Badlands Run in review:  There were 251 machines registered for the Badlands Run this year.  Thanks to all who helped in any way for a job well done.  There were 862 ATV raffle tickets sold for a net profit of $3,130 to the Club.  Our efforts with the Badlands Run are starting to pay off.  Progress is being made towards permanent trails, but there is a lot of work to be done yet.  The Tribal Council has voted to allow permanent trails.  The trails must meet DNR guidelines and funding is available to help improve and/ or construct the trails.  We anticipate that grants for funding will be written through Shawano County for this purpose and must be submitted by April 15 for funding in July.  The Wisconsin ATV Association will help in determining the cost of establishing and maintaining these trails.  In the mean time we need Club members to help work with the land owners to try to establish the route in the next couple months.  Please contact Wendy to volunteer your time.  For this to go forward and succeed we will need a lot of help.

The land owner banquet will be October 20 at the Woodland in Gresham.  Club members are encourage to attend.  The cost for members for the meal will be $5.00 Please RSVP to Marilyn 524-4774

The meeting with the owners of the land, under which the ATC Transmission lines go, went well.  The purpose was to get people talking about a possible trail across the county.  Portions of the right-of-way under the power lines may work for a trail and part of the purpose of the meeting was to gather more ideas from landowners.  Not everyone is in favor of a trail on their land but many had thoughts on how a trail may work.  Thanks to those who attended and especially to those who brought cookies and bars to share with the guests.

There is a VIP Ride at the Tigerton ATV Park on Friday, October 2 for State government officials to get out an see what ATV riding is all about.  This is being held in conjunction with WATVA and Club members are encouraged to come out for the day to help.  A lot of these people have never been on or even seen an ATV. The purpose is to get them to appreciate our sport and to vote in our favor on legislation that comes forth regarding our sport.

The Towns Association meeting went well. Wendy spoke on behalf of the club, Randy Harden spoke on the economics and benefit of a well organized club behind a plan of this nature., Gary Tauchen spoke about the benefits to our community by accommodating the needs of ATVers, and Melinda Barlow of the Shawano County Planning dept. spoke in regards to the fact that Shawano County is behind and supportive of this project. The Town Chairman were very receptive to ATVing, in fact we will start conducting smaller meetings in their townships looking for support and input into trails crossing their Townships. This will be an approach of involving the people that are directly affected by this plan.

The next meeting is Wed. Oct. 14^th at 7:00pm at the VFW Hall in Shawano   Please try to attend. Randy Harden from WATVA and a representative from Shawano County will be there to discuss the next steps in opening the Gresham Badlands Run to a 3 month trail.

Wendy is in need of photos of any thing pertaining to the past year and Happy Trails ATV Club for the slide show to be shown at the Land owners Banquet.  Especially the spring Fling,  Parades and the Badlands Run. Please get them to Wendy soon so she has  time to get them into the slide show.

Wendy, Scott, Marilyn and Dave