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The Rural Voice, 2000-12, Page 27But while avid fans of the sport acknowledge the hours put into keeping the trails well - marked and maintained, the club members recognize that without the co-operation of another group such a system could not exist. While certainly nothing could happen without the support of Mother Nature, the permission of landowners for use of their property by snowmobilers during the season is equally essential. Doug Filsinger, a long-time fan of snowmobiling who allowing trails on their resides in Howick properties Twp. near Gorrie, has been one of 16 trail bosses with the Palmerston Snow Kings for many years. He explains that the system in his organization, not unlike most others, is based on arrangement, agreement and acknowledgement. In the beginning, landowners were contacted with regards to whether or not the club could access the property for their trails. If agreeable, permission was given in writing and discussion followed on where the trail could go. Trails help protect the liability of landowners by confining riders to one path. The boss has the name and lot number of each landowner in his section on a computer. Each fall, a letter is sent to them from the trail co- ordinator, who oversees the club's entire district, asking if they still have permission and if there are any changes. Most importantly, included in the letter is the club's thanks for the past use. No notification, the letter continues, is an assumption that the status quo A Listowel club gives gifts to landowners remains. If there are requests these come to the trail boss who deals with the land- owner. "It is the landowner's responsibility to call and discuss any route changes or say they would like to terminate the agreement," said Filsinger. "Basically it happens only if they want us to go on the west side of the property rather than the east because of crop rotation. Otherwise it is rare to hear from them." What the Snow King bosses do then is visit each landowner personally and present them with a pair of winter gloves carrying the Snow Kings decal. max Travelodge® OWEN SOUND 880 10th St. E., Owen Sound N4K 1T4 (519) 371-9297 1-800-578-7878 Restaurant located at the Hotel POLARIS RIDE THE BEST .4fleir ,-.:.:7744 GEORGIAN POWER SPORTS INC. • Sales • Service • Factory Parts Hwy. 6 S., Durham 519-369-3594 / RESTAURANT & PUB WIARTON , Berford St., • INN • j Wiarton -m.18. 519-534-3400 Open Year 'Round 7 Days a Week Daily Lunch & Dinner Specials LLBO l'i4 All tte4c 1(1.10L STAY AT TOBERMORY'S NEWEST HOTEL Open Year 'Round PRINCESS HOTEL • 20 rooms • Casual fine dining Open from 8:00 a.m. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Tel.: 519-596-8282 - 1-877-901-8282 e-mail: princess@tobermory-hotel.com * * * DONT DRINK & RIDE (, e 1 l * • 4 �, DECEMBER 2000 23