SledMagazine.com goes where the snowmobilers go, Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall. In Vermont on a beautiful August 10th Saturday, the officers, directors, voting delegates and interested members of the Association’s 23,744 members were at the Jay Peak Resort for the 46th annual meeting of VAST. The location was spectacular, offering impressive views of Northern Vermont and the Montreal skyline.
SledMagazine.com Columnist / Test Rider Greg Gilbert on top of Jay Peak in Vermont
The event had greater than anticipated attendance as outgoing President Jim Hill called the meeting to order. As you will find at most every Snowmobile Association annual meeting it was a combination of what you see and what you don’t.
Outgoing VAST President Jim Hill was presented with the Distinguished Service award by Executive Director Alexis Nelson
You definitely see unique camaraderie, dedication and experience of longtime members and friends. You see the history of our sport in those whose vision, time, efforts and commitment have guided our sports from its simple and formative years to the economic and recreational force that snowmobiling has become. You see the faces of an ever maturing volunteer base. You also clearly see the increasing realities of the significant environmental, development, special interest, trail access, regulatory and economic pressures that snowmobiling will continue to face.
What you don’t see at most annual meetings including this one are younger faces in the crowd. The new energy, increased involvement, new ideas and talents of a next generation are much needed and notably absent. You also don’t see a successful transition from an economic model that has been historically based on sizable volunteer participation by a significant number of users, to a business model of “pay to play” that is made necessary by increased expenses, regulation, safety, trail quality and user expectations with greatly diminishing volunteer involvement.
Snowmobile Club of the Year to the Drift Dusters of Orleans County
The event was lightened and moderated by well know Vermont comedian “The Logger” Rusty Dewease with a special appearance by Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin. Whether well rehearsed lip service of a smooth politician or the sincere knowledge and interest of a fellow Vermonter, the Governors’ words of recognition, appreciation, support and encouragement of the success and efforts of the VAST organization were truly impressive. His continuing comments demonstrated a working knowledge of our history, funding mechanisms, our unique recreational opportunity, our positive economic impact to small communities, the challenges we face and the role government can play in supporting protected access into the future. Kudos to the Vermont Governor.
After agenda items of special recognition awards and the approval of reports / minutes and Bylaw amendments the meeting turned to topics of budget, future direction and initiatives.
Snowmobile Dealer of the year was presented to Spencer Hudson of All Around Power Sports
Discussions were held regarding the potential benefits and detriments of an anticipated centralized online membership system as well as the positive advancement and completion timeline of the long awaited cross state Lamoille Valley Rail Trail project (LVRT).
For more information about the development and progress of this program and project visit WWW.VTVAST.org
The 2014 budget proposed and presented by the VAST Board of Directors was drafted around the fiscal realities of reduced 2013 total membership and revenue. One of the primary points of discussion was not the budgeted amounts or distribution, but the fact that the budget did not contain income derived from reduced cost TMA memberships offered by previously offered Classic sled and Family classes. While the VAST bylaws do not allow the membership to directly vote on the types of memberships to be offered or the setting of the dues rates, many present strongly defended and supported these classes of memberships. It was passionately expressed by many that these classes of membership support and welcome both the history and future generations to our sport. After much discussion and several alternative and procedural motions the budget was finally approved as originally presented.
discussion
Whether Classic and Family classes of memberships continue in 2014 will be determined by the VAST Directors, but the message and debate was clearly heard.
Democracy is not always easy, pretty or quick. The conversations are often passionate and may seem to go around and around in seemingly endless circles of opinion. It is easy to become impatient or annoyed by views differing from you own. One thing remains clear; the best interest of snowmobiling and snowmobilers are always at the heart of the conversations. In the end each debated topic seems to come together with a majority consensus that is accepted as the desired outcome of a Democratic system that is respected by all.
Without any doubt our Federal government could take a lesson from Snowmobilers.
