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Club History
Prior to 2004, the club was simply a group of ATV'ers riding trails and participating in other clubs activities. In January of 2004 we contacted the Wisconsin ATV Association and inquired about starting an officially sanctioned club. We received a package called the "new club starter kit". In it we learned the basics to building a real club, incorporation procedures, by-laws, ethics, writing route resolutions, sparking public enthusiasm etc. Shortly after we were contact by WATVA president Randy Harden and invited to a "Trail Patrol & Sign Dedication" ceremony at Duck Creek/Village of Howard in Green Bay. That day we met Randy Harden (President WATVA & NOHVIS Group) and with a simple hand shake we were adopted into the Wisconsin ATV Association. Over the next few months we came up with our clubs name, logo, business cards, recruitment posters, membership sign-up form, club decals and first website. And of course organized a number of guided ATV tours using trail systems established by other clubs. On September 7, 2004 the Village of Coleman voted "yes" to a proposed ATV trail system through Coleman. This trail system was to be the first of its kind in Marinette county, as 90% of the trail system is on private property. Following the acceptance by the Village of Coleman, the Town of Pound and Village of Pound passed resolutions allowing ATV use on routes in their areas. Our next step was to find a governing agency to sponsor the club for trail construction grants. On October 18, 2004 the ATV club meet with Marinette County Forest Administrator John Neilio and Gary Hanson of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to discuss trail funding and new trail construction grants. Later a meeting on November 12 started the ball rolling on trail funding as the Marinette County Forestry Department agreed to sponsor us to the WDNR for a "new trail" construction grant. In 2005 we started the year off by unleashing a new website (www.newridersatvclub.com) to publish our activities and accomplishments. In February 2005 our trail construction committee surveyed the Coleman trail route and came up with cost estimates for construction, signs, posts, fences and maps we would need to build an ATV trail. On February 7, 2005 the club was accepted by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and became incorporated; and is now known as North East Wisconsin Riders Inc.. In March 2005 we began working on our non-profit IRS status and the board of directors started a club sponsor drive. The sponsor drive was intended to collect funds for the new trail construction. In addition we elected to change our club membership to a seasonal status, allowing us to collect dues earlier for spring trail construction and cleanup activities. In April we kicked off the month by seeking sponsors to help fund our new trail through the Village of Coleman; and again stressed to our members the importance of locating new club members. By the end of May the club had 18 new sponsors helping to fund the new trail construction. On May 30, over Memorial Day weekend, the club completed the Coleman ATV trail system. An article in the Peshtigo Times announced the club would officially open the new trail on Saturday June4. The club is now working with Thrivent Financial to help with trail construction to Pound. On August 19th, the club received an $800 dollar community improvement grant from Thrivent to help supplement the clubs trail construction costs to link the Village of Coleman with the Village of Pound. On September 29th the club received its official non-profit 501 (c) 7 (recreational organization with members) status from Internal Revenue Service. In 2006 we welcomed Mark Patz to our board of directors as our new directory and trail safety coordinator. In addition we petitioned both the Village of Coleman and Town of Pound for access to McArthur road, in order to further expand our trail system into the Village of Pound. During the month of January board members attempted to file for trail maintenance money and trail construction grants with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. However, we were denied again for the third year as our trail is mostly private. In February we applied for our clubs raffle license to begin raising additional funds to supplement our trail construct costs. And of course began soliciting sponsors from local businesses. On August 1st, the club received the Thrivent Financial grant again - which helped the club construct and pay for the signs in the Village of Pound. Shortly after the club completed construction of a new ATV trail into the Village of Pound. In 2007 the club received permission to continue its trail north from Marinette County. This allowed the club to extending its existing trail to the HWY 64 line. This of course will allow the club in 2008 to continue its trail construction into the Beaver Town area. In 2008, two of our newest directors completed the Trail Patrol program and received there ATV instructor license. The club started working with the Town of Beaver to obtain new routes to continue its trail construction efforts. The club also released a new improved website and now publishes information over the mobile network. Allowing mobile cellular visitors to get up to date calendar information, vote on issues and receive new alerts. The spring fund raiser generated enough money for the club to purchase a power point projector and remote to enhance its ATV youth education classes.
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