Dave Goodman
Dear editor:
Last year, the Borderland Snowmobile Club groomed and maintained more than 400 km of local snowmobile trails. This was made possible with revenue from permit sales and many volunteer hours.
Unfortunately, permits sales and fundraising only covered about 75 percent of the $20,000 budget. Through NWOSTA, snowmobilers in nearby clubs like Kenora, Dryden, and Atikokan picked up the balance.
This year we don’t want to be freeloaders riding with trail funds that could be used in other communities. If you were riding with someone last year or you were one of the riders illegally riding on OFSC trails without a permit, now is the time to realize the trails don’t just happen.
Imagine what would happen to minor hockey, the curling club, or the local golf courses if half the people participating decided not to contribute to the cost of operation.
The funds from trail permits are invested locally to maintain trails and provide insurance for all the generous land owners who make it possible for us to snowmobile all over the local area.
Other local communities like Kenora (more than 500 permits sold) Dryden (300), and Atikokan (200) put us to shame. Last year, this huge area from Mine Centre to Rainy River and up to Nestor Falls only sold 100 trail permits even though we had more that 400 km of groomed trails.
C’mon, snowmobilers, let’s show the rest of Northwestern Ontario we can support ourselves and not be freeloaders.
For more information on the Borderland Snowmobile Club and permit outlets, visit www.borderlandsnowmobileclub.com
Remember to buy your permit before Dec. 1 and save 40 percent.
We need to sell at least 200 permits this year or we will be asking, “Where are the snowmobile trails?”
Thanks for your time—and see you on the trails!
(Signed),
Dave Goodman
Borderland
Snowmobile Club
