Coldbrook Snowmobile Club

Meeting Minutes September 8, 2008 

The Coldbrook Snowmobile Club held its first meeting of the 2008-09 season Monday, September 8, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Brickyard Restaurant and Billiards in Baldwinville, 28 members present.

  Returning as officers were Gerry Balchuinas (president), Dean Zuppio (vice-president), Chuck Reed (treasurer) and Mike Roy (secretary).

   The first item on the agenda was the treasurer's report which updated the members present on the financial status of the club's funds.  The report included the amounts in the accounts as well as what was owed to creditors.  A motion was made by Tom Donahue to approve the treasurer's report.  The motion was seconded by Dave Balchuinas and a unanimous, verbal vote approved the report as submitted by treasurer Chuck Reed.

      The status of the SYMS grant and agreement to complete ten gates was the second item on the meeting's agenda.  Club President Gerry Balchuinas reported that all ten gates were constructed, painted, installed, and inspected by the state's imposed deadline of July 1, 2008.  This enormous task was completed by approximately twenty or so volunteers who worked very hard and diligently when given the short amount of time to meet the deadline for completion. He said that he did not have any say in the areas that the gates had been installed. He also said that they were on the ITS trail and 8 were where we would com in contact with and to use caution while riding.  Gerry listed the names of the volunteers who provided assistance in this endeavor with much appreciation and the club's gratitude toward those companies and individuals who donated materials as well as equipment for this project. Gerry then made a special thank you to club member Dave Eklund for his help. “I couldn’t have done it without Dave” Gerry said, he worked his tail off. Dave then said that Gerry was the real reason that the gates made it in the ground. He even took time from work having to punch out for two days just to get them in. If he hadn’t done that the gates would have never been in for the deadline and we would have lost much of the money for the grant.

 The full dollar amount of fifty thousand dollars was deposited to the club's account in accordance with the completion of the SYMMS agreement for last season.  A motion was then made by Lou Brassard to approve payment to the creditors involved in this transaction which was for the purchase of the new ASV groomer and custom trailer to transport such.  The motion was immediately seconded by Jay Wrightman and approved by a unanimous, verbal vote of the present membership.

Gerry mentioned that club member Tim Noe has moved to NH and Gerry was not sure if he was going to be as active this year. Gerry let everyone know how valuable Tim has been for the club and that he hoped he would stay on as a member. Gerry said Tims commitment and involvement are second to none and he will be missed. You could definitely see the sincerity in Gerry’s demeanor as he spoke about Tim.  In closing Gerry said that to call Tim a good man friend and member would be a definite understatement.

   The next item for report was the current status of the club's groomers in the north and south sections of the club's coverage area.  Dave Eklund (Northern Tucker), Tom Donahue (Southern Tucker), and Phil Cormier (Bombi) gave verbal reports as to the operating conditions of the respective groomers in their areas.  Each gave the current status of the groomer and the repairs needed and the possibility of future repairs for the season.  Gerry Balchuinas reported that the club will have two trailers available this year for the transport of the club's groomers.  Dean Zuppio and Gerry Balchuinas reported on the maintenance which will be required for the two Skandiks used by the club.  A separate discussion about the moving of the Muskeg and its future was the next item on the agenda. Gerry Cremin volunteered his ramp truck to move the Southern Tucker and the Muskeg. Preparations will be made to take advantage of the volunteer move.

   The next item for discussion was the club's proposal to try a new bio-diesel fuel which would save the club money and be more environmentally friendly.  Coldbrook would be the first club in the state of MA to attempt this change over of fuel type. Gerry (president) stated that we could try the fuel in the Southern Tucker as a Guinea Pig to see if it was worth it and if it ran as efficient as diesel fuel.  

   The next item reported was the necessary trail work which is projected for this fall and to be completed before the season begins.  Washed out areas and areas needing clearing of brush,etc. were the items discussed at this point in the meeting.  Both sides of the trestle area in Winchendon, the McLaughlin Trial, the area leading to Route 62 in the south section, and the river road leading to Lake Dennison were among the areas in need of repair or maintenance in order for successful and safe snowmobile travel this season.  Also mentioned was the bridge repair and installation for the Amy Corps of Engineers in Baldwinville.  Gerry reported that a larger sign marking the trail near Narragansett High School needs to be completed before this season begins. He also said he had received some reflective poles that are to be installed at each concrete culvert on the rail bed. Dean said that the club has a post hole digger (motorized) that could be utilized for this. Gerry mentioned that if they were put up too early that they would just be targets for bored hunters.

