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who are upset about the "state of snowmobiling" in Iowa. They usually
talk about how they're angry at the Iowa Legislature for taking our
funding. They're also disappointed about two years of low (or no)
snowfall. Sometimes they're disgusted about trails not being groomed
or marked well enough. At the same time, they want more trails to ride,
and they want to know what is being done.
I always ask if they belong to a club. Ninety percent of the time the
answer is a resounding "No." The people who do belong to clubs can't
seem to find the time to attend meetings...ever. They pay their dues and
get the newsletter; however, they don't DO anything. I ask if they
belong to the ISSA? They reply, "No." Do they belong to the Blue
Ribbon Coalition? Not that one, either. Then I ask them, "When was the
last time you personally lobbied your legislators, called them up, wrote
a letter or sent an email to them?" They usually say they've never
lobbied anyone about anything, ever. They usually say, "They don't
know how" or "It won't do any good."
It's sad that the vast majority of snowmobilers just don't get involved.
They don't have the time. They don't know how to talk to people or
take your pick: "It's hunting season," "Home football game," "Away
football game," "Wash the car weekend," "Rake the leaves weekend,"
"Clean the gutters weekend," etc. The excuses go on and on. It seems
like people can always find something more important to do than
snowmobiling stuff...until, it snows, that is. Then they expect
everything to be ready to go.
I don't give a hoot if you show up to a meeting in December, January
or February. There's no WORK to be done then. All the planning and
work occurs outside the riding season. When the season finally arrives,
there is very little to do except ride and enjoy the fruits of our labors.
In every organization, there are usually a handful of dedicated
volunteers who are doing it all. Do the people sitting on the sidelines
think their weekends are more valuable than mine? Do they think I don't
have important stuff to do, too? Well, I do. The difference is this: I,
and all the other volunteers, have found a way to do both. We can get
stuff done at home AND do the necessary work to keep snowmobiling
alive.
I'm not picking on those folks whose jobs require they work on
weekends. I'm talking about the folks who can't seem to find just a
couple of hours a month to attend meetings and two measly days a year
to help with trails. It's not like you have to donate a kidney or anything
like that. WAKE UP!
I can tell you that the volunteers are getting tired of carrying all you
lazy folks on their backs. “Burnout” is a very real possibility. If those
volunteers gave up tomorrow, would YOU step into the job and keep it
going? Why wait until they get disgusted and quit before you realize
you need to help? Help them NOW! Here's something that a couple of
fellow club members came up with that really hits-the-nail-on-the-head.
This is to all those who do nothing and expect things to keep going
(and get better). We should make t-shirts with this on it. It's a simple
question:
Do You Want Snowmobiling Opportunities to Disappear?
It's Easy!
DON'T join a snowmobile club and state organization.
DON'T attend club meetings.
DON'T help plan trails and routes.
DON'T ask landowners for permission to cross.
DON'T help clear brush and trees.
DON'T help build bridges.
DON'T help mow and mark trails.
DON'T help with groomer maintenance and operation.
DON'T help put forward a positive image of snowmobiling.
(Imagine no trails, anywhere)
It CAN Happen!
DO your part now; or, DO nothing!
It's YOUR CHOICE!
The people fighting for your snowmobiling opportunities are your local
club, the ISSA (at the state level) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (on the
national level). They cannot keep up the fight without YOUR help.
Joining is a good first step, but GET INVOLVED! DO SOMETHING
before your snowmobiling opportunities are gone.
I see the ISSA has a membership goal of 2,500 this year. That is less
than 10 percent of the registered sleds in IOWA! I find that figure
appalling. If just half of the 35,000 sled owners joined the ISSA, it
would be a political force to be reckoned with at the Statehouse.
Wisconsin and Minnesota also had budget problems, but they didn't rob
their snowmobile funds. That is due, in large part, because of the
participation level of organizations and memberships in those states. So,
do the math. Together we can survive. We all know many hands will
make any job easier.
Get involved today! The fun you save may be your own.
