Michael and Selena Krajnik attended this year’s Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) Spring Convention, which was held the weekend of March 28-30 in Green Bay.   Here is their report on activities and learnings from this meeting.

We recently attended the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs (AWSC) Spring Convention.  We have been attending the Spring Convention and AWSC Fall Workshop for several years.

Attending these events is a great opportunity to network with active members of clubs from all around the State.  This is a great opportunity to discuss ideas and challenges many clubs are facing and learn of creative solutions that have worked for other clubs.

The AWSC plays a very important role in working on legislative and advocacy issues that pertain to access to public lands, anti-motorsports legislative issues, funding for trail maintenance and grooming and so on.  They maintain a lobbyist to work on legal and legislative issues affecting snowmobiling at the state and national levels.

The attendance of this convention helps club members and leadership put a face to the names of those working on behalf of organized snowmobiling and the clubs in Wisconsin and nationwide.  It provides an opportunity to ask questions and have conversations directly with the various governmental and advocacy groups such the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA), American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA), Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin ATV / UTV Association and others.

The recently appointed DNR Secretary was in attendance and spoke on her background and her role.  More importantly, she was able to see and hear from the 569 members of the AWSC in attendance from various snowmobile clubs around the State on the importance of snowmobiling to tourism and outdoor recreation.

On the Friday evening of the convention, there is a social event with a band or DJ – this year it was a band.  On Saturday morning is the annual meeting of the AWSC where various guest speakers speak on various topics related to snowmobiling.  This years guest speakers were:

o Karen Hyun, Secretary of Department of Natural Resources

o Jaret Smith, President, International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association

o Drew Nussbaum, Regional Tourism Specialist, Wisconsin Department of Tourism

o Jillian Steffes, DNR Off Road Motorized Recreational Grant Program Manager

o Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, DNR Conservation Warden / Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator (OHVA)

This was followed by reports from the AWSC Officers.

Many of the topics discussed are seemingly perpetual – the need for increased revenue into the State DNR Snowmobile Program (which provides some reimbursement to clubs for trail maintenance and grooming), public land access issues, trespassing, private landowner permission, et cetera.

After the annual meeting, there are typically breakout sessions or workshops on various topics.  This year nearly all of the members of the Governor’s Snowmobile Recreation Council held a session for people to ask questions on topics relating to the council.

On Saturday evening there is a banquet where various people are recognized for their work for the AWSC and/or snowmobile club related topics, Snowmobile Friendly Community Awards and Scholarship Awards are given out.

Sunday is the AWSC Director’s Meeting where the County Directors and Representatives meet to discuss topics and provide recommendations or actions in all the areas that the AWSC is involved in.

More specific information on the various topics discussed at the convention are reported in the Wisconsin Snowmobile News magazine.

If you are interested in the AWSC or issues related to snowmobiling at the state or national level, attending the convention or workshop would be worthwhile.