Minutes – August 2024

*Meeting called to order on 8/6/24, at 7:06pm at The Sports Bar in Star Prairie by Spencer.

Secretary’s report: 

• All past month meeting minutes are posted on our webpage.  No additions or corrections. 

Treasurer’s report:

• Net positive for the last year with fewer expenses than expected.
• Expenses recently for bereavement flowers and fair food license.
• 501c3 is officially approved.  Got two donations from club members to make sure the donations flow thru as expected.  All checked out well.
• Annual memberships have started coming in.  Memberships run July 1 thru June 30.

Old Business:

• Microphone purchase still in process.
• Clothing store is open.  Can place orders on-line or go into the store in Amery to pick out apparel that can get embroidered, etc.
• 501c3 updates.  Complete.  See notes in Treasurer’s Report.

New Business:

• Fair is coming up next month. 
  • Fair committee met before the regular meeting.  Upping the food order this year.  Any extra meat will be sold to club members at cost at the end of the fair.
  • Will not have the Kool Guys cooler this year.  Instead, agreement in place to use the Rod & Gun Club refrigerated trailer.  Rhett got shelving for us to use.
  • Sign-up sheet was passed around.  Kevin will email out the electronic sign-up sheet in the coming days.
  • Kevin working on getting Polaris banners to put up at the food stand.
• Post cards for meeting dates.  Hank’s got sold, now called Doboy’s.  Club meeting locations were updated:
  • October to be at Ken’s Keyboard
  • January to be at Doboy’s (formerly Hank’s)

Council Report:

• Survey for trail usage is available.
• International Snowmobile Conference was held in Green Bay.  Todd Miller, Frank & Cyndi Sommerfeldt, and some others attended.
  • Manufacturer’s Association presented.
• Osceola’s “Snowmobile Friendly Community” status expires in 2024 if anyone is interested in filling out the application to renew.  If so, maybe consider expanding to the county level or more than just Osceola?
• Council Sheds
  • The city of Balsam Lake owns the property.  The council leases the land.  The 20-year lease is expiring.  Buildings belong to the council.  The council can get booted with 1-year notice if Balsam Lake needs the land. 
  • Council is considering alternatives.  One option is to purchase a lot by Miltown, right on the Gandy trail.  This could be a trailhead, etc.  Consider building new sheds that fit the long term needs.

KAOS Youth Club:

• Next KAOS meeting is in September.

Committee Reports:  Reminder to all club members that committees were formed at the December 2023 club meeting to establish designated missions, leaders, contributors, and budgets for each.  This is intended to allow progress to be made within each committee without requiring votes for actions so long as the committees operate within their allotted budget and mission.  Anyone is welcome to join a committee(s) to get involved.  More help is always appreciated!  Questions can be directed to committee chairpersons.

• Fair Revenue Committee:
  • Chair:  Cyndi Sommerfeldt
  • Mission:  Maximize fair revenue by providing food and drink to the participants of the Osceola Fair at a reasonable value.
  • Budget:  $500
  • Updates:
    • See new business up above.  Fair is next month.  Lots going on.
• Other Revenue Committee:
  • Chair:  Kate & Chris Shermach
  • Mission:  Generate additional revenue to the club to close any budget gaps that may happen.  Possible streams could include donations, raffles, poker run, clothing store, etc.
  • Budget:  $300
  • Updates:
    • Fun Run.  Start talking to businesses to see if they want to be corporate sponsors for the AWSC memberships as part of the Fun Run sponsorship.  May want to incorporate the Ride Command maps for Point of Interest.
    • Polaris in Osceola is doing an employee picnic in late August.  They may do a fund raiser that could go to our snowmobile club.  More to come.
• Landowner Appreciation Committee:
  • Chair:  Donna Berg
  • Mission:  Show appreciation to our 110+ landowners for allowing our trails to cross their property.
  • Budget:  $5,000
  • Updates:
    • No updates.
• Scholarship / Donation Committee:
  • Chair:  Angel Olson
  • Mission:  Give back to the community by donating to worthy causes like college scholarships to our local graduating high school seniors and donating to the local food shelves, fire departments, rescue squads, etc.
  • Budget:  $1,500  (plan 2x $500 scholarships and $500 donation to food shelf)
  • Updates:
    • Scholarships awarded in May, a couple days after our club meeting.  Connor Martin and Mason Utke were chosen recipients this year.
    • Food shelf donation was made.
• Social Committee:
  • Chair:  Spencer Feldt
  • Mission:  Show appreciation to our members for all the work they do to ensure we meet the needs of our landowners, trails, and community.
  • Budget:  $200
  • Updates:
    • Start talking about the Safari in January.  Location?  Hayward or elsewhere?
• Social Media Committee:
  • Chair:  Jacque Bonneprise
  • Mission:  Maintain our website, Facebook, and other platforms to ensure our by-laws, meeting minutes, activities, trail information, etc are readily available to our members and community.
  • Budget:  $25
  • Updates:
    • No updates.
• Trail Committee:
  • Chair:  Kevin McNutt
  • Mission:  Work closely with our landowners to ensure our trails are safe and fun for all our members and visitors.  Document all trail work in SNARS.  Collect and save land use agreements and send to the county rep.
  • Budget:  $800
  • Updates:
    • One new land owner in Kevin’s area.  Land that changed ownership last year has now been sold again.
• Finance Committee:
  • Chair:  Frank Sommerfeldt
  • Mission:  Create and oversee a budget that will be sufficient to appreciate our landowners, maintain our trails, recognize our members, and contribute to our community.
  • Budget:  $300
  • Updates:
    • No updates.

Next Meeting: September 3, 2024 at the Osceola Fair Grounds at 7:00pm.  Fair set-up before the meeting, beginning at 5:00.

*Motion to adjourn approved at 7:48pm

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Officers: President: Spencer Feldt (2025),Vice President:  Jim Berg (2026), Secretary: Kevin McNutt (2025), Treasurer: Frank Sommerfeldt (2026)

Board of Directors: Rhett Larson (2025), Cyndi Sommerfeldt (2025), Kirk Johnson (2026), Chris Shermach (2026)

Trail Bosses: West: Brad McGuiggan & Jason Raska, East: Scott Carlson, Dresser West: Arik Mahler, Dresser East: Kevin McNutt, Stower Trail: Jeff Jonas & Rick LeRoux, Trail 30: Frank Sommerfeldt

Council Reps: Eric Hallen, Jim Berg