ACSA News

ACSA is the Voice For National Snowmobile Issues

Polaris CEO on Driving Business Growth

On Tuesday, Polaris CEO Michael Speetzen spoke to manufacturers and business leaders at the 2023 Manufacturer’s Summit hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

The CEO kicked off his presentation with a look at the growth of Polaris over the last 70 years. Behind the company’s rise to become a global leader in powersports manufacturing was one common theme: innovation. But Speetzen was quick to explain that innovation does not always have to be creating new products to see growth.

Speetzen laid out four elements of a business that are essential to successfully grow a company: employees, customers, communities, and suppliers/dealers. To read more, click here

Forest Management:

Less Smoke, Less Pollution, Better Human Health

Between 2006 and 2020, we’ve seen an 11,000-fold increase in the number of people in the U.S. experiencing the most extreme levels of smoke pollution, and a 27-fold increase in the number of people living in areas experiencing unhealthy air at least one day per year.

Wildfire smoke is not just an environmental problem, it’s a public health crisis. PM2.5, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and other dangerous toxins can be extremely harmful to the lungs, especially for children, older adults and those with asthma, COPD and bronchitis or chronic heart disease or diabetes.

It has been linked to premature death and many other terrible health outcomes such as learning and behavioral problems in children. Active forest management, including thinning overstocked and careful prescribed fire, is just as important to human health as it is to improving the health and resiliency of our forests. More public health advocates are taking notice.

In Case You Missed This....

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is exploring the possibility of using its “transition land” for affordable housing and other development initiatives. The DNR owns over 7,000 acres of land that is unsuitable for timber sales, which is its main source of revenue. The DNR has been working with local governments to transfer the land for affordable housing or other development purposes.

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The Department of the Interior has opened new national wildlife refuges in Wyoming and Tennessee. The sites are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area, located in the Laramie Plains of the Wyoming Basin, will help protect the habitat for the toad, which is one of the most endangered amphibians in North America, according to Interior. The area will also support conservation efforts for other species, including the white-tailed prairie dog, pronghorn and migratory birds.

The Fish and Wildlife Service purchased 1,078 acres using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to establish the refuge.

Did You Know??

Every National Forest in the U.S. is required to update their Forest Plans? That includes evaluating all current uses - like snowmobiling! It is a long and tedious process, but one that we must participate in to maintain our riding privileges!

The Bureau of Land Management has started to review their Management Plans! This comes after they released their new mission from the leadership -- to include "conservation" in their plans as a pillar.

Sharing Our Condolences to the

family of Jim Duke

Saying good bye to a respected leader, mentor and friend is never easy. Jim Duke was a past president of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and remained active and served as a close advisor through the years.

Jim lost his battle with cancer earlier this week. Details can be found by clicking here.

ACSA Young Snowmobile Ambassadors Program

Last chance to participate in the survey!

If you like to ride and are between the ages of 12-30, please take this short survey before October 15.

Club Reminders

Fast-Trac will award a $2,500 grant to a snowmobile club that has a trail under attack.

Click here for the grant application. The grant will be awarded on or before October 21st!

Coalition for Recreational Trails achievement awards for outstanding trail projects funded by the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).  Deadline for nominations is November 17, 2023.

For Info Click here -- and Click here for the Nomination Form

Legacy Trails Grant Program: The goal of the program is to support projects that restore, protect, and maintain watersheds on our national forests and grasslands. American Trails is administering this grant program, and is soliciting applications for funding, with awards up to $100K per project.

Find out more about the program  and the criteria here.

Clubs are always looking for help - a couple of hours of volunteering makes a huge difference!

These pictures were within the last few days!

Above: Alaska

Below: Brooks Lake Lodge

Upcoming Meetings and Events:

October 14: Michigan Annual Meeting

Gaylord, MI

October 20 - 22: AWSC Fall Workshop

LaCrosse, WI

October 27-29: MnUSA Fall Workshop

Lakeville, MN

November 3: Illinois State Association

Rockford, IL

November 3-5: Idaho State Convention

Twin Falls, ID

November 17 - 19: Iowa Convention - 50th Anniversary

Cedar Falls, IA

December 1-2: Nebraska State Convention

Lincoln, NE

December 1-2: South Dakota Convention

Sioux Falls, SD

January 23-27: Oregon State Convention

LaPine, OR

February 1 - 4: Trails Region Ride/Meeting

Carter, WI

February 22 - 25: Mountain Region Ride/Meeting

West Yellowstone, MT

June, 2024: ISC in Green Bay, WI

June, 2025: ISC in Charlottetown, PEI