Bridgton Easy Riders December Meeting

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

Guest Speaker:

  • Vice President Bob Corthell introduced guest speaker Bill Warren, son of Phyllis and Merton Warren
  • His parents started the Snow Drifters snowmobile club in the 1960s
  • Minutes from those first meetings and slides showed the snowmobiles his family owned were shared
  • Very entertaining and interesting information which can be seen at the Bridgton Historical Society

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

Minutes of November Meeting: Secretary Judy Pelletier read the minutes Jean Preis had taken. Minutes were accepted with no corrections.

Attendence: 35 members + 1 guest

MEMBERSHIP:

  • Blaine reported 69 members & 26 businesses paid to date
  • We have 9 more than 2016
  • Most clubs need younger members to add due to mostly ages over 65

 

EQUIPMENT:

  • Steve and Ron picked up the roller/compactor 36” high x approx 8 ft wide 800lbs – Cost $1,350
  • 4 track runners/ oil leak fixed by Ron

TRAILS:

  • Bridge made of hemlock replaced with telephone poles
  • Field signed
  • Bridge at Willis park
  • Lots of trees down and cut up
  • Good group of workers!
  • Reroute around Gagnon Heating swamp will be 4 to 5 hours Sunday
  • ATV Clubs: Pie Hole (hole at Pie Tree Orchard) has not been fixed yet

FUNDRAISING:

  • MSA Raffle: $928 this year – 2016 was $977
  • Campfire Grill Trivia Night to benefit the club – January 16, 2018
    • The club will get 10% of the take
    • Lega will make posters to be distributed
  • Tee Shirts
    • Long sleeved with logo on shirt and Bridgton Easy Riders printed down sleeve
    • Karen Moore moved to purchase 200 shirts to be sold, second by Matt Brill – Unanimous vote
    • Could give a tee shirt to new members
  • 50/50 Raffle was discussed
  • Going ahead with shotgun,  308 rifle, or $175 cash raffle

OTHER BUSINESS:

  • Trail Maps: Proofreading next week
  • Ward Memorial Sign: Andrew put the sign on post on the trestle bridge
  • Registration Money:
    • The Club received $2000 from the Town of Bridgton after President Blaine made request to the Selectmen who voted 5-0 to release the funds
    • Blaine will meet again so there won’t be a problem next year
  • Poker Rally: Date for rally is February 17, 2018 at the Bridgton Community Center
  • Club Trip:
    • Voted to travel to Madawaska to Gateway Motel
    • Bill Preis will check to make sure we can check in on Sunday February 4 and check out Thursday February 8th
    • If we stay 3 nights the 4 th night is free! We’ll be home for the club’s meeting Friday February 9th
  • Christmas Parade Float for Bridgton:
    • Chairperson Bob Corthell along with Mary Corthell Bob & Judy Pelletier, Lega Medcalf, Joanne and Matt Brill and Blaine’s granddaughter Olive decorated a double snowmobile trailer with 2 snowmobiles, fake snow and lighted snowflakes for the club’s entry
    • Matt Brill was the official snowmobiler and Bob Pelletier rode as Santa
    • Muddy River donated reuseable signs saying Season’s Greetings” and club name
    • Though we didn’t win a prize, Bob Corthell thinks we may be ready for Macy’s parade in New York City!
  • Director for MSA:
    • Bob Corthell and Mary attended last month’s meeting
    • Mary was elected an alternate there

 

Adjourned  8:15 PM
Next meeting January 12, 2018
Yankee Swap immediately followed – a good time was had by all

Respectfully submitted, Jean Preis, Substitute Secretary