Please check out the Snoman website for info on the upcoming annual meeting and also to participate in a client survey. The meeting is open to the public by RSVP.

http://www.snoman.mb.ca

You can copy and paste the questionnaire into an e-mail and send back to Snoman at info@snoman.mb.ca

You can also print and mail or fax. See the home page for contact info.

Now is your chance to have your say. Make the most of it.

I sent mine in. Copied and pasted to the email above.

As Super Dave said..........Send it in...voice your concern or SHUTTY!!!

DAVE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!

polaris is a mug licker

Dave - c/p from snoman.mb.ca



Don't think you can c/p questions into an email...you need to request an "official" copy for it to count....

Why they just can't send the survey out to all people that have purchased a Snopass last year and then all those who do't support the rail system can then request a survey. That just seems to simple, yes it costs money to send in snail mail if they don't have the email address.

Yes, you're correct, sorry about that.
Unfortunately you can't edit a posting on HCS anymore. If you e-mail it in by mistake, I'm sure that they will send you the proper instructions.
Dave

Please read below the lobbying letter from sSnoman and it's clubs that has been sent out to local MLA's


Our Mission: “Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Incorporated is dedicated
to providing strong leadership and support to its member clubs to develop and
maintain safe environmentally responsible snowmobile trails to further the
enjoyment of organized snowmobiling throughout Manitoba.”

Our Safety Policy: Snoman is committed to promoting safe, responsible riding on Manitoba snowmobile trails by continuously improving safety standards, programs and enforcement through proactive leadership, stakeholder partnerships, public education and driver training.

Our History: Snoman Inc. was incorporated on November 7, 1975. However the idea of providing trails for sledders to ride predates Snoman’s incorporation. Volunteers started clearing bush for trails in the1960s, laying down the foundation for the infrastructure that currently makes up the designated snowmobile trail system in Manitoba. In 1994, the Province of Manitoba and Snoman Inc. introduced the Snopass system.

Our Snopass System: The Snopass system is a very stable funding base designed to charge snowmobilers a fee to help maintain the trail system, groom trails, properly sign trails, and provide insurance for the people with Snopasses on our designated trails. Because of our success and continuous growth, things have changed. The Infrastructure, as it exists today, has outgrown its volunteer capacity. The Snopass system last year provided $1,300,000 income for Snoman. The volunteer effort required in distributing, collecting monies, set-up vendors, accounting, meeting different deadlines as required, and the remittance of 15,000 annual Snopasses has caused a lot of stress on our volunteers. Integrating the Snopasses with registration would definitely help re-energize the volunteer effort. The enforcement of Snopasses under Integration would be a lot easier for the RCMP and the Department of Conservation.
Snoman Inc., its Board of Directors, its Five Regional Snowmobile Associations, and the 48 clubs and all of their members have reached a consensus; it is time for our government to incorporate the dollars required for trail maintenance activity with the snowmobile registration.

Snoman Inc. would like to move to the next step; the same step that Saskatchewan took in 2005. It is Snoman’s belief that by removing the responsibility of collections from our purview and moving it to Manitoba Public Insurance would send a positive message to a dwindling volunteer force; our government believes snowmobiling is an integral part of Manitoba’s economy and a key contributor to winter tourism.






What benefits would Integration provide to Manitobans?

· Provide a more sustainable funding base to ensure the designated trail system continues to provide Manitobans and those beyond our borders with a safer riding option.
· Provide the consumer with “one stop shopping”: locations where consumers could register their snowmobiles and contribute to trail maintenance in one visit.
· Allow more volunteer time to be spent enhancing safety standards, providing connecting trail links and raising money for charitable causes.
· Provide a simpler means of financial accountability with perpetual inventory controls in place.
· Allow for a more concentrated marketing effort directed at making Manitoba one of the top destinations for riders from all over the world.
· Re-energize the volunteer base that is currently overwhelmed by the increasing workload required to sustain the current Snopass distribution system.

Facts about Snoman Inc. & snowmobiling in Manitoba
· 11,000 kilometres of designated snowmobile trail, with another 1,000 kilometres within Manitoba’s provincial parks connecting most areas of the Province of Manitoba
· Third largest designated snowmobile trail network in Canada.
· 48 volunteer based clubs with over 2500 members
· Over 50,000 volunteer hours in 2006-2007.
· Worth over $100,000,000 to Manitoba’s economy annually
· Over a quarter of a Million dollars ($250,000) raised for charitable causes in the 2007-2008 season.
· Trail Network outside provincial parks is funded entirely by the Snopass system and a club’s ability to fundraise.
· Most of the snowmobiling related accidents/fatalities happen off the designated snowmobile trail system.





What is Snoman asking from its government?

We are looking for your support in this next legislative session to integrate the
Snopass system with the snowmobile registration. The Integration system is
financially viable and would not utilize any government funding whatsoever. The
Integration System would be quite easy to implement with the MPI system. The
government of Manitoba’s implementation of Integration would ensure the
continuous growth of a quarter billion dollar annual industry and enhance urban
and especially rural economic development. This is a great opportunity to
enhance eco tourism and slow down rural decline. Having studied the
Saskatchewan model, we know what it will take to make Integration successful.



