Twenty eight members attended our May 2017 General Membership Meeting on Saturday May 13th, 2017.

The meeting started at 10 am with the president welcoming the members and introducing the directors present.
The key points of the meeting:

• This is an election year for the NDