Page 35 - TheDecemberSnomad2019

Being witness to the camaraderie enjoyed by other members of
snowmobile clubs while attending MSA events eventually took its toll and
we agreed to discuss the pros and cons of forming our own club. I had
become interested in organized snowmobiling and getting more involved.
It seemed like the natural thing to do. In the summer of 1985, Ralph and I
began to earnestly consider what it would take to put together a bonafide
snowmobile club. We agreed we should get the opinion of our other
snowmobile friends and see what they might think. A couple of nights
later after work, Ralph and myself along with Gerald Kline, Greg Rehwoldt
and Tommy Bellehumeur met at Greg's house to discuss the possibilities.
It was a hard sell. Gerald wanted no part of it! He said we had always
had plenty of fun without the hassle of being involved and he didn't like
the necessary paperwork that an organized club would bring. Tommy sided
with Gerald and Greg was on the fence, so they all agreed to think about it,
and in the meantime, I should look into what it would take, and get back to
everyone. I did just that, and I guess that's why they pinned the title of
"founder" on me."
Jim Duke goes on to tell about writing a letter to the MSA re-
questing assistance in starting a club. And, how then Public Relations Com-
mittee Chairman, Bill Manson, provided pamphlets and tapes on snowmo-
bile safety. The next hurdle to overcome was a name. "Ralph and I met
several times again to discuss the many things necessary to get such an
endeavor off the ground. It was during one of these meetings that I asked
what the name of the club should be. Ralph gets credit for the name.
"SnomadS" and his reasoning was almost as unique as the name. He allud-
ed that since we rarely had a destination in mind when we started out our
snowmobiling adventures (we just headed to where the snow was sup-
posed to be), we were much like the desert travelers called "nomads", and
since we do our traveling in the winter months on the snow, we're
"SnomadS"!! He said and hoped the other "members" would agree."

Jim continued to draw up by-laws in the event they actually did
form the club. Each of the prospective members had their own ideas on
how the rules should read and what the by-laws would accomplish. He
described the great winter season they had that

December 2019 The Snomad Page 35