December 13, 2006
December 13, 2006
Christine Jourdain
American Council of Snowmobile Clubs
www.snowmobileacsa.org
As we begin the new year, it’s always a time to reflect back on the last year. There are many people that live by the standard of you don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been.
We ended 2006 with a bang.
ACSA held their 3rd Annual Land Summit in December, with the focus of the program this year being on Private Lands. Across the country, many of the most critical land owners are private land owners. Many times a private land owner sits between two public lands – and the connection is critical.
Private land owners and public land owners, both large and small, are crucial to the network of trails across the country. Enthusiasts need to respect the land owner. Riders of all ages must remember snowmobiling is a privilege……neither private nor public land owners are obligated to open their lands to us. Snowmobiling is not a right, it is a privilege.
Land owner recognition is one of the most important factors involved in snowmobiling – and respect is what they deserve regardless if they are a public land owner or a private land owner. If the trail is posted, please follow the signs, it is not only common courtesy, it could make or break the trail or riding area being open next year.
We also must remember the importance of communication with land owners, legislators, sponsors and others – you do not want the contact with them to be only when you want or need something. Be contact with them on a regular basis.
Not everyone loves snowmobiling – not everyone knows a snowmobiler. It is up to us to introduce snowmobiling to non-snowmobilers and to make a good impression.
At our Summit, we dealt with the issues of Land Trusts and Conservancies. All of these topics were a first for organized snowmobiling – and we found out what other groups perception of a snowmobiler is……and it is not always good. It’s up to us to confront that perception and try to change the image of a snowmobiler.
We found out most established Trusts do not deal with motorized recreation. Will they if we approach them? Perhaps, but it must be done in a professional manner after our reputation has been established with them. Did the Trusts find anything out about us? You bet they did. We were not what they thought we would be, we were professional, we were reputable and credible, we were nice, and we were respectful.
We were encouraged to approach Trusts that are in our areas, find out who they are, what they do, what their priorities are, and see if you can work with them on some of their issues. Do the issues have to be snowmobile-related? No, they may be community-related or interest-related. But how do you know who they are what they do if we don’t make the effort to find out. How do they find who we are and what we are like if they never meet us?
Trusts have many of the same common goals we do – to protect and conserve land. The balance and makeup of the priorities of each Land Trust conserving land are different, but often include recreation, clean water, agriculture, scenic views and biodiversity.
We want to conserve land for recreation. We want to preserve clean water. We want farms to remain farms and not necessarily another strip mall or subdivision. And we often snowmobile for the scenic views and to view wildlife.
So can we work together? Can we find common goals with the Board of Directors of a local trust? It is highly likely.
Is it worth the effort? Is it possible for a non-motorized group to work with snowmobilers? You bet it is…..and it has already happened!!
Immediately following our Summit, one of the speakers from a Trust approached one of the State Snowmobile Associations to schedule a meeting -- and they immediately posted Snowmobilers as a partner on their website. Is that progress? You bet it is.
So where do we go from here?
We continue to meet new people, new companies and corporations, possible new partners. We introduce ourselves to them, and they find out about snowmobiling.
We must concentrate on our image. Image and behavior are traits that immediately turn people on or off. And it is the responsibility of each snowmobiler to be responsible every time they put their helmet on.
Reputations take an extremely long time to build – but can be destroyed instantly. It is up to us to be responsible and to hold others in our riding group or club to the same standards.
ACSA is embarking on an image campaign this winter with the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association. The campaign will be seen by snowmobilers and non-snowmobilers. The campaign will show what snowmobilers see and enjoy while riding. Families will be showcased as will the beauty of winter…..all things non-snowmobilers (landowners, legislators, corporate executives, etc.) do not know and understand about snowmobiling.
It’s a first step, hopefully the first step of many steps to follow. Image must become a focus point for us as snowmobilers.
Please remember you represent every snowmobiler across the country every time you put your helmet on and head for your favorite riding area.
Be responsible and be safe……and best wishes for the new year!
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