The Coldbrook Snowmobile club held its sixth monthly meeting of the 2009-10 snowmobile season at the King Phillip Restaurant in Phillipston on Monday, February 1, 2010.
     The first matter on hand was a request by club president Balchuinas to accept the minutes from the January meeting and for the present members to review the available copies of last month's treasurer's report as prepared by club treasurer Ben King. The membership was given the opportunity to ask any questions or raise any concerns about either document.  No questions were asked about the January meeting minutes and this was followed by a motion to accept the same.  The motion was quickly seconded and a verbal vote of the members present accepted the minutes.  Member Bobby Cox questioned the two separate fuel bills to different companies and this was explained by club president Balchuinas as the billing process of the one company used to fuel the groomers.  A motion was made to accept the treasurer's report and it was seconded followed by a verbal vote of the members present to accept the treasurer's report.
  The next item on the agenda was the submission of outstanding bills by the members and such were presented to club treasurer Ben King.  A motion was made to pay the bills and it was quickly seconded followed by a verbal vote of the members present which approved the paying of these bills by existing club funds. 
   Club president Balchuinas thanked those members who helped in the cleaning of the trails which had sustained "downed tree limbs" from a recent storm.
   Club president Balchuinas addressed the present members about a recent meeting with the Department of Conservation and Recreation as well as with the Army Corps of Engineers that addressed trail conditions and usage.  The meeting was thought to be a success.  One of the major topics discussed was which agent would be the final decision maker and whether or not to close the trails to snowmobiling due to poor snow conditions.  Mike Travaglini of the DCR would be the final decision maker for this matter.  Signage of the trails was also a topic of discussion. 
  The groomer report addressed the the recent concern of all three drags on the larger groomers being broken and then repaired.  Groomer Chris Ferragamo reported that the ASV does not start and club president Balchuinas agreed to investigate this concern.  Mike Chojnowski was acknowledged for his stellar labor on the repair of the Bombi.  The Skandiks are in full operational mode and ready to go. Gerry commented on the work done to the trail for the ride and dine from Lake Dennison State Park to the King Phillip Restaurant held on Saturday, January 23, 2010 was deemed to be very flat and the efforts of the groomers and operators was appreciated.  He especially thanked Randy Balchuinas for his many hours of running the Skandik to make the trail flat to the King Phillip.
  The spaghetti supper held on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the Baldwinville Legion Post was deemed a success as club president Balchuinas thanked those individuals who prepared the food for the event and to Bob Cox who provided the entertainment with his DJ services.  Expenses and profits were detailed in monetary amounts for the club's acknowledgment. 
   The ride and dinner held on Saturday, January 23, 2010 with a ride starting at the beach area in Lake Dennison State Park in Winchendon and ending at the King Phillip Restaurant in Phillipston had forty-three sleds involved with others meeting at the restaurant for the fantastic buffet.  Another ride is being considered, depending on snow conditions, with a staring point at Route 122 in Barre and an ending point of the Lucky Dragon
in Winchendon.
   Club president Balchuinas informed the club of the upcoming pig roast scheduled for Saturday, February 13, 2010 to be held at the Snowbound Club in Winchendon.  Details of the event including cost and directions are located on the club's website. Club president Balchuinas along with board of directors member, Louis Brassard, have met with the planners from the Snowbound Club and they have expressed an interest in hosting future club events.  At this time, club president Balchuinas verbally surveyed the members present if there would be any interest in hosting an on snow softball game where the participants were required to wear their snowmobile suits including a helmet while participating in the event.  A participant fee of ten dollars could be charged and donated to a charity such as the one recently donated to over the holiday season to support needy area families.  This charity was sponsored by the Narragansett Middle School.  A thank you letter acknowledging the club's generosity was read by club president Balchuinas at this time. 
  Club vice-president Dean Zuppio asked for the members present to make their final purchases of the tickets for the large screen television to be raffled tonight at the close of the meeting.
   Club president Balchuinas addressed the members present on the recent topics discussed at the January SAM meeting.  There is a senator in  MA who unfortunately lost his son to a snowmobile accident and this person is very motivated in attempting to pass legislation which could require there be instituted a minimal riding age for snowmobilers.  A suggestion was also made for a fine to be implemented for those sledders who do not join a SAM club and illegally use their snowmobiles.  The amount could be as high as five hundred dollars for a first time offense plus the impounding of ones sled.
  At this time, club president Balchuinas asked if there was any new business to be discussed.  This request led to an extensive discussion from dealers who sell the SAM stickers for the club and there dilemma of selling out of their decals with no ability to immediately replenish the same.  Customers become irate and wind up registering with another club or maybe even not at all.  This constitutes a loss of monies to the Coldbrook Snowmobile Club as well as to the parent organization of SAM.  A proposition to have satellite offices in designated areas where the dealers could make contact to replenish their decal supply was discussed, but club president Balchuinas carefully explained the system currently being used by SAM  and the unfortunate situation encountered recently where the decal sales department of SAM was recently unavailable due to being on vacation for two weeks.  The matter ended unresolved.
   Dates for the annual dinner were discussed and after member Bobby Cox offered his DJ services along with a suggestion to hold the event on Saturday, April 17, 2010, a verbal vote approved the date.  Meal choices along with the location to hold the event were the next items of discussion along with having members who planned on attending making a deposit in order to secure a place.  The annual meeting will now be the time for the election of club officers for the upcoming season. 
    Club president Balchuinas addressed the members present about the DCR and their concern regarding the misuse of the area near the bridge by the watershed area in Barre along Route 122.  The DCR has designated this area as off-limits to snowmobiles and recreational vehicle use.
   The large screen television raffle winner was drawn and the very successful raffle had a winner in Mike Kinney from Hopkinton. 
   The sixth monthly meeting for the Coldbrook Snowmobile Club adjourned at 8:45pm.