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THE PA SNOWSEEKERS 2003
Season's Greetings and a hardy hello to all you winter lovers out there. It's been a long time since we witnessed a snow accumulation for the beginning of buck season. It was most welcome for the hunters and I'm sure it kindled desire for our snowmobilers. Today is the seventh of December, a Saturday, and the weatherman promises cold temps through next Wednesday when it will warm some, causing more snow.
Most clubs have done their safe snowmobiler classes by now and the new kids as well as us older kids are ready to ride now. Our club's riders were told at our meeting to hit the trails with chain saws to do last minute clean ups of branches, etc.
Our annual Christmas meeting was held Thursday and it was a blast! Members showed up carrying bags of canned goods, Christmas gifts and poinsettias for elderly shut ins and families who are less fortunate than us.
The meeting was presided over by our new president Jack Belsterling, his V.P. Dave Klein, Treas. Joni Eastley and Secretary Terri Everett, along with board members Rich Hayes, Art Amsler, Mark Mueller, Dan Miller and Mike McHugh. Our charities committee headed by Ginny and Joni had all the raffle gifts displayed on tables for easy pickin' as numbers were drawn. They make sure no one goes home empty handed and if your luck is good, like Ken and Sherri, you go home with as many as seven gifts. Yours truly as well as the Eastleys left with five gifts each. All proceeds from drawings go to needy family's charities. All donated groceries were collected for distribution and people were assigned to deliver Christmas flowers to shut ins. Two families were picked to receive continued Snowseeker care and all year for 2003. A really fun night of giving and receiving.
At this meeting also, proceeds from our annual gun raffle, bear and buck season fundraisers were turned into our treasurer.
Deposits were also approved for other fundraisers such as Zelienople's Horse Trading Days were approved for the coming year.
New keys for all clubhouse doors were passed out at the meeting as well as at the Landowner Appreciation dinner at the clubhouse. If you haven't received yours yet, see Bruce Altman for a new one since your old key will not work.
The Kelly cousins (contractors) are recovering from separate accidents. Debbie Stahl and Jerry Mueller are recovering from cancer battles and Dan Miller will undergo heart procedures this week. We thank the club as well as the individual members who supplied the cards, flowers and well wishes as well as visits at various hospitals. Our newest Snowseeker is Jacob Tanner Belsterling, born to our "First Family".
Our new web page is doing great with about five thousand hits to date. Our web masters are Jon and Debbie Stahl. They do a really great job. Check us out at www.PASNOWSEEKERS.COM.
We got lots of interesting questions and feed back such as this one from 12/03/02, 04:47 p.m. Your name? Kathy Johnson Jaquay. What club? None now, former PA Snowseeker Treasurer 80's. How did you find this site? Surfing. Comments? Hello to Eastleys, Muellers, Hocansons, Klines, Youngs, Burgesses, Elliotts and all members who were active in the 80's. Cathy also said the clubhouse is looking great and to keep up the good work. Pretty refreshing stuff if you were around then and now! Computer reunions!
Other potential new member "hits" from the web site were read. These "hits" were invited to join us at the clubhouse to ride as well as joining us at meetings. Great job, Jon and Deb.
The house committee "Building and Grounds" led by Jim Hart reports all new thermo pane windows installed first floor, front room at the clubhouse. Also scrap and junk removal and a great woodcutting and splitting for the fireplaces. Jim stated the new pipe is on site for the state to replace the east entrance to the clubhouse. We were required to purchase forty-five feet of twenty two-inch plastic corrugated pipe for this improvement.
Other improvements happening now are new hand crafted tables by "Hoc", new condiment table services by Jer and Joani. "Hoc" is constantly painting and fixing at the clubhouse. Also, all new, larger, lined receptacles in all rest rooms.
Our bear and buck seasons were exceptional as always, greatest of foods and fellowship which again produced a black bear and assorted buck and doe deer to fill Snowseeker freezers and supply the jerkie, hot sticks, sausages and game feeds for this new year at the club, not to mention some pretty impressive bear skin rugs and wall hangings.
Both bear and deer hunts were supplied with Alaskan and Lake Erie fish that made superior Saturday night fish fries. Also some deep fried wild turkey dinners and snacks, super cheese and meat trays were also in abundance. Thanks to Dean Cercone, we are the best-fed hunters in Pennsylvania.
You know what's next folks. After hunting seasons end, the new snowmobile season unfolds and that is what we are all about. Feel that chill up your spine, it's time! See you all on the trails. For your benefit as well as ours, drive safely. Make sure your sled has new registration stickers and carry proof of insurance with you.
GEMJERRZ@AOL.COM Jerry Mueller (724) 452-3173 www.PASNOWSEEKERS.COM
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