Grayling Visitors Bureau

General Membership Meetings– the next meeting will be December 1^st at the Ramada Inn of Grayling starting at 7: pm.  AVSA meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Meeting dates for the remaining 2011 – 2012 season are as follows:

January 5^th, 2012           February 2^nd, 2012         March 1^st, 2012              April 5^th, 2012

Membership Dues – just a friendly reminder to send in your annual dues if you have not already done so.

Trail maintenance – Trail Signing was complete in late October.  Keith reports the trails are ready, the groomers are fueled and ready and the drivers are chomping at the bit to start grooming trails, all we need is Mother Nature to cooperate.  Think Snow!  Thank you to those volunteers who give of their time in this annual pre-season effort to make the Grayling area snowmobile trail system one of the best and safest in the Lower Peninsula.

Trail Maps – One of AVSA’s major fund raisers every year is the trail map.  The map produces revenue two ways first from the selling of advertising space on the maps and second by selling maps through local business.  AVSA encourages everyone to pick up a new map at a local business in the Grayling area and to also support those businesses that support AVSA by purchasing advertising space on our maps.

Online Snowmobile Safety Course – If you have young snowmobilers between the ages of 12 to 17 this might be of   interest to you.  An online snowmobile safety course aimed at youth operators has received the endorsement of the DNR.  Successful completion of the online course would satisfy Michigan’s snowmobile safety education requirement for youth operators.  There is a $29.95 fee to take the online course.  More information on the online course can be found at www.snowmobilecourse.com/usa/michigan/.

Update on the proposed ban on snowmobiling and gun hunting in The Huron–Manistee National Forest – If this ban goes into effect it will essentially shut off trail networks both north to south and east to west across the Northern Lower Peninsula.  The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement proposes to ban snowmobiling and gun hunting with in 14 Semi-Primitive Non-Motorized Areas.  There are four alternative plans, briefly Alternative 1 – No Action, no change but will leave it open to more legal challenges.  Alternative 2 – The proposed action, gives Mr. Meister the individual that brought the law suit against the National Forest what he wants.  Alternative 3 – Change management area designation to align with the current uses of the areas.  Basically everything stays the same; areas in question would be defined as Semi-Primitive Motorized areas.  Alternative 4 – Change management area designation and manage to provide a less roaded recreation experience, this is the USFS’s preferred alternative.  For more information call the Huron-Manistee National Forest office at (231)775-2421 to request a CD of the SEIS documents or go to MSA web site at www.msasnow.org for updates, links and comment information.  It’s not too late to let the National Forest know snowmobilers’ prefer alternative 3 and oppose alternative 2.  You have until December 21, 2011 to let your voice be heard.

 Safe Riding – remember safe riding starts with you!  Ride sober!

 AVSA Board of Directors

align=”center”>Pres.-Rich Filley    V.P.-Tom Everly    Secretary-Mike Miller    Grooming-Keith Miles
align=”center”>Safety-Art Fisette    Web & Treas.-Rob Tomlinson    B.O.D.-Bob Smith

B.O.D.-Bill Weaver   B.O.D.-Mike Brown

Contact via US mail at: AVSA, PO Box 1176, Grayling, MI 49738

Or visit us at: www.GoSledGrayling.org

Frequent our Business Sponsors Whenever Possible!!
Airway Automation                     Fay’s Motel & Cottages              Grayling Generating Station
Grayling Visitors Bureau             Jack Millikin, Inc. Excavating                   McLean’s Ace Hardware
Pointe North Motel                      Ramada Inn                                           Rich’s Cycle Service
River Country Motor Lodge         Woodland Motor Lodge                           Charlie’s County Corners

Grayling Restaurant                    Sledheads of Frederic                             Spicer’s Boat City

Forward Shell Gas Station           The Medicine Shoppe