Fundraising is vital this year.  We just paid $25,800 for groomer fuel for the season.  The RLSC requests bids for fuel from the local suppliers and this was the low bid.  This really put a “crunch” on our budget.   So when you receive raffle tickets, 50/50 tickets, etc. please think about buying them.  There is only one place we can cut back to save money and that is grooming hours.  Insurances, taxes, payments, etc. all stay the same.  We want to keep our reputation for having the best groomed trails in the State of Maine and with fundraising help from all of our members, we can do that.  Think twice before you throw those raffle tickets away!!!

Enclosed with this letter you will find five MSA raffle tickets.  In the past, the big prizes have been snowmobiles.  This year, the MSA decided to give four $5,000 gift certificates to four dealers (Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski-Doo and & Yamaha).  If you win one of these certificates you can go to the dealer of your choice and spend the $5,000 in any way you wish.  The dealer you name will receive the $5,000 from the MSA.  Your purchase does not have to be snowmobile-related.  If that dealer sells, for example, lawn mowers, you can buy one with that cash or a boat or any other item.    MSA also changed the date for the drawing to give us more time to sell tickets.  Remember, this is an important fundraiser for the MSA and our Club.  We get to keep $1 from the sale of each ticket.    There are a lot of other great prizes listed on the back side of the ticket, check it out!  Good luck!!!

The RLSC membership meeting for October will be held on October 14^th at the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsman’s Clubhouse on the Skiway Road in Oquossoc.  Social hour is at 5:30 PM, dinner at 6:30 PM and the meeting will follow dinner.  This is a potluck dinner so bring a dish to share with others.  We did not have a September meeting; therefore, four Easy Bucks numbers will be drawn at the October meeting instead of two.   Remember, the prize is $100 instead of $50 if you are present and  your number is drawn!!!

If you haven’t sent in your membership renewal yet, we urge you to do it as soon as possible.  Your MSA membership expires on September 30^th.  You will not have insurance coverage which comes automatically with your membership and you will stop receiving the MSA newspaper which carries a lot of important information each month.  Also, your membership fees are a huge part of our fundraising process to keep the trails in top condition. 

The RLSC will be organizing teams to go out on the trails soon to clear brush, cut fallen trees, sign the trails and get them ready for snow.  If you are interested in spending a day or a weekend working on the trails, please contact Clark Allen through the web page e-mail address or by mail at the club address.  He and Matt Kennedy will be organizing work parties (this is all volunteer) for the fall months.  

We have received word from Wagner Forest Management Company and Seven Islands Land Company (both own large parcels of land which are trails are on) that they do not want snowmobiles on their property until after December 15^th.  It is rare that our trails are open that early, but in the event that we do get enough snow to ride on before that date, please watch for signs.  We will be posting these areas with signs that read “no snowmobiling on this property until Dec. 15^th.  We must honor their request – it is their property  and it’s very important to keep these people happy.

Don’t forget to visit us at the Maine Snowmobile Show which is on October 6, 7, and 8 at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine and/or at the New England Snowmobile Expo at the Big E Fairgrounds in West Springfield, Mass on October 14^th and 15^th. 

Until next month………  club secretary, Treasurer

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!