Snowmobile club,
local business receives top honors
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
The Presque Isle Snowmobile Club and Chandler Farms Polaris of Mapleton are ending the year on a high note, after taking top honors earlier in the year at the Maine Snowmobile Association’s 42nd annual meeting.
Chandler Farms was named Dealer of the Year and the PISC was recognized as Club of the Year for 2010.
“Chandler Farms Polaris is a family-run dealership that has been in operation for over two decades. They are known to snowmobilers throughout the Northeast for their dedication to customer service,” said Bob Meyers, MSA executive director.
Photo courtesy Ted Roberts
CLUB HONORED — The Presque Isle Snowmobile Club was named 2010 Club of the Year during the Maine Snowmobile Association’s 42nd annual meeting earlier this year. Pictured for the presentation from left are: MSA Executive Director Bob Meyers and Norm Driscoll, PISC president.
Open seven days a week during the season, Meyers said it’s not unusual for the business to remain open after hours to complete repairs on a visitor’s snowmobile. He noted Don and Alice Chandler and their family and staff are involved with many local organizations with an interest in winter recreation.
“The Chandler family are also loyal supporters of numerous snowmobile clubs and can always be counted on to lend a hand at events,” said Meyers.
The PISC, nominated by David L. Stevens, Northern Region vice president, received an outpouring of public support, with several letters submitted from local businesses and community leaders praising the club for its community involvement. For over 40 years the organization has worked to promote snowmobiling as a safe, fun family activity.
“The PISC has been a part of the community (of Presque Isle) since 1968 and has played an active role in developing the extensive trail system in central Aroostook County,” said Meyers.
Meyers noted the area “suffered a serious loss in January 2009 when the club’s home burned to the ground.” Though a daunting task, club members set their sights on having a new structure built on the same site, spending countless hours hosting fundraisers and doing much of the work themselves. The theft of nearly $10,000 in building materials didn’t delay the project and the building was completed roughly a year after the fire.
“The club chose to rebuild and gained the immediate support of their community in recognition of the prominent place they hold in Presque Isle activities. Their new clubhouse opened exactly one year to the day from the fire and has once again become a center for community activities,” said Meyers.
Patti Crooks, manager of the Aroostook Centre Mall, has been a staunch supporter of the club for a number of years. She credited club’s success on its members’ work ethic.
“Over my 15 years in Aroostook County, one constant has been tried and true, the sincere, hard work ethic of its folks, and the genuine desire to better themselves and their community. The PISC is one organization that stands above the others in giving back an intangible gift and is imprinted in all of our hearts and minds,” said Crooks.
She noted despite several tragedies — Club President Norm Driscoll broke his leg while working to repair a trail bridge; the death of Larry Allen, who’d served as trail master; the 2009 fire; and the theft of construction materials as the club began the rebuilding of the clubhouse — the club and its members prevailed and continues to give back to the community.
The Presque Isle Rotary Club voiced its support of the club, in its letter to the MSA.
“While the PISC had a devastating start to 2009, their perseverance, dedication and hard work got them through to their goal of rebuilding their clubhouse. The Presque Isle Rotary Club was honored when we became the first organization to use the new building,” said Nancy Fletcher, Rotary past president, adding what a pleasure it was seeing the finished building that was funded, in-part, as a Rotary special project. “What a great feeling to see the love of our community that went into this multi-functional building.”
Stephen Richard, executive director of Central Aroostook ARC, praised the club for its efforts each year to provide outdoor fun for ARC clients.
“In the 21 years that this event has been held, there have only been two cancellations due to lack of snow. Every year, excitement fills the air the first week in March because we know that it’s time for the snowmobile ride-in. This event (known as “OTC Day”) has really brought the community together to help share a wonderful recreational opportunity,” said Richard.
“Fireman Fred” Parsons expressed similar sentiments, praising the club for the work it does bringing joy to participants on “OTC Day.”
“One of the projects that is near and dear to my heart is the annual OTC Day. I am very happy and honored to be affiliated with this great activity. It is rewarding to see the excitement in the clients, not only when they arrive for the day, but on the rides, having lunch and even as the (PISC) members assist them back onto their respective buses,” said Parsons.
Also recommending the PISC as Club of the Year for 2010 were: Dana Fowler, solid waste director who served as interim city manager at the time nominations were being taken; Scott Thompson, manager, Aroostook State Park; Virginia Joles, president, LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development; Thomas Stevens, director of the Presque Isle branch of the USDA office; Carol Bell, board member, Presque Isle Historical Society; Marilyn Wheeler, Spragueville Homemakers Extension; Norm Driscoll, president, PISC; and Theresa Fowler, executive director, Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The PISC is the largest and most active (club) in central Aroostook County. In addition to the contribution to the snowmobiling industry which contributes significantly to the local economy, the clubhouse is used by many non-profit organizations as a location to hold fundraisers for their clubs. The facility is available throughout the year for functions of all sorts,” said Fowler.
Fowler said the club maintains approximately 100 miles of snowmobile trails in the Presque Isle area. The PISC has approximately 132 family memberships.
“These are an important link to the over 2,300 miles of snowmobile trails in Aroostook County,” said Fowler.
Fowler said club members’ dedication was evident during the rebuilding of the clubhouse.
“The importance of this clubhouse was recognized by the community during its absence. The PISC is an important part of the community throughout the year and a valuable asset,” said Fowler.
This week’s snow may mean work for some, including sales for Chandler Farms, but for the PISC it means pleasure as members hit the trails. What a wonderful way to end the year for 2010’s Business of the Year and Club of the Year.
