RECENT UPDATES:
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Everyone is welcome to attend. Meetings are held at Glen Isle Business Offices, 15 McCallum Pl., Keene, ON - beginning at 7:30pm
Once again it is time to turn our thoughts to snowmobiling and the hope for snow. Our Board of Directors and volunteers are beginning work on the trails to provide you with the opportunity to ride the best trails in our area. Trail maintenance, brushing, signage etc. must occur before snowfall so we are ready. As always more volunteers mean we can open trails more quickly. We need volunteers. We are only a small group of people and in order to provide the best trails we can we need people to step forth and help. Even if you can only spare a few hours we could use you. Please contact any member of the Board of Directors (listed below) to find out how you can help. We are looking forward to seeing you on the trails this season. Our goal is to roll out the white carpet early and to have a long and satisfying winter season on the trails.
Please read further for more details about what the OFSC, District 3 and the Rice Lake Snow Drifters are up to.
The Rice Lake Snow Drifters invite you to their Annual General Meeting which will be held on Monday, November 18th, 2024 at the Glen Isle Conference Room at 15 McCallum Place, Keene Ontario at 7:30 pm.
Agenda is as follows:
Meeting call to order
Establish quorum
Conflict of Interest
Approval of minutes of previous AGM
Financial statement - Report from the Treasurer
Affirmation of Directors, Executive and Special Roles
Meeting adjournment
Regular Meeting to begin right after AGM
Conflict of Interest
Approval of October 21, 2024 meeting
Monthly Financial Report
Trail Report
Trail Maintenance to Be Done
Groomer Report
Risk Management - A01 Forms
Advertising and Map Boards
District 3 Report
Landowner Report
Elimination Draw Debriefing
AOB
Adjournment
Once again the Elimination Draw at Elmhirst Resort on Saturday, October 26th was a huge success. 164 people enjoyed the excitement and anticipation of seeing who would win while enjoying a fabulous roast beef dinner served by Elmhirst staff. Throughout the evening prizes, that had been donated by many local businesses and snowmobile supporters, were drawn as well. The Rice Lake Snow Drifters would like to thank everyone who played a part in making this a great night.
The winners of the draw were:
1st ticket drawn - $100 - Greg Sperry
50th ticket drawn - $100 - Katrina Haass
100th ticket drawn - $100 - Kim Sperry
150th ticket drawn - $100 - Sherry Gorrill
178th ticket drawn - $300 - Tom Innes
179th ticket drawn - $500 - Eric Howe
180th ticket drawn and the grand prize winner - $5000 - Peter Faux
Winner of the 50 50 - $575 - Janie Whittington
Congratulations to all the winners.
Amazing Businesses
The Rice Lake Snow Drifters would like to thank the following businesses who support our Elimination Draw. They are a huge part of the success of our fundraiser. Please support them if you can.
...Our Sponsors
...Photos of the Event
Get your 2024 Newsletter here: Annual Newsletter - PDF
We are hiring groomer operators! Night-time grooming operations November 2024 to March 2025. Heavy equipment experience necessary, with training for snow grooming provided. Part-time hours, weather-dependent, in new and comfortable equipment. Please call Nathan Jackson at 705-872-1353 to inquire.
Permits are available for sale on Tuesday, October 1st online at ofsc.on.ca
SEASONAL PERMITS:
Nov. 2nd - Dec. 1st: $244 plus $7.50 processing fee
December 2nd & on: $294 plus $7.50 processing fee
CLASSIC PERMITS (1999 and older):
Until Dec. 1st: $171.20 plus $7.50 processing fee
Dec. 2nd & on: $201.20 plus $7.50 processing fee
Multi-Day Permits (2 consecutive days minimum)
More details to follow
Please choose RICELAKE SNOW DRIFTERS as your club to support. A portion of your permit dollars comes back to our District to support trails in this area.
It is imperative that if you ride the trails you have a permit. The OPP and Trail Patrol will be out on the trails ensuring that this occurs. So much of our ability to work on the trails, groom the trails and provide safe and rideable trails depends on permits being bought. Without permit sales there is no revenue to complete this work which means trails will close. Thank you in advance for buying your permit.
To our landowners, club volunteers, & fellow snowmobilers,
After a mild and rainy last season, we eagerly anticipate better trails for 2024/25. We and our volunteers will soon be brushing trails, placing field stakes, and affixing signage in preparation for busy trails when the snow arrives. Our generous landowners are the foundation of our 130 km trail network. It is with their permission that we provide the best possible riding conditions with our grooming equipment and experienced operators. It is through the sale of trail permits that we fuel the groomers, maintain bridges, and keep signage to the high standard that earned us Ontario Club of the Year in 2017.
As a non-profit organization with finite volunteer time and resources, we are beholden to our over a hundred landowners as we cannot compensate them enough for their generosity. Please honour the efforts of your club volunteers with safe and responsible riding this season. Be a great trail ambassador and deliver a wave and a thank you to our much-appreciated landowners.
Yours on the snow,
Your Rice Lake Snow Drifters team at 705-295-SNOW (7669)
Status: AVAILABLE when route is GREEN
The identified route is accessible with the understanding that the trail will likely vary considerably in quality, attributes and terrain over its length.
Status: LIMITED AVAILABILITY when route is YELLOW
Access to the identified route is limited with marginal riding opportunities, snowmobilers enter with the understanding that they should exercise extreme care and reduce speed.
Status: UNAVAILABLE when route is RED
The route is not available at this time, access is prohibited and anyone entering the property may be trespassing.
Safety is huge in our sport. If you see any issues on our trails that require our immediate attention please contact us. We would like to know if trail maintenance is required, signs are missing or if in general there is a problem. We would also like to hear of erratic drivers or if you see 4 wheelers, ATVs or dirt bikes on our trail. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure others safety.
Please obey the speed limit of 50 km per hour and DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL OR DRUGS when DRIVING!!!! Call police if you see any concerns with snowmobile riders on the trails and especially if you see vehicles other than snowmobiles on the trail as they are NOT ALLOWED ON OUR TRAILS!! The more reporting, the more the OPP will monitor trails so REPORT, REPORT, and REPORT!!!!
YOU MUST CHECK THE ITG at ofsc.ca for details on trails that are open and trails that are closed. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO.
RED means CLOSED,
YELLOW means USE CAUTION,
GREEN MEANS OPEN
Call us at 705-295-7669, email us at ricelakesnowdriftersd3@gmail.com or call Kevin English at 705-639-2009 or Nathan Jackson at 705-872-1353
All directors can be contacted by calling 705-295-SNOW (705-295-7669)
