Talking to my riding buds about next season & purchasing WI Trail Permits via the State or thru a Club via Cap Step came up? We decided to see how the Clubs will reach out to new members & go from there. How are your Clubs planning on ramping up for new membership activity for Trail Permits? This is no small task so clubs have to be preparing now for the new members or miss a huge opportunity for revenue & new members. What is being done at your club?
What Are Clubs Doing To Prepare For Cap Step?
- Thread starter whitedust
- Start date
While I agree the clubs should be planning how to reap the most reward from this new system but I thought it won't go into effect until 2015??
I'm not sure when or what year we have to purchase trail permits just know it is coming.
We do have a little time to prepare for this. But, I believe that the clubs with websites and Facebook pages will be the ones that get the new members. The people that only want to join a club to get the discount will do a web search. Those that want to get involved will do a little research on what is best for them. Also, I think clubs with Paypal will be a step ahead. That makes it quick and easy. CAP/STEP just passed, so the clubs do have time.
I don't think that has all been ironed out yet. But, I surely will let you know when I know.
Not sure which Vilas club I will be joining... long story... but local club probably not the right club for me & my buds so we started checking around. Local dealership suggested we take that club over with new members move it in a different direction ....but no thanks to that I just want to be around like minded people not run a club of unlikeminded people.lol. We ride the most in MI Iron County so want to do something for & with them but won't help with WI Cap Step permit.
CAP/STEP does not become effective until July 2015. There will be meetings between the DNR/AWSC on how the program should/will be run. A tremendous amount of thought has to go into the process, and all the different situations that could arise. When it is first implemented I would expect a few bumps.
I agree it is going to be difficult for some clubs to absorb the added responsibility & welcome new green members. How well they adapt is no small thing to the future of CapStep or the setting sun kicks in. I think some Clus will grow & handle it well..... others.. WOW... I just don't know if ridgit & set in cement they are doomed. The reason I asked is some will need an attitude adjustment or miss the boat & I was wondering what to exspect & hoping for the best before I got hip deep in a lot of fustration & club politics over a trail permit. The easy way is to send the money to Madison but who needs CapStep for that?
Uncle Vito
New member
This may help............
http://www.awsc.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6ZkpS2xIUyk=&tabid=36&mid=1317
http://www.awsc.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6ZkpS2xIUyk=&tabid=36&mid=1317
snobuilder
Well-known member
Not to say I told you so, but I brought up the logistics of the C/S program early on both here and at our club mtgs.
Most shrugged it off and said don't worry about it.....it will all be worked out.....LOL
Line #5 on the AWSC site says alot;
"
Where can I purchase the WI Trail Pass? The discounted ($10) resident WI Trail Pass for members will be available after (July 2015) to purchase through the AWSC office in DeForest, WI. The AWSC and the WI DNR are currently in the development stages of this procedure. Please remember that the snowmobile clubs will be responsible for your AWSC membership if you want the discounted WI Trail Pass. Members will all be responsible for purchasing their own WI Trail Pass. If you are NOT an AWSC member, then you are responsible for purchasing your WI Trail Pass through the WI DNR. Snowmobile dealers will not be involved in the WI Trail Pass process."
Right now if I buy a sled in the morning, I can be registered and on the trails in the afternoon and you will still be able to do that but not if you want the discount.
It doesn't sound like there will be a quick way available to become a member so as to take advantage of the discount for those who buy a sled when the snow flies and they get the urge to ride.
If the thought is that ppl will have the forthought to join a club on the off chance they will buy a sled in the future, I doubt this new C/S will be affective in those cases, which IMO will be the majority.
I think Whitedust says alot by asking "what the clubs are doing"....LOL
Most shrugged it off and said don't worry about it.....it will all be worked out.....LOL
Line #5 on the AWSC site says alot;
"
Where can I purchase the WI Trail Pass? The discounted ($10) resident WI Trail Pass for members will be available after (July 2015) to purchase through the AWSC office in DeForest, WI. The AWSC and the WI DNR are currently in the development stages of this procedure. Please remember that the snowmobile clubs will be responsible for your AWSC membership if you want the discounted WI Trail Pass. Members will all be responsible for purchasing their own WI Trail Pass. If you are NOT an AWSC member, then you are responsible for purchasing your WI Trail Pass through the WI DNR. Snowmobile dealers will not be involved in the WI Trail Pass process."
