NEWS – MINUTES

Genesee County Snowmobile Association
PO Box 58
Byron, NY 14422
 

May 12, 2008  Meeting Minutes

Attendance: S.O.S.: Gerry Ivison, Ginny Ivison K. Radley Gen. Sno-Packers: K. Fisher, D. Hagen, R. Church, R. Hahn

Meeting called to order by President, Kevin Fisher, at 7:4 5 PM

Minutes:

  • Motion made by Rob. C. and seconded by Ralph H. to accept minutes as written. Carried.

Treasurer’s Report:

  • Current balance $ 895.84.
  • Motion made by Ken R. and seconded by Ralph H. to approve spending: $15.41 on the forum door prize basket as well as $28.72 on fruit basket gift for Co. Highway office. Total of $44.13 reimbursing the Ivisons. Carried.
  • Motion made by Ralph H. and seconded by Rob C. to reimburse Ginny Ivison for one nights stay at the forum ($100.57). Carried.

Communications: none

District Director’s Report:

  • See Report: further down below.

Old Business:

  • Kevin Fisher signed the District Director Certification form in April approving Gerry Ivison as Dist. Dir.
  • Step Signage was discussed. Gerry shared reports and pictures sent to Dave Perkins. (SEE REPORT BELOW ALSO). Next year we need to emphasize proper signage at road crossings and blind hills
  • Charity reports were due. Single Staking reports are due the end of May

New Business:

  • Discussed future training courses. Should guidelines include age or other requirements for youthful groomer operators?
  • Gerry will schedule with Dave Perkins signage and groomer trainings to be hosted by the Sno-Packers in Oakfield
  • Rob Church reported that clubs maintaining trails on state lands are eligible for state bid groomers. Gerry will see if there are other items that may qualify
  • Letters have been sent to OPRHP Office of Open Space Protection stating that Genesee and Wyoming Co. Snowmobile Assoc. as well as the Sno-Packers are willing to take over maintaining the Norfolk Southern RR as it is abandoned and purchased by the state.
  • Damaged bridge on Sour Springs Rd. was discussed. County Highway wants to abandon the bridge and perhaps that section of road as well. This is a vital road for the corridor trail. Orleans Co. clubs are willing to help. Need to pressure Tim Hens to keep road open to avoid DEC takeover and to allow snowmobile width only bridge.
  • Doug has been in contact with Paul Osborne of the County Park. Genesee Co. will apply for state/Fed. trail grants funds and with Industrial Development Funds may purchase the Westshore RR west of Oakfield. The snowmobile club will be asked to maintain this trail.
  • Discussed offering a $30 family membership only – no single membership. Motion made by Ginny I. seconded by Ralph H. and approved. Gerry will send letters to neighboring clubs to do likewise.

Club Reports:

Caledonia – No. rep. No report.

Genesee Sno-Packers – Successful worker appreciation party. Fund raisers: heating raffle, plant/flower sale, bake goods sales.

Sept. 1st Open House, heating raffle, in conjunction with Oakfield Labor Daze

NESS – No rep. no report

Sleds of Stafford – 6/13-16 Stafford Carnival, 6/22 Golf tournament at BW’s, 9/14 Vintage Sled/Snow show, Cash Raffle

Marilla – No rep. No report

Orleans Co. –No rep. No report

Meeting adjourned at approx .9:45 pm.

Minutes are subject to approval at next meeting.

No meeting scheduled for June or July. Next meeting: August. Meeting held the second Monday of each month.

Gerry Ivison, Secretary,  6775 Townline Rd.  Byron,  NY 14422,   585.548.9951     ivyscastle @yahoo.com

 District Director’s Report

Gerry Ivison

NYSSA Meeting

May 3, 2008

New York State Fairgrounds

　

Executive Committee met privately with the new president, Mike Fischer.

Each Director who had turned in current paperwork was certified.

6 people ran for 3 Board of Director at Large positions. Deb Perkins, Rich Rozzi and Gary Batchelder were elected. Kathleen Bryant, Thomas Baker and Hal Fleischman were defeated.

New president, Mike Fischer, addressed the group with his ideas of restructuring the organization, as well as assuring his ideals for opportunities, recommendations and strengths and weaknesses of NYSSA.

  • Mike suggested 5 regional directors representing Western, Central, Adirondack/Tug Hill, Mohawk and Hudson areas/regions that would be members of the Executive Committee.
  • Each regional director would serve on a committee and, as a suggestion only, be elected as chairperson of that committee.
  • Each of these committees would have subcommittees/task forces that would be assigned special areas of responsibilities.
  • All of these regional directors, committees, etc. serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
  • Board meetings could be held in each of the five regions at least once a year giving local clubs more access to meetings.

Steve Lewis, of OPRHP, addressed the group.

  • OPRHP wants to be partner with NYSSA. Originally the local sponsor was the "guiding light" and he would like this to be that way again.
  • Original trail plan called for 3,000 corridor miles and remaining trails would be "feeder" trails. This plan has been completed and we need to more to a new phase where we draw people to the NYS trail system.
  • OPRHP is supporting the Use and Utilization Survey.
  • Trail maintenance documentation – any equipment purchase over $2,500 needs to have prior approval from OPRHP. Any bridges over $5,000 value need to have stamped plans.
  • 10,800 miles of trails and 700 groomers.

Group broke out into committees: Governmental Affairs, Membership, Safety and Education, Trail Development and Funding, Public Affairs and Communications, and Budget and Finance.

Public Affairs and Communications has six subcommittees/task forces: Meetings, Events and Promotions; Fundraising and Third Party Fulfillment; Public Relations; Corporate Relations; Awards, Benevolences; Publications.

