Two other items:   The Poker Run is scheduled for Saturday,  February 11th at 10 a.m.  (Change in date in hopes of getting some good snow)    Snow or no snow, we will be getting together for some fun and food, so please come to Osgood’s Field and join in the fun.     On Saturday,  February 25th  (rain date, Feb. 26th), at noon at Osgood’s Field, we will have the  Fred Robinson Scholarship Fund Steak Cookout.   ALWAYS a good time with great food, raffles galore, all for just $12.   Remember to bring your own eating utensils and an appetite!

The December Secretary’s Report (from the website) was read and accepted.   The Treasurer’s Report was read and accepted and sh owed a current balance of $11,501 before an $8000+ check was cut to VAST for TMA’s.  The balance includes recent payments for bridge and trail repairs.

Old Business

• All of the bridges washed out or damaged by Hurricane Irene have been replaced. These include, the two bridges at Eye’s, The Fontaine’s Bridge. Rink’sSawmillBridge, The bridge to Osgood’s Field, Ruthie’sBitchBridge, a new bridge North of the 4 corners and a small bridge on the trail between these two.  Additionally several bridges have been replaced on Rt 35 between Eye’s andPutneyMountain.
• The $1,500 bridge and repair appropriation the members approved earlier has been pretty much used up.
• A temporary work around has been cut to avoid a serious washout heading to the 4 corners from Parker’s
• Verbal Permission has been granted by Jeff Ezequelle to use the Power line South of Putney Mountain Rd heading towards Dummerston.  Donald or April will get an address so that we can send him a Landowner’s Permission Form.
• A heroic job by our dedicated volunteers (with a little help from the weather) to get the trail system back in rideable shape and make some much needed improvements.

 New Business

• The club voted to make a $ 250 donation to Larry Gould & Sons for picking up additional Poles inVernonVT, Concrete Blocks and setting them in place behind the Fontaine’s (Alternate 35).
• The Club agreed that we should attempt a Construction Grant-in-Aid Application toVASTto recoup our Out of Pocket expenses of approximately $1,000-1,100 for the two RT 35 Bridges.
• The Club agreed to set up a Snowmobile Club account at WW Building Supply.  The initial list of approved persons includes, Mike Fontaine, Don Gokey, Tom Brooks and Daryl Graves.  All future major purchases will need approval by one of the above to get the discount.  Minor Trail Maintenance items will still be reimbursed by submitting an invoice slip.
• Rink’s Camp, The landowner has requested that no bonfires be built w/o the landowner’s specific permission.  Small cooking fires in the fireplace are OK.  Also if you pack it in, pack it out (Pack it out even if you didn’t bring it in).  We’re on a slippery slope of losing use of this popular stop, so we need to show the land owner that we can be good stewards of the land.  The Club will investigate adding some signage and/or a trash barrel (with landowner’s approval)
• The VELCO gates are being opened
• The Poker Run is still a go for February 4^th (no Rain Date).  The course will be run in Reverse with the same stops as last year.  In the event of a continuing lack of snow it could become just a field event (Draw Card’s, Food, 50/50 Raffle). The event will be promoted on the local media outlet’s
• The 35^th Anniversary Fred Robinson Steak Cookout is on track for Saturday February 25^th.  A minimum of 100 steaks will be ordered (An additional 20 if the weather looks especially promising).  The cost will be $12.  As always, help is needed to set up on Friday as well as Saturday Morning.  Contact Ruth Warren (413-566-3350) if you can help out or if you would like to make a dessert.  A special commemorative T-Shirt will be available for purchase.
• The next club meeting is scheduled for 7:30 PM, Saturday March 10^th at John and Pat Eye’s House,409 Grassy Brook Rd inBrookline.

The meeting was adjourned @ 8:40 PM

Bob Samuelson, VP

OLD BUSINESS:
1)     Two people were nominated as co-Presidents and were voted in.   They are Daryl Graves and Fred Warren.
2)     Bob reported that the Velco telephone poles are ready for pick-up.   There are at least six and he thinks they are 40 feet long with a 16-20” diameter.  Jim Rogers will go get them as soon as he can.
3)     John and Pat Eyes volunteered to have the March 10^th meeting at their house, 409 Grassy Brook Rd., Brookline – 7:30 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS:
1)     The bridge at Howard Osgood’s field was fixed by Jim Rogers recently
2)    Fred and Daryl have been working on clearing trails around Rinks Camp and Parkers Landing, up toCraneMt.  There is still work to be done on Ruthie’sBitchBridgeas well as other areas.
3)    Janet went over some special requests she’d received from the returned landowner permission forms.   All issues will be worked out with no problems.
4)   It was reported that the Route 35 trail from Holt’s Tree Farm toPeakedMt.will be open this year.  The Townshend club is rerouting the steep section in that area.
5)    Donald as received the grooming contract and has signed it and sent it back.   April had it with her for Daryl and Fred.
6)    Reminder – Early bird TMA’s due by Dec. 15^th and the trails officially open on the 17^th.
7)   April reported that Ruthie and family have come up with a new design for t-shirts to be sold at the steak cookout in February.  This year marks the 35^th year since the Fred Robinson Scholarship Fund was started.