Right now if I buy a sled in the morning, I can be registered and on the trails in the afternoon and you will still be able to do that but not if you want the discount.
It doesn't sound like there will be a quick way available to become a member so as to take advantage of the discount for those who buy a sled when the snow flies and they get the urge to ride.
If the thought is that ppl will have the forthought to join a club on the off chance they will buy a sled in the future, I doubt this new C/S will be affective in those cases, which IMO will be the majority.
I think Whitedust says alot by asking "what the clubs are doing"....LOL
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To me out of state riders need to buy WI Trail Permits upon arrival just like MI so gas stations & dealers need to be part of the process. Many out of staters wait for the snow to fly then head to the storm track which can be anywhere in the state. Tracking down area snowfall clubs for permits is not going to happen. Not sure how CapStep will address this?
First, those people that want the discount will just need to be better prepared in the future. You will just need to plan a little. If you choose to buy a sled and ride it the same day, be prepared to pay more.
Secondly, In the near future the clubs will have the ability to update their rosters with the AWSC online. That should make your ability to prove your membership a lot faster. If your club membership chairperson updates with the AWSC everytime they recieve new members, you will have proof of membership a lot faster than in the past.
Alot needs to be ironed out yet. Please be patient. And, yes, there will be bumps along the way, but it is everyones best interest to give it a chance to work.
Secondly, In the near future the clubs will have the ability to update their rosters with the AWSC online. That should make your ability to prove your membership a lot faster. If your club membership chairperson updates with the AWSC everytime they recieve new members, you will have proof of membership a lot faster than in the past.
Alot needs to be ironed out yet. Please be patient. And, yes, there will be bumps along the way, but it is everyones best interest to give it a chance to work.
Have to find an outlet to deal with out of state snow chasers for quick trail permits simular to what MI does via retailers thru out MI. Not sure what to do with the way WI is organized around Cap/Step. What does NY do?
Sno-Bandit Gary
New member
These are all great questions. They are all questions that have been discussed with the AWSC and they are working out the details to make this as robust as possible. That is one of the reasons it will not go into effect until 2015. This gives everyone a chance to prepare for the roll out. One of the things clubs might do as suggested by jr37 is that clubs get hooked up with social media and have a means of processing memberships in a timely manner. Pay Pal is one avenue. Getting a charge card for the club to make immediate payment to AWSC and getting a membership number right away would answer the question of getting immediate membership for those last minute unprepared riders. As with any new program I am sure there will be a few bumps in the road but nothing that can't be tweaked. As many clubs as possible should attend the AWSC fall workshop this year in the Dells as I am sure there will be information and discussion on the roll out.--Gary
Well, one thing for sure, the clubs need to gear up and plan for some meaningful fundraisers to carry them through for at least two more years. This could be critical if you heard the steady stream of club spokespersons step up to the microphone at the assembly committee hearing on November 13 reporting that their clubs could not continue operating effective immediately unless there was some new funding heading their way. Not trying to paint the gloom and doom picture that we all heard about that day at the hearing, but the simple fact remains that nothing has changed yet with the passage of CAP/STEP. So, I repeat, please help with our club’s fundraisers! I have started another thread today simply entitled CAP/STEP: LET THE NIGHTMARE BEGIN. No need to reflect on the past, but some things just need to be said, and in spite of what you may believe, I have already moved on. CAP/STEP is here, so let’s hope things work out.
All along it was said this will increase club membership. How? For people already in a club it sounds ok, club membership fees are included in the total I have to pay, ok. But wait, now I have to go to a separate organization and try to get another sticker, that's not so great. Why would a person that is not a current member of a club want to deal with joining a club, buying registration, and also have to deal with purchasing a trail permit from AWSC when they can just go direct for the same price? I hope more people will join clubs, but I still do not understand how this is supposed to increase club membership, there is no incentive whatsoever to join a club in this bill.