b'VAST NewsA message from VAST President Tim Mills TMA HELPAt VAST, we all know that just about clearer, it was this winter. Weanything and everything gets done saw it early on: clubs that wereby volunteers. And, in the case of this accustomed to good snowyears new online TMA system, that depth from storm after stormwas no exception. The VAST staff were struggling in this seasonhad amazing help processing the to lay out a hard, firm basethousands of TMAS this year from layer while the polar oppositea number of people: Star Poulin, Pat was happening to clubs thatPoulin, Blake Poulin (kitty - actually normally would have to wait itwasnt much help!) Jeff Fay, Mark out for enough snow to buildReaves, Dwight Balaun and Dot a sustainable trail now beingCarrier. We couldnt have done it inundated with more snow thanwithout all of you! they were used to. With the unusual snowfall patterns we are seeing, these scenarios were not the norm for a predictable Vermont winter. Still, these snowfall patterns also created some early As the saying goes, if you dontseason riding opportunities in like the weather in Vermont, justnew areas of the state for those wait a few minutes and it willwho had the itch to get out and change. Nothing could be closer tohave some early season throttle the truth, especially this winter intherapy. These early season riding which we have seen it all as far asopportunities would not have been weather goes. We started out withpossible without ALL of the clubs a gang buster that dumped up tothat we have statewide. Along 40 inches of snow in some areas,with that opportunity comes the fantastic for a season opener, butneed for funding support through these snowfall amounts were notmemberships to these clubs. statewide. Unfortunately, that majorThankfully, we are seeing both snowstorm was then followed upthe Buy Where You Ride program with a rain event during a short butand local club memberships being counterproductive warm spell heresustained, and this support is what in Vermont. We were then able towe ALL need to continue to give if follow it up with a few decent stormswe expect to ride statewide.which have allowed a majority ofThere are four major items that need clubs to at least begin building ato fall into place for a successful sustainable base that can hopefullysnowmobiling season here in be maintained throughout theVermont and without these major winter.four, we are nowhere. First and most But you do not need me to be avital are our landowners, followed weatherman telling you what hasup closely by our volunteers. Third already happened, so where am Iand fourth place are neck and neck: going with this? A few issues ago, aa workable snowfall and clubs being portion of my article was about thefinancially solvent enough to do what Buy Where You Ride slogan, andis necessary to maintain their portion if you remember, I feel it is a worthyof the VAST trail system. Though idea. I also cautioned that onlythe beginning of this season was not buying where you ride could comeideal for all, it was a good reminder with side effects that could leavethat across the state, we are all local clubs struggling financiallytrying to accomplish the same thing: through lack of membershipa trail system second to none.funding. If there was ever a winterRide Safely and Smooth Trails,where my point could be made any Tim Mills, VAST President4 | Snowmobile VERMONT'