bar. Norm and Jeanne Rockwell will take reservations from November 1-24. Memberships must be paid up before reserving. Seating for up to 200.
There was discussion about Minnesota trails vs ours. November meeting will remain on the 13th.
John Hurry added that the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in the UP is asking for $50 club donation. John Karlmoved, Denny Manner seconded to make donation. The board had previously discussed this donation. Motion approved.
Adjourned at 11:25. John Karl moved, Chris Ruppel seconded. Approved Next meeting September 11, 10 am
