How Is Your Snowmobile Club Doing?

[whitedust]

I just received some concerning news that a large Northwoods snowmobile club with hundreds of members has collected limited renewal membership dues.

What do you think is causing the lack of club renewal membership dues for 2024-2025? I know last year was a complete snowless skunk season never seen before but it’s mid October now and we should have pent up demand and anticipation for the upcoming season. What’s going on out there??

 

[gary_in_neenah]

I think it's still early. Once the weather flips, we get some flurries, they'll come around. But it might be down from years past as you said, the year that never was.

 

[durphee]

To be honest, I haven't even really thought about it yet. Been so nice of a Fall the sledding bug hasn't totally kicked in yet. I will probably get mine in fairly soon.

 

[mezz]

Perhaps many are suspect of another lean snow season due to the Old Farmers Almanac "forecast" of the winter of 2024-2025 to not be as cold as usual & snowfall expected to be below average in the Upper Midwest.

 

[chunk06]

Top topic of conversation anymore even with people you don't even know is how expensive things are. People are broke and stretched thin, even people that don't appear that way. I'm going to guess that people will wait until the last minute to join a club to get the trail stickers.
Speaking of club dues, did anyone else get hounded all year from some insurance agents from Ohio? Started out that they wanted to verify my info for the small life insurance policy the AWSC offers but then it just got into them wanting to sell life insurance. This is the first time this has happened and they would not take no for an answer

 

[whitedust]

Top topic of conversation anymore even with people you don't even know is how expensive things are. People are broke and stretched thin, even people that don't appear that way. I'm going to guess that people will wait until the last minute to join a club to get the trail stickers.
Speaking of club dues, did anyone else get hounded all year from some insurance agents from Ohio? Started out that they wanted to verify my info for the small life insurance policy the AWSC offers but then it just got into them wanting to sell life insurance. This is the first time this has happened and they would not take no for an answer

I’m not surprised and I was suspicious of that offer didn’t take the bait. That’s bad sorry you are being hassled. Does the AWSC know?

 

[chunk06]

I’m not surprised and I was suspicious of that offer didn’t take the bait. That’s bad sorry you are being hassled. Does the AWSC know?

I'm not one to complain, especially to an organization like AWSC. It just left a bad taste. I could understand someone that is not a big enthusiast not paying club dues and just buying trail permits instead though. I don't think I did anything different joining that I have in previous years.

 

[ddhanna]

Yeah, AWSC got themselves permanently embedded when trail passes came out. It sucks that you are forced to join AWSC (a largely political organization) in order to get a trail pass discount. I'm surprised that never got challenged in the courts. Now we also get spammed with their insurance.

 

[jr37]

Yeah, AWSC got themselves permanently embedded when trail passes came out. It sucks that you are forced to join AWSC (a largely political organization) in order to get a trail pass discount. I'm surprised that never got challenged in the courts. Now we also get spammed with their insurance.

I was against the trail pass from the start. If more money is needed, just raise registration. I learned a lot in my 5 or 6 years as an AWSC Rep. and Director. I'm not a fan. I'm 55 and have been riding and involved my entire life. This year will be the 1st in my life that I'm not a club member.

 

[hermie]

Personally paid my dues for the three clubs I belong to last night. Yeah there are politics involved but there are politics involved in everything now days. Without these clubs and volunteers there would be no trails to ride. I try to do my part and get out and brush trails. Also through the season I will pick up branches and rocks off the trails.

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

I was an AWSC club member since 1971...Not any longer...I quit paying when the counties started getting chopped into riding zones...I dont care about the awsc trail pass discount, and I currently own 6 sleds that all have current registration and trail pass stickers...Matter of fact my Mi Trail Pass stickers just showed up in the mail today...

 

[mspease]

I was against the trail pass from the start. If more money is needed, just raise registration. I learned a lot in my 5 or 6 years as an AWSC Rep. and Director. I'm not a fan. I'm 55 and have been riding and involved my entire life. This year will be the 1st in my life that I'm not a club member.

And why is that?

 

[jr37]

And why is that?

I don't have the desire to be involved anymore. My riding partner, my son, is gone to the Army. So, I only have 1 sled to put on the trail. And, maybe that one won't hit the trail either. We'll see what the winter brings.

 

[ddhanna]

I was an AWSC club member since 1971...Not any longer...I quit paying when the counties started getting chopped into riding zones...I dont care about the awsc trail pass discount, and I currently own 6 sleds that all have current registration and trail pass stickers...Matter of fact my Mi Trail Pass stickers just showed up in the mail today...

Not sure the AWSC had anything to say about county riding zones. Just other stupid things like supporting 55mph night time speed limits, etc. etc.

 

[whitedust]

Not sure the AWSC had anything to say about county riding zones. Just other stupid things like supporting 55mph night time speed limits, etc. etc.

I agree I thought the county clubs made those decisions which can provide more riding days for everyone. I don’t think AWSC cares about zones why would they?

 

[whitedust]

I don't have the desire to be involved anymore. My riding partner, my son, is gone to the Army. So, I only have 1 sled to put on the trail. And, maybe that one won't hit the trail either. We'll see what the winter brings.

Riding alone is aok better than sitting on the couch all winter.

 

[jr37]

Riding alone is aok better than sitting on the couch all winter.

Trust me, I spend very little time on the couch any time of the year. I'm sure my wife and I will get out on the 2-up.

 

[euphoric1]

Take away the clubs...take away the sport...plain and simple, I've said it over and over again about our club, more involvement at meetings, political or not, clubs need some form of structure, government not only to exist but to function. anyone waiting to join a club based on whether it snows or not I'm sorry but... SHAME ON YOU! maybe clubs should wait until there is rideable snow on the ground to put trails in, see how that works out for everyone. Clubs are a gathering of people with the same likes, clubs can also be a social gathering, I enjoy sitting at the bar getting a bite to eat with whitedust an hour before the meeting, talking about snowmobiles or snowmobiling and talking to fellow club members. I'm not against the trail pass but the "join a club trail pass discount" IMO ruined the club membership purpose as a whole, now you can say I belong but I don't in the same sentence. again... take away clubs...take away the sport...and if someone is waiting on snow to join...that's just ridiculous, plain and simple

 

[Magnumb]

Just upped multiple membership dues and added a bonus for some clubs that could really use the help

 

[hermie]

Take away the clubs...take away the sport...plain and simple, I've said it over and over again about our club, more involvement at meetings, political or not, clubs need some form of structure, government not only to exist but to function. anyone waiting to join a club based on whether it snows or not I'm sorry but... SHAME ON YOU! maybe clubs should wait until there is rideable snow on the ground to put trails in, see how that works out for everyone. Clubs are a gathering of people with the same likes, clubs can also be a social gathering, I enjoy sitting at the bar getting a bite to eat with whitedust an hour before the meeting, talking about snowmobiles or snowmobiling and talking to fellow club members. I'm not against the trail pass but the "join a club trail pass discount" IMO ruined the club membership purpose as a whole, now you can say I belong but I don't in the same sentence. again... take away clubs...take away the sport...and if someone is waiting on snow to join...that's just ridiculous, plain and simple

Very well said and so true. Unfortunately the AWSC has to be a little political. They have to work with politicians to get things passed to help the sport. Just the way things work.