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Membership
Inspections
Board of Directors
Newsletter
Loon News
Lake News

Membership dues statements will be sent out during the first week of April and dues should be sent in no later than June 30, 2003. 

If you know of any members who have sold their property, or know of potential members who have purchased property in our region, please contact Helen Valliere to keep us up to date. Thank you. 

Winter Inspections
The December, 2002 inspections were completed without incident. The second inspection will occur in February, 2003, and the third in April.

Please remember that the two (2) Annual Membership Stickers you received MUST BE PLACED ON YOUR CAMP. One sticker should be placed on the Lake side and the other on the street side of camp. Both should be easily seen from either direction. If you have any questions regarding the inspections, please contact Larry Valliere.

Board of Directors
The Board of Directors met on Saturday, November 2, 2002, at Jim Corr’s home. The next meeting date has yet to be determined. 

Newsletter
Have some news you would like to share with Lake friends and neighbors? Please contact Paula Rose, or please write to:

MLRA Newsletter Editor, Paula Rose 
c/o Mousam Lake Regional Association, 
Box 333, Springvale, ME 04083

Loon News
Here’s a few more questions and answers for all our loon fanatics reprinted from Tom Klein’s “Loon Magic”:

Q. Will loon eggs die if the nest is left uncovered?
A. Loon eggs are susceptible to cooling. If left uncovered for long periods, the embryo could die. However, on hot days an egg might survive six or eight hours without incubation. Typically, large eggs hold heat better than small eggs, so loon eggs are better protected than the eggs of most birds.

Q. Why do some loons tolerate people better than others?
A. It appears that loons habituate to people over time. Apparently, each loon has individual characteristics regarding tolerance of disturbance.

Q. Do some loons have green heads?
A. Looks are deceiving. A loon’s head sometimes looks green but it’s really jet-black. When the feathers on the head are slightly raised (a display loons use in social gatherings) sunlight refracting through the feathers creates the green, iridescent effect. 

Q. Do loons nest on the ocean?
A. No. There has been only one confirmed report of a loon nesting on the coast of Maine. Loons do nest in protected areas of Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron — almost oceans.

Q. Okay, what is this foot waggle business?
A. All serious loon watchers know about the foot waggle. Every 10 to 20 minutes loons will extend a foot and wave it. It could be that the foot is being used as a crude solar collector to pick up heat. The waggle certainly conserves heat since the blood vessels in the foot would release heat to the water. Supporting this notion is the fact that after the waggle, the foot is usually tucked up under the wing — a place to keep it warm. Or it could be that the foot waggle is part of a stretching exercise, loon yoga perhaps.

Q. When does the molt begin?
A. The fall molt seems to vary by region — earlier in the west and later in the east. The first noticeable loss of feathers is usually mid-to-late September. New breeding plumage is donned in March and April. Loons lose their wing feathers only once — in late winter, usually February.

Lake News
There have been several tragic snowmobile accidents in the news this winter, one most recently involving a promising young man from Sanford who will be greatly missed by friends and family. 

We would like to take this opportunity to share some snowmobiling safety tips with our members to increase public awareness of the rules and risks involved. These tips were taken from several snowmobile related information web sites.

Ride Right — Snowmobile trails in Maine are there for all the public to use and enjoy. Young and old, adults and children, all take to the trails with the expectation of a safe and memorable experience. The improper operation of snowmobiles, the lack of courtesy towards others using the trails, and the disregard of the safety of other trail users is a major concern of the snowmobiling community and the Maine Warden Service. 

Please take a minute, read the following Rules of the Trail, and most importantly, make these rules become part of your operation. If everyone operates in a safe and prudent manner, snowmobiling in Maine will become an even safer family oriented sport.

Ride On The Right Hand Side Of The Trail — Two snowmobiles can’t occupy the same space on the trail at the same time, so there are rules of travel. When you ride Maine’s trails, always keep your sled to the right hand side to allow for oncoming traffic on the left hand side. You would be surprised how many snowmobilers, new and experienced, ride down the middle of the trail. This is a dangerous practice that inevitably results in accidents. If you stop along the trail, park your sled well off the trail if possible or to the extreme far right in an area of good visibility.

Ride At A Reasonable Rate Of Speed — Speed on Maine’s snowmobile trails is measured on a standard of reasonable speed for the existing conditions and use by others. Conditions include a number of factors such as weather, visibility, trail conditions, snow coverage and day of the week. Operate only at a speed that allows you to remain in total control of your snowmobile. Channel your need for speed into organized events: snowmobile clubs across the state host radar runs, hill climbs and races all season long. If you want to ride hard and fast, do it at one of these events—and take home a trophy to boot!

Use Hand Signals — You owe it to all the other snowmobilers on the trails to signal prior to a change in your operation. Whether you are making a turn or just plain slowing down, use the proper hand signal so others know what you are doing.

Ride Defensively — A few people can ruin a good time for the majority. Snowmobilers need to be constantly vigilant to the fact that you don’t know what is coming at you, what is around the next bend or who is overtaking you. Enter all corners cautiously, pull over in a safe place and let snowmobilers by who come up behind you, and most importantly, be ready to react to any situation you may encounter. The best part of the sport of snowmobiling is meeting friends, neighbors and visitors along the trail. The worst part is meeting a snowmobiler who doesn’t know right from left. Stay to the right side of the trail at all times.

Ride Sober — Don’t drink and ride and don’t let anyone in your group drink and ride. Maine has a tough snowmobile OUI law. If you manage to drink and ride and are caught before you are killed, you will be punished with mandatory jail time and fines. Being a good friend means lifting the keys of a fellow rider who thinks he’s OK when he’s not. 

Wildlife Always Have The Right of Way — Keep an eye out for moose and deer, who live where you’re sledding. If you come up behind a moose on the trail, stay far away and wait for the animal to leave. If any large animal shows an interest in the fact that you are on the trail, turn around and leave. Don’t turn off your sled and follow animals to get a better look—you might wish you hadn’t. 

Let Someone Know Your Plans — Leave a note describing your ride — where you’re going, what route you’re taking, who you’re with, and when you plan to return. A description of your sled is a good idea too. Leave the information with a friend, the hotel desk clerk, or someone who can share the information if you don’t return in a timely manner. If your plans change, let someone know and save the Warden Service, which conducts searches and rescues, an expensive wasted effort. 

Common Sense — Always have someone ride along with you in case of breakdown or accident. Bring a map and don’t use shortcuts if you don’t know the area. Carry a basic repair kit and survival gear, including a pocket knife, flare, flashlight, matches, first aid kit, etc. Always check weather reports, dress appropriately, and wear a helmet.

Learn the snowmobile traffic laws and regulations for the area. Many states prohibit sledding on public roads and some have minimum age requirements for drivers. Be sensible about stopping at roads or railroad tracks. Signal your turns to other drivers and avoid tailgating. 

Slow at the top of a hill—a cliff, snowbank, or other unforeseen hazard could be on the other side. Use extra caution when driving at night—unseen obstacles could be fatal. Don’t drive faster than your headlights will allow you to see. 

Lakes and Ponds — Stay away from frozen bodies of water unless you’re absolutely sure of ice thickness. Snowmobile trails don’t cross ponds or lakes unless there is no reasonable alternative. Bridges are provided to cross rivers and streams. If you’re planning to ride a trail that crosses water, check with the locals for current ice thickness. If you encounter slush, maintain speed and steer away from other riders’ trails.

Remembering these tips will help you to enjoy snowmobiling the way it should be—a fun and safe sport for everyone.