HOME    NEWS & EVENTS   RESOURCES   FACTS & STATS   SNOWMOBILING SAFETY   ORGANIZATIONS   PARTNERS   ABOUT ACSA  NEWS & OPINION 2013 ACSA Award Winners Continue Urgent Action Needed Today To Save Recreational Trails in California! ATTENTION: California Trail Enthusiasts (If you reside outside of California, please notify families, friends, and affiliated trail-related organizations based in California.) Governor Brown could eliminate the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) in California! Many of you have spoken, and we are making a difference. But, the Governor needs to keep hearing from recreational trail supporters across the State. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, along with American Trails and other Members of the Coalition for Recreational Trails, is helping lead the California Campaign to Save Recreational Trails. And, we thank all of the organizations working so hard to protect trail funding in California. Easily TAKE ACTION NOW by Continue Comment NOW on the Yellowstone Proposed Rule Download a sample letter to support the proposed Winter Use Rule (RIN 1024-AE15) for Yellowstone National Park. Continue 14th Annual DC Fly-In: Snowmobilers Stormed the Hill The DC Fly-In brings together the volunteer state snowmobile leadership from across the country. This year we had representatives from 16 states in attendance. ACSA, the Midwest Chapter and the Western Chapter held meetings on Sunday. Monday was a full day of updates with speakers from the agencies, congressional staff, and partners. Among the issues discussed were the recent court decision in Idaho, as well as other Forest Service issues such as budgets, sequestration, and the planning rule. Yellowstone and the Proposed Rule were discussed, as were Ethanol Fuels, RTP-- which is always a topic, and new legislation introduced to limit the designation of new National Monuments. We also heard about Endangered Species and the pending proposal which would list the Continue Floe's growth allows for new plant, diversification Click to read article Winter Wildlands Alliance v. U.S. Forest Service Click to read article Frequently Asked QuestionsAbout the Final Winter Use Plan Click to read article Yamaha unveils Arctic Cat snowmobile partnership Click to read article Comment NOW on the Yellowstone Proposed Rule Download a sample letter to support the proposed Winter Use Rule (RIN 1024-AE15) for Yellowstone National Park.... Continue 14th Annual DC Fly-In: Snowmobilers Stormed the Hill The DC Fly-In brings together the volunteer state snowmobile leadership from across the country. This year we had representatives from 16 states in attendance. ACSA, the Midwest Chapter and the Western Chapter held meetings on Sunday. Monday was a full day of updates with speakers from the agencies, congressional staff, and partners. Among the issues discussed were the recent court decision in Idaho, as well as other Forest Service issues such as budgets, sequestration, and the planning rule. Yellowstone and the Proposed Rule were discussed, as were Ethanol Fuels, RTP-- which is always a topic, and new legislation introduced to limit the designation of new National Monuments. We also heard about Endangered Species and the pending proposal which would list the ... Continue Urgent Action Needed Today To Save Recreational Trails in California! ATTENTION: California Trail Enthusiasts (If you reside outside of California, please notify families, friends, and affiliated trail-related organizations based in California.) Governor Brown could eliminate the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) in California! Many of you have spoken, and we are making a difference. But, the Governor needs to keep hearing from recreational trail supporters across the State. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, along with American Trails and other Members of the Coalition for Recreational Trails, is helping lead the California Campaign to Save Recreational Trails. And, we thank all of the organizations working so hard to protect trail funding in California. Easily TAKE ACTION NOW by Continue Support the ACSA Legal Defense in our fight to keep lands accessible to snowmobiling Help support the ACSA Legal Defense by attending the VIP reception on June 6th. We snowmobilers are currently being attacked on all fronts by the Winter Wildlands Alliance. Legal costs will mount and no one person, state or association can fund this fight alone. If we want to keep lands accessible to snowmobiling, we must raise funds to fight this threat. When: Thursday, June 6th Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (just prior to the off-site event at the Green Bay Packers Lambueau Field) Investment: $50.00 per adult - tax deductible Reserve your VIP tickets now!... Continue "Effectively Communicating with Elected Officials" Webinar So you know what you want to say but you’re just not sure how and when to say it. Ok, maybe you’re not even sure what you want to say, you just know how you feel. Join the vast majority of average citizens and the legislative process. Talking to your legislators and getting your point across is a walk in the park, once you understand a few basic rules, you’ll find the process surprisingly easy and even fun. Learn key techniques to communicate effectively in this webinar. Click to view presentation ... Continue Rocky Mountain Front bill remains priority for Baucus Passing legislation that would protect federal land in the North Fork of the Flathead and along the Rocky Mountain Front will be priorities for U.S. Sen. Max Baucus in his remaining months in office, the Montana senator said Tuesday, when he announced his retirement. The North Fork Watershed Protection Act would protect federal land on the American side of the North Fork drainage from new oil and gas development and mining. A second Baucus bill would preserve 275,000 acres of land along the eastern Front as either conservation management areas or wilderness. "I will double down on legislation to permanently protect the American side of the North Fork watershed and keep the Rocky Mountain Front the way it is for future generations," Baucus, a Democrat, said in a statement. Baucus ... Continue Awards! Awards!! It is that time of year again.....time to recognize our volunteers. Snowmobiling would not exist if not for the amount of time, effort and passion that is contributed so freely. Recognition is the very least we can offer to those that are so dedicated to snowmobiling.At the International Snowmobile Congress, ACSA will recognize the following:] Snowmobile Dealer of the Year Youth Snowmobiler of the Year Snowmobile Club of the Year Snowmobile Family of the Year Snowmobiler of the Year Award nomination forms can be found by clicking here: http://snowmobilers.org/resources.asp Award nomination forms are due ASAP.... Continue Winter Wildlands Alliance Ruling In 2005 the US Forest service published their Travel Management Rules which designated areas of use and non-use by all off-road vehicles. This Rule gave the land manager the authority to exempt Over Snow Vehicles from the designation. Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) petitioned the Forest Service a couple of years ago, to eliminate the exemption. At that time, the Forest Service once again confirmed the exemption. Based on that decision, the WWA filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service to challenge their decision. On March 29, 2013 the Judge issued a decision. "The court finds the OSV (over-snow vehicles) exemption is contrary to law," the judge wrote. "The Court finds that the 2005 Travel Management Rule is arbitrary and capricious to the extent that it does not ... Continue 2013 C.J. Ramstad Memorial Scholarship ISMC invites all states and provinces who hold their own scholarship award program to submit their single best winning applicant for consideration by May 1, 2013. Judging will be done by the ISMC Scholarship Committee and the winner will be awarded a $1000 scholarship. The winner of the C.J. Ramstad Memorial Scholarship will be announced at the 2013 International Snowmobile Congress. Applicant must be a member in good standing of their state/provincial snowmobile association. Only one winning entry from each state/province may be submitted, and the ISMC Scholarship application must be completed in full. Please include the essay that was required of them when he or she won your scholarship, along with a photo of the applicant. The scholarship committee will judge all ... Continue 2013 International Snowmobile Congress The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs will be the proud host of the 45th Annual International Snowmobile Congress. The dates will be June 5-8, 2013. The event this year promises to be outstanding! Early Registration ends April 1st -- so register now to get the best value. Click here for the Registration Form: www.isc2013.org/forms/ISC_Registration.pdf The ISC will be held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay. The rate for the hotel rooms is $80 per night, plus tax. Join snowmobilers from across the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Russia. ... Continue Public Land Challenges! National Monuments: This is a practice often used when there is movement to designate lands as Wilderness, but there is no Congressional support or widespread local support. The President has the authority to declare these lands as National Monuments. One area, 240,000 acres in New Mexico was just designated this week....as were 4 other areas. Sequestration has certainly not impacted the budgets in that National Park Service! While these areas are not snowmobile areas, it is a practice that sets a negative trend. This topic will be discussed in Washington, DC at the Fly-In. We will also discuss the status of the pending legislation that would limit the President's authority, and would also require state approval. Meanwhile, it is important to send ... Continue National Park Service Releases Yellowstone SEIS The National Park Service released the SEIS for Yellowstone the end of February. The preferred alternative will allow up to 110 "transportation events" each day, no more than 50 of those events being snowmobiles. A transportation event is defined as a single snow coach or a group of 7-10 snowmobiles. It will also allow one transportation event at each gate, each day, to be set aside for non-commercial guides. The proposal also includes establishing Best Available Technology standards for snowcoaches. The proposal continues to allow the current number of snowmobiles and snowcoaches into the Park for one more winter. The proposed Rule is expected to be published in the near future. Once that has been published, we will have a 60-day comment period. ACSA will ... Continue Upcoming ACSA Educational Webinar: "Communicating with Elected Officials" The next ACSA Educational Webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 17th. The time will be 8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain and 5:00 Pacific. The topic will be Communicating with Elected Officials. This will include working with elected officials at all levels, from the local level to the national level. Watch for the Registration Information coming soon.... Continue 2013 D.C. Fly-In The snowmobilers will once again be carrying their message, Tell the Truth About Snowmobiling, to Capitol Hill, April 20-23. There will be an ACSA Board of Directors Meeting, Chapter Meetings, a day of speakers from the agencies, committees, and partners and a day with hundreds of legislative meetings. If you have not yet registered for the DC Fly-In, please do soon ASAP. Click here for the registration form. This is an excellent opportunity to carry your message -- from your State Snowmobile Association to the decision makers.... Continue Leadership Webinar Leaders come in many varieties. Within your ranks, you have young achievers who show promise as potential future leaders. You have leader-like individuals at all levels, whether they are a member that always volunteers to take on projects or a committee chairman. Teaching future leaders the skills of a strong leader puts them in a better position to lead your organizations into the future. Recognizing their skills and involving them keeps them engaged in your organization for the long term. Effective leaders know how to listen, promote consensus building, and build strong teams. Effective leaders realize they need to understand everything, but they do not have to do everything themselves. They need to know when to juggle and when and how to delegate. Continue eBay Auction Thanks to all of the companies and individuals that participated in the Annual eBay Auction that just concluded. Whether you donated items, purchased items -- or tried to purchase by bidding -- your efforts are appreciated!... Continue "The Dos and Don'ts for Non-Profit Organizations" educational webinar Click to listen to the "The Dos and Don'ts for Non-Profit Organizations" educational webinar from January 16, 2013. The