b'VAST NewsA message from VAST Vice President Jeff Fayfellow riders to understand that document and abide by its content.Next, we have choices to make within a framework of rules: whether or not to abide by those rules is a FLAT RONchoice. The responsibility lies solely on us, not by Michael Swartz anyone else. We choose You, your children, or younger readershow, where, and when to may remember Flat Stanleys story,operate our snowmobile from a 1964 childrens book by Jeff which, by the way, is a Brown. The book spawned a projectprivilege, not a right. Our in 2005 where children would mail aresponsibility is to operate cut-out Flat Stanley to a friend, relative,that snowmobile in a or student at another school, and thatreasonable and prudent person would take a picture withmanner, on open/marked Flat Stanley and send a letter backtrails, and with good recounting his adventures.judgment about whether conditions are right for In late 2020, Country Riders Trailriding so as to prevent Coordinator Ron Merrill had six inchesharm to others or damage of bone removed from one lowerto others property.leg after a second bout with cancer. Although Ron has served the club inChoices. We all make one capacity or another since 1996, thethem, and some are not surgery has laid him flat for the timeWe all make choices, everynecessarily good ones. being, and thus Flat Ron was born.day, every hour, every minute.But even with those, we have to Michael Koehlers brainchild, FlatResponsibilities are associatedaccept responsibility for making Ron is a printout given to Ron and hiswith those choices. At some point,them and for the consequences family during the 2020 holidays to keepwe made the choice to purchase athereof. Remember, you control spirits high. But once the trails openedsnowmobile. We made the choiceyour choices - how hard to squeeze up, Flat Ron started accompanyingof which brand, model, and optionsthe throttle, where to point your groomer operator Tony Lemay outand how much to pay for them.skis, what beverage you drink with on his rounds to assist the real RonThen it was our responsibility tolunch, and which rules you obey. in supervising and inspecting trailsmake sure we and our snowmobileBe thoughtful enough to make good and visiting club sponsors like the Jaywere prepared to ride legally -choices, responsible enough to Village Inn, Hillikers Store, Boutinsregistration, insurance, and trail pass.accept the consequences of your Market, and The Junction Restaurant. Maybe there was even the addedchoices, and respectful enough to realize that every choice you make Flat Rons adventures are chronicledresponsibility of getting a safetydoesnt just affect you but others as on the Country Riders Facebook pages,certificate. well.and Country Riders Event coordinatorWhen buying the trail pass, we had Sarah Merrill asks people to be onmany choices to make: join a clubMy choice was to write this article. the lookout for Flat Ron on the trails.(and whether to join more than oneMy responsibility was to convey Please take a picture with him and postclub), make a donation to help a club,my thoughts in a coherent manner. it to Facebook, tag @Country Ridersoffer to volunteer for a club. We alsoMy hope was to influence as many in your post, and the club will pick ahad the choice to actually read thepeople as possible to make good/winner for best picture. The winnerlegal waiver, or have someone readbetter choices.will receive some great club swag,it to us, or just check the box that weRespect others, ride safe, ride right courtesy of Linda Lees Monograms inread it and move on. At that point, a- and make good choices!Newport Center. legal document was signed, and we Best wishes for a speedy recoverynow have the responsibility to theJeff Fay, VAST Vice PresidentRon, from all your friends in the VASTclub, to the association, and to our community! Hopefully, we will see 3D Ron out on the trails soon.Winter 2021 | 5'