Dakota Trails Snowmobile Association

MEETING MINUTES for Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association Region VITuesday, November 6, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at American Legion, Forest Lake, MN. Roger called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.  ATTENDEES: Roger Letcher (President, Lead Director, Cottage Grove), Donna Letcher (Secretary/Treasurer & Cottage Grove), Bill Prinsen (Director, Rice Creek), John Farley (Director, Cottage Grove), Dave Murphy (Director, Forest Lake), Jim Pavek (Vice President, Cottage Grove), John & Bernice Bautch (Rice Creek Trail), Joan & Larry Lulf (Lakeville Sno Trackers), Tim & Lori Gardner (Bayport PATHFINDERS), Ray Vellenga (Forest Lake), Mike Walzak (Forest Lake / Savanna Drifters)SECRETARY’S REPORT – Donna presented the secretary’s report for October.  John made a motion to approve the minutes; Larry seconded; motion carried.TREASURER’S REPORT – Donna gave the treasurer’s report as of October 31 ($1,993.03) checking balance and ($10.00) in savings. The treasurer’s report was filed for audit.MEMBERSHIP REPORT – Membership is down, so continue to solicit memberships, particularly business members. This is how Region 6 gets the funds necessary to operate so let’s solicit the businesses we where we shop (Membership form attached plus the re-cap #s).OLD BUSINESS - Veterans Ride clothing drive: Forest Lake Club is collecting in the next couple of weeks any riding clothing you might want to donate for the veterans to use. Contact Adam 651-307-2573UPCOMING EVENTS (detailed info on MN USA web page), 1/12/2019 Veterans’ Ride, Paynesville, 2/7-10/2019 Winter Rendezvous, Cragun’s Resort, Brainard, 2/16/2019 Hastings SnoMos Vintage Show & Ride, 4/26-28/2019 Spring Meetings, Arrowwood Lodge, Brainerd Lakes, Baxter, 7/12-14/2019Summer Camp Out at Flying Goose Campground, Fairmont, 10/25-27/19 Fall Work ShopNEW BUSINESS - If you don’t have the new username and password to update your club‘s page on MNUSA’s website, contact the MNUSA office. All club forms and information are now posted on www.mnsnowmobiler.org/clubs/information. When your club’s officers change, please complete and return the club information form to the MNUSA office. Changing your information on your club page does not change the information in the database.(Fall Workshop Notes) - Elections: Officers elected same as last year. (White Ballot), Legislation: All the legislation affecting us that was passed last session will need to be started again due to the fact that the entire bill was vetoed by Dayton. Trail Marking: Website to get the manual https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/grants/recreation/snowmobile_mg_manual.pdf. The main things stressed in the seminar were to keep all the stop signs on the right side & only 1 per stop, if you remove a trail be sure to remove any trail signs, remove any hazards in the trail if possible, otherwise, go around the hazard & mark the hazard and have someone not familiar with the trail, ride the trail to see if they can follow your markings. Also, be careful if you put up a sign that the trail is maintained by **CLUB NAME**, then that club would need to carry the liability insurance on that trail. Otherwise the insurance is maintained by the relevant trail association. MNSAC Meeting: Registrations are up. Some landowners in Itasca & St. Louis Counties are asking to be paid 18 cents/foot to put a trail on their land.  Continued discussion on this will happen between the parties involved. Also, if you have any club or feeder trails or any trails that are not on the map, be sure to get them on the map.  The DNR is transferring most of the grooming in State Parks to some of the clubs. Youth Involvement in MN USA: Explore the creation of a new “Region” for youth between 12 & 18 and giving the new Region voting rights. Motion will be studied and reported back on at the Winter rendezvous.CLUB REPORTS - Forest Lake: Sponsoring a veteran on the ride and also passing the hat for additional funds. Collecting clothing donations for the Veterans ride. Christmas party on December 15. The ride schedule is pretty much set up. Rice Creek: About 50% of the trails are marked. Working on a couple of re-routes. Lakeville: Finished classroom training, small class. Started mowing some ditches, some signage done, 5+ trips planned in January & February. Bayport: Giving a vintage sled at the Winter Party. Lots of trail marking, getting new Tucker for groominCottage Grove: Club members voted to become a social club and to discontinue the marking and grooming of trails. Have lost several trails due to housing developments. Participated in the Halloween parade in Cottage Grove.GOOD TO THE ORDER – Lori Gardner won. Dave made a motion to adjourn and John seconded the motion. Next meeting Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Willies, St. Paul Park, MN. Respectfully submitted, Donna Letcher, Secretary