AUBURN - There's no snow predicted this weekend, but a flurry of winter sports enthusiasts are forecast to descend on the city for the New York State Snowmobile Association's annual forum.
David Perkins, trails coordinator for the association, expects about 500 members from clubs from nearly every county to attend the three-day event. This will be the second year in a row the forum will be held at the Auburn Holiday Inn.
"We were here last year, and we were treated well," said Jim Jennings, the executive director of the association. "We had trouble early on finding a place to have this year's meeting, so we called to see if we could have it here again."
The forum gets going Friday, with Government Day, hosted by a representative of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Perkins said planners and other county representatives use the opportunity to get details regarding trail grant applications from the OPRHP. The information is then passed back to various trail groups.
Cayuga County Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett attended last year's event and will send an assistant this year.
"This gets everyone on the same page," he said. "The clubs and sponsors, which is what we are considered, know what's expected."
Saturday, there will be various workshops for snowmobilers on topics such as inspecting trails, the use of global-positioning technology in trail development and how clubs can achieve tax-free status. Saturday evening there will be a banquet .
On Sunday, the association's lobbyist will report on various issues, including a statewide speed limit of 55 mph for snowmobilers. Jennings said the association's board of directors supports the limit for safety reasons.
The association will also host its annual meeting during the forum, Perkins said.
The New York State Snowmobiler Association is a volunteer group of snowmobilers and other organizations that strive to improve the sport of snowmobiling. It is recognized by state government as the representative of snowmobilers and by international sport and industry associations.
Perkins said the organization has 20,000 members and includes representatives of hundreds of snowmobile clubs across the state. Dan Samons, the treasurer of the Weedsport Winter Wanderers, and vice president of the Cayuga County Snowmobiler Association, is helping to promote the meeting, which is open only to members of snowmobile clubs.
Duckett said the clubs are more than just social organizations. The money they generate - through OPRHP grants - helps to maintain the county's public trail system, in addition to trails that go through private property where snowmobile clubs have permission to ride.
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
"We were here last year, and we were treated well," said Jim Jennings, the executive director of the association. "We had trouble early on finding a place to have this year's meeting, so we called to see if we could have it here again."
The forum gets going Friday, with Government Day, hosted by a representative of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Perkins said planners and other county representatives use the opportunity to get details regarding trail grant applications from the OPRHP. The information is then passed back to various trail groups.
Cayuga County Parks and Trails Director Gary Duckett attended last year's event and will send an assistant this year.
"This gets everyone on the same page," he said. "The clubs and sponsors, which is what we are considered, know what's expected."
Saturday, there will be various workshops for snowmobilers on topics such as inspecting trails, the use of global-positioning technology in trail development and how clubs can achieve tax-free status. Saturday evening there will be a banquet .
On Sunday, the association's lobbyist will report on various issues, including a statewide speed limit of 55 mph for snowmobilers. Jennings said the association's board of directors supports the limit for safety reasons.
The association will also host its annual meeting during the forum, Perkins said.
The New York State Snowmobiler Association is a volunteer group of snowmobilers and other organizations that strive to improve the sport of snowmobiling. It is recognized by state government as the representative of snowmobilers and by international sport and industry associations.
Perkins said the organization has 20,000 members and includes representatives of hundreds of snowmobile clubs across the state. Dan Samons, the treasurer of the Weedsport Winter Wanderers, and vice president of the Cayuga County Snowmobiler Association, is helping to promote the meeting, which is open only to members of snowmobile clubs.
Duckett said the clubs are more than just social organizations. The money they generate - through OPRHP grants - helps to maintain the county's public trail system, in addition to trails that go through private property where snowmobile clubs have permission to ride.
Staff writer Louise Hoffman Broach can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or louise.hoffman@lee.net
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