Reference:

Chris Brewer, the Chief Executive Officer of the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association says, “The move towards a streamlined collection system has allowed the SSA and its member clubs to work on more front line operations; trail improvements, marketing the system and raising money for charitable causes. It has re-energized the whole system in Saskatchewan.”

Can we count on your support for Integration?

Contact us:
Snoman Inc.
2121 Henderson Hwy
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R2G 1P8
Phone: (204) 940-7533
Fax: (204) 940-7531
E-mail: info@snoman.mb.ca
Executive Director: Duncan Stokes

"Most of the snowmobiling related accidents/fatalities happen off the designated snowmobile trail system."

And yet MPI or the Manitoba Government doesn't put a cent into the trail system!!! MPI is saving a good chunk of change by having the signed designated trail system....They know it benefits them. The Government likes the trail system since it promotes town that would otherwise have nothing for tourism during the winter season and they collect a good chunk of change on the gas tax. It is a win win situation for the Manitoba Government and MPI to have snoman trails. It's about friggin time they put some money into the sport! I HAVE A GOOD IDEA why they want to intagrate the snopass with the registration!!

I say VOTE NO for intagration!!! If they put it all in one I will sell my sleds and go on a winter vacation and spend my money in another country.....

Well I hope it goes thru!! .....and don't let the door hit ya on yer way out!

I'll give you $1500 for the doo and $2,000 for the yamie it's been wrecked once. LOL
So did you get your swimming pool done yet??

Well it wasn't wrecked...it just looked fugly for a little while. Thats not far off of what sleds will be worth when fuel hits $2.00 a gallon this winter. Pool was fired up Saturday and had the first party yesterday. It was good......Have to start using sunscreen though.....OUCH!!!!

$2.00 a gallon - I can't wait till that happens...........:-)

I think you meant a liter.

Yes...you are correct. Those days are gone forever.

Maybe people should attend regarding the closure of all eastern trails.

If this happens dealers could be negatively impacted (go under) along with other business (restaurants, etc.) and we could lose more riders than we do usually. I know of many people who used to ride and every year more seem to quit. This will drive more to do the same and if they sell the sled they likely will not get back in.

It is a pretty big gamble that the legislation will be tabled this year. I hope it works out.

Question - do the manufacturers, their local District Sales Managers (DSM's), or the affected dealers attend these meetings?

I understand that their interest may appear self-fulfilling (if that's a word), but I would believe it to be in their best interests if they are interested in this sport/business.

Or it will help the Western Region Clubs, dealers and buisnesses. GO WEST YOUNG MAN!!!!!

wasnt it always fugly???

I don't believe so. I have only gone to one AGM several years back. Yes they should be there as should several dealers and other stakeholders in the sport.

Lets be honest we all know there are several dealers and business which have had a few bad years and may be on the verge of getting out of the business. If word gets out about this without a proper PR campaign from SnoMan and ERSA it could do untold harm as these business once they quit will not come back in. The sport is much to fragile to mess with. I totally understand the reason but the consequences if it does not work are potentially disasterous. People who are on teh verge of getting out of ridding this swill just help them make up their mind faster and they will sell their sleds. Used sled prices will take a tumble as people will be reluctant to buy a sled.

As for the comment about going to the western district or any other district. Give your head a shake. This is bad news for everyone all districts. The Eastern region is by far the most active and has by far the most sled sales etc. come on 65% of the population of Manitoba lives in Winnipeg. If you count the surrounding areas i.e. Eastern Region virtually all of the population is there.

I hope ERSA and SnoMan have carefully thought this out with proper risk benefit analysis. The stakes are far too high. Again the need to get a constant small turnover of representatives (each year) with diverse backgrounds to ensure dedicated long time volunteers aren't burnt out and willing to go into very high risk gamble situation.

I hope this works out for the best. Sledders tell your buddies and people and businesses who will be affected by this closure. We need to band together and ensure it is a success.

Tell us Cobrat...what is the BEST!!!! I gave my head a shake....Now give yours one!! Yes you are right that a majority of the province is in the south....but not the south east. There are alot of people living in the western part of the province and there are real nice trails in the west. The south east has the lakes but the trails in the west are nice also. It's nice that the eastern region is bullying to get some rise from the government/MPI..etc. Maybe the western region ares would love if the eastern region shut down so that they can get a peice of the action... Yes...you are right...I am retard and calling names will not hurt my feelings! Intagration is not the way...purchasing a SNOPASS if you are riding the trails is the way. A user pay is the better way IMO..whatever that is worth! This fight keeps going and going and going...like the energiser bunny! Whatever happens ...happens. Snoman and MPI shoud read the PROS and CONS on the forum to see how people really feel about the subject. I don't care one way or the other...I make enough money to pay the 85...95..105...115 a year but other that don't use shouldn't have to pay for it if they don't want to.

Who is going to the AGM tonight? I was going to but can't do to another work meeting.