6 | Snowmobile VERMONT VAST News Gail and Leon Woods were recently presented with their Lifetime Memberships and Trailblazer Awards. Gail and Leon were one of the original five couples who formed the Cavendish Green Mountain Snow Fleas in the 1960s. In the past, Gail has served as her club’s secretary and treasurer. She was also, at one point, the Windsor county president and treasurer. She has also been on the VAST board of directors. Leon was the Ludlow Side Hill Cronchers’ president, vice president and trailmaster. He was the vice president of the Ludlow club while simultaneously serving as president for the Snow Fleas. For many years Leon was the Snow Fleas’ trailmaster and primary groomer operator. LIFETIME MEMBERS & TRAILBLAZERS Drift Dusters Groomer Operator Brandon Phillips stopped by his son’s elementary school in Derby for a quick visit and photo with some of the kids from Ms. Sbarra’s third grade class. They were very excited to see the big machine up close. The Drift Dusters donated some time that day to grooming a small ski trail for the school. SCHOOL KIDS ENJOYED A GROOMER VISIT MEMORIAL TRAIL DEDICATION By Roger Gosselin On March 3, the Drift Dusters held the official ribbon cutting for the Dave Berube and Dana Parenteau Memorial Trail. Around 40 people attended and many gave their memories of Dave and Dana. The snowmobiling community lost two volunteers and active snowmobilers who dedicated a large part of their time to the sport in May of 2016. Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club Director Dave Berube and his partner, Dana Parenteau, were killed in a plane crash while returning home from a family member’s wedding. Both Dave and Dana were known for their amicable personalities, zest for life, selflessness and devotion to the sport of snowmobiling. Both Dave and Dana spent countless hours volunteering for the club. Dave served as a director for four years and had been volunteering for the past six years. Dave had secured nominations to be the next president of our club and we were looking forward to him leading us in the future. Known to many as a “die-hard snowmobiler”, he had what it takes to lead a club like ours. Dave was also excited to take a ride in the new groomer this year. It will not be the same without his smiling face in the passenger seat. We often find ourselves looking back and asking “Why?” and “How?” something like this could have happened. What we do know is that Dave and Dana would want us looking forward, focusing on how we can improve the sport of snowmobiling in the years to come.