For MSA Members

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MSA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE/STAFF MSA CLUBS MSA BYLAWS DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES

For MSA Members

MSA DIRECTORS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

The MSA Directors meet seven times a year, in the months of August, October, December, January, February, March and April. All MSA members are welcome - voting privileges are reserved for Club Directors, Alternate Directors and Executive Committee members. The MSA Executive Committee meets monthly (often with a teleconference option). Details about upcoming meetings are published as they become available in The Maine Snowmobiler newspaper.

February 21 MSA DIRECTORS MEETING, Eastern Maine Snowmobilers clubhouse, 263 Levenseller Road in Holden. Social 5p.m., dinner 6p.m., followed by MSA meeting. Dinner reservations by noon Friday February 17 to 207-622-6983 or email. Dinner is $12 per person.

TRAILS COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Trails Committee meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30p.m. Some meetings are held at the MSA Office, 7 Noyes Place in Augusta; others are held via teleconference. FMI you can contact the MSA office, Trails Committee Chair Mike Grass Jr. or Vice Chair Bob Hansen

MSA FORMS, INFO

A number of forms needed by MSA members can be accessed with the dropdown below. (.pdf format, which may be viewed using Adobe Acrobat Reader. The Reader is a free download, and allows you to view and print pdf files.) Some of the forms are interactive, and may be filled out at the computer, then printed. Those using the full version of Adobe Acrobat can rename and save an interactive form to their desktop, then email the form to the MSA office.

MSA Members: The MSA handbook is a password protected document. The password is mailed to each club in the season's membership package, to be shared with all members. You can either obtain it from your club president or membership chair, or just contact the MSA office. This protective step is due to personal contact information included in the handbook.

REPORT OF THE SNOWMOBILE TRAIL FUNDING SURVEY:

This is the report on the results of the Snowmobile Trail Grooming Funding Survey that was undertaken in the winter and spring of 2011 by Dr. Stephen Reiling of the University of Maine Orono in conjunction with the MSA Trails Committee. The study was funded as part of the MSA Trails Committee contract with the Department of Conservation this past season. There was a great response from clubs and municipal projects across the state, and the results are interesting reading - see what folks think here:Click here to view the report.

DUES INCREASE, INSURANCE CHANGES

- Harvey Chesley, MSA President

At the Annual Meeting in April, MSA Directors approved a budget that included $3 increases in the MSA dues for both family and business memberships. Family membership dues are now $15, and business memberships are now $23. Family memberships had not seen an increase since 2007, and business memberships had not been increased since 2004. During that time, like most organizations, we have struggled with increasing costs and had finally reached the point where the directors felt there was really no alternative to this modest increase to maintain the level of services we offer to the clubs. It is our belief that with continued careful management of our expenses, this increase will help keep the MSA financially sound for the foreseeable future.

On a more positive note, we have made a major change in our member accidental death and disability insurance coverage beginning this year. We have switched coverage to American Income Life Insurance Company, which offers a $2,500 policy - a $500 increase over our previous carrier. In addition, dependents will be included at no charge, rather than the previous cost of $2 per person. Just make sure that all eligible dependents are listed on the reverse side of your member card. This will save individual members money in the future, and give you another strong selling point when signing up new members.

GROOMER SALES TAX EXEMPTION

Incorporated nonprofit snowmobile clubs: Click here to download the affadavit of exemption from Maine state sales tax for trail grooming equipment from the Maine Revenue Services web site. This form should be filled out by a club officer and the seller of the equipment, and a copy made. One copy will be retained by the dealer for his use, and the second must be presented by the club representative when registering the grooming equipment.

GAS TAX REFUND

Your club may be eligible for a refund of gasoline taxes paid in the operation of grooming equipment. The refund application form can be downloaded from the Maine Revenue Services web site.

SNOWMOBILE TRAIL GRANT INFO:

Is posted on the State of Maine web site. Visit the Snowmobile Program of the Bureau Of Parks and Lands, Maine Dept. of Conservation, Bureau Of Parks and Lands.