Minutes – May 2025

Posted byOsceola Valley SnogoersPosted inMeeting Minutes

*Meeting called to order on 5/6/25, 7:05pm at The Osceola Lanes by Spencer.

Secretary’s report: 

Treasurer’s report:

  • Last month’s expenses included the two high school scholarships & a donation to the Osceola Cupboard Food Pantry. 
  • May’s expences will include the Landowner Lunch which is the largest expense we have all year.
  • Checking and rainy-day accounts remain healthy 
  • We increased our balances by over 20% this year due to a UW Wanderoos donation, larger than forecasted fair and fun run revenue, no significant member appreciation expenses and a projected lower than forecasted landowner appreciation expense.

Old Business:

  • Elections will be held after this meeting.  President, Secretary and 3 board members are up for election.  Chris Shermach has decided to not complete his BOD term.  Nominations include . . .  President: Spenser.  Secretary: Rhett Larson.  BOD:  Sara Carlson, Matt Koch, and Doug Kromrey.  Nominations will remain open until the election.

New Business:

  • A motion was made and passed to donate $500 to the KAOS club.  This money will be used to help with the travel expenses for 2 youth to participate in the 4 x annual state wide conferences.
  • AWSC will increase their membership fees from $12 to $17/year.  The Polk County Council recommended clubs to adopt a 2-tier fee structure. The BOD recommends to change our membership fees per the Council’s recommendation.  The recommendation is to have an early bird membership fee at $20 (same as previous years), increasing to $30 on November 1.  We will evaluate the new fee structure in 1 year and will decide if we need to change our fees.  The majority of the membership voted to adopt the proposed fee structure with 5 members opposing the proposal.
  • Frank submitted the AWSC survey on non-trail volunteer hours.

Council Report:

  • Highlighted the AWSC membership fee increase from $12 to $17.  The Council recommended a 2-tier membership fee.  As stated above, we adopted a tiered fee.
  • Snowmobile registration and trail pass fees will be increasing in the 2026-27 seasons.
  • Recommended to donate to the KAOS club to support 2 youth to become KAOS representatives for Polk County.  As stated above, OVSG has donated $500
  • The Centuria property purchase is proceeding.  We have 5 years to build on the property.
  • AWSC is accepting ‘person of the year’ nominations.  Must be submitted by 6/27

KAOS Youth Club:

  • Meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm at McKenzie Lanes in Centuria.
  • Raffle was held at April Meeting.  McNutts won the 1st prize – Congrats!
  • Took down trail signs last month
  • KAOS made banners for use at local parades and events.  They will be available for the parade if we want to use them.  Contact Doug K or Frank S to get the banners.

Committee Reports: 

Fair Revenue Committee:

  • Chair:  Cyndi Sommerfeldt
  • Updates:
    • No updates.  Will crank it up in August

Fun Run Revenue Committee:

  • Chair:  Laurel Feldt
  • Updates:
    • McNutts and Shermachs have moved out of state.  We are down to only 5 members on this committee.  We need additional members or will have to cancel the event.

Landowner Appreciation Committee:

  • Chair:  Donna Berg
  • Updates:
    • Landowner appreciation lunch was provided on May 4 at UW Wanderoos. 30 landowners & 12 club members attended.  Attendance was low due to very nice weatherCost came in under budget
    • Discussed how to increase participation.  Need to hold the event earlier in the spring, but then it cannot be held at UW Wanderoos due to the outback building does not have water until weather is warm.  We may need to look for another venue if we want it earlier to increase attendance

Scholarship / Donation Committee:

  • Chair:  Angel Olson
  • Updates:
    • Scholarship awardees were selected & checks were delivered to the High School.  Lillie Awe and Carson Cole were selected to receive $500 scholarship each.  Awards ceremony is 5/7.  Angel will attend and present on behalf of the OVSG
    • Donation to The Cupboard for $500 was done last month by Angel

Social Committee:

  • Chair:  Spencer Feldt / Eric Hallen
  • Updates:
    • No significant member appreciation has been held this year.
    • Next year’s safari may happen in Solon Springs

Social Media Committee:

  • Chair:  Eric Hallen / Frank Sommerfeldt
  • Updates:
    • The website will be updated with the new officers after tonight’s elections
    • PLEASE – Read our club’s by-laws on the website.  It describes how the club is to be run

Trail Committee:

  • Chair:  Doug Kromrey 
  • Updates:
    • Frank updated our landowner list & printed invitations to the landowner appreciation lunch.  The ownership for this file needs to be done by Doug or another person starting next year.  Spencer will talk to Scott Carlson.
    • Trails have all been removed.
    • Needing a re-route on Trail 30.  The route on Old Church Rd is not safe.  Looking to go either through the old dump area or north of Old Church Rd.  Scott/Trevor are looking into what will work best
    • The fire pit at our shelter needs maintenance.  We need someone to lead this effort.  We’ll revisit this at our next meeting in August.

Finance Committee:

  • Chair:  Frank Sommerfeldt
  • Updates:
    • All expenses for our Fiscal Year 2024-5 are complete.  Frank will send a summary to the new BOD members
    • Jim Berg is our back-up treasurer.  Frank will send him log-in information to both our checking and rainy-day account.
    • There are 15+ other accounts used by the club.  Frank has all the info.  Cyndi can get to the info on his phone if needed.

Next Meeting: August 5, 2025 at The Sports Bar in Star Prairie at 7:00pm.

                        New meeting cards will be made using the same schedule as last year

*Motion to adjourn approved at 7:42pm

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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: Matt Koch, Stower Trail: Jeff Jonas, Trail 30: Frank Sommerfeldt & Trever Everson

Council Reps: Eric Hallen, Jim Berg

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Elections were held after the regular meeting.  All positions were fill with candidates being unopposed.  All term run through the 2026-2027 fiscal year unless otherwise noted. 

The results are as follows:

  • President – Spencer Feldt (re-elected)
  • Secretary – Rhett Larson
  • Director (replacing Chris Shermach) – Doug Kromrey (expires 2026)
  • Director – Sara Carlson
  • Director – Matt Koch

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