View Single Post
Old 03-11-2009, 07:56 PM   #14
Irrigation Guy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Moultonborough, NH
Posts: 484
Thanks: 89
Thanked 138 Times in 72 Posts
Default

Registration fee's have not increased in 10 years, it is no lie. There was a change in the law regarding joining a club or paying an extra $30.00 per sled. Many already belonged to clubs so it was no increase for them, many now choose to join a club vs paying the $30.00 per extra club, joining club is actually cheaper in that case. Clubs do benefit from increased membership and may gain a few volunteers and sure gained $$$, all of which helps.

To answer JeffK, several northern clubs have paid groomer operators and are hurting worse than the all volunteers clubs. Fuel has come down for now but was a huge problem very recently and will be again. Clubs are paying more and more for grooming equipment, insurance, and materials to build bridges ect. Support from the bureau of trails was cut $500K this year vs requests made due to shortfalls and federal money which clubs received comes to an end this year as well. Clubs are getting squeezed from all directions and are producing a better product now than ever before and the trail users have come to expect it. All the other states have had to increase their fee's to cover expenses, so it should be no surprise the NH is suffering the same pains as well. All in all it is a minimal increase in the big picture, I know a tank of gas in my sled is around $20.00, and I'll be happy to contribute a little more to keep the trails nice like they have been the last few years.
Irrigation Guy is offline   Reply With Quote