These pages are dedicated to those who were active in blazing a trail for the NYSSA and SLEDNY, Inc. The pages include memories of past presidents and others who contributed so much to NYSSA and the New York Snowmobile Coordinating Group. Much has been lost regarding the early founders of the NYSCG, so if you have information and pictures about those early founders please let us know. A photo is most needed. NYSSA clubs are encouraged to post information on those who were local leaders and put their club on the right path. We ask that you limit your submissions to those who have left this earth to find better trails! At your option, you may make a tax deductible contribution to SLEDNY, Inc in memory of the person you would like posted.
In December 2019, NYSSA (originally called the New York State Coordinating Group, or NYSCG for short) lost one of the most instrumental figures in New York snowmobiling history. At the tender age of 90, Mary Brusoe left us. She had been an asset to the organization for over 40 years.
Mary Brusoe with past NYSSA President Jeff Johnson being presented the 40th Anniversary Award.
Mary served as NYSSA’s Office Manager for many, many years, although back then, the position was officially called Director of Communications. This was back in the days before computers and fax machines. She wrote everything on a typewriter and correspondence was done mainly by mail and phone calls.
She was the key promoter in building membership and was a member of the NYSSA Membership & Communications Committee for many years. She went so far as to build all of the first NYSSA booth display materials and toured state snowmobile events with her husband Norris promoting the development of organized snowmobiling that we now see today.
She wrote about her travels in multiple snowmobile publications, including most recently the Snow Belt publication out of Boonville, NY. Many loved to hear stories about the snowmobile trips she and spouse Norris made with other movers and shakers in the early years of organized snowmobiling. Often referred to as the mother of NYSSA, Mary’s positive attitude and sharp mind will always be with us. She rode into her 80’s.
The board of directors recently moved to add Mary’s name to the Norris Brusoe memorial scholarship to honor her for all her efforts in making the sport of snowmobiling such a great success in the northeast.
Anyone that has been in the organized end of snowmobiling has met or has heard of Harold C. (Hal) Fleischman. Hal has been a part of organized snowmobiling since time began….well, almost. Hal became an active member of the New York Snowmobile Coordinating Group (NYSCG; the forerunner of NYSSA) near the time the Group was formed in 1976. He was volunteered to be a rescue rider in the Blizzard of ’77 in Western New York. As he got involved at the state level he also became and officer of the Grand Island Snowmobile Club. As a member of the Legislative Committee (now the Government Affairs Committee) he was part of a team that saw some successes in working with Albany. At the time, a snowmobile registration was $10 and there was no incentive to join a club or even register for that matter. He and the committee started asking legislators for the establishment of the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. With Hal’s help in 1985, the law establishing a Snowmobile Trail Development Fund was passed, setting the stage for the explosion of funded trails throughout the state-currently around 10,500 miles!
Hal looking his best for a trip to Albany.
It was apparent that $15 would not provide sufficient funds to grow the trail system. The legislators initially said no. Well, if you knew Hal at all, you understand he doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer. He was able to land a meeting with Assemblyman Paul Tokasz. He dragged then-President Jeff Johnson and newly hired Executive Director Jim Jennings to Hamburg, N.Y. for a meeting. The assemblyman listened and was convinced of the need for an increase and was able to ‘carry our water’ for us in Albany, resulting in an increase to $25. Additionally, it brought attention to our fledgling trail fund and to NYSSA.
In 2000, Hal was elected Vice-President and also chaired the Executive Committee, which made the suggestion and argument to hire Capitol Group LLC, our voice in Albany. In 2004, seeing that there were lots of snowmobilers, but not a lot of club members, and that funds were always an issue for every club, Hal gave a copy of the New Hampshire Law providing a discounted registration for club members to Capitol Group. Through Hal’s leadership, with the support of NYSSA and our member clubs, what we now call the “SARA bill” Chapter 609 of the Laws of 2005(actually, “SRRA”, the Snowmobilers Rights and Responsibilities Act) became law giving a reduced registration to club members.
In 2002, we had a severe liability insurance crisis. There was only one company willing to write snowmobile trail liability insurance coverage. They suddenly announced in the late fall that they were pulling out of the market. This event was a turning point in New York Snowmobiling history. Hal spent every waking minute of the next two weeks working with every politician (they were suddenly very interested in snowmobiling), even camping out in our lobbyist’s office to get a solution in place. New York State forced the insurer to amend their plans to withdraw and honor the policies they had been writing. Meeting with insurance executives and state agencies this novel approach became a reality and the “State Wide Master Policy” was born. This policy has been a continuing success, costing less than 1/3rd of what it initially cost. Hal’s actions directly contributed to the trail fund growing from 2.3 million dollars a year to 5.7 million dollars in 2006. In 2006, the organization’s focus was on implementing SRRA, improving club and member communications, membership cards and the Snowmobile Plan for the Adirondack State Park. All were successfully completed.
Hal served for 12 years as the New York State Representative to the Northeast Chapter of the International Snowmobile Council, Representative to the American Council of Snowmobile Associations and to the International Snowmobile Congress
Hal and Lisa Burnett: The best of friends!
.
There will only be one Hal and he will be sorely missed.
Fred at the 2015 SLEDNY Educational Forum.
yout. Not only did he teach groomer operator classes, he wrote the club’s policy on grooming which many clubs have based their own policy off of. Fred served his community as a local volunteer fireman.
His experience and assistance was integral to the club receiving an RTP Grant to purchase a new groomer. He was instrumental bringing about the recreation of a covered bridge to serve his community and the trail system. His dedication and commitment to organized snowmobiling and to his community, along with his commitment to excellence in all his activities best reflect the values of those who have been recognized with the snowmobiler of the year award. Fred always gave freely of his time and his instructional knowledge is missed at the Educational Forum.
We all miss her captive smile!
Her first snowmobile trail-related venture was to produce hard-copy printed maps for the Herkimer County Trail & Trade Association in Central NY. She then thought what a great concept it would be to develop a webmap for snowmobile riders to utilize on their computers to plan out their trips. The map could show what amenities were available along the snowmobile trails. She worked with the snowmobile clubs who belong to the New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) and actually developed a “profit-sharing concept” that both helped the clubs as well as to build her webmap project. She used that cooperative partnership to go to the next level, and polled the clubs about their thoughts regarding new projects, a Smart Phone App of the NYS snowmobile trails. She then took that concept and developed her Phone App, back in 2010.
Linda and her staff at MVGIS then built upon that Phone App each season with new features to better serve the wants of snowmobilers’ while out on the trails, This was one of if not the first phone app on the market and she built a user base of over 26,ooo at one point in 2016-17. She worked very closely with 2 Lewis County snowmobile clubs, using their Groomer Tracker Units to showcase where their groomers were for their club members to use for reference. Since that time many have attempted to duplicate this phone application.
Linda remained a volunteer consultant to NYSSA right up to her passing in January 2020.
Lee (3rd from left) meeting with NYS legislators regarding a snowmobile Trail Fund Bill.
I will quote Mary Brusoe ” Lee did a great job with few rewards. He was one guy who could fix his eyes on a goal and never be diverted from it.” It was under Lee’s leadership that after 14 years of trying a Trail Development and Maintenance Fund was finally passed in bother Houses of the NY State Legislature.
Lee was very active in the early years of organized snowmobiling in the Plymouth/Pharsalia area in Chenango County and still was a gracious landowner. He started the original club in this area known as Snowtrails Ltd. which is now known as the Chenango Sno*Riders and inspired many of us to do what we do.
Your Content Goes Here