Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Fall 2016 | 5 A message from VAST President Tim Mills Letters I am not sure how or why it happens so fast and I can remember it as clear as day. As I was hooking my truck up to my camper to bring it to our seasonal site for the summer, I was thinking to myself,“I don’t have kids in school anymore so there aren’t the normal obligations attached to that scenario. It’s going to be our summer to relax, enjoy and take it all in at our pace for once.” Well, before I knew it, the Fourth of July was here, then Annual Meeting in August, and then Labor Day. Now I am making plans to bring the camper home by Columbus Day. I know I’m not the only one this happens to. It happens to all of us. The long dog days of summer are never as long as we would like them to be. I want to take a moment and thank Rutland County Snowmobile Club and Rutland County Director Merrit Budd for doing a fantastic job of organizing Annual Meeting this year. Rutland County decided to hold this year’s Annual Meeting at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel, which is nestled among the mountain peaks in south central Vermont. We snowmobile enthusiasts are a unique bunch, and if you have never attended Annual Meeting before, you are definitely missing out on an experience. It is a great opportunity to get a close up look at all of the latest snow grooming equipment, as most of the major brands usually attend. The meals that are put on at these events are definitely not to be missed. Another bonus of attending Annual Meeting is that it is a gathering of people just like us who have one huge commonality: a love for snowmobiling. It is a chance to catch up with friends both old and new. It’s almost like going to a family reunion! This is when the membership has an opportunity to be a part of the process. Depending on the number of delegates your club has for representation, you could be a voting member representing your club at the meeting. We also utilize Annual Meeting as an opportunity to honor individuals who stand out in many different ways that have an impact on our sport. If attending Annual Meeting is something that you haven’t done before but you would like to, then you should get in contact with your local club and find out what you can do to help make a difference. Our entire organization is made up of members just like you and me. We are the building blocks that make this organization what it is. VAST’s goal is to provide a trail system second to none and I would love to see you right there beside us making it happen. Ride safely and smooth trails,  - Tim Mills, VAST President in a certain time period in order for this item to be added to the Annual Meeting agenda. We did almost double that percentage requirement in just a few days! I was so impressed by many of the clubs I spoke with who in turn reached out to other clubs to get them engaged. Club officers voiced their opinion on how critical to their club all their members are to them – whether they are in-state residents or out-of-state residents. A committed volunteer is a blessing and we should not limit any willing volunteers. The process that is outlined in the bylaws worked! Thank you to the bylaws chair, Jeff Fay, for outlining what I needed to do. My club president, Stan Choiniere, was a help to me during the process; his support and guidance was greatly appreciated. I also like to thank all those who voted in favor the change at the annual meeting.  The vote was 3:1 in favor of the bylaw change. As an out-of-state member, it is wonderful to know that I can help at the club, county or officer level now. This opportunity is now open to all good standing members, no matter where you live, as long as you are committed to the responsibilities of the role.  – Patty Companik Chester Snowmobile Club We welcome your letters! Send them in by mail or email: editor@vtvast.org VAST, 26 Vast Ln., Barre, VT 05641 Worlds Largest in Used Snowmobile Parts 802-487-1000 AlsSnowmobile.com ATVparts.com ATVparts.com All Years, Makes & Models, New Parts Tracks, Slides, Clothing, Helmets, Carbides