2 | Snowmobile VERMONT VAST STAFF Executive Director Cindy Locke cindy@vtvast.org | Ext. 11 Trails Administrator Matt Tetreault matt@vtvast.org | Ext. 12 Media Manager Beth Godin beth@vtvast.org | Ext. 16 Finance and HR Manager Sheila Fenoff-Willett sheila@vtvast.org | Ext. 14 Trails Manager Ken Brown ken@vtvast.org | Ext. 18 Office and Programs Manager Cyndy Carrier Brown cyndy@vtvast.org | Ext. 10 VAST OFFICERS President Tim Mills 802-234-5000 timmills1@myfairpoint.net Vice President Jeff Fay 802-238-2037 jfayvast@comcast.net Treasurer Sonia Koehler skoehler@gmail.com Secretary Jim Hill 802-343-4478 jh_builders@hotmail.com Snowmobile Vermont Magazine 26 Vast Lane, Barre, Vermont 05641 Tel: 802-229-0005 • Fax: 802-223-4316 editor@vtvast.org | vtvast.org Snowmobile VT Magazine (ISSN 2374-5630 is published five times: Fall (October), Early Winter (December), Winter (January), Late Winter (April) and Summer (August) by The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc, 26 Vast Lane, Barre VT 05641. Periodicals postage paid at Barre, VT and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: VAST, 26 Vast Lane, Barre VT 05641-4477 VAST Direction MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS Patty Companik, Larry Dwyer, Jeff Fay, Kimberly Lampert, Tim Mills, Mike Mutascio Snowmobile VERMONT VERMONT ASSOCIATION By VAST Executive Director Cindy Locke I am amazed at the amount of snow piling up outside, and I hope it keeps on coming through the winter. Right now, as we get ready to open trails, VAST volunteers are struggling with getting the trails ready, signs out and downed trees cleared. Each volunteer who works on the VAST trail system is incredibly important to snowmobiling in Vermont. Often, they adopt parts of trail systems that they love. They work out there, representing their club in all seasons and all kinds of weather, so that the folks who don’t volunteer can enjoy the trails each winter. Because of their dedication, it is so important to thank them. If you see trail work being done, at least stop to thank them if you don’t have time to offer help. But if you can lend a hand, that goes a long way too. One important form of support is to use social media as a way to thank them. Of SNOW TRAVELERS But, social media can also be a nasty tool, because while you may think you are doing everyone a favor by announcing that a club needs to groom more (in your eyes) or do a better job on their trails. Well, it does not work that way. All something like that does is hurt, and it hurts hard because of the love of our trails each volunteer has. Instead of critiquing trail work or grooming, ask to volunteer and learn what it actually takes to open and maintain trails for snowmobiling. What about taking the time to ride along with a groomer operator so you can see the meticulous and timely work it takes to groom trails? Let’s start 2019 by being kind to each other, thanking volunteers, and using social media to build folks up, not tear them down. Happy Snowy and Safe Trails,