Executive Director’s Desk
Here We Go Again
January 2019 If you have been a follower of the Michigan snowmobile budget, I mean the state budget that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) pigeon holes our snowmobile permit funds into; you know that this is the second time funds have been left...
Lame Duck Session: MSA Promises Vigilance During Final Days of Legislature
November 2018-At our state legislative level right now is the scariest time for all groups that are active in changing laws to better their programs. After the election and with the holidays there are only about 13 real session days left of the 2018 Michigan...
What Has MSA Done For Me, You, and Organized Snowmobiling?
October 2018- In today's ever-changing, fast paced world, it's common for those being sought to join any organization to ask -- what's in it for me? Recreation dollars are tight and all membership-based organizations are seeing a decline in numbers and seeking new...
Snow, Thaws, and Late Season Riding — A Look at Last Year’s Snowmobile Season!
SEPTEMBER 2018 Last year's snowmobile season was an interesting one. It started out slow in December, with not much snow early in the month. We did have snow for Christmas in the Upper Peninsula and in the Northern Lower Peninsula. The rest of the state lagged in...
Another “Weird” Snowmobile Season — Where Does Your Trail Permit Money Go?
MARCH 2018 The end of the season is here, and you are probably asking -- “With another weird snow season, where did all my Trail Permit money go?” You better sit down the answer to that question, is not a quick answer! The following column is an explanation of how the...
Lobbying Efforts Begin to Show a Return on Investment
January/February 2018 In the past issues of the Michigan Snowmobile News, we talked about snowmobiling's Return on Investment (ROI) in terms of what snowmobilers pay to recreate and the return the state receives in tourism dollars. We talked about the fact that...
Public or Private? Where You Can & Can’t Ride
Shared by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, with permission from SnowTech SnowTech Magazine, September, 2017 Kevin Beilke, Editor In the Spring issue of SnowTech Magazine we discussed the growing problem of snowmobilers trespassing on...
A First Glance at the 2018 Snowmobile Trail Improvement Fund Budget
November 2017 Last month, I wrote that members of your Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) executive board and committee were already looking at budget numbers for the 2018 Snowmobile Trail Improvement Program. At this time, I would like to share preliminary...
Further Explanation of Last Month’s Numbers and New State Law Could Allow More ORVs on Trails
October 2017 Staff at the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) offices have fielded several questions regarding some numbers included in the September issue of this Legislative Column, more specifically the chart that ran with that column. The chart that runs in the...
A Look at Last Year’s Snowmobile Season!
September 2017 Last year the headline of this column read, "A Look at Last Year's Dismal Season!" In terms of snow, this season was yet another dismal year. However, those who did ride purchased trail permits, helping to maintain funding for our Michigan Snowmobile...
MSA Continues to Meet With Legislators — Asking for Funding to Maintain Smooth Trails
March 2017 Since my last legislative report officials with the Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) met again with staff from Gov. Rick Snyder's office and key state legislators. The purpose of these meetings was to continue to discuss issues regarding funding for...
Cost of Trail Permits and the Future of Michigan’s Snowmobile Program
January 2017 Why Did the Trail Permit Raise to $48 This Year? That question has been asked a thousand times since trail permits became available this fall. The Michigan Snowmobile Association (MSA) did not increase the permit, so let me tell you why trail permits went...