Fall 2018 | 19 APPRECIATION This gentleman stepped into the club a few years back — officially, that is. He has always been involved in the background, getting things done, but he officially took the bull by the horns the past few years as the club was rebuilding itself. He has been an integral part of this transformation. He not only keeps the club’s purse strings but also helps with any trail construction or signing projects that take place along the club’s trail system. He is deeply involved in all aspects of snowmobiling, including grooming and even getting some riding in himself. Matt is always very appreciative of volunteers like him. He doesn’t know him extremely well, but he knows he is honest and is doing a great job up in the northwest corner of the state and Matt, among many snowmobilers, appreciate what he has done and continues to do. Serge Marcoux of the Cold Hollow Bearcats earns this year’s Appreciation Award. DEDICATION This volunteer has been involved since Matt has been here at VAST. He is always great at communicating and accomplishes a lot well before the season starts. In addition to running his own business, he is out replacing and decking bridges during the summer months to complete the job before all the help heads out deer hunting. He spends much of his winter behind the controls of the groomer and dedicates much of his time and his own power tools, ATV and excavator to benefit the club. His dedication to getting the job done and doing it right is a great example for all of us. Stuart Merusi of the White River Valley Sno-Goers receives this year’s Dedication Award. CLUB TRAILMASTER OF THE YEAR This volunteer is another great example of what a volunteer is made of. The club she belongs to has other trailmasters, and they divide the duties. However, Matt chose to give her an award as she certainly stands out in his mind. Anytime there is an issue in her club’s area, Matt reaches out to her and she takes care of it. She communicates well and works closely with the landowners to solve issues in a timely manner. This club has had its share of issues too, but she has handled the issues as they presented themselves. The club is active and completes a number of projects every year with some very serious landowners. Mary Hutchins of the Hurricane Riders Snowmobile Club is deserving of the Club Trailmaster of the Year for all that she does. PATIENCE Matt tends to do this every year with at least one award. He finds someone in a club to give it to and then he has to give it to a multitude of people in the club because they are all deserving. This club has been very patient with a very extensive project that continues to plague them each and every season. Maintaining a 300-foot suspension bridge is no small feat for anyone to tackle, but this club has tackled it numerous times over the course of the last few years. It gets rebuilt and the ice takes it out. It gets rebuilt and the rain takes it out. It gets rebuilt and the banks upstream continue to erode and pose impending danger to the bridge and the abutments. Annual Meeting