2016 Recreational Trails Program
The Baker-Polito Administration announced the awarding of 30 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants for projects in local communities throughout the state totaling $1,052,985. The RTP grants, ranging from $500 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project, serve as ...Read more
Published on Saturday, September 24, 2016 in Awards, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, DCR, environment, in the news, legislative, press release, public lands
Contact Senate President Rosenberg (Larry Tucker)
SAM’s legislative bill S1955 currently resides in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It needs to be moved out of committee for action ASAP. We need your help. How can you impact our bill? You should write, email, snail mail, ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: legislative, sam
Effective Engagement with Members of Congress
Effective Engagement with Members of Congress for snowmobile enthusiasts By Ed Klim, President, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association. For the past 15 years I have felt it necessary to make regular trips to Washington DC to promote snowmobile enthusiasts’ access to public ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: ISMA, legislative, opinion, public lands
SAM Legislative Team Scores Touchdown: Vintage Snowmobile Bill Passes (Larry Tucker)
The New England Patriot won the Super Bowl. But the Patriots are not the only ones scoring touchdowns, your legislative team also just put one over the goal line. SAM Vintage Snowmobile Bill Passes!: On January 8th, 2015, your Snowmobile ...Read more
Published on Monday, March 16, 2015 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: legislative, vintage, volunteers
Matthew A. Beaton, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Snowmobiles
Matthew A. Beaton, the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEA), snowmobiles with key members of the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts and the Harvard Snowmobile Club. Tony Shaw, a SAM Board of Director and President of the Harvard Snowmobile ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, environment, legislative, people
Massachusetts Vintage Snowmobile Registration Law
The Vintage Snowmobile Registration legislation filed by the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts was signed by Governor Patrick and is now law. SAM’s bill H.3858 can now be referred to as Chapter 502 of the Acts of 2014. There are a ...Read more
Published on Sunday, January 11, 2015 in News & Updates, Vintage
Tags: legislative, sam, vintage
Final Push for Snowmobile Legislation in Massachusetts
We are fast approaching the end of the current two-year Massachusetts legislative session that began back in January 2013. Since that time the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts has been working to get our two bills passed before the December 31 ...Read more
Published on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, legislative, safety, vintage
Vote Tuesday November 4
Remember to Vote on Tuesday November 4. Polling hours are 7am until 8pm. Your vote as a snowmobiler in Massachusetts can greatly impact the outcome of the election. Think about this: There are approximately 15,000 to 20,000 snowmobilers in the ...Read more
Published on Sunday, November 2, 2014 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: legislative, opinion
Surcharge on Massachusetts Snowmobile Registrations
A new 10% surcharge on recreational vehicle registrations in Massachusetts was added to the state budget, costing snowmobilers, ATV riders and boaters an additional $4. The increase went into effect September 1. The sledmass crew first got a whiff of ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 in In The News, News & Updates
Tags: in the news, legislative, opinion, people
Snowmobiles and Land Partnerships in Massachusetts (Larry Tucker)
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts has worked to create an awareness of SAM among public and private land agencies. Over the last couple of years SAM has established relationships with land trusts, has partnered with a land trust to purchase ...Read more
Published on Sunday, January 26, 2014 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, opinion, public lands
DCR Volunteers in Parks Program Guide Draft
The DCR released a draft of their newly proposed policy as it relates to volunteers and non-profit organizations working at DCR properties. All snowmobile clubs should review the document and comment, both to the DCR and the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. ...Read more
Published on Sunday, June 23, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, in the news, legislative, public lands, volunteers
Legislator of the Year: Rep. Stephen Kulik
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts recognizes the legislative accomplishments of Representative Stephen Kulik, 1st Franklin District. His reputation, combined with his record of public service, is defined in his honesty, integrity, and effectiveness for the people of Western Massachusetts. Representative ...Read more
Published on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Awards, News & Updates
Tags: legislative, sam
The Legislative Cliff (Larry Tucker)
Well, the world did not end in 2012 and we did not fall off a fiscal cliff. Though, if you were like me, you probably heard the buzzwords “Mayan calendar,” “fiscal cliff,” and “kick the can,” one too many times. ...Read more
Published on Sunday, February 3, 2013 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: legislative, opinion
New Directions for Legislation (Lawrence Tucker)
Wow, that was a great International Snowmobile Congress that I had the pleasure of attending in Sturbridge. The variety of educational seminars, the setting at the Sturbridge Hotel and the grooming display and information available all made this one of ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: legislative, opinion
Call To Action: RTP in Jeopardy
Every State Snowmobile Association in the country has come to rely on funds from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). This program is funded by you, the snowmobiler, every time you put gas in your sled. A portion of the federal ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, legislative
Friends of Snowmobiling Supports Recreational Freedom
The Friends of Snowmobiling Political Action Committee (FOSPAC) was initiated by the snowmobile community in response to our desire to continue the family snowmobiling tradition we have created here in the United States. Snowmobiling access is consistently under attack and ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, legislative, opinion, press release, public lands
Urgent Action Needed to Fund Recreational Trails Program!
SAM members need to contact their U.S. Congressman and ask that they support the Recreational Trail Program (RTP). Losing RTP would be disastrous to the clubs that use the program to purchase grooming equipment and fund other projects that improve ...Read more
Published on Monday, April 11, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, public lands, sam
Organizations! (Larry Tucker)
(The photo above depicts the founding fathers of SAM viewing a new piece of equipment that was purchased to send newsletters to members in 1972.) I hope that by now you have all seen billions of the “white flakes” in ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, laws, legislative, opinion, public lands, sam
Registration Numbers on Snowmobiles
The state passed new legislation that requires three inch registration numbers on snowmobiles starting in February. SAM opposed this legislation but it still managed to pass. We understand the state is currently working on a plan to implement the new rule ...Read more
Published on Saturday, December 25, 2010 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: laws, legislative, sleds, trail-riding
DCR Parks & Forests: Selection Criteria and Management Guidelines
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has posted a draft document, Landscape Designations for DCR Parks & Forests: Selection Criteria and Management Guidelines. SAM members should take the time to review the document and understand how it will effect ...Read more
Published on Sunday, December 12, 2010 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, family, laws, legislative, public lands
