Guess What!!!  The ground is white here in Rangeley.   Ice is already showing up on some of the small lakes and streams.  Looks like an early winter this year. 

Please note!!!!   The November membership meeting will be held on November  16^th.  This is an important meeting as we will be voting to adopt the new revised by-laws that the By-law Committee has been working on.  As usual, the meeting will be held at the Congregational Church in Rangeley with dinner at 6:30 PM and the meeting to follow.  Hope to see you there!

Plans for Snodeo 2003 are taking shape.  We are planning to run the Obstacle Course, as well as the radar runs this year.  A few other added attractions have been discussed – more news in the next newsletter! 

Easy Bucks winners at the October meeting were Don Hayes of Brockton, Mass.,  who was present and  won $100, and Tom White of Rangeley, who was not present, he won $50.

The Maine Safety Council has selected Rangeley as the location for the 2^nd Annual “Great Whiteout” Snowmobiling Fundraiser. A flyer is enclosed with this newsletter describing the event.  This is a very worthwhile cause and we hope to see some of you there.   Sounds like a fun day! 

The Club’s brand new Piston Bully groomer arrived last week.  If you come in to Rangeley, you will see it near the Rangeley Inn.  It sure is pretty!!!  Of course, it will look much nicer with a drag attached to it and running down the trails.......

Clark Allen, club secretary and Vince Banaitis recently attended the Maine Snowmobile Association’s annual Landowner Appreciation dinner and Board of Directors meeting.  Governor King was in attendance and stressed the importance of Landowner participation in the snowmobile program.   Without their cooperation, we would have no trails.  Please remember this when riding.  You are on someone’s property at all times when you are on the trail system and leaving trash on the trails, etc. is a “no-no”.  Carry any wrappers, bottles, cans, etc. out with you.  Do not throw your trash on the ground.  Also, it is important to stay on marked trails.  The Landowner has designated the areas they allow us to use for our trails.

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to go out on the trails and cut brush, put signs up, etc.  Clark has spent a few Saturdays out there already with volunteers getting our trails ready for winter.  These guys work hard and deserve a big round of applause!!

Again this year, we will be raffling a mini-snowmobile.  Ski-Doo and Dockside Sports have co-operatively sold us a “Mini-Rev” (shown below) at a reduced price to raffle off.  The new model will be displayed at various restaurants in the Rangeley area.  Tickets were mailed out with the newsletter but additional ones are available for $5 each (or 3 for $10) simply by contacting club secretary. The drawing will be at the RLSC Annual February Dance, February 22nd, '03 held at the People's Choice Restaurant.

Mark you calendar!!!  The annual Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club dinner and Christmas Party will be held on December 14^th.  Enclosed with this newsletter is an invitation.  Please RSVP if you plan to attend.   Also enclosed are ten tickets for our annual 50/50 Christmas raffle which will be drawn at the Christmas party.  You do not have to be present to win.  Just sign your name and phone number on the back of each ticket stub and send them to the Club address.  The tickets are $1.00 each.  Previous winners for this raffle have won over $1,000.  Maybe you will be the lucky one this year.

Also, remember to mail in your Super Raffle Tickets soon.  These were mailed to you back in September and the drawing is on December 17^th.  There are a lot of prizes to be won, including four snowmobiles.  Remember, you can’t win if you don’t buy a ticket.  If anyone wants more tickets, let us know at the club address and we will mail them to you.  Keep in mind that for each ticket sold, the RLSC gets to keep $1 which goes directly into our trail maintenance fund.

The following list shows businesses in the area who have donated to our trail maintenance and grooming program.  Without their financial assistance, we would not be able to keep the trails in top condition at all times.  It is important that you patronize these businesses when you are in the Rangeley area and let them know that you appreciate their support!!!

We have also received $895.00 in miscellaneous donations from members.  This includes a donation in memory of Tracy Atwood, a rider who lost her life on our trail system last winter.

Think  Snow!!!!!!!!!  Maybe we’ll be riding before next month’s newsletter goes out!

Until next month…………..

Please visit our Sponsors page to check out businesses who have donated or pledged to donate to our grooming and trail maintenance program for this season. Be sure to patronize these businesses when in the area. It is due to their donations that we have the great riding conditions we all enjoy!