Shawnee Sno-Chiefs named National Snowmobile Club of the Year

The Shawnee Sno-Chiefs Snowmobile Club in Niagara County was honored by the American Council of Snowmobile Associations as the Snowmobile Club of the Year at the 2013 International Snowmobile Congress in Green Bay on June 8. This award for the club and its 818 member families follows up a similar recognition by the New York State Snowmobile Association as the Club of the Year at the Educational Forum and Annual Meeting held in Lake Placid in April.

"This award is a true testament to the dedication that all our members have for the sport of snowmobiling," said Brent Walck, president of the Sno-Chiefs. "We are honored to receive this top national award recognizing our club at the premier annual snowmobile event."

The Shawnee Sno-Chiefs regularly offer safety-training classes and in the past season, educated 45 students about safe snowmobiling. With more than 60 miles of trails, the club spent more than 300 hours grooming in the 2012-13 season, providing top quality trails for everyone in the family-based club. In addition to the two club of the year awards, Club President Brent Walck was honored with NYSSA's John Albert/Ed Dutcher Most Valuable Snowmobiler of the Year Award.

"The New York State Snowmobile Association congratulates the Shawnee Sno-Chiefs on another award that shows they are a model club in the sport of snowmobiling," said James Elmore, president of NYSSA. "The Snowmobile Club of the Year Award is well deserved, given the year-round dedication the club exhibits to our sport, including safety classes, fundraising, trail maintenance and building, and partnerships with local sponsors and elected officials."