Bridgton Easy Riders November Meeting

Meeting called to order 6:50 PM by President Blaine Chapman

Treasurer’s Report read by Mary Corthell, Treasurer and accepted

Minutes of October Meeting: Bob Corthell moved we dispense with reading minutes since they are posted on the website. Voted Yes.

MEMBERSHIP: 48 members + 17 business members

EQUIPMENT:

  • Discussion of purchasing a roller to pull behind the groomer
    • Blaine saw one that would cost $1500
    • We could probably build one, but no one has time to do it
    • Bob Corthell moved, Duane Hendrix 2nd, to authorize President & Trail Master to continue looking for another roller, or building one, & if that is not feasible to buy one for $1500
  • A representative from Track Inc. (formerly Get Snow) showed Blaine the proper way to install tracks on groomer
    • He said the ’07 groomer is in great shape
    • The ’89 Tucker, needs new bushings – the written estimate for this is $7600

TRAILS:

  • Repairs to water holes & muddy areas, some requiring an excavator; unclogging culverts, clearing trees along trails, new bridges
  • Improved areas:
    • Trail crossing Rt. 302 by Irving
    • Behind Macdonald motors
    • Power line on ITS 80
    • Power line behind Highland Lake Resort
    • Camp Tapawingo toward Lovell
    • ITS 80 near Pie Tree Orchard
  • Blaine showed a photo of a water hole nearly 3 ft. deep – he contacted the ATV club, which had planned to fix it, but it had not been done
  • Al Hayes has done a great job clearing rocks, pulling stumps, and preparing a new trail behind Hayes True Value, to cross 302 by A+ plumbing
  • 34 Trail Permission letters have been sent out to those landowners who ask to be contacted annually
  • There will be trail work every Sunday

OTHER BUSINESS:

  • Misc Fundraising:
    • We need to sell more MSA raffle tickets
    • Joel, at Campfire Grill, offered to hold a Trivia Night to benefit the club -Duane Hendrix will follow up
  • Registrations: Blaine is working with the Town to get approx. $2000 in snowmobile registration money that the town has given to the Club in past years
  • Membership:
    • Bob Corthell obtained the list of Bridgton’s snowmobile registrations and suggested we use it to solicit new members
    • Discussion followed – Phil Gabardi Jr. moved we go with Bob’s idea
    • Voted yes
  • Poker Rally: Muddy River Signs has donated reusable rally signs
  • Gun Raffle:
    • Bob Corthell moved, Duane  Hendrix 2nd to offer $250 cash as one of the prizes in our Gun Raffle – Voted yes
    • Drawing will be at the Poker Rally, 2/17/18 at the Community Center
  • Club Trip:
    • Dates will be Feb. 6, 7, 8
    • Bill Preis presented information on 3 possible destinations:
      • Madawaska – Gateway Motel or Martin’s Motel
      • Millinocket – Baxter Park Inn
      • Rangeley – Rangeley Inn
      • Jackman – Bishop’s Motel
    • We will vote at the December meeting to select a destination
  • Christmas Parade Float for Bridgton:
    • Festival of Lights Parade Sat. 12/2
    • Bob Corthell  coordinating, Bob Pelletier & Lega Medcalf helping
    • Volunteers contact Bob Corthell
  • Carl Hatch: A birthday card was circulated for signatures – Richard King has visited him
  • Director for MSA:
    • Bob Corthell has agreed to be MSA Director & attend MSA meetings
    • Motion to reimburse him for gas when he travels to the meetings – voted yes
  • December Meeting and Party:
    • Following the Pot Luck Supper, there will be a Yankee Gift Exchange – bring a $10 gift, marked for Man, Woman, or Either
    • We have invited Bill Warren to attend, to talk about the early days of the Club

PRESENTATION OF MEMORIAL SIGN FOR RENA & BASIL WARD:

The Club welcomed members of the Ward family (Robyn, Roxie, Jay, and spouses) for presentation of a Memorial Sign for Rena and Basil Ward, to be be mounted on a Memorial Bridge on the RR bed in South Bridgton. Bill Preis, who first met Rena & Basil in Jan. 1987, said they were the backbone of the club for decades. Rena was Secretary and Treasurer. Basil was Trail Master, he took care of all the Club’s machinery, and for many years he and Bill groomed trails together.

Their son, Jay Ward, who was Club President at one time, thanked the Club for inviting the family tonight & especially for the Memorial Sign. He expressed how pleased he is that the Club is strong today, especially since years ago they operated with a $500 budget, and sometimes had only 6-7 members.

Adjourned  8:10 PM
Next meeting December 8, 2017

Respectfully submitted, Jean Preis, Substitute Secretary