b'VAST NewsA message from VAST Vice President Jeff FayWhere Does All That Money Go?Its a strange new world we live in these daysa contested presidential election, civil unrest that hasnt been seen in decades, and just in case those werent enough, toss in a worldwide pandemic. However, on the bright side, ITS SNOWMOBILE SEASON!! Or at least will be very soon.The Vermont state guidelines regarding the pandemic have been changing on almost a daily basis over the last few weeks (mid-November as this is being written) due to a severe increase in COVID cases. Currently, travelers into the state are required to quarantine for 14 days before arriving (or after arriving at their destination) or quarantine for 7 days and have a negative test. Although this posesfund (28% for daily operations/ 97% of all snowmobile registration a substantial inconvenience for ouradministration), the VAST trails fundfeesthe state keeps $11,500 for out-of-state members, it is not, at(71.9 % for, just as the name implies,administration. A $36 out-of-state this point in time, going to force atrail-related expenses), and theregistration fee paid to the state shut-down of the snowmobile trailVAST scholarship fund (1.0%). So,returns $34.92 to VAST.system. Clubs have been preparingessentially, 72 cents of every TMA for the season as they normallydollar goes to keep the trail systemThe simple fact is the sport of would, but they are having toopen and ready for riding eachsnowmobiling in Vermont is funded adhere to social distance, masks,season, regardless if there is snow orby the snowmobiler, and for the and gathering limit guidelines whilenot and regardless of whatever elsesport to continue into the future, going about their regular pre- is happening in the world.the snowmobiler needs to invest season chores.for that futuresupport your clubs, All clubs have expenses associatedBreaking all that down, here is wheresupport your association: buy with preparing the trail system forthe money ends up, for example,your registrations, buy your TMAs, a new season, so it is importantfrom an out-of-state TMA at $175:join a few extra clubs where you to understand how funding is$30 goes to the club, $100.66ride. It may be hard or may even structured, especially now withgoes to trails, $39.20 goes to dailybe impossible for some to ride as limitations on gatherings that haveoperations, $.14 goes to scholarshipthey normally would this year, but essentially made fund raisers moreand $5 goes to processing expensesthink of the big picture: no TMAs difficult to hold. As most know, thefor the online sale. In total, the TMAmeans, no clubs, no trails, no main source of VAST funding is theexpense of $175 returns all but $5.00snowmobiling. TMA (trail pass) with the attachedto keeping the VAST trail systemWe all need to do our part to get club/county dues. New for thisopen for another season and forthrough these challenging times. Be year with the online TMA salesseasons ahead. safe, stay healthy, enjoy! are uniform dues of $30 per TMA,Funding is also received fromBest wishes for the holidays, and I which goes to the clubs directly.registrations (roughly $400,00)look forward to seeing you, from a In prior years there was a wideand the gas tax (fixed amount ofdistance, on the trails.range of club/county dues across$148,000), with this income being the state. With the new flat rate,used to fund grants for groomingStay healthy, Ride safe, Ride right, 70% of clubs will see an increase inequipment, pay liability insurance,Enjoy!dues. The balance of the TMA saleand law enforcement ($5 of eachJeff Fay, VAST Vice Presidentsplits between the VAST generalregistration by law). VAST receives Early Winter 2020 | 5'