A Dedicated Sledder
Somewhere in Iowa
talk about how they're angry at the Iowa Legislature for taking our
funding. They're also disappointed about two years of low (or no)
snowfall. Sometimes they're disgusted about trails not being groomed
or marked well enough. At the same time, they want more trails to ride,
and they want to know what is being done.
I always ask if they belong to a club. Ninety percent of the time the
answer is a resounding "No." The people who do belong to clubs can't
seem to find the time to attend meetings...ever. They pay their dues and
get the newsletter; however, they don't DO anything. I ask if they
belong to the ISSA? They reply, "No." Do they belong to the Blue
Ribbon Coalition? Not that one, either. Then I ask them, "When was the
last time you personally lobbied your legislators, called them up, wrote
a letter or sent an email to them?" They usually say they've never
lobbied anyone about anything, ever. They usually say, "They don't
know how" or "It won't do any good."
It's sad that the vast majority of snowmobilers just don't get involved.
They don't have the time. They don't know how to talk to people or
take your pick: "It's hunting season," "Home football game," "Away
football game," "Wash the car weekend," "Rake the leaves weekend,"
"Clean the gutters weekend," etc. The excuses go on and on. It seems
like people can always find something more important to do than
snowmobiling stuff...until, it snows, that is. Then they expect
everything to be ready to go.
I don't give a hoot if you show up to a meeting in December, January
or February. There's no WORK to be done then. All the planning and
work occurs outside the riding season. When the season finally arrives,
there is very little to do except ride and enjoy the fruits of our labors.
In every organization, there are usually a handful of dedicated
volunteers who are doing it all. Do the people sitting on the sidelines
think their weekends are more valuable than mine? Do they think I don't
have important stuff to do, too? Well, I do. The difference is this: I,
and all the other volunteers, have found a way to do both. We can get
stuff done at home AND do the necessary work to keep snowmobiling
alive.
I'm not picking on those folks whose jobs require they work on
weekends. I'm talking about the folks who can't seem to find just a
couple of hours a month to attend meetings and two measly days a year
to help with trails. It's not like you have to donate a kidney or anything
like that. WAKE UP!
I can tell you that the volunteers are getting tired of carrying all you
lazy folks on their backs. “Burnout” is a very real possibility. If those
volunteers gave up tomorrow, would YOU step into the job and keep it
going? Why wait until they get disgusted and quit before you realize
you need to help? Help them NOW! Here's something that a couple of
fellow club members came up with that really hits-the-nail-on-the-head.
This is to all those who do nothing and expect things to keep going
(and get better). We should make t-shirts with this on it. It's a simple
question:
Do You Want Snowmobiling Opportunities to Disappear?
It's Easy!
DON'T join a snowmobile club and state organization.
DON'T attend club meetings.
DON'T help plan trails and routes.
DON'T ask landowners for permission to cross.
DON'T help clear brush and trees.
DON'T help build bridges.
DON'T help mow and mark trails.
DON'T help with groomer maintenance and operation.
DON'T help put forward a positive image of snowmobiling.
(Imagine no trails, anywhere)
It CAN Happen!
DO your part now; or, DO nothing!
It's YOUR CHOICE!
The people fighting for your snowmobiling opportunities are your local
club, the ISSA (at the state level) and the Blue Ribbon Coalition (on the
national level). They cannot keep up the fight without YOUR help.
Joining is a good first step, but GET INVOLVED! DO SOMETHING
before your snowmobiling opportunities are gone.
I see the ISSA has a membership goal of 2,500 this year. That is less
than 10 percent of the registered sleds in IOWA! I find that figure
appalling. If just half of the 35,000 sled owners joined the ISSA, it
would be a political force to be reckoned with at the Statehouse.
Wisconsin and Minnesota also had budget problems, but they didn't rob
their snowmobile funds. That is due, in large part, because of the
participation level of organizations and memberships in those states. So,
do the math. Together we can survive. We all know many hands will
make any job easier.
Get involved today! The fun you save may be your own.
A Dedicated Sledder
Somewhere in Iowa