      A proposal was made to purchase a third pole saw which led to a discussion among the membership.  A motion by Gary Roberts was made to purchase the pole saw and the motion was seconded by Dean Zuppio before a verbal vote unanimously approved the purchase of the pole saw.

   Gerry Balchuinas reported an item of old business which was the turkey raffle in which the club lost approximately five hundred dollars due to a very low turnout.  It was mentioned though that great deals occurred for those who were in attendance and made purchases. He thanked Glenn Whitney for his hard work preparing and also Doug and Jayma from Cycle Design for all of their help and all of the runners and volunteers too.

      Over the summer months, Gerry made a connection through Chris Ferragamo with Dan Springer who developed an online membership application for the club's current and future members.  Dan Springer gave a very well presented explanation as to how the club's website will be able to accommodate this new mechanism to become a club member as well as purchase a trail pass and other items by using a credit card.  The system should be operating by the middle of October.  This item seemed to be well received by the membership present.  Dan said he would work with Gerry and Chris to make sure it is user friendly with a frequently asked questions page and other helpful tools.

    A motion was then made by member Bob Cox to grant those who helped complete the gates involved in the SYMMS agreement a free one year membership to the club.  This motion was seconded By Chris Ferragamo and approved by a unanimous verbal vote of the present membership.

    The next item for discussion was the annual spaghetti supper which is usually held in December. This would be held at the Coldbrook Country Club in Barre. Tom Donahue who works at Coldbrook proposed that the venue will be open and available to hold the event. 

    Gerry Balchuinas next brought up the possibility of planning to hold radar runs on ice, but the concern is obtaining insurance in order to save the club from damage should the club be sued from an incident at such an event. 

     Piggybacking on the subject of insurance, Gerry Balchuinas and Dean Zuppio brought up the matter of obtaining insurance for the club's officers in case of an accident on one of the club's trails.  This item will be further researched by the club's treasurer, Chuck Reed. Jay Wrightman said that the boating club he belongs to also has BOD insurance and he would find out about it on Thursday at his clubs meeting. Jay said he would get back in touch with Gerry and Dean about the insurance they have.

   Gerry Balchuinas and dean Zuppio reported that the Coldbrook club has been asked to bring the newly purchased ASV groomer to the upcoming Snowmobile Expo to be held on the weekend of October 18-19, 2008 in West Springfield , MA at the Massachusetts State Exposition Center otherwise known more commonly as the Big "E".  It has also been suggested that Coldbrook sponsor a booth at the same in order to explain its trail system which is the largest and best groomed in the state. Gerry stated that last year Coldbrook sold 870 trail passes, 253 more than the closest club making Coldbrook the largest club in the state.  Gerry also explained again that SAM was made up of the states clubs in Mass. He explained very thoroughly how SAM operated and shed much light on the subject. He explained that a delegate from each club in the state sits on the board of SAM. That board of approximately 42 club delegates decides and votes on the going ons of SAM. The clubs decide and not the officers of SAM. He said that the officers of SAM do what the delegates vote on and approve. Gerry also talked about a recent bill that SAM had amended that if left untouched would have destroyed our trail system. Snowmobiles were put into the same category as ATV’s and that SAM delegate and member Randy Toth worked diligently on this for SAM and all snowmobilers to keep us out of this potentially horrendous situation.

    Gerry Balchuinas asked that members email him if they desire to have the minutes from the monthly SAM'S delegate meetings in Springfield .

Gerry said he needed to get some volunteers to man the clubs booth. Gerry said that the club would reimburse members for their admission fee to get in.

    Dean Zuppio reported that the next deadline for the SYMMS grant proposals is September 15, 2008.  A discussion took place about the possibilities of what should be asked for should a proposal be submitted on the club's behalf. Gerry said that the club would try for an over the rail mower and tractor. Dean will get the paperwork started and Gerry is getting the necessary Quotes.

   The first monthly meeting of the season adjourned at 9:35pm.

Respectively Submitted

Mike Roy

CSC Secretary