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2010 Officers
President Gary Broderick
Vice President Jason Kowalczyk
Secretary Ginny Ivison
Treasurer Roger McCabe
NYSSA Staff
Executive Director & Trails Coordinator Dave Perkins
General Manager Anne O’Dell
PO Box 612 Long Lake, NY 12847-0612
Phone: 888-624-3849 Fax: 888-317-2441 E-mail:
New York State Snowmobile Association
Dedicated to
Improving Our Sport.
Welcome New York Snowmobiler! We hope you enjoy our Special Edition!
~ NYSSA
It’s Good to See You Again! By Gary J. Broderick, President, NYSSA It’s been a long time! Several years ago, we ceased production of the New York Snowmobiler print magazine due to soaring costs. We have been pro-ducing the New York Snowmobiler Online every month since then. You can find the issues at www.nysnowmobiler.com/nyssa-magazines. There’s also lots of other information on the NYSSA website and members-only message forums. While the Online magazine is a wonderful medium, we know that we’re not adequately communicating with all NYSSA Members. We have been working with the folks at Supertrax for the last year and a half to bring you a printed magazine. I hope you enjoy this magazine, and I hope we can find ways to bring this to you on a recurring basis! When you check out the Online Magazine, please take a look at our Membership
Discount Pages. We’ve worked with many compa-nies, large and small, to bring discounted goods and services to you, our members. These pages are also at www.nysnowobiler.com - click on Membership Benefits and follow the links to Mem-bership Discounts. Did you know that we send out alerts, calls to ac-tion and other information via e-mail? Rest assured, we never give your e-mail address to anyone. Due to volume, we use a service called ‘Constant Contact,’ a ‘trusted’ e-mail forwarding company that does not divulge or sell your e-mail information. We would be labeled as a ‘Spammer’ if we did not use a company who has been desig-nated as a ‘Trusted Agent.’
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New York Snowmobiler Special Edition October, 2010
As we start the annual ‘spin-up’ for the season, there are several shows coming up, including the Big East Powersports Show at the OnCenter in Syracuse and the Western New York Extreme Powersports Show at the Agri-Center, Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, NY. NYSSA is a sponsor for these shows. Discount admission coupons are in the Online Magazines for August and September. NYSSA and our Safety Trailers will be at Club events and shows throughout the state this season. I hope to see you at one of them! We have many issues we continue to work - many we need your assistance on. With your help:
We’ve averted another attempted sweep of the Snowmobile Trail Fund this budget year; We’re actively involved with the Unit Management Plans (UMPs) public input, approval and fielding
process throughout the Adirondack Park and the entire State; We’re working with National Grid to ensure continued access for trails on their property throughout NY; We’re working with the Canal Corporation to allow snowmobile trails on their property;
and many more. If you are active in your club, thank you. If you aren’t, please consider stepping forward and helping out. It is people like you – working together - that keep trails open for the next generation to ride someday. Everyone is getting busy, closing down and putting away the summer toys, prepping the fall and winter toys, kids are back to school, older kids are off to college, and everyone is just a little bit busier than usual. Please take the time to think about safety. Though we may not have talked with you lately, we like having you as a member! Please stay safe and keep the rubber side down! ●
(Continued from page 1)
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The Trail Scene by Dave Perkins, NYSSA Executive Director & Trail Coordinator
