Message From the Executive Director
Headquarters’ Headlines: “Welcome to 2012 and another great snowmobiling season!” THANK YOU to those of you who have already renewed your PSSA memberships and to our Snow Burst, Storm, and Blizzard Premium Members! Their added financial support is very much appreciated and needed to help support our programs and mission. The 2011 memberships expired on December 31, 2011. If you have forgotten to renew, the January issue of the Keystone Snowmobiler will be your last issue unless you send in a membership renewal. You may conveniently renew with a credit card through our website, www.pasnow.org and click on the “Join Now” button on our home page. We are excited about the upcoming year and snowmobiling season for a lot of reasons! · Ten snowmobile clubs have received Round I mini-grants from our Consolidated Grants Project awarded by DCNR. See our Mini-Grant Coordinator, Julia Bogue’s, announcement of these awards in the January "Keystone Snowmobiler". · Round 2 mini-grant applications are due January 6, so we will soon be distributing those awards! Applications can be downloaded from our website or by contacting the office for a paper copy at any time. · Our Phase Two: Navigational Trail Signage Grant” of $26,500 was awarded. You may have seen our orange diamond intersection signs in Erie and Potter Counties last year as a result of our Phase One Signage Grant. Phase Two will support signage in Crawford, Warren, Forest, Clarion, McKean, Elk and Tioga Counties and the addition of universal icons for lodging, fuel, etc. Thanks to the coordination by Glen Knisely, Signs Project Coordinator, and club volunteers, we are making our way across the northern part of the state with consistent signage, in addition to coordinating with DCNR for snowmobile trails in state forests. These intersections noted on trail maps will be help to identify your location, enhancing safety. Thank you, Glen, and club volunteers for your hard work! · We were also awarded a grant from the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association to hold another event similar to the one we held in Erie last February. This event will help us market and promote snowmobiling in another targeted area of the state, along with helping us with our outreach efforts in the field. Be on the look-out for more information on this event! · We are sponsoring our 22nd annual “Snow Angel Campaign” by selling Snow Angel Raffle Tickets to build our Snow Angel Fund! This Fund helps to assist children with medical or physical problems with their special expenses. Due to the generosity of you snowmobilers, PSSA was able to give out six $500 grants and PSSA directors were able to spend a total of $4,000 for needy children for the holidays in their respective areas. Any PSSA member or club may request assistance for a child under the age of 18 at any time. Just send a letter or email to your regional director or the PSSA office describing the problem and how they will benefit from the assistance. You may have already received the raffle tickets for this campaign in the mail; if not, they are on their way. Please purchase or sell the Snow Angel raffle strip tickets that were sent to you. Or, you can simply make a donation to the fund by sending a check made payable to PSSA with “Snow Angel Fund” in the memo line. If you would like more to buy or sell, please call me at 1-888-411-PSSA (7772) or send an email message to pasnow@wannerassoc.com. The drawing for cash prizes will be held on April 14, 2012 at our annual membership meeting in State College · PSSA is also sponsoring our annual spring 50/50 Club Raffle of a $5,000 Voucher to be used at any of our business members’ locations. Look for the picture of Ronald Strisofsky, winner of the 2011 Voucher Raffle, and his new snowmobile elsewhere in the January issue! This raffle program is a way to benefit both our member clubs and our business members (Dealers, Accessory Dealers and Associate Members)! This program also benefits our member clubs because they will receive 50% of dollars raised from the tickets they sell. · SAVE THE DATE! Our annual spring membership meeting will be held on April 14, 2012, at the Days Inn Penn State in State College! The business meeting will be held in the morning, annual awards will be presented during the luncheon, and educational sessions will be held in the afternoon. PSSA will reserve a few rooms in case you wish to arrive Friday, April 13th. Details and a registration form will appear in the February Keystone Snowmobiler. · We have 2012 ACSA Raffle Tickets available for $100 each. A snowmobile from each of the four manufacturers will be given out on June 1, 2012. If you would like to purchase a ticket, please send a check made out to ACSA for $100 and note in the memo section, “ACSA Raffle Ticket”. · We also still have 2012 ACSA (American Council of Snowmobile Associations) calendars! For $20 you have 365 chances to win more than $18,000 in prizes and $5.00 comes back to PSSA! Please order your calendars from PSSA by sending a check for $20 made payable to “ACSA” and mail to: PSSA, 908 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, PA, 17012. That’s everything for now from the PSSA office. Remember to practice safe snowmobiling, and “enjoy the snow”! Lori Elliott Executive Director
The list of members is sent to the printer on or around the 12th of each month, so renew by then to ensure that your February issue will arrive. Renewal letters are in the mail if you prefer to renew by mail. Please check the information we have for you on the letter and return it with your payment. Please consider renewing at a “Premium Membership Level”. See "Membership Information for pictures of our “travel” incentive items!