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Janet English,    Secretary

VOLUNTEER TMA’S:

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE:
Sheila Gokey and Kendra Brooks are taking on this task.  Information is enclosed with this newsletter.  Please remember to send a stamped self-addressed envelope when requesting TMA’s by mail. There has been a $15 increase in all TMA’s (except the Volunteer) this year so be sure to take advantage of the Early Bird Pricing through Dec. 15^th.

MEETINGS:
Dec. 3, 2011 at Bob Samuelson’s house onSchool Marm Lane, Townshend,7:30 p.m.
Jan. 21, 2012 at April Wellman’s house,553 Grassy Brook Rd.,Brookline.
Mar. 10, 2012 – location to be determined.  Any volunteers?   Please let one of the officers know – thanks!

EVENTS:
Poker Run – Feb. 4, 2012.   This will be held at Osgood’s field at10 a.m. until2 p.m.  More information will follow via email and on the website.  Stay tuned……

Fred Robinson Scholarship Fund Steak Cookout -
Feb. 25, 2012. Begins at noon and is held at Osgood’s field, Hill Rd., Brookline.  Please contact Ruth Warren (413-566-3350) to offer your help and/or raffle prizes.  The cost is $12 which will buy a steak, baked potato, fried onions, baked beans and a dessert.  Please come and help support this great cause.  It’s always a lot of fun!

SNOWMOBILE SAFETY COURSE – Dec. 17, 2011
Chris and Jim Rogers as well as Nelson King from the Grafton Outing Club will be having a snowmobile safety course at the Newbrook Fire and Rescue. It begins at9 a.m.and is free.  All students must be 12 yrs of age or older on or beforeApril 15, 2012to receive certification.  Certification is required by law for all young snowmobile drivers.  Lunch will be provided.  Please call Jim or Chris at 802-365-7951 for more info and to register.  Class is limited to 20 and fills up quickly!

WEBSITE:
The website seems to be a success with 1555 “hits” during the riding season last year!  We are trying to keep it updated and current but could use some help with more snowmobiling pictures, information on problem areas and riding conditions, and MOST IMPORTANT, grooming information.  Please check us out at:    www.brooklinesnowmobileclub. com   

EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS:
If you aren’t already on our emailing list, please let Janet know asap and you’ll be included.  Most things are posted on the website, but the emails serve to give you a more timely update when needed.   Contact Janet at:  Nativenant@sbcglobal.net

The Secretary’s report was read and accepted.   The Treasurer’s report was read and accepted and showed an ending balance of $4,966.86.   Of that, approximately $3,800 is in the Trails Fund and $1,100 in the General Fund.    April will go online and check about the Form 990 for the IRS to see if it needs to be updated.

Election of Officers:

It was decided that the election for President will be postponed until the December meeting.   The following were re-elected:    Bob Samuelson, Vice-President;   April Wellman, Treasurer;   Janet English, Secretary.

Meetings and Events:

Meeting:  December 3^rd at Bob Samuelson’s house
Meeting:  January 21^st at April Wellman’s house
Meeting:  March 10^th – location to be determined at next meeting
Poker Run:   February 4, 2012
Fred Robinson Scholarship Fund Steak Cookout:  February 25, 2012

Safety Course:

Jim and Chris Rogers as well as Nelson King from the Grafton Outing Club will be hosting a snowmobile safety course at the Newbrook Fire and Rescue onSaturday, December 17, 2011from9 a.m.until3 p.m.   There is no charge for this course and they can accept 20 students.   Our club approved spending up to $100 for the luncheon for the student.  Janet will put this on the website and in the newsletter.

Trails Fund:

A motion was made, seconded and voted on to authorize up to $1500 to be spent on repairs on our bridges and trails, either in materials needed or labor.

VAST Meeting:

Bob reported that the TMA price is up $15 this year.  VAST has earmarked $500,000 for Storm Irene damage south of Route 89 as well as $260,000 for the north part of the state for flood damage.  The message from VAST is:  “VT will be open for snowmobiling this year.”  Someone is suing VAST for $5,000,000 for lack of signage and an injury or death which occurred last year.   VAST is already spending $140,000 for their insurance policy.   There will be a reciprocal snowmobiling weekend in VT, NH andMainethis year – this will be on the last weekend of January.   The VT TMA will be good in all three states at no additional cost to the snowmobiler.

Volunteer TMA’s:

VAST gives our club 9 volunteer TMA’s each year which cost $25.  We automatically give the previous year’s officers one each as well as the membership volunteers, so that leaves 3 for the drawing from our list of eligible volunteers.  This year the winners were:   Jim Rogers, Chris, Rogers and Fred Warren.   If any of these people do not wish to use this volunteer TMA, they are to notify one of the officers before our next meeting so that a runner-up can make use of this TMA.   The runners up are Mike Fontaine and John Morrison.

The meeting was adjourned at8:50.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet English, Secretary.