NYSSA has been extremely active in trail and political issues lately. Nothing is more important than watch-dogging the snowmobile trails fund. Each year it becomes a target to balance the state budget. Our very strong grass-roots effort has helped keep our funds where they belong. Register Early to Protect the Trail Fund Speaking of the trails fund, when do you register your snowmobile? If you wait until the snow flies, then you may actually be playing into the hands of those in Albany looking for unencumbered funds. Snowmobile registration money received by the State in the fall becomes part of trail grants to clubs for that winter season. Registration money received later sits in Albany. It may get used to pay the 30% portion of trails fund grants or it may sit until the next year. Money that sits in Albany is a target for a budget sweep. Do you want your trails fund money going to trails? Then register this fall – don’t wait. Access and Trail Protection Finally, after many years of delays and frustrations, community connector trails in the Adirondacks are finally being planned and made ready for construction. Perennially unsafe trail conditions can finally be addressed. A new trail connecting Indian Lake with Newcomb is finally being opened for this season. Trail access along the State’s Canal system is being developed. During this past year two clubs received permits from Canal Corp to maintain a snowmobile trail along the Erie Canalway Trail. There is growing interest in other parts of the canal system for canalway access for snowmobiles. Better, More Consistent Trail Signage Would you like to be part of the effort to see better and consistent trail signage on the trails you and your family ride? Consider volunteering to be part of the Safe Trails Education Program (STEP) by becoming a Safe Trails Advisor. The training is not difficult, focusing on learning state signing guidelines and how to serve as an Advisor. You would then be partnered with a club near you to ride their trails and provide feedback on how their signage compares with the guidelines. Watch the NYSSA website for details by clicking on Trail Programs (on the members only menu). The menu that appears lists current STEP activities, including the 2010 – 2011 Safe Trails Advisor class schedule. ●
NYSSA understands that some of our members may not want to receive future product solicitation offers or promotions from our spon-
sors.
We respect your decision and therefore have provided the ability for each member to “opt out” of receiving any NYSSA Sponsor non benefit (solicitation) mailings. This feature is now available on our Online Member-
ship System.
The choice is YOURS.
Opting out will not affect official NYSSA communica-tions to its members such as NYSSA newsletters,
The National Income Life Insurance Com-pany (NILICO) Acciden-tal Death and Dismem-berment Insurance benefit.
Insurance discounts, provided by Nation-wide.
This issue of Super-trax Maga-zine.
Requests that would not be considered actual member benefits have not been approved in the past. Going forward, the NYSSA Board of Directors will have to decide if a re-quest is truly a member benefit, or a solicitation.
Opting out will NOT
affect official NYSSA
Communications to its
Members, such as
newsletters, NYSSA/
Club Membership
Cards, or actual NYSSA
Benefits.
Page 3
From time to time, NYSSA is approached by sponsors with product offers or pro-motions that may be of interest or value to NYSSA members. Sponsors may request the use of our postal mailing list in order to provide information di-rectly to our members, at the sponsor’s expense.
When requests are made, the NYSSA Board of Direc-tors must vote on and ap-prove the request. Once approved, NYSSA enters into a contract and confi-dentiality agreement with the sponsor, barring any use or sharing of member information other than what was specifically re-quested and approved.
The only requests that have been approved to date are for member bene-fits such as:
The Choice is YOURS NYSSA/Club membership cards, or actual NYSSA member benefits.
There are three ways for you to indicate your choice.
1) You may login to the secure Online Member-ship System, click on 'edit', scroll down, and un-check the box marked 'Use of My Per-sonal Information'.
2) You may contact your club membership ad-ministrator and ask them to do this on your behalf.
3) You may contact the NYSSA Office and ask us to do this on your behalf.
NYSSA hopes that each and every member wishes to receive future product offers and promotions, but - the choice is YOURS! ●
Photo by Dan Coffman
NYSSA wishes
you SAFE and
HAPPY Trails!!
How to Join a Snowmobile Club Online! If you want to get your sled registered before Holiday expenses crop up, here’s a reminder about how to join a Club online, and obtain your 2010-11 NYSSA Membership Voucher. 1) Go to www.nysnowmobiler.com and click on the big green button. This will take
you to our secure Online Membership System, https://membership.nyssnowassoc.org
2) Login with your six-digit NYSSA Member ID# and password. Your Member ID# is on your membership card, and also on your previous season’s voucher. Hint: your password is made up of letters, and must contain at least one number.
