Hello everyone,

As summer winds down and cooler weather arrives, we’re gearing up for trail maintenance, groomer inspections, and repairs. These projects are essential, and we’d love your support—please consider volunteering with your club to help get things ready for the season.

Great news on the grant front: our PSSA grant writer, Lori Elliott, has once again worked her magic! She secured a $100,000 grant for mini-grants as well as funding for another year of Mapgears. Updates and application dates for the spring round will be shared soon. Thank you, Lori, for your continued dedication!

We also have some exciting changes: the PSSA Trail Conditions and Mapgears platform has officially been renamed RidePA. A new logo and icon are on the way, so keep an eye on the PSSA website for updates.

Finally, a reminder that PSSA dues will be due soon. Your contributions directly support these grant programs and RidePA. Please spread the word and encourage friends to join and support the future of snowmobiling in Pennsylvania.

Thanks, and enjoy this beautiful weather,
Rich Hayes

Hello, everyone!

The phrase "keep cool" has a strong meaning this summer.  I hope all of you, your family, and friends are safely enjoying their best summer yet!

The most important news right now is the change happening with our management team at PSSA.  We have had SoTactics working closely with us doing our business management and media for many years. Kathy Woolever is retiring and ready to enjoy her new life. She is migrating PSSA from previous programs to a simpler platform and we are bringing the work in house.  We want to thank you, Kathy, for all your professional guidance and critical help for the last ten plus years and wish you the best for your new stage in life. We are excited and grateful that Kathy's business partner and friend, Maura Donley, will continue publishing the Keystone Snowmobiler and will help with social media as needed.  We are certain the future of PSSA will remain in good hands with this new dedicated team. 

To all of our snowmobiling friends, enjoy the summer and continue to count down the days until we ride our sleds again.      

Rich Hayes

President

Hello, everyone!

This month I have some sad news and some great news.

We were heartbroken to hear that PSSA's past treasurer, Linda MCCarthy, passed away on June 21st. Linda also served as the treasurer for Presque Isle Snowmobile Club, and Erie Crawford Snowmobile Alliance. She was honored with Member of the Year awards and individual Lifetime Achievement Awards from PISC and ECSA. Linda and her husband received the PA State Snowmobile Association’s Family of the Year Award in 2008. To read more about this amazing woman click HERE.

We're so excited to share that PSSA's own Bob Kirchner has been inducted into the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame! Bob purchased his first snowmobile in 1979, joined the Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association (PSSA) in 1980 and his involvement in organized snowmobiling grew stronger from there on. We want to congratulate Bob and wish him many more years of snowmobiling. To read more about Bob's induction into the ISHOF click HERE.

Enjoy your summer everyone and Happy Fourth of July!

Rich Hayes

Hello, everyone!

One thing we can all agree on – this has been one beautiful spring this year! There is not a whole lot going on right now with PSSA other than a few ongoing projects. The Mini Grants have been approved by the Grant Committee and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The monies have been distributed to the clubs. PA Trail Conditions, which has been built on the MapGears platform, appears to have taken off well this past snow season. There will be an advertising blitz for more awareness of this program starting in August or September. Some new additions will be announced at that time.  

We will keep you all updated on everything.

Take care, 

Rich Hayes

Spring has sprung bringing the usual signs, such as a yard full of dandelions, and trees greening up and full of blooms! The snowmobiles have been “summarized” and put away in storage.  

The Pennsylvania State Snowmobile Association’s annual meeting was graciously hosted on April 12, 2025, by one of our major sponsors, Best Line Powersports, located in Centre Hall, PA. The agenda covered updates from the various PSSA committees and regional directors, as well as from the representatives on the PA state committees such as the Snowmobile and ATV Commission (SAAC) and Pennsylvania Trails Advisory Committee (PTAC).  

Randy Green and Rob Housley gave a thorough overview and demonstration of the PSSA Trail Conditions application. The 2024 executive committee officers were reelected to another year: Rich Hayes - president, Norm Strotman – vice president, Steven Matscherz – secretary, Arline LaTourette – treasurer. Don Mosier and Daryl Busch – directors. The lucky raffle winners pulled at the meeting are listed later in this publication!  

The PSSA annual award winners are the following: Snowmobiler of the Year – Cindy Barrick, Snowmobiling Family of the Year – Joe and Erin Strotman, Government Official of the Year – Doug Langford, and Government Forester of the Year – Steve Disney. PSSA thanks each of these winners who were chosen for going above and beyond in the support they give to the Pennsylvania snowmobiling experience. 

The Snow Angels Fund is ready and waiting for opportunities to provide support to children with medical needs. Please send these medical situations to the Snow Angels Committee chaired by Loretta Hayes and Kelly Watkins for anyone who could use financial support in your community.

Think SNOW!!

Arline LaTourette filling in for Rich Hayes