Club involvement. Why or Why not

[MOMMA]

As the title suggests what are some reasons for joining a snowmobile club? Being active in a club?

on the flip side, what would deter you from joining a club, or supporting snowmobile clubs in general?


Do you have ideas to spark club involvement and membership?

 

[lilduke]

I join/support clubs where I ride ie Revelstoke and Golden. I join because I want continue riding those area's for years to come. The best thing to get involvement & memberships up is to encourage your friends to join also. There is politics that discourages some people from becoming actively involved in the clubs. Is what it is,, not everyone see's eye to eye but we're all sledders.

 

[teeroy]

my reason for getting involved locally was to try an help establish trails in the area. as more and more people move here from congested cities due to the resource industry, the attitude towards OHV's among the general population seemed to be shifting towards the negative. just seemed like the right thing to do to ensure there was some kind of voice to educate people that all users should not be painted in the same light, as most vocal people's experience with machines were negative from the few bad apples. I've gone from just looking to be involved, to being the secretary, then vice president, and now president of our club for the last 3 seasons. in that time, we have received 2011 ASA club of the year for our efforts in establishing trails, and this year being named club of the year for the Mighty Peace Region. I also purchase a VARDA membership every year to support the mountain area I visit the most. I have badgered my friends and family to join and help out where they can, every single member we gain helps out with the cause. just doo it

 

[snopro]

Good job Tee!

 

[teeroy]

Good job Tee!

I'm a minor cog in the machine Ken, there are many people in our club that have gone above and beyond. but thank you none the less.

 

[the_real_wild1]

I am not too interested in it. I did my job years ago. I was president of a club for a couple years and exec of another club for many years. Politics made it not fun anymore for me so I am done. But I encourage others to do their bit and think everyone should take their turn being involved if they can.

 

[fnDan]

I join because I think I'm helping the sport and helping a club that does a good job of supporting and promoting the sport.
I also join because it's convenient for me for trail passes. Some riding areas are that much better because of the local club and not just the riding.

Clubs need to show a genuine interest in new members. Any contact with a club should result in the club responding with "we would really like to have you join us this year" and provide a brief list of the benefits of joining and your voice as a member in club and the operations such as grooming, maintenance, etc. You support the club and the club supports you.
I talked to a club a few years ago and it appeared as though they were not looking for new members. A club needs that approachable, friendly ambassador. I'll point out Ferniesnow as one of the best ambassadors for a club that I know of. Friendly, answers just about every question about the area, the town and probably more. That to me is added value for my money. My membership is not a donation and I do expect something for it, like groomed trails, communication and improvements. Not a lot but something.

I haven't seen any posters or handouts in the cabins for the areas I ride to promote membership and how to join. People are right there in a beautiful setting and enjoying the results of what a good club provides. That, to me, is a great place to ask people to join. Maybe I just don't see it when I'm there because of a one track mind focused on riding.

Not that people collecting trail pass fees need more to do but I believe that is another opportunity to promote membership and thank existing members for joining. Small acts of appreciation go a long way.

 

[Luke The Drifter]

I bought my first VARDA membership this year because I plan to ride a lot more, makes more sense economically. I also bought it because I know Curtis busts his ass nonstop to provide us with world class sledding areas and resources, its the least I could do IMO. Strength in numbers is what is going keep our voice heard folks.

 

[teeroy]

I bought my first VARDA membership this year because I plan to ride a lot more, makes more sense economically. I also bought it because I know Curtis busts his ass nonstop to provide us with world class sledding areas and resources, its the least I could do IMO. Strength in numbers is what is going keep our voice heard folks.

well said. every club needs a Curtis. can't say enough about the guy, he is an excellent ambassador for our sport and an asset to VARDA.

 

[Rjjtcross8]

I buy memberships because I feel it's a great way to support the sport, the riding areas, and have a voice in or a way of being involved.

 

[ferniesnow]

I am at the club level as an Executive member and the provincial level as a Director. I don't need to go into the nitty-gitties of the committees and the various functions that I look after but I have always thought that it was necessary to give something back. Since moving to BC, I see more and more everyday, that the numbers game is very important. It is important at all levels of government and one has to put up with the political agenda to keep the sport alive and well. All levels of government, including the municipal, provincial, and national aspects have to be addressed. The Federal government gives out millions to Quebec every year for trails, grooming, etc. and no other province was so lucky. It was the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations that got the initiative from the gov't to maybe see a way to spread that money around instead of dropping it all in Quebec. There are so many groups out there that want motorized recreation shut down, not just channelled into small areas, but totally shut down that the numbers do matter. When a club goes for support (whether it be for grants or access), who gets listened to the most? The club with 30 members or the club with 230 members?