The Board of Directors meeting was reconvened.

Executive Director Report – Jim Jennings was absent, report was sent to clubs.

Trails Coordinator Report – Dave Perkins – report sent to clubs

  • Bulk sign order with Voss is due July 3 with money. See form on NYSSA website.
  • Field staking survey is due by the end of May.
  • Dave and Parks are looking for ideas on what should be included in a three year plan.
  • Next year there will be an emphasis on educating the snowmobiler on signing. There are 3 new arrow signs; one is for a hairpin curve.
  • Clubs need to be consistent across their entire area when signing blind hills and curves..

Budget and Finance – Chairperson, Gary Batchelder and Scribe, Dave Vanderlinde

  • Finalized approval for people and dollars for the International Snowmobile Congress in Idaho.
  • Approved transferring $5,000 to PAC.

Governmental Affairs Committee – Chairperson,

  • Committee discussed sportsman registrations.

Membership – Chairperson, Mike Denapole

  • Working on accounting portion of on-line registration and data base

Trail Development and Funding – Chairperson, Jason Kowalczyk

  • Will be looking at ways of encumbering dollars in the trail fund so that they do not appear as a surplus.
  • Under this committee is an insurance subcommittee.
  • Ann O’Dell reported on the NYS Trail Council and her report has been sent to the clubs.
  • Groomer Grant applications will be available in November 2008 for the next grant round.

Safety and Education Committee – Chairperson, Jim Meyers

  • Will be checking out the 2 trailers to make necessary repairs and replenish supplies.
  • Rich Rozzi and Roger McCabe each have one of the trailers at this time.


Public Affairs and Communications – Chairperson, Ann O’Dell

  • Motion was made to renew Whelan Media Group contract for one month until the Public Affairs and Communications Committee can review the contract.
  • Committee review of "Honor Our Troops" donations. Approximately $2,300 has been raised. Still on going. Committee asked for $ 1,500 to be donated out of the NYSSA funds. Committee on Budget and Finance requested this be tabled until next month to give them time to consider.
  • April 2008 Forum was reviewed with mention on how it could be improved for the coming years.

　

Mike Fischer requested that clubs/counties turn in full costs for trail expenses. Steve Lewis also agreed that future reports include all costs. Steve will be notifying the local sponsors of this change. The NYS Office of Budget considered this balance in the fund surplus. Mike and the NYSSA advisors are referring back to the original legislation which intended all trail costs be reimbursed.

　

Gerry Ivison

6775 Townline Rd,

Byron, NY 14422

585.548.9951

ivyscastle@yahoo.com

 

　

Genesee Co. Step Signage Program Review

3/21/2008

Genesee Co. hosted a trail signage training session that was led by Dave Perkins and well attended. Eight people were certified as Step Safe Trails Advisors.

Genesee Sno-packers and Sleds of Stafford updated their Groomer Operator Guidelines and conducted groomer operator training sessions

Reasons for conducting our own County program

  • No one likes someone from outside the area telling us how things should be done. We know our own people and how to motivate them.
  • Difficult scheduling in the past – when there is snow, Club reps. and inspectors would like to ride, groom, etc. Landowners do not want ATV’s so impossible to do inspections by wheeled vehicles.
  • Local club may not take a single inspectors suggestions seriously or may disregard his authority
  • Need for standardized signing from trail boss to trail boss and club to club. A single inspector cannot cover enough of an area to verify this difference. (Locals traveling these trails daily will see differences and cover more of the area noting deficiencies).
  • It is easier to come to a consensus when 4,5 or 6 people are suggesting changes
  • Many times the Club Pres. or contact person has not ridden the whole club area whereas many of the 4-6 have seen the whole area in their daily rides.
  • The county association has a line item on every meeting agenda to discuss step signage in a frank and honest manner
  • Many of the attendees at the county association have ridden parts of the county that may never get ridden by an inspector, club president, etc. An open discussion will lead to areas needing attention

Road Crossing Priority

  • County Assoc. agreed to use of single signing method across entire county
  • Trail boss to trail boss, road crossings are not signed consistently within the same club or club to club within the county.
  • Agreed that all Stop Ahead and Stop signs are to be placed to the right of the trail.
  • Trail marker signs to the left side of the trail opposite those above.
  • Last single sign before a stop ahead warns of two way traffic ahead.
  • First single marker after road crossing warns of divided trail ahead.

　Blind Hill Priority

  • Blind hills are not signed consistent from trail boss areas to club to club
  • Last single sign approaching hill would have Blind Hill and Keep Right
  • At least three marker signs dividing lanes over the hill
  • First single marker sign past the hill will have Keep Right to designate divided trail

Junction Signing

  • Kiosks made from pallets or old trailers, are used at most junctions, garbage cans are for trash, sponsors are advertised, directions are posted etc. (all good ideas).
  • Some junction signing guidelines are not followed, essentially, Junction Ahead and trail number signs approaching and leaving.

General Comments

  • We did not try to to get Caledonia Trail Blazers, Marilla SnoMob, or Northern Erie Snow Seekers participation – all three had very minor trail mileage within our county.
  • The county had snow early in Dec. prior to trails opening and late in Feb. We called each other one day and did the inspection the next day with four people that were available.
  • In fairness to the clubs, we had at three storms with warm weather followed by strong winds – signs were blow down each time.
  • Two club Presidents participated in the inspections
  • Even though all of us thought our trails were well signed – I think we were all surprised by the inconsistencies especially within the same club from trail boss to trail boss
  • Because of differences signing road crossings, not only riders but groomer operators had difficulty staying on the correct side of signs.
  • In one instance, prior to our inspection, a groomer operator actually lost the trail because of blown over signs.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

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