CLARIFICATION PLEASE...

When I buy my permit at the Show from a the OFSC booth at the Toronto Snowmobile Show and specify which club I want to support, the money does not reach that specific club?

The way I preceive it is that if I don't specify which club then it goes to the district.

What happens if you...for example Trailblazer is in the OFSC Corporate booth representing a specific club and I buy the permit from you. What happens?

fastguy:
See my latest post in the Toronto Sled Show topic it my help answer your questions. :)
( I posted it there before I seen your post )

But just to cover your questions:

When I buy my permit at the Show from a the OFSC booth at the Toronto Snowmobile Show and specify which club I want to support, the money does not reach that specific club?

No.... trail permits are sold on a district basis only. You favorite Club will probably never see any of those funds. ( depending on how the distict spends their money)

What happens if you...for example Trailblazer is in the OFSC Corporate booth representing a specific club and I buy the permit from you. What happens?

He can not represent any specific Club, he is just there as a volunteer to sell permits on behalf of the OFSC. The proper protocol is to ask you where ( what District ) you would like to support. If you are uncertain what district it is you would like to purchase from they may use a map to help you decide the area you would like to support. i.e. you point at Parry Sound...district 10 get the sale.

Of the small minority of people that we have here on SW that purchase thier permit at the Show, it is easy to see how many thought that they were supporting specific Clubs and in fact we doing them an injustice buy purchasing at the show.

Hope this helps answer your questions

Originally posted by fastguy@Aug 7 2003, 06:21 AM
CLARIFICATION PLEASE...

When I buy my permit at the Show from a the OFSC booth at the Toronto Snowmobile Show and specify which club I want to support, the money does not reach that specific club?

The way I preceive it is that if I don't specify which club then it goes to the district.

What happens if you...for example Trailblazer is in the OFSC Corporate booth representing a specific club and I buy the permit from you. What happens?
Hi Fastguy

It's just like Indysks said.
I too posted on the T.O. Show topic as the question came up there.
So even if you specify a particular club, the money still goes to the district.
The province is divided into 17 districts. (See the OFSC Website to see the map showing the district boundaries.)
It is up to the district board and membership to decide where they then spend that money. Each club has membership in their district. Therefore they would have one or two votes depending on the bylaws of each individual district

Jeff

Hmmm, I did'nt know that, but if I'm buying my permit at the show and the money from that permit go's to the district and not the club, how am I doing an injustice to the club?

We're simply trying to make everyone aware that in the past some volunteers incorrectly told people that the club portion of the permit cost would go to the club specified on the permit. This isn't the case.

As a president of a small club trying to:
-pay off our groomer,
-replace every piece of glass that some kids broke in the spring on our groomer,
-purchase enough signs & posts to meet the new trails signage guidelines,
-purchase enough diesel fuel to keep our trails as smooth as everyone expects them to be,
-hope we don't suffer any equipment breakdowns,
-and last but not least, SURVIVE ON THE $35 PER PERMIT THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS YEAR. This will work out to an expected short fall of $1,500 to $5,000 for this season. That only takes into account the actual trail grooming expenses. There's also the pre-season grooming, (land leveling) weed and corn stubble wacking, removal of all fallen trees and limbs, bridge maintainance, barn rental costs, electric bills. etc. etc.

I would prefer that if permit buyers wanted to support us that they buy their permits directly from us so that we get the full amount of money up front to cover our operating expenses not hope that we get a handout from the district when they get their cheque in early spring.

I hope this better explains why this is such a sore point for Indysks and myself. ( And almost every other club out there.)

3eyedcat; Each Club receives a portion of the permit price ( it varies from Club to Club so there is no standard # ) so if you buy your permit directly from them they get X amount of dollars, by purchasing your permit at the show that money goes to the entire District and depending how the District Board spends that money the specific Club you were trying to support may never see any of it . One permit is not a big deal but they sell hundreds at the show and that adds up. All I'm saying is if you want to support a certain Club and are not close to them then mail order your permit, then you will be assured the money goes where you wanted it to.

And on another note if you purchase your permit at the show and require a replacement permit during the winter, who are you going to call on for a replacement ? Do you think your local Club permit co-ordinator will want to bend over back wards to help you out ?......NOT
I go to great lenghts to get replacements for people who require them in my area ....but if it's a show permit........welllll.....

More great points Indy.

I hadn't even thought of the replacement permit aspect yet. We sold around 6-7 replacement permits last year. With only the originating club being able to sell at the $10 (I think) fee, that would really suck if you have to track down the one person for each club authorized to sell them.
They have to check their permit records to confirm you indeed did buy from them as they will be charged for the full permit price if they didn't sell the lost/damaged/new sled replacement permit in the first place.

Not trying to scare anyone, but I know how ticked off people get when they find this stuff out after the fact.

Jeff

INDYSKS,Thanks for that info, I have only bought my permit once at a show and that will be the last time I do that. I automatically assumed when they asked which club I supported that most of the permit money went automatically to them, and then a % to the ofsc. Last year, I called the club directly with credit card in hand and bought it straight from them and the premit was in my hand a week or so later. Now, is that the best way to make sure the club I support gets as much of my permit dollars as possible? Thank's for your patience. I just want to be 100% clear on this.....

what i have a problem with is people who ride in my area but don't live or buy a permit in my area.i swear our trails take a major beating every weekend and the locals are blaming it on our local clubs and don't want to buy permits locally anymore.i had friends tell me they go out of town to buy their permits because they're not happy with our club's grooming anymore..............this obviously is not going to help the situation......people are tired of paying their money and riding on bad trails due to tourist use.what can we do to level the playing field except spead all the money taken in evenly to all areas....... :blahblah:

Great info from both of you IndySKS and TrailBlazer

Keep up the great work :)

That is the problem with a big org. like the OFSC it becomes bureaucratic and you got to keep everyone happy rather than the few vocal ;)

BTW my permit fund is at $120 only $40 to go

Any donations greatly appreciated :p

Lets hope for a great winter 03-04 SWRules

btw how many died last year???Sorry for being morbid,but the OFSC don't publish them on the site anymore IMO is sad but that is my impartial opinion :sly:

Ontario Fatality Summary
02-03 28
01-02 18
00-01 45
99-00 16
98-99 32
97-98 42
96-97 36
95-96 41
94-95 38

Thanks and you're welcome.
The words of encouragement help to get my but out of my easy chair and go to another meeting, make another phone call, work on the trails while my sled or trailer are waiting for some attention as well.

Jeff

I understand everyone desire to support their local club. Especially if they ride in the same area every time. However, some of us riders are "tourist". I ride all through central and a good portion of Northern Ontario. The idea of the permit money being given to a district and then allocated to the individual clubs based on their requirements/performance, is very appealing to me. If a certain club is not making "ends meat", can they not apply for funding from the district?

Remember, we are one club. I used to hate hearing about clubs in the south building club houses while clubs in the north were struggling to replace aging Apline groomers.

So to sum things up (my opinion). If you are a "tourist", there is nothing wrong with supporting a supporting a district and purchasing my permit at the International Show will be very connivent.

You're right SDH. My comments were directed (as I tried to state) at those who rely upon their local club trails. Especially if you're thinking of getting out of this sport if your local club folds and you then have to trailer somewhere to ride.

Thanks for your comments
Jeff