Letter to the Editor – Manitou Sno-Drifters
Dear Editor,
There has been a flurry of articles and newscasts about snowmobiling surrounded by an equal number of rumours and myths.
It is prudent as the sole remaining Executive member of the Manitou Sno Drifters to update the snowmobiling enthusiasts in Manitouwadge and area of the status of organized snowmobiling in our area.
As many of you are aware the last few winters have been brutal for the snowmobile industry in general but particularly hard for some clubs including the Manitou Sno Drifters. We have experienced a decline in membership in the order of a 50% reduction per year from the high of 300 members a few years ago. We have also experienced a serious decline in the amount of volunteer hours that are dedicated to the maintenance of the trails in the Manitouwadge area and connecting to points north and south of us.
Your club has had many successes in the past few years leaving us in a position free of any liabilities as we move forward. The successes as mentioned before include the installation of the Nama Creek bridge after 10 years of hard work, the cutting of new trails around several pits and quarries, the reopening of D110A down the power line to Marathon, the installation of our own fuel tank and the acquistion of the New Holland grooming tractor to compliment the pair of Tucker Sno Cats. However even with these major accomplishments we were unable to attract enough members to sustain ourselves and to fill the executive positions.
We had two attempts to elect an executive and have commitments for the various positions required of a member club of the OFSC. They were the Annual General Meeting in the spring and most recent meeting a few weeks ago. Both meetings had poor attendance and failed to fill the positions as required of a Not for Profit organization and membership in the OFSC. Our regular monthly meetings have suffered from similar poor attendance.
The facts as of the time of this letter are as follows:
Fact #1 – The Manitou Sno Drifters Inc. have not folded nor is there any intent to dissolve. The Corporation and business name still exist and no efforts have been made to de-register it. We simply do not have a full executive which severely hampers what the club can do.
Fact #2 – The website has been shutdown so as not to mislead people by presenting out dated information.
Fact #3 – There will be no groomed trails in the Manitouwadge area for this season – all trails are marked as “TRAIL CLOSED” and will remain so for this season. There will be no groomed trails from Hillsport through Manitouwadge to Hwy 17 and Marathon as well as around the township itself.
Fact #4 – There will be no permits for sale in Manitouwadge. If someone would like to purchase a permit to ride on some of excellent trails in other areas they can do so on line. We would request that when the option appears for directing the funds, please direct them to the area where you plan on riding following the “Buy where you ride philosophy”. Classic permits can be purchased through the NOSSA office.
Fact #5 – Due to the above circumstances the club will no longer be a member in good standing with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs. There are ramifications to this and updates will be provided as they become available.
Fact #6 – The New Holland grooming tractor acquired in March of this year will be relocated to another community that has an active club and will be used to groom trails for the permit holders which is its intended purpose. The fuel tank will be relocated to support this machine. These assets are owned by the OFSC.
Fact #7 – Some of the trails that were the responsibility of the Manitou Sno Drifters will be transferred to neighbouring clubs.
Fact #8 – The Manitou Sno Drifters can no longer sponsor or sanction any events.
Fact #9 – The By-law governing the operation of motorized snow vehicles within the Township of Manitouwadge remains in effect and you are encouraged to obey it.
Please direct enquires, feedback and concerns to myself as the remaining executive member and club spokesperson, I will answer honestly and factually. Please don’t propagate rumours as it benefits no one.
Our new email address is: Manitousnodrifters@gmail.com and we have a Facebook group.
In closing I would like to thank all of those volunteers, businesses and snowmobilers who truly believed in the club and its activities. If not for your help the club would not be the success story it was over the last 30 years. I look forward to working with you in the future as the club moves forward.
Sincerely,
Ron Jung, Treasurer
Manitou Sno Drifters
Manitousnodrifters@gmail.com
