It is my pleasure to transmit to you the
attached press release from David Paterson, Governor of New York State,
regarding the NYS Snowmobile Trail Fund. Also attached is the official NYSSA
press release as well as speaking points that represent NYSSA’s official
positions on the subject of the governor’s release.
I have had the privilege of working very closely with the NYSSA leadership team
over the past several months to respond to the snowmobile trail fund budget
situation. Through these efforts, and with the partnership of the NYS
legislature, we have been successful in communicating our concerns to state
officials representing OPRHP, the Division of Budget (DOB) and the office of the
governor. In response to these discussions, the governor’s press release
highlights 3 key actions:
1. The NYS snowmobile trail grants process will be revised to ensure that in
the future, snowmobile registration fees will be spent solely on trail
maintenance and related activities.
2. The DOB and OPRHP have projected that grant payments to clubs will
increase from $2.8 million in 2007-2008 to $5.3 million in 2008-2009. This
represents an 85% increase in funding to the clubs.
3. Over the next three seasons, the governor has directed that $1 million
from OPRHP and DEC snowmobile trail funding be diverted into the snowmobile
trail development and maintenance fund.
The governor himself has characterized these actions as a “big win for NY
snowmobilers”, and I could not agree more. Your elected officials,
representatives of state agencies, and NYSSA leadership have all worked together
to improve the state of snowmobiling in New York. This partnership is important.
Therefore, it is vitally important that we all understand the need to speak with
one voice when responding to questions from club members, leaders, the media and
the general public. Please review the attached information very carefully so
that you will be able to answer any inquiries, as well as to properly
communicate our success.
We are successful because NYSSA and its members spoke with one voice when
addressing the NYS budget process to our elected leaders; it is critical that we
as leaders of NYSSA continue to demonstrate this unity. We will be preparing
additional information as we move forward into the upcoming season’s activity.
Part of our next steps will include expressing thanks to those who helped us to
achieve the big win that the governor spoke of. In particular, we will want to
reach out to the governor, and all of the legislators who provided positive
leadership on behalf of snowmobiling. You will hear more about these follow-up
items during the NYSSA board call this Saturday.
Let us not forget to thank those who have partnered with us and helped us to
protect and improve snowmobiling in New York State. I ask you to join me in
thanking our advocates in the Capitol Group: Nick Barella, Tim Sheridan and
Bruce Geiger. Without their relationships with key individuals in Albany, and
their complete grasp of the processes and inner workings on the government of
NY, we would not have come out on top. Rory Whelan of Whelan Media Strategies,
our public relations and media strategist, has provided invaluable counsel and
is also deserving of our gratitude. I also want to personally thank Jim Jennings
and Dave Perkins, NYSSA executive director and trails coordinator, and Gary
Broderick, NYSSA vice-president, for their role in helping me to lead us
forward.
What should not be lost in our discussions, however, is to make sure that we
thank the snowmobilers of New York. It is truly because of their dedication to
the issues we face, and the tremendous grass-roots efforts in contacting their
elected leaders, that we have succeeded. It is the 100,000 snowmobilers who
participate in our sport, and who are responsible for the $1 billion economic
engine that is New York snowmobiling that are most deserving of our gratitude.
As we move ahead we must take the opportunity to thank the club members and
their families who took the time to make their voice heard in Albany.
From: Allison Scott <scotta@assembly.state.ny.us> |
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