It is important for the club Directors to get involved in the community and let people know how much money is spent in our sport. This involvement has to be positive and it has to be friendly to the environment. Rules have to be followed; there is no room these days for the red-neck attitude of the past or the attitude of entitlement that so many riders seem to expect. We need to pay our way whether that be with the registration, trail passes, club memberships, or club functions. If only 30% of the riders belong to clubs, how does that equate into representing the masses? But, in reality, that is what is happening.

Teeroy is absolutely correct, in that there are more and more people getting involved but not necessarily with the right intentions. Trail work needs to be done, cabins need to be built, signage needs to be put up, staging areas need an environmentally friendly touch (garbage disposal and port-a-poties), grooming for safety purposes instead of 2 foot whoops, bridges where necessary, and so on and so on.

I don't want to lose riding areas. I don't like it when any area gets shut down whether it be from the greenies or because of our own foolishness. It is very healthy for people to recreate and be active and I still want to doo my part so that we can get out on the land and enjoy! I will be involved for a good many years if I am so lucky.

 

[deaner]

I think part of it too is trying to change peoples perception of why joining the club is important. Our club here in Creston is fairly small and we have a large number of areas that people can go to. We do not groom any trails. However we do work with our provincial organization to keep areas open, maintain lines of communication with local government authorities to maintain access, keep parking areas cleared out, build cabins, stock the cabins with wood and supplies, put on events, and the list goes on...........

In the past two years as president I have noticed that people often have an excuse like "You dont groom so why would I pay for a membership", or "I dont go to the events so why would I pay for a membership". I think what we need to do is get people to see how much the local club IS doing, like the stuff I mentioned above. I have tried my best over the last couple of years to do this by emphasizing this stuff at our meetings, asking members to spread this message, writing articles in the local paper, etc. Im not sure if it has been very effective though. It seems like people need to be on the verge of really losing an area before they will step up and realize the importance of healthy club numbers. But unfortunately at that point it will most likely be too late.

 

[senorjeem]

I sled almost exclusively in BC, so I buy a family pass out there from the club that works in my area. I typically don't use the groomed trails, nor the chalets for that matter, but I do think that it is important to provide financial support to the local club for the maintenance that they do in the area overall. and to be counted as one of those who don't want us to be pushed out of the back country.

 

[Rotax_Kid]

From past experiences in clubs here in Sask, we always seem to be short on people/manpower, but not so much on the money part, we got by with what we had. We never groomed as often as most clubs in the popular ridings areas in BC did. A membership in any club gives them more resources then they previously had, but out West what does you club actually need more of - manpower or money?

 

[deaner]

For us its just numbers. Manpower and money is nice, but what we really need is a healthy number of club members. Im sure all clubs are different, but for us being right next to a huge caribou closure area........we need good healthy numbers so they know they are going to see some resistance if they try to shut more area down.

 

[Billy Boy]

It is imperative that there is a strong club system were ever your favorite riding area is located but (big but!!) unfortunatly maintaning an active membership is quite difficult. It seems the old saying 20% of the members are doing 80% of the work and those 20% are getting burned out. I don't know what the answer is to get more involvement in your local club but I am sure it is going to be a number of answers not just one. If someone out there has the magic formula for more club participation please share it!!

Billy Boy

 

[plio7]

there are a lot of good reasons here which are all part of why I joined, and why I want to try to get more active in the AB Beach club. I guess one big part of it for me also is I see through the events I have attended what all the current/past members have done in their own time to make the area enjoyable to ride, keep the club running, and support the sport through out the province and other areas. and I don't want to ever see their hard work go to waste so I want to take up the cause as well. not just be that guy who takes in the fruit of their labors.

My problem is that I work out of town a lot and its hard for me to schedule to make it to meetings or to help. this year I threw my name in the hat as a director for the club to get a better idea of the inside roles people play and see if maybe down the road when I am a little more available I can help out a little more

 

[TylerG]

I've been involved in Snowmobile clubs since I started in the sport. I sat on the executive as secretary for 1 club out of Stony Plain for a couple seasons, moved to the Alberta Beach Snowmobile club from there, sat on the board there as ASA Rep for a year, and now am Vice President. Without numbers and/or people out helping at events, workbee's etc we will lose what others have worked so very hard to gain.

Its nice seeing so many people joining up with clubs in BC, but why not pay the $60 to support the support and grow our numbers here in Alberta as well?

 

[Sledderglen]

I buy memberships because I feel it's a great way to support the sport, the riding areas, and have a voice in or a way of being involved.

I see your from Fort Saskatchewan. Club memberships and trail passes available at E&S Yamaha in the Fort. Thanks for the support we do need it. Come on out to one of our events or offer to help when asked. We have a section under the ASA snowmobile Clubs.

 

[teeroy]

at our AGM tonite I was reminded by zal that I'm only starting 2 years in as prez. but he also said as a past president, he understands how it could feel like 3 lol