On Monday, January 5,
2009, the Coldbrook Snowmobile Club held its fifth monthly meeting of the
2008-2009 season at the Coldbrook Country Club in
The first order of business took place with the passing out of the updated copy of the club's current by-laws as well as a copy of the minutes from the club's December 2008 meeting.
Club President Gerry Balchuinas called the meeting to order and requested that a motion be made to accept the minutes from the December 2008 club meeting if there were no questions. A motion was made by Gerry Cremin and seconded by Chris Bigwood followed by a verbal vote of approval to accept the meeting minutes by the present membership.
Club treasurer Chuck Reed gave a verbal account of the club's financial status and activities for the past month since the December meeting in a treasurer's report. A motion was made by Chris Ferragamo and seconded by Louis Brassard to accept the treasurer's report. A verbal vote by the present membership followed.
Club president Gerry Balchuinas then asked for any bills that needed to be submitted and bills were submitted by club president Balchuinas, club vice-president Dean Zuppio, and members who had done work on the groomers. A motion to accept paying the submitted bills was made and seconded followed by a verbal vote of the present membership approving the motion.
Club president Gerry Balchuinas explained the club's by-laws and asked the present membership to review the document passed out at the start of the meeting and he asked if there were any questions from the membership. No questions or concerns were raised at this time.
The next topic was the groomer's report which was given by club president Gerry Balchuinas who reported that the club's ASV obtained through the SYMS grant as well as the Tuckers were examined with needed maintenance performed. The Piston Bully is up and running and the club's new trailer is turning out to be a real asset with the transportation of the club's groomers to their designated areas for use. Bill Mucha explained that the southern Bombi is in need of cleats and although prices he has researched have a significant range, a place in Hubbardston will make the correct cleat for about twenty-five dollars each depending on how many the equipment needs. Further research into the matter needs to be done and this matter can be brought to the board of directors for approval.
Club president Gerry Balchuinas asked if the membership had a sufficient amount of time to review the club's by-laws in the document handed out at the beginning of the meeting. A motion to accept the club's by-laws was made by Chris Ferragamo and seconded by Chris Higgins and club president Gerry Balchuinas requested for a show of raised hands from the present membership who approve this motion followed by a show of hands by those present members who opposed the approval of the club's by-laws. A unanimous vote approved the club's by-laws with no objections and with no present members abstaining from the voting process.
Club president Gerry Balchuinas gave a trail report from the recent ice storm
which caused significant damage to the condition of the club's trails in all of
the club's catchment area. Special thanks and appreciation were given to
Chris Higgins, Jeremy Kelley, Alex Allen, and all of the other helpers that went
out and cleared from rte 62 to Baldwinville and also for the use of his heavy
equipment. Club president Gerry Balchuinas, Ben King, Ryan Grant, Dave
Balchuinas, Chris Bigwood, and Kevin Balchuinas went out on several occasions
and cleared trails in the
Gerry and his wife, Dawn, went out recently and placed signage on the trail from Glenwood Kitchens to Route 122. Gerry went with a young member, Scott Kelly on another signage expedition near the Route 2A area to finish up ITS 71.
At this time of the meeting, club president Balchuinas reported of the massive task it was to have the crane, donated usage by Rick Marshall, from Astro Crane, place the bridge in over the Otter River. Initially, the crane sank into the soft landscape which required the prompt responses form connections from present club members to make cell phone calls for assistance in removing the crane from its stuck position. After the removal the area was made more secure for them to complete the enormous task at hand and the bridge was successfully installed. Gerry thanked Graves Concrete and Pete Lyman for their quick response to the situation and being able to get us the stone we needed on a Sunday morning so quickly. Gerry informed the present membership at this time that a future dedication of the bridge in its current location will be made in honor of the late Tim King who is Ben King's father who did extensive work in the past with the installation and positioning of the bridge. The area will be known as "King's Crossing" after the ceremony which will take place after the first significant snowfall.
Club president Balchuinas continued with the trail report by informing the
present membership of an area behind Williamsville Pond where washed out
conditions eliminate the ability to safely ride in this area. This area
cannot be fixed this riding season, but is on the club’s radar for necessary
trail work to be completed before next season. The
The Spaghetti Supper which was originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, December 13, 2008, has been rescheduled for this upcoming Saturday, which is January 10, 2009 at 6pm at the Coldbrook Country Club in Barre. A disc jockey as well as a family-oriented comedian have agreed to provide the entertainment for those who attend the gala. Club president Balchuinas asked that members who had purchased tickets for the original date in December will have those tickets honored. If there were any ticket purchasers who are unable to make the rescheduled date of this Saturday, were asked that they contact either him or club vice-president Zuppio for a refund.
Gerry reported that there will be two upcoming events this weekend by club sponsors. The first event is an open house with demo rides at Cycle Design in Phillipston with entertainment from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, January 10, 2009. The second event will be sponsored by Higgins Motorsports in Barre and it will be demo rides of the newest in Polaris snowmobiles on Sunday, January 11, 2009 from 10am to 2pm to be determined by the riding conditions at the Coldbrook Country Club in Barre.
A radar run is being tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 18, 2009 from 10am to 2pm on Candlelight Pond in Templeton. This event is for "bragging rights" only with no prizes to be awarded.
Club president Gerry Balchuinas asked the present membership if there were any items of new business and member Nick Bellino appropriately raised his hand and suggested that the club strongly consider replacing the piece of cookware that was damaged on the trail this fall belonging to Dawn Balchuinas. It was mentioned that she has been using her personal cooker as a serving apparatus and it was damaged on the trail so the club should replace it. Nick then thanked Dawn for all her hard work as well as her girls, Sarah, Erica,, Taryn and Chelsea and her main workers Robin, Tracey, and Sue for all of their dedication to feeding the trail workers. After a warm applause for the girls, a motion was made, seconded, and this item was approved a verbal vote of the present membership. Glenn Whitney proposed that the club sponsor another meat raffle with a date sometime in March of 2009. Club president Balchuinas asked that Glen present his proposal to the Board of Directors, who were all present at this meeting, immediately after the conclusion of this meeting for consideration and a vote will be taken at the February of 2009 meeting.
The last subject presented was given by club vice-president Dean Zuppio who reported the amount of current paid members for this season as well as the number of those who have not renewed from last season's membership.
The fifth monthly meeting for the Coldbrook Snowmobile Club concluded at 8:35pm.