b'VAST NewsA message from VAST Vice President Mark Reavesmy first real ride. I will never forget that night. It was 88 miles from his place in Barre Town through Orange, Groton, Topsham, Corinth and Washington on his wifes Polaris 550 fan Grand Touring. That ride started my love of riding and has given Well, the weather gods have notme years of fun. Over the years, been particularly kind to us so far.Jim drifted out of snowmobiling And its not just Vermont or Newas other interests and demands TINA BEDARD, VASTEngland that has been suffering.on his time grew. Im happy to Even usually reliable areas likesay that hes back though and OFFICE & PROGRAMSQuebec, Northern Maine and theis currently vice president of the ASSISTANT Upper Peninsula of Michigan haveBarre Sno-Bees. Once again, our had a slow starts as well. I dontpaths will be crossing more often.VAST welcomes Tina to our team aswant to use this space to focusThe other person that I owe a real the Office and Programs Assistant. on that though. It wont changedebt of gratitude to is Alex Hart. She joins VAST with five years ofthe weather and it just bringsAlex, and his wife Rhonda, were experience in an office setting andthe mood down further. Instead,avid riders who lived nearby and with customer service, organizationalId like to focus on some of thethat I knew through the local high and documentation skills. She alsopositive aspects of snowmobiling. school basketball team. After I has experience with local outdoorI have mentioned before that Igot my first sled, Alex started recreation clubs with outreach, Greendidnt grow up snowmobiling,inviting me to go on rides. Each Up Day and fundraising events. Nextlike many of our members. I wasride was a lesson. Whether it was time youre in the Berlin area, stopborn in Georgia. My family doesnthow to lead a group on the trail at the VAST office, say Hello andhave a long history with winter.so that everyone had a safe and welcome Tina to the team! When you dont grow up aroundenjoyable day, or how not to panic Tinas Bio: something like snowmobiling,when you got stuck in a snowdrift Tina grew up in Central Vermontits hard to get started withoutin the dark and you think your with her family before brieflysomeone there to help you.riding partners have left you, Alex relocating to California after highWhen I think about how I learnedtaught me things that I still use school and eventually returning toabout riding and everything thatin safety classes today. Like Jim, Vermont. Growing up, Tina and hergoes along with it, there are aAlex and Rhonda got out of riding family were familiar with the sportlot of people who helped mefor a while but are coming back to of snowmobiling and the variety ofalong the way. Recently, I hadit. I am glad to hear it and hope we outdoor recreational activities Vermontthe opportunity to think aboutget to get a ride in soon.offers. a couple of people who reallySnowmobiling has given me a helped get me involved in thelot over the years and none of Tina and her husband, Roland, weresport. it would have been possible if married along the VAST trail in 2010Jim Bernier hired me to workpeople like Jim and Alex hadnt and have called central Vermont theirfor him too long ago to mention.been willing to share their home since. The couple along withIt was during my time workingknowledge and passion with a their daughters and their four-leggedwith Jim that I really had mynewbie. Im lucky, and I get to family members are active membersfirst exposure to snowmobiling.thank them for doing this. If you of the local community. Together, theWeekly, during the winter, Jimget a minute, give a thought to family enjoys many of Vermont andwould regale me with tales ofthe folks you got you involved New Englands outdoor activitiesrides to Groton or over to hiswith snowmobiling and if you can, such as camping, riding side-by-sides,camp in Newbury. Just whenthank them. hiking, enjoying nature, relaxing at theI thought I couldnt take much water or campfire as well as meetingmore, he finally brought me onMark Reaves, new people. VAST Vice PresidentWinter 2024 | 5'