audio recording is available for listening via YouTube. It is approximately 1 hour long.... Continue Coalition for Recreational Trails — Recreational Trails Program Achievement Awards The Coalition for Recreational Trails will be presenting its 15th annual Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Achievement Awards in June during Great Outdoors Week. This awards program has proven to be a great success, showcasing excellent projects made possible by RTP funding and enhancing awareness and appreciation of the RTP among Members of Congress and other key officials. Snowmobilers were instrumental in continuing the RTP funding last spring/summer. Lets showcase some of those great projects you have out there that were funded with RTP dollars. The nomination process is very easy. The recognition you will get if you win is awesome!! Continue New Snowmobile Safety and Access Information Center Created by ACSA Snowmobileinfo.org went online September 21 as "your best resource for snowmobile safety and access information." This new website hosts the Snowmobile Safety and Access Information Center and provides a one-stop resource for individuals, snowmobile clubs and organizations, snowmobiling management agencies, and private and public land managers. It includes a calendar of state and national training opportunities, resources for snowmobile safety education, snowmobiling access, and information sharing opportunities. "The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) is extremely dedicated to promoting safe and responsible snowmobiling, along with our work to preserve snowmobiling access across the country," stated ... Continue Tyler Tobin is awarded Bill Townsend Scholarship Tyler Tobin, a Jackson, Wyoming native was recently awarded a $5,000 Bill Townsend Memorial Access Scholarship. Tobin, a life-long snowmobiler, graduated from Jackson Hole High School in 2000. He graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Political Science and Economics in 2006. While attending Montana State University, Tobin was a full time snowmobile racer. Plans for Tobin are to pursue a Master of Science in Management degree from Henley Putnam this fall. The Townsend Scholarship requires the applicant's area of study to include a focus or emphasis that could potentially be beneficial for motorized recreation management/access that includes snowmobiling. Snowmobiling continues to be important to Tobin. Having grown up in the ... Continue Kim Raap selected to International Snowmobile Hall of Fame Kim Raap was recently selected to the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in the category of Trail and Program Developer. He currently resides in Sioux Falls, SD and has dedicated most of his life to making snowmobiling better across the United States and Canada. His accomplishments range from trail development and partnership building to national leadership and program development. Raap's trail development career started with SD Game, Fish & Parks as a park manager when he created the first snowmobile trail in the Sioux Falls area in 1979 and later managed the Roy Lake snowmobile trail. He served as South Dakota's state snowmobile coordinator from 1985-1995; highlights from this service include growing the Black Hills snowmobile trail system from 195 to over 300 miles, ... Continue Bob Linn Named ACSA Snowmobiler of the Year Congratulations to Robert (Bob) Linn of Waterville, MN for being awarded the American Council of Snowmobile Associations 2012 Snowmobiler of the Year for his exemplary dedication to the sport of snowmobiling. His passion for snowmobiling and trails and extensive involvement in the sport has afforded him this honor. Bob received his award at the International Snowmobile Congress in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Bob has been involved in snowmobiling since 1976. Teaching young snowmobilers about the safe operation of snowmobiles has been a priority for Bob and his wife, Marie for 32 years and in 2008 they were recognized as Minnesota DNR"s Snowmobile Safety ... Continue Donahue Super Sports wins American Council of Snowmobile Associations' (ACSA) Dealer of the Year Award Hall of Fame snowmobile racer Bobby Donahue accepted the American Council of Snowmobile Associations' Dealer of the Year award at the 44th Annual International Snowmobile Congress in Massachusetts on behalf of his family's dealership, Donahue Super Sports. This prestigious award recognizes the best snowmobile dealership in the United States for its involvement with local clubs and state association along with the dedicated promotion of snowmobiling to both the seasoned sledder and non-snowmobiler and for taking a leadership role in fundraising and special community projects. The ACSA Dealer of the Year award represents the close relationships the Donahue family has ... Continue ACSA members: exclusive savings at OfficeMax OfficeMax® Partner Advantage The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) members are always looking for ways to cut costs. But you still expect great service, right? With OfficeMax® Partner Advantage, you'll get incredible members-only savings, while enjoying award-winning, personalized customer service. Get up to 85% off everyday low prices! Start saving now with these offers: Office Furniture Party Planning Supplies Waste Mangement Additional Savings Working with OfficeMax® Partner Advantage, you'll receive: Reduced pricing on more than 25,000 products and 4,000 ... Continue 2012 ACSA Award Winners ... Continue Why is Specialized Snowmobile Insurance Important? Common Questions Answered. Do you ride your snowmobile in your driveway, weaving in and out of your flower pots? Probably not. Then why insure it with a policy meant for a home? Trusting a homeowners policy to insure your snowmobile may bring you an unpleasnt surprise at claim time. Foremost Insurance Group knows toys and we specialize in policies for your snowmobiles, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. With all the powdered trails in your future, you shouldn't have to worry about why you need a specialized snowmobile policy, that's what we're here for. A specialized snowmobile policy, beyond your homeowners policy can cover you so you can continue to ride the trails. The top four "what ifs" of snowmobile insurance from Foremost Insurance Group: 1. What if you are in an accident and incur ... Continue Klobuchar Secures Continuation of Recreational Trails Program in Surface Transportation Legislation Program which benefits snowmobilers, outdoor enthusiasts across Minnesota had been cut from original surface transportation bill until bipartisan group of Senators, led by Klobuchar, successfully fought to continue it Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that she has secured the continuation of the Recreational Trails Program as part of a larger Surface Transportation bill. The program helps maintain recreational trails for snowmobilers and outdoor enthusiasts in Minnesota and across the country. The program had been cut from the original Surface Transportation legislation, but Klobuchar worked with a bipartisan group of senators to ensure it continued. "Minnesota snowmobilers and countless other outdoor enthusiasts benefit from the use of these trails," ... Continue RTP Update Hopefully by now, you all know about the Recreational Trails Program. This program is funded by the federal gas tax dollars you pay every time you fill your snowmobile or other OHV. This program is housed in the Highway Bill and is administered by the Department of Transportation. This program is vitally important to our snowmobile trails. The snowmobile clubs and state associations rely on these dollars for our trails programs!! The program officially expired a couple of years ago and has been living on extensions. The next extension will expire on March 31st. The House included RTP -- with the dedicated funding we have had -- in the legislation that recently passed out of committee. Unfortunately, it appears further action by the House has ... Continue Nominate your Trail! The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations, is now accepting nominations/applications to recognize outstanding trail projects funded by the national Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. during Great Outdoors Week 2012. The CRT has been very successful in building awareness and appreciation of the RTP, which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public. The ceremony will be held on Capitol Hill. Award winners will be selected from projects nominated by public agencies, trail administrators or other project sponsors. Projects must be completed in order to receive an award. Project award categories will ... Continue Yellowstone National Park News Release Work Continues On A Long-Term Winter Use Plan For Yellowstone Public Open Houses Scheduled in February The National Park Service (NPS) continues working on a long-term plan to guide winter use in Yellowstone National Park. The NPS and the park will host a series of open houses in February during a scoping period for that plan. In May 2011, the NPS released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)for public review on the potential effects of the plan for motorized oversnow travel in the park. After months of public comment and review, the NPS decided additional study was needed before putting a long-term plan in place. While the final plan is being developed, the NPS chose to manage snowmobile and snowcoach access in the park this winter under ... Continue Victory for Snowmobilers ACSA partnered with the Michigan Snowmobile Association to fight the efforts of a single person to ban snowmobiling and gun hunting in the Huron Manistee National Forest. This week, the Forest Service relased their Record of Decision to the 6th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. In the RoD, the Forest Service recommended: - Continue to allow snowmobiling on designated trails. - Change Management Area designation of 11 of the 13 previously designated Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Areas to Special Areas. - Change Management area designation of 2 previously designated Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Areas to Management Area 4.2 - Maintain the Management Area 5.1 (Wilderness) designation for the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. - Change the Recreation Opportunity ... Continue We Need You at the DC Fly-In! Help Us Protect Snowmobiling Don't let Congress turn back the clock on decades of hard-fought progress toward creating a more snowmobile-friendly America. Join us at the 2012 DC Fly-In to help defend critical funding programs and maintain the access we have to our public lands. ACSA is the proud sponsor of the Snowmobile Fly-In. This event is held annually and is the premier snowmobile -- motorized recreation event in our nation's capital. It brings snowmobilers from all over the country together to influence lawmakers and share strategies. ACSA ensures that snowmobilers are working together -- as a unified front. Join other snowmobile leaders as we unite for three powerful days in Washington, DC. Download the Continue Snowmobiling on Forest Service Lands Being Challenged by Non-Motorized Groups As you know, the WWA, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to"promoting and preserving winter wildlands and quality human-powered snowsports experience on public lands". They work endlessly to do everything they can to force the Forest Service to severely restrict or eliminate our use. You may recall the WWA petitioned the Forest Service a couple of years ago challenging the Travel Management Rule, specifically the over-snow vehicle (OSV) exclusion. You may recall that over-snow use was treated differently than summer uses for good reasons; we have different impacts. Last year at our Fly-In the Forest Service announced their response to the Petition, which upheld the OSV exclusion. That did not work so now they are trying in the courts. In late November, the WWA ... Continue Arctic Cat, Polaris and Yamaha to Introduce 2013 Models This Spring In a series of 22 locations across the snowbelt, Arctic Cat, Polaris and Yamaha will give snowmobilers a "Sneak Peek" at their new models for 2013. Each manufacturer will display 15-18 sleds. That's 50+ new snowmobiles for 2013 displayed on one show floor all at the same time. Snowmobilers can see, touch, sit on and inspect the sleds that will be at their dealer in the fall. Final decisions and taking advantage of the special incentives offered during the spring buying programs can be made with hands-on inspection of the various models. Outdoor events may have an admission charge and show times will follow that event's schedule. Indoor events are from 4-9:00 PM with free admission. 2012 Sneak Peek Tour: March 2-3 - Colebrook, NH March 10-11 - ... Continue Why the Recreational Trails Program is so important! RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM The Recreational Trails Program is funded from a small portion of the federal gas tax that is paid by off road recreation enthusiasts. Only gas put into our recreation vehicles is calculated. These dollars have been crucial to the snowmobile community for funds for construction of bridges, trailheads and the maintenance of the thousands of miles of first class snowmobile trails across the United States. This program is currently funded through September 30, 2011. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) was created by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), reauthorized in 1998 as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and reauthorized again in 2005 through ... Continue COMMENT NOW ON THE YELLOWSTONE PROPOSED RULE Download a sample letter to support the proposed Winter Use Rule (RIN 1024-AE15) for Yellowstone National Park.... Continue 14TH ANNUAL DC FLY-IN: SNOWMOBILERS STORMED THE HILL The DC Fly-In brings together the volunteer state snowmobile leadership from across the country. This year we had representatives from 16 states in attendance. ACSA, the Midwest Chapter and the Western Chapter held meetings on Sunday. Monday was a full day of updates with speakers from the agencies, congressional staff, and partners. Among the issues discussed were the recent court decision in Idaho, as well as other Forest Service issues such as budgets, sequestration, and the planning rule. Yellowstone and the Proposed Rule were discussed, as were Ethanol Fuels, RTP-- which is always a topic, and new legislation introduced to limit the designation of new National Monuments. We also heard about Endangered Species and the pending proposal which would list the ... Continue URGENT ACTION NEEDED TODAY TO SAVE RECREATIONAL TRAILS IN CALIFORNIA! ATTENTION: California Trail Enthusiasts (If you reside outside of California, please notify families, friends, and affiliated trail-related organizations based in California.) Governor Brown could eliminate the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) in California! Many of you have spoken, and we are making a difference. But, the Governor needs to keep hearing from recreational trail supporters across the State. The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, along with American Trails and other Members of the Coalition for Recreational Trails, is helping lead the California Campaign to Save Recreational Trails. And, we thank all of the organizations working so hard to protect trail funding in California. Easily TAKE ACTION NOW by Continue SUPPORT THE ACSA LEGAL DEFENSE IN OUR FIGHT TO KEEP LANDS ACCESSIBLE TO SNOWMOBILING Help support the ACSA Legal Defense by attending the VIP reception on June 6th. We snowmobilers are currently being attacked on all fronts by the Winter Wildlands Alliance. Legal costs will mount and no one person, state or association can fund this fight alone. If we want to keep lands accessible to snowmobiling, we must raise funds to fight this threat. When: Thursday, June 6th Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (just prior to the off-site event at the Green Bay Packers Lambueau Field) Investment: $50.00 per adult - tax deductible Reserve your VIP tickets now!... Continue "EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS" WEBINAR So you know what you want to say but you’re just not sure how and when to say it. Ok, maybe you’re not even sure what you want to say, you just know how you feel. Join the vast majority of average citizens and the legislative process. Talking to your legislators and getting your point across is a walk in the park, once you understand a few basic rules, you’ll find the process surprisingly easy and even fun. Learn key techniques to communicate effectively in this webinar. Click to view presentation ... Continue ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT BILL REMAINS PRIORITY FOR BAUCUS Passing legislation that would protect federal land in the North Fork of the Flathead and along the Rocky Mountain Front will be priorities for U.S. Sen. Max Baucus in his remaining months in office, the Montana senator said Tuesday, when he announced his retirement. The North Fork Watershed Protection Act would protect federal land on the American side of the North Fork drainage from new oil and gas development and mining. A second Baucus bill would preserve 275,000 acres of land along the eastern Front as either conservation management areas or wilderness. "I will double down on legislation to permanently protect the American side of the North Fork watershed and keep the Rocky Mountain Front the way it is for future generations," Baucus, a Democrat, said in a statement. Baucus ... Continue AWARDS! AWARDS!! It is that time of year again.....time to recognize our volunteers. Snowmobiling would not exist if not for the amount of time, effort and passion that is contributed so freely. Recognition is the very least we can offer to those that are so dedicated to snowmobiling.At the International Snowmobile Congress, ACSA will recognize the following:] Snowmobile Dealer of the Year Youth Snowmobiler of the Year Snowmobile Club of the Year Snowmobile Family of the Year Snowmobiler of the Year Award nomination forms can be found by clicking here: http://snowmobilers.org/resources.asp Award nomination forms are due ASAP.... Continue WINTER WILDLANDS ALLIANCE RULING In 2005 the US Forest service published their Travel Management Rules which designated areas of use and non-use by all off-road vehicles. This Rule gave the land manager the authority to exempt Over Snow Vehicles from the designation. Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA) petitioned the Forest Service a couple of years ago, to eliminate the exemption. At that time, the Forest Service once again confirmed the exemption. Based on that decision, the WWA filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service to challenge their decision. On March 29, 2013 the Judge issued a decision. "The court finds the OSV (over-snow vehicles) exemption is contrary to law," the judge wrote. "The Court finds that the 2005 Travel Management Rule is arbitrary and capricious to the extent that it does not ... Continue 2013 C.J. RAMSTAD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP ISMC invites all states and provinces who hold their own scholarship award program to submit their single best winning applicant for consideration by May 1, 2013. Judging will be done by the ISMC Scholarship Committee and the winner will be awarded a $1000 scholarship. The winner of the C.J. Ramstad Memorial Scholarship will be announced at the 2013 International Snowmobile Congress. Applicant must be a member in good standing of their state/provincial snowmobile association. Only one winning entry from each state/province may be submitted, and the ISMC Scholarship application must be completed in full. Please include the essay that was required of them when he or she won your scholarship, along with a photo of the applicant. The scholarship committee will judge all ... Continue 2013 INTERNATIONAL SNOWMOBILE CONGRESS The Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs will be the proud host of the 45th Annual International Snowmobile Congress. The dates will be June 5-8, 2013. The event this year promises to be outstanding! Early Registration ends April 1st -- so register now to get the best value. Click here for the Registration Form: www.isc2013.org/forms/ISC_Registration.pdf The ISC will be held at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Green Bay. The rate for the hotel rooms is $80 per night, plus tax. Join snowmobilers from across the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Russia. ... Continue PUBLIC LAND CHALLENGES! National Monuments: This is a practice often used when there is movement to designate lands as Wilderness, but there is no Congressional support or widespread local support. The President has the authority to declare these lands as National Monuments. One area, 240,000 acres in New Mexico was just designated this week....as were 4 other areas. Sequestration has certainly not impacted the budgets in that National Park Service! While these areas are not snowmobile areas, it is a practice that sets a negative trend. This topic will be discussed in Washington, DC at the Fly-In. We will also discuss the status of the pending legislation that would limit the President's authority, and would also require state approval. Meanwhile, it is important to send ... Continue NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RELEASES YELLOWSTONE SEIS The National Park Service released the SEIS for Yellowstone the end of February. The preferred alternative will allow up to 110 "transportation events" each day, no more than 50 of those events being snowmobiles. A transportation event is defined as a single snow coach or a group of 7-10 snowmobiles. It will also allow one transportation event at each gate, each day, to be set aside for non-commercial guides. The proposal also includes establishing Best Available Technology standards for snowcoaches. The proposal continues to allow the current number of snowmobiles and snowcoaches into the Park for one more winter. The proposed Rule is expected to be published in the near future. Once that has been published, we will have a 60-day comment period. ACSA will ... Continue UPCOMING ACSA EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR: "COMMUNICATING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS" The next ACSA Educational Webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 17th. The time will be 8:00 pm Eastern, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain and 5:00 Pacific. The topic will be Communicating with Elected Officials. This will include working with elected officials at all levels, from the local level to the national level. Watch for the Registration Information coming soon.... Continue 2013 D.C. FLY-IN The snowmobilers will once again be carrying their message, Tell the Truth About Snowmobiling, to Capitol Hill, April 20-23. There will be an ACSA Board of Directors Meeting, Chapter Meetings, a day of speakers from the agencies, committees, and partners and a day with hundreds of legislative meetings. If you have not yet registered for the DC Fly-In, please do soon ASAP. Click here for the registration form. This is an excellent opportunity to carry your message -- from your State Snowmobile Association to the decision makers.... Continue LEADERSHIP WEBINAR Leaders come in many varieties. Within your ranks, you have young achievers who show promise as potential future leaders. You have leader-like individuals at all levels, whether they are a member that always volunteers to take on projects or a committee chairman. Teaching future leaders the skills of a strong leader puts them in a better position to lead your organizations into the future. Recognizing their skills and involving them keeps them engaged in your organization for the long term. Effective leaders know how to listen, promote consensus building, and build strong teams. Effective leaders realize they need to understand everything, but they do not have to do everything themselves. They need to know when to juggle and when and how to delegate. Continue EBAY AUCTION Thanks to all of the companies and individuals that participated in the Annual eBay Auction that just concluded. Whether you donated items, purchased items -- or tried to purchase by bidding -- your efforts are appreciated!... Continue "THE DOS AND DON'TS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS" EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR Click to listen to the "The Dos and Don'ts for Non-Profit Organizations" educational webinar from January 16, 2013. The audio recording is available for listening via YouTube. It is approximately 1 hour long.... Continue COALITION FOR RECREATIONAL TRAILS — RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS The Coalition for Recreational Trails will be presenting its 15th annual Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Achievement Awards in June during Great Outdoors Week. This awards program has proven to be a great success, showcasing excellent projects made possible by RTP funding and enhancing awareness and appreciation of the RTP among Members of Congress and other key officials. Snowmobilers were instrumental in continuing the RTP funding last spring/summer. Lets showcase some of those great projects you have out there that were funded with RTP dollars. The nomination process is very easy. The recognition you will get if you win is awesome!! Continue NEW SNOWMOBILE SAFETY AND ACCESS INFORMATION CENTER CREATED BY ACSA Snowmobileinfo.org went online September 21 as "your best resource for snowmobile safety and access information." This new website hosts the Snowmobile Safety and Access Information Center and provides a one-stop resource for individuals, snowmobile clubs and organizations, snowmobiling management agencies, and private and public land managers. It includes a calendar of state and national training opportunities, resources for