b'Annual Meetingtimber to the construction sites.to utilize the skills he learned in thatOFFICER OF The club recognized the need for aprogram when the club trail systemTHE YEAR more accurate accounting of theirwas hit with severe ice storm damage.True leaders landowner permission slips, whichOnce he was 18, he became a juniordont create was a huge undertaking. Withoutgroomer operator. His enthusiasmfollowersthey hesitation, he volunteered to assist inand efforts to encourage his friends tocreate more getting landowner signatures. volunteer has been a huge help to theleaders. This The club had a groomer gap. Davidclub and the VAST community. is done by had never groomed before, but thatmotivating, didnt stop him from offering totrusting, learn how to do it. He embraced theE.D.Srespecting and empowering others. challenge and spent many hours inAWARD OFThe next award recipient is a leader both seats of the groomer learning toEXCELLENCE who exemplifies this. If you have maintain and operate it. The followinginteracted with him in any capacity person has beenthen you know this is exactly how he a trustee for 10operates. E.D.Syears with oneIt all began when he was a kid AWARD OFclub and hasvolunteering with VAST by working EXCELLENCE held the officeron the trails. He has spent the past Jacob Marshiaposition ofdecade dedicated to VAST in different person startingsecretary sinceleadership roles, starting at his club riding when he2010 and, mostlevel and then the county level.was just 3 yearsrecently, TMA sales agent for another old. When heclub! When he was needed, our award was 11, he wentIn actively supporting two clubs, herecipient took up the gauntlet to help on to take thehas helped with many club activities,VAST through some tough times. He required safetyincluding several fundraisers. Heis dedicated, has a strong head on his course. obtains landowner permissions, marksshoulders, always offers fair advice, trails, and writes project proposals. Hesometimes with a funny analogy, and He has always been interested inis also a certified safety instructor. has never shirked from any tough helping with trail work. For hisconversations or tough decisions.community service requirementsAs an avid promoter of snowmobiling,When asked, the executive director during high school, all his communityhe encourages people who haveof VAST had this to share: I could hours were done volunteering fordropped out of the sport to reconsidernot imagine doing my job without VAST.and buy good, reliable used sleds tohis partnership. He has brought He did trail work, signage, assistedmake it an affordable family activityto this organization a balance of with bridge construction, and startedagain.thoughtfulness and grace, steady and riding along with the groomerHe has also been the delegate for thecalm leadership and just great advice operators. With all this work, it isVAST Annual Meetings since 2005. and direction.easy to understand how he wasWith all of this activity, Larry Dwyer ofOur sitting president, Tim Mills is able to exceed the community hoursthe Lyndon Sno-Cruisers and Orleansthis years Officer of the Year. requirement. Snow Stormers also finds time to go While attending high school, he alsosnowmobiling with his friends.enrolled in the Forestry Program at the local Career Center. He was able Fall 2019 | 17'