3) If you don’t remember your NYSSA ID number, contact your Club’s Membership Administrator. Club contacts are listed at http://www.nysnowmobiler.com/local-clubs-2 . You may also email [email protected] or call the NYSSA Office, 888-624-3849 x103. Reset password can be used to obtain a new password, however users on AOL and Netscape may never receive the message, as these systems seem to mark these messages as spam. Please call or email for assistance. ●
Did you know - nearly every county in New York is represented by a NYSSA District Director? He or she is your go-to person if you have questions about snowmobiling in New York State. Contact information for Directors, Officers, and NYSSA Staff is available on our website, www.nysnowmobiler.com.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
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New York is a leader in snowmobile education and offers an operator training course for snowmobilers of all ages beginning at age 10. This course provides fundamental information which all snowmobilers should possess in order to en-sure the safety of riders and other trail users. Successful completion of this course results in the award of a NYS Snowmobile Safety Certificate.
Courses are taught by experienced snowmobilers who volunteer their time to make the sport safer and more enjoyable. They are usually sponsored by snow-mobile clubs and are available in fall and early winter. As of March 31, 2010, over 200 courses were taught and over 4,700 students were certified for the 2009-
2010 season.
Who must take the Safety Course?
Youth ages 14 through 17 years old may operate a snowmobile, on lands upon which snowmobiling is allowed, with-out adult or other supervision if they have completed a snowmobile safety training course recognized by the State of New York. If youth ages 14 through 17 years have not completed the training course, they may operate a snowmo-bile if accompanied by (within 500 feet of) a person who is at least 18 years of age.
Youth ages 10 through 13 may operate a snowmobile, on lands upon which snowmobiling is allowed, if they have completed a snowmobile safety training course recognized by the State of New York and are accompanied by (within 500 feet of) a person who is at least 18 years of age.
Children less than 10 years old or less than age 14 without a safety certificate may operate a snowmobile only on lands owned or leased by their parent or guardian.
A non-resident operator who is a resident of another state or country and is the holder of a valid snowmobile safety certificate issued by that state or country shall be considered the same as the holder of a New York State Safety Certificate.
A list of safety courses is available from the NY State Parks Website, at http://nysparks.state.ny.us/recreation/snowmobiles/safety-courses.aspx. This list is updated weekly during the snowmobile season. ●
Safety Courses Offered Throughout New York Page 5
After the events of September 11, 2001, the vision of security in the United States changed dramatically for all Americans. In recognition of the threats our country continues to face, and with the realization that we must all be vigilant, the US Government has established a Citizens Volunteer Service as part of Homeland Security.
Everyone who uses the state’s trail system has a vested interest in protecting this resource and the areas through which it passes. YOU can be the additional “eyes and ears” for those protecting our nation. RIDE AWARE and be ready to call the New York State Terrorism Tips Hotline, 1-866-SAFE-NYS.
When on the trail, look for suspicious activity near power lines, power stations, pipe lines (gas, oil, water), dams, public water supplies, military installations and any other sensitive facilities. DO NOT TRY TO INTERVENE. Even if you are not put at risk, your actions may interfere with law enforcement. Call 911 in an emergency, but to report suspicious activity, call 1-866-SAFE-NYS. ●
YOU are Snowmobile Trail Watch
New York State
Terrorism Tips Hotline
1-866-SAFE-NYS
This information was reproduced in part from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preserva-tion’s Snowmobile Unit 2009-2010 Season Report, available online at www.nysparks.com.
Where do my Registration Dollars go?
Possibly the most frequent question! Funding for NY's snowmobile trails is obtained through state snowmobile registration fees. All but ten ($10) dollars of the $45 or $100 registration fee collected is dedicated to support snowmobiling in New York State. Ten dollars is allo-cated to the Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) to cover the cost of staff printing, mail-ing and two-year record retention associated with processing registrations The balance of the registration fee is deposited into a State Special Revenue Snowmobile Account.
How Much Money? How Many Miles?
In the 2009-2010 season, $5,523,835 was collected in revenue and $4,296,570 was budgeted to provide financial support for the maintenance and development of the state-wide trail system, which comprised approximately 10,423 miles. This revenue is returned to local areas as grants-in-aid for snowmobile trail development and maintenance.
