My Homepage

The May 12th "Council " meeting featured a visit from Don Reed, President of the
MSA.The meeting was attended by at least one Rep from 9 of the 10 Council Member
organizations. Don was requested to update the Council on his views of what the April
19th meeting ment to the MSA (and attendante organizations) and an update on what
was going on in the Snowmobile "Grant Sponsors" area of interest. Also in attendance
were two active members of the SAC Committee - Rich Filley and Bill Lucas.

After Dons presentation, there was discussion covering the Snowmobile Program,
problems and progress being made.

Two "MAJOR" issues were addressed, that in this writers opinion, are very important to
Snowmobile organizations and users in this State.

1) Improved communications between the MSA and the Clubs through visitations at the
Council Level.
2)Addressment of problems confronting Snowmobiling (Both from the Grant Sponsors
and users standpoint) Program in the state.

Emphasis in the past was on "Upwards Communications", which over the years allowed
to be developed holes in what the understanding of the Programs have become. This has
started to be addressed, with the MSA President attempting to visit with each of the
Council in the State to both feed downward the current activities taking place at the
State Level and to gather first hand, what the feelings of the various active clubs are.
Logistically, there are over 140 Clubs, and 16 Councils. Not all clubs belong to a Council,
but all elected officials must have served on the Board of Directors. Currently there are
over 50 members of the Board of Directors, with only 2 at large members. The balance
of the delegates represent Council Appointments. The Board elects the Executive
committee, and the general membership and Clubs elect the officers. All of the elections
take place at the Annual Convention, and there are no absentee or mail in ballots
allowed.

The importance of this is, the membership and Clubs are the Grass Roots of the
organization, the councils are the place where clubs can explain their position for
carrying forward to the state level during the year, While the parent organization (MSA)
addresses those issues that are to far reaching for the clubs to be able to address.
Working togeather we will suceed, but without communications, working togeather
becomes an unsurmountable task, from the standpoint of the individual club or
snowmobiler.

A very good start has been made, with addressment of the current MSA President, but
for him to successfully move forward on fixing the damaged wheel (from passing time) it
is important that all issues from the grass roots on up become part fo the solution. Don
has only been in office a short 4 plus months, but addressment of the problem started
over 18 months ago. Don has taken on the tremendous task of addressing this issue at a
critical time, and he does have the support of the rest of the officers down to the board
members. The over 100 persons that participated in the workshop in Mackinaw City on
April 19th included many from all over the state that had not attended an MSA sponsored
function in the past. (Participants came from the Keewinaw, Watermeet and the UP all
the way down to SE and SW Lower Penn. - all with different problems, etc due to
location and snow conditions during the winter.) Progress is being made. STAY TUNED
and Support the MSA.