Chautauqua County Federation Of Snowmobile Clubs

President           Ray Head                  386-7419
Vice-President   Jeff Contino              
Secretary           Paul Weatherlow       326-7468
Treasurer           Robyn Kayner

               Federation Delegates to NYSSA

District Representative    Steve Smith           792-9802
Alt. Representative         Lester Lucas           753-7925

Meetings are the second Tuesday of every month at 7:30 PM
at the Stockton Fire Department on the following dates:
(please park out back or across the street in the Post Office parking lot)

    Your Federation Dollars at Work 
                        Ray Head, Federation President
As President of the Chautauqua County Federation for the past three years, it has been my privilege to work with area club leaders and members.  Our accomplishments have come about through the cooperative efforts of these volunteers and the clubs they represent.
·        With the financial support of local businesses our crowing accomplishment has been the county-wide trail map.

 ·       Next we were able to standardize road crossing signs.  These green and white markers are located under the stop signs and give the name of the road being crossed (picture #1).  Arby’s and D&S Glass sponsor these aids to navigating our trails.

 ·       Our 1-800-242-4569 trail condition and club events hotline is free thanks to Chautauqua County Vacation Bureau.  It gives up-to the minute information on snowmobiling in the county.  Call it yourself, and be informed.

 ·        Local radio stations give trail condition & events reports, similar to ski reports.  These are sponsored by local businesses interested in supporting snowmobiling.

 ·        New this year, we have put together our own brochure.  All the clubs are detailed to include addresses, web sites, and membership information phone numbers. These brochures are available in surrounding state dealerships and at the display located on the I-86 rest area near Bemus Point.

The theme is “Join Where Your Ride….Ride Chautauqua County”

·        The new membership increase is causing a great deal of confusion at the DMV’s throughout New York Sate.  Not so here in Chautauqua County.   The Federation met the challenge by placing large county snowmobile maps, with membership applications, at all three DMV’s in the county.  We were one of the few to foresee the confusion and made it possible to join any club, license your sled, and get your free trail map right at the DMV.

     <--- As seen in all three County DMVs

·        Our latest accomplishment is the county-wide “trail closed” signs.  These signs are another effort to inform riders when and when not to ride.  They are located on the back side of trail stop signs.  The two-hundred and twenty signs are sponsored by Schutts Arctic Cat in Jamestown.  The clubs determine the placement of the signs on their trails.  The “trails closed” side of the sign (picture #2) means “trails are not open and are considered unsafe for travel”.  Riders of closed trails are trespassing and can be arrested, unless they own the property they are riding on.  When the green and white Schutts Arctic Cat billboard side is showing, this means trails are open (picture #3).  Besides open and closed, there is one more trail designation that we do not have a sign for called “limited” (used only on the 800 phone number and radio trail condition reports).  This means that “most trails are passable for snowmobiling, some trails may be closed, and extra caution is advised”.

 As a coordinating organization for the independent snowmobile clubs of Chautauqua County, it should be noted that the federation is not a governing agency for the clubs.  Our organization is merely a central clearing house for ideas that benefit the clubs, as well as all those who ride here.

Remember, “Join a club where you ride…  ride chautauqua countY”

 One last but most important note.  None of our accomplishments are as important as the local landowners granting us the privilege to snowmobile on their land.   They absolutely receive no reimbursement, financial or otherwise.  So, be respectful, don’t litter, and stay on the designated trail at all times.  If you know or see a landowner, tell them “thanks a lot” 

         Picture #1                      Picture #2                     Picture #3

2006-2007 Calendar of Federation meetings
and funds raising events:

Chautauqua County map
includes some parts of Pennsylvania and Cattaraugus County