Snowmobile clubs look at merging

By Ken Johnston Editor A number of factors in the past several years have been slowly eating away at area snowmobile clubs and now Rainy River, Emo and Fort Frances are considering amalgamating into one to save the movement in the district. Acting Rainy River Wildlands Snowdusters Snowmobile Club Chair Brian Russell said that lack of snow, high trail permit costs and bureaucratic regulations have steadily seen the club here go from 140 members to 13 last year. Lack luster snowfalls over the past four or five winters has meant less time and good conditions for the sport. Couple that with trail permits that top out at $230 per season and fewer and fewer people have decided to get involved with the club. Russell said that some members have quit over bureaucratic moves that ticked them off. “We had a couple of guys who went out and put all the signage up on their own time. Then the insurance companies said we had to redo all of them. That just did not sit well with those who had given so much of their time,” said Russell. He noted that Rainy River’s declining membership is not the only one in the area. Both Emo and Fort Frances have seen their numbers dwindle as well. At a meeting of all three clubs on Oct. 20th Emo said it had five volunteers to work on trails and Fort Frances had only four. At one time Fort Frances had 700 members. Russell said that Rainy River has enough volunteers to keep the trails maintained but finds that the paperwork involved for the club is mind-boggling. By amalgamating they would all see the paperwork cut by two thirds as they would only have to do it for one club and not all three. In order to amalgamate the Snowdusters will have to hold a general meeting. The Snowdusters has sent letters to its membership with notice that the meeting has been called for Nov. 8, 7 p.m. at the CN Hotel. While only the paid members from last year (13) can vote on the issue, Russell said the club would like to have input from past members and anyone who might be interested in joining in the future. If 50% or more of the members approve the move to amalgamate a motion will be brought forward on Nov. 24th in Emo at a meeting to cement the start of the process. Audrey Robb, Operations Director for the Northwestern Ontario Snowmobile Trails Association Dist. 17, said in a letter to members, “Should the club decide to amalgamate, the snowmobile trails would remain open.” If the local club chooses to reject amalgamation, Russell is not certain what would happen. “We would have to have a look at it and decide if we want to continue to struggle with it for another year or so.” He added that if they pull the pin on the club that all their trails have to be dismantled. That would involve removing all signage, bridges, gates, etc. “That would be a huge undertaking,” said Russell. The Snowdusters have about 300 k.m. of trails that they look after at present. He himself said he would not like to see the trails die here noting, “Ten years down the road there may be lots of guys here wanting to sled. But if the trails are gone their options will be limited.” Russell thinks the idea of amalgamating will keep the trails alive well into the future. He notes that Fort Frances and Mine Centre have already amalgamated, Emo and Nestor Falls as well, and whether Rainy River opts to join them or not, Emo and Fort have already indicated they will join together.