snowmobile safety education, snowmobiling access, and information sharing opportunities. "The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) is extremely dedicated to promoting safe and responsible snowmobiling, along with our work to preserve snowmobiling access across the country," stated ... Continue TYLER TOBIN IS AWARDED BILL TOWNSEND SCHOLARSHIP Tyler Tobin, a Jackson, Wyoming native was recently awarded a $5,000 Bill Townsend Memorial Access Scholarship. Tobin, a life-long snowmobiler, graduated from Jackson Hole High School in 2000. He graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Political Science and Economics in 2006. While attending Montana State University, Tobin was a full time snowmobile racer. Plans for Tobin are to pursue a Master of Science in Management degree from Henley Putnam this fall. The Townsend Scholarship requires the applicant's area of study to include a focus or emphasis that could potentially be beneficial for motorized recreation management/access that includes snowmobiling. Snowmobiling continues to be important to Tobin. Having grown up in the ... Continue KIM RAAP SELECTED TO INTERNATIONAL SNOWMOBILE HALL OF FAME Kim Raap was recently selected to the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in the category of Trail and Program Developer. He currently resides in Sioux Falls, SD and has dedicated most of his life to making snowmobiling better across the United States and Canada. His accomplishments range from trail development and partnership building to national leadership and program development. Raap's trail development career started with SD Game, Fish & Parks as a park manager when he created the first snowmobile trail in the Sioux Falls area in 1979 and later managed the Roy Lake snowmobile trail. He served as South Dakota's state snowmobile coordinator from 1985-1995; highlights from this service include growing the Black Hills snowmobile trail system from 195 to over 300 miles, ... Continue BOB LINN NAMED ACSA SNOWMOBILER OF THE YEAR Congratulations to Robert (Bob) Linn of Waterville, MN for being awarded the American Council of Snowmobile Associations 2012 Snowmobiler of the Year for his exemplary dedication to the sport of snowmobiling. His passion for snowmobiling and trails and extensive involvement in the sport has afforded him this honor. Bob received his award at the International Snowmobile Congress in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Bob has been involved in snowmobiling since 1976. Teaching young snowmobilers about the safe operation of snowmobiles has been a priority for Bob and his wife, Marie for 32 years and in 2008 they were recognized as Minnesota DNR"s Snowmobile Safety ... Continue DONAHUE SUPER SPORTS WINS AMERICAN COUNCIL OF SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATIONS' (ACSA) DEALER OF THE YEAR AWARD Hall of Fame snowmobile racer Bobby Donahue accepted the American Council of Snowmobile Associations' Dealer of the Year award at the 44th Annual International Snowmobile Congress in Massachusetts on behalf of his family's dealership, Donahue Super Sports. This prestigious award recognizes the best snowmobile dealership in the United States for its involvement with local clubs and state association along with the dedicated promotion of snowmobiling to both the seasoned sledder and non-snowmobiler and for taking a leadership role in fundraising and special community projects. The ACSA Dealer of the Year award represents the close relationships the Donahue family has ... Continue ACSA MEMBERS: EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS AT OFFICEMAX OfficeMax® Partner Advantage The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) members are always looking for ways to cut costs. But you still expect great service, right? With OfficeMax® Partner Advantage, you'll get incredible members-only savings, while enjoying award-winning, personalized customer service. Get up to 85% off everyday low prices! Start saving now with these offers: Office Furniture Party Planning Supplies Waste Mangement Additional Savings Working with OfficeMax® Partner Advantage, you'll receive: Reduced pricing on more than 25,000 products and 4,000 ... Continue 2012 ACSA AWARD WINNERS ... Continue WHY IS SPECIALIZED SNOWMOBILE INSURANCE IMPORTANT? COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Do you ride your snowmobile in your driveway, weaving in and out of your flower pots? Probably not. Then why insure it with a policy meant for a home? Trusting a homeowners policy to insure your snowmobile may bring you an unpleasnt surprise at claim time. Foremost Insurance Group knows toys and we specialize in policies for your snowmobiles, motorcycles and off-road vehicles. With all the powdered trails in your future, you shouldn't have to worry about why you need a specialized snowmobile policy, that's what we're here for. A specialized snowmobile policy, beyond your homeowners policy can cover you so you can continue to ride the trails. The top four "what ifs" of snowmobile insurance from Foremost Insurance Group: 1. What if you are in an accident and incur ... Continue KLOBUCHAR SECURES CONTINUATION OF RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM IN SURFACE TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION Program which benefits snowmobilers, outdoor enthusiasts across Minnesota had been cut from original surface transportation bill until bipartisan group of Senators, led by Klobuchar, successfully fought to continue it Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that she has secured the continuation of the Recreational Trails Program as part of a larger Surface Transportation bill. The program helps maintain recreational trails for snowmobilers and outdoor enthusiasts in Minnesota and across the country. The program had been cut from the original Surface Transportation legislation, but Klobuchar worked with a bipartisan group of senators to ensure it continued. "Minnesota snowmobilers and countless other outdoor enthusiasts benefit from the use of these trails," ... Continue RTP UPDATE Hopefully by now, you all know about the Recreational Trails Program. This program is funded by the federal gas tax dollars you pay every time you fill your snowmobile or other OHV. This program is housed in the Highway Bill and is administered by the Department of Transportation. This program is vitally important to our snowmobile trails. The snowmobile clubs and state associations rely on these dollars for our trails programs!! The