The SPSA awaits the first sign of spring, no not the first Robin but the arrival of the first Snow Birds. We are anxious to see our friends who have taken a break from the cold and snow to winter in a better place. Oh, wait from all reports the South was cold and had snow. In fact one caller told me they had SNOW on their beach. Any way welcome home to all our friends we surely missed you here at the great SPSA. Our winter was what we hoped for, cold enough to allow us to complete our derbys, yet not to cold and the snow was just right, heavy snow every place but my house.

We were featured on the cover web page of Oswego County Tourism for the Vintage Snowmobile Show held on March 7th.

We started the winter Ice Derbys off with a bang with Lou Box and Company ran a very successful Mad River Childrens Ice fishing derby. They had many entries some 135 and the weather was great. Mel Barber and volunteers were on hand to serve breakfast each day and Chuck Wart and his volunteers served lunch both days.

John Shook and Ted Clark headed up the SPSA ice derby with over 200 entrants, it proved to be one of the best, if not the best, derbys ever sponsored by the SPSA. John Anderson and Jennet Sexton were weigh masters each day. Next to running and coordinating a derby the next most important position is the weigh master. It is this position that ensures each and every weigh in is exact and precise. (S) He makes the final decision on all weigh ins and keeps the derbys equal which is the best way to promote success for next year. Great job folks! Yet again Mel Barber and Chuck Wart were able to serve a great breakfast and lunch.

As a side note, in order to serve any food it takes many people to plan and purchase supplies and serve. But to serve a breakfast starting at 6am one must often be on site at least 2 hours before the main event. An exception to this is when “we must primp before we go” at which time we must arise at 3am. For me its simpler than that, I put on my best hat and apron and leave and by the time I arrive at the Club I should be awake, no problem.

Following the Great SPSA derby was the Chris Reed ice Derby with Chairman Tom Haynes. Tom has chaired the derby for a couple of years and does a great job. This year it was bigger than last and seems to be growing. Tom, along with his fiancé Miranda Vondell, obtained door prizes and donations. This year the Childrens trophys were donated by Chris Smith. As I watched each winning child receive a trophy, and I saw the smile on thier proud faces I know why there are people in the world like Tom and Chris. What a great day!

The next weekend G. & L. Dawley co-chaired the Fulton Boiler Works Ice derby and chicken Bar-B-Q. That event is a welcomed event for the club and we are thankful the folks at the FBW enjoy us hosting the event. We surly hope that event goes on for years to come. We also hope the Dawleys continue to chair the event as they put a lot of time and effort in doing it right.

Marty & Sandy Rudd brought to the club a new event, The Antique Snowmobile Show, which we hope becomes an annual event. Along with their daughter they registered all 70+ entries. It took some 39 of the Clubs volunteers to pull off the event, from parking, cooking (2 stations), purchasing, bar tending, oversight and coordination. It was great to see that many volunteers willing to help the Club make this event a success. All could not have happened had it not been for Marty and Sandy and the many volunteers. One of the important parts of the event was the donation of a shuttle vehicle from FX Caprara. This allowed us to park both registrants and spectators off the property and bring them back to the event.

Some of the winter building updates include a new electrical service, new bar ceiling, new compressor for the # 1 cooler and a host of small repairs by Roy Narish. A new addition to the clubs hardware is a chicken cooker built by G Dawley and R Narish which was given its trial run at the Fulton Boiler Works Ice Derby. We may plan a few Bar-B-Qs over the next few months to break it in and get any bugs out. May 1st will be the first.

Other events this winter: the Northern New York Chicken wing contest & the Great Sandy Pond Chili cook-off. These annual events bring some of the best of the NNY cooks to challenge the previous winners. Each year we see a new batch of entrants hoping to dethrone previous winners and each year it gets better and better. Thanks to the event Chairs B Koons and Audrey Harvey. The Halloween hay ride followed by the Childrens hay ride and party by the Dawleys and M Dillabough, the Childrens Christmas party by M Dillabough & L Dawley and the gifts for the needy by M Dillabough & J Austic represents what this Club is about, giving back to the community. The wild game dinner with the Moyers and Barber’s and a host of volunteers is growing and was the best ever. With no pre-planned menu these folks took both domestic and wild game to make a feast beyond belief. There were so many complements on taste and presentation and all are looking towards next year. The St. Pat’s dinner hosted and paid for by the Warts brought in more people than ever. The sauerbraten dinner put on by Elliott & Kasha Bernstein with J Francher and K Crooker and several of their friends was a hit of the weekend. Each year all events continue to grow as the club grows and volunteer base get bigger and bigger, for those I may have missed I sincerely thank you all.

This club gives unselfishly to the area and those that may not be as fortunate. Each and every member should be proud of your accomplishments; your giving of time and the spirit in which the club was founded. We have the best people willing to serve to make it happen. I am proud of you all and will never be sorry that you placed your trust in me to allow me to work closely with each and everyone. This club has rounded off my life having worked with many volunteer organizations over the years. Thank you all.

Lee