How many Registered Snowmobiles?
Snowmobile registrations for the 2009-2010 season totaled 131,664, reflecting a de-crease from the 2008-2009 season, which had 136,471 registrations.
Where are the Trails?
The Statewide Trail System traverses 47 counties and is maintained by approximately 200 “Trail Maintaining Entities” - mostly snowmobile clubs and volunteer labor - funded through 55 municipal sponsors. This vast trail network is comprised of lands under the jurisdiction of OPRHP, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“DEC”), New York State Canal Corporation, local governments and many private landowners. Private landowners have increasingly opened their property to snowmobiling, with the protection of insurance coverage provided by the state snowmobile program.
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Snowmobiling in New York - Your Questions ANSWERED! Page 6
Agency Building One Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12238 (518) 474-0446
Where can I get Trail Maps?
A statewide Corridor Trail Map is produced by NYS OPRHP. You may obtain a copy at no cost by calling or writing the address above. In addition, much more detailed local maps are often available from local clubs. Many clubs sell these maps as a fundraiser for their trail efforts. Contact clubs in the areas you intend to ride prior to your trip. A list of clubs by county is available on our website, www.nysnowmobiler.com.
Who are the Landowners?
OPRHP currently funds 10,423 miles of trails. There is a total of 10,517 miles of snowmo-bile trails in the NYS Snowmobile Trail System, with the additional 94 miles of trails main-tained directly by OPRHP and DEC for the public. The single largest participating land-owner is the State of New York, with over 40% of trails crossing public lands. This repre-sents a significant increase from the past when only 20% of trails existed on public lands. The generosity of private landowners accounts for 60% of our trail system. Please ride with courtesy!
What is the Primary Cause of Snowmobile Accidents?
Unsafe speed is the primary cause of snowmobile accidents. Most accidents continue to involve collisions with fixed objects, such as trees. While OPRHP believes that all fatal accidents and most injury accidents are reported, it is possible that some accidents go unreported.
Is Law Enforcement a Priority?
OPRHP is the lead agency conducting the Snowmobile Law Enforcement Development School (“SLEDS”) training program for law enforcement officers. The course covers snow-mobile law, patrol procedure, accident investigation, field operations, and basic ice rescue training. A special class has been presented at the annual conference of magistrates, with fifty counties represented. Other classes have been held in Lewis, Oneida, Allegany, Madison, Franklin, St. Lawrence, and Cortland counties. There has been a very positive response including an increase in the appropriate processing of those who violate the laws and rules regulating snowmobile operation. ●
The generosity of
private
landowners accounts for
60% of our
trail system.
Please ride with courtesy!
Page 7
products and get some real deals on the items you need.
Social Event
This is our state’s premier social event for the movers and shakers, the real leader-ship of snowmobiling in New York. Come and rub shoulders with the best, and offer your input along with those who are dedicated to improving our sport.
Antique Snowmobile Show
For the first time, in 2010 we held an Antique Snowmobile Show in conjunction with the Forum. What a sight it was, to see sleds from our past! Come and enjoy the memories with your fellow sledders. ●
Each year in April, NYSSA holds its Annual Meeting and Educational Forum. Planning for the 2011 Forum is well underway. This years’ event will be held at the Holiday Inn, Liverpool, NY, on April 16-18, 2011.
Educational Courses
Typically about a dozen courses are offered each year, covering topics such as Insurance, Lobbying and Leg-islation, GPS Training, Groomer Operator Safety Training, and Law Enforce-ment.
Vendor Expo
Our Vendor Expo is usually jam-packed with booths. Come and learn about new
NYSSA’s Annual Meeting & Forum - Save the Date!
2011 Forum: April 16-18, 2011
Holiday Inn Liverpool, New York
Online Registration begins February 1, 2011
www.nysnowmobiler.com
Photo by Jane Chaddock