program officially expired a couple of years ago and has been living on extensions. The next extension will expire on March 31st. The House included RTP -- with the dedicated funding we have had -- in the legislation that recently passed out of committee. Unfortunately, it appears further action by the House has ... Continue NOMINATE YOUR TRAIL! The Coalition for Recreational Trails, a federation of national and regional trail-related organizations, is now accepting nominations/applications to recognize outstanding trail projects funded by the national Recreational Trails Program (RTP). The awards will be presented in Washington, D.C. during Great Outdoors Week 2012. The CRT has been very successful in building awareness and appreciation of the RTP, which has greatly enhanced the quantity and quality of trail experiences available to the public. The ceremony will be held on Capitol Hill. Award winners will be selected from projects nominated by public agencies, trail administrators or other project sponsors. Projects must be completed in order to receive an award. Project award categories will ... Continue YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK NEWS RELEASE Work Continues On A Long-Term Winter Use Plan For Yellowstone Public Open Houses Scheduled in February The National Park Service (NPS) continues working on a long-term plan to guide winter use in Yellowstone National Park. The NPS and the park will host a series of open houses in February during a scoping period for that plan. In May 2011, the NPS released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)for public review on the potential effects of the plan for motorized oversnow travel in the park. After months of public comment and review, the NPS decided additional study was needed before putting a long-term plan in place. While the final plan is being developed, the NPS chose to manage snowmobile and snowcoach access in the park this winter under ... Continue VICTORY FOR SNOWMOBILERS ACSA partnered with the Michigan Snowmobile Association to fight the efforts of a single person to ban snowmobiling and gun hunting in the Huron Manistee National Forest. This week, the Forest Service relased their Record of Decision to the 6th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. In the RoD, the Forest Service recommended: - Continue to allow snowmobiling on designated trails. - Change Management Area designation of 11 of the 13 previously designated Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Areas to Special Areas. - Change Management area designation of 2 previously designated Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Areas to Management Area 4.2 - Maintain the Management Area 5.1 (Wilderness) designation for the Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area. - Change the Recreation Opportunity ... Continue WE NEED YOU AT THE DC FLY-IN! HELP US PROTECT SNOWMOBILING Don't let Congress turn back the clock on decades of hard-fought progress toward creating a more snowmobile-friendly America. Join us at the 2012 DC Fly-In to help defend critical funding programs and maintain the access we have to our public lands. ACSA is the proud sponsor of the Snowmobile Fly-In. This event is held annually and is the premier snowmobile -- motorized recreation event in our nation's capital. It brings snowmobilers from all over the country together to influence lawmakers and share strategies. ACSA ensures that snowmobilers are working together -- as a unified front. Join other snowmobile leaders as we unite for three powerful days in Washington, DC. Download the Continue SNOWMOBILING ON FOREST SERVICE LANDS BEING CHALLENGED BY NON-MOTORIZED GROUPS As you know, the WWA, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to"promoting and preserving winter wildlands and quality human-powered snowsports experience on public lands". They work endlessly to do everything they can to force the Forest Service to severely restrict or eliminate our use. You may recall the WWA petitioned the Forest Service a couple of years ago challenging the Travel Management Rule, specifically the over-snow vehicle (OSV) exclusion. You may recall that over-snow use was treated differently than summer uses for good reasons; we have different impacts. Last year at our Fly-In the Forest Service announced their response to the Petition, which upheld the OSV exclusion. That did not work so now they are trying in the courts. In late November, the WWA ... Continue ARCTIC CAT, POLARIS AND YAMAHA TO INTRODUCE 2013 MODELS THIS SPRING In a series of 22 locations across the snowbelt, Arctic Cat, Polaris and Yamaha will give snowmobilers a "Sneak Peek" at their new models for 2013. Each manufacturer will display 15-18 sleds. That's 50+ new snowmobiles for 2013 displayed on one show floor all at the same time. Snowmobilers can see, touch, sit on and inspect the sleds that will be at their dealer in the fall. Final decisions and taking advantage of the special incentives offered during the spring buying programs can be made with hands-on inspection of the various models. Outdoor events may have an admission charge and show times will follow that event's schedule. Indoor events are from 4-9:00 PM with free admission. 2012 Sneak Peek Tour: March 2-3 - Colebrook, NH March 10-11 - ... Continue WHY THE RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM IS SO IMPORTANT! RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM The Recreational Trails Program is funded from a small portion of the federal gas tax that is paid by off road recreation enthusiasts. Only gas put into our recreation vehicles is calculated. These dollars have been crucial to the snowmobile community for funds for construction of bridges, trailheads and the maintenance of the thousands of miles of first class snowmobile trails across the United States. This program is currently funded through September 30, 2011. The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) was created by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), reauthorized in 1998 as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) and reauthorized again in 2005 through ... Continue Upcoming Events June 11-14, 2014 International Snowmobile Congress Keystone Resort & Conference Center, Keystone, Colorado More Info June 9-14, 2015 2015 International Snowmobile Congress Niagara Falls, New York More Info View all events Have News or an Event? If you have snowmobile related news or events that you would like to publish on this site, please contact us.