This being my first article as newly elected board chairman of the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association (SSA), I’m likely to ramble on about a number of topics as I am a bit overwhelmed by my new responsibilities. But I know there are a number of items that I have to be sure to address in this first message.
First off, I must say a big thank you to our chair of the last 14 years—Barry Bradshaw. I certainly recognize the big shoes that have to be filled. I have always viewed Barry as an ageless wonder, firstly because he still doesn’t have any grey hair and secondly because of his tireless work on behalf of Saskatchewan snowmobilers through the SSA. Barry has been a wealth of good ideas and common sense solutions, quietly guiding our organization through some hectic and troublesome times. It has been under his leadership over the past decade that the SSA has emerged as one of the leading snowmobile trail organizations in the country. We have grown from meager beginnings, struggling with a volunteer trail permit system, to a mandatory registration fee program. As the program continues to evolve and improve, it has given clubs a predictable, reliable and attainable annual revenue source with fair and equitable guidelines for trail fund payment applications.
While there remains more work to be done as we continue to improve our systems, other provinces are now looking at the Saskatchewan model with admiration and even perhaps some envy. Barry, of course, has had a major hand in guiding the association through these rough trails (pun intended), using his diplomatic skills, somehow coupled with a firm demeanour, yet always avoiding unnecessary confrontation. He has guided the association to the successful agreements we now have with the Province of Saskatchewan to host and fund our 10,000-kilometre trail system.
I would also be remiss if I did not take a moment to recognize outgoing board members George Belchamber and Bill Ziegler, both of whom have been involved on the board of directors for over 20 years. I know I will miss George’s annual crack at being a comedian when hosting the annual provincial festival banquet; sometimes the main entertainment would have a tough act to follow when George was done as MC of the banquet. Also, Bill was always a great help at the organization and the annual SSA trade show. I would like to extend sincere appreciation to both of these individuals from all Saskatchewan snowmobilers and wish you both all the best in the future.
Also, welcome to a few new board members: Bart Hartl from the Kelvington Trail Blazers and Rick Watt from the Hudson Bay Trail Riders. I know that you are both heavily involved with two of the larger clubs in the snow belt that runs through the Northeast Provincial Forest and that your hands-on experience will be valuable to our board.
I was pleased that one of my first duties as chair was to sign off on this year’s SSA trail fund payout totaling $1,152,310 to our 47 grooming clubs in the province. This was probably the first year that the applications were assimilated, reviewed and summarized to be inputted into the matrix formula by the end of July, resulting in a payout to the clubs probably a month earlier than has been the norm. For this, I would like to recognize the work of our staff in the SSA office, and I look forward to working closely with them in the year ahead. As with any organization or business, you will only be as good as the people you have working for you, and I believe we have a excellent group carrying out the SSA’s business and organizational interests at the present time.
In addition, I want to comment on our current workings with the Province of Saskatchewan relating to renewing our trail fund management agreement, revision of registration fees through SGI and our Crown land trail agreement. We have been and continue to be fortunate that we have a good working relationship with the province. Although we, of course, always wish that the wheels of government could find a way to move more quickly, it remains important that due diligence is done and everyone’s interests are properly addressed so that when our final agreements are implemented, they have full knowledge and support of all stakeholders. That being said, I am hopeful that by the next issue of SnoRiders, we will be able to share with all readers the details of the next four-year deal for Saskatchewan snowmobilers.
Get out and buy your memberships and support your local and provincial organizations to the greatest extent possible. All the trails, shelters and grooming equipment that are in place to date have been put there by people who have gotten involved first-hand at times when finances were extremely difficult. Things are better now, but there still needs to be the energy and involvement of each and every one of you to keep this train on the tracks and moving forward. Let’s all keep pushing forward so we don’t lose the momentum that is so hard to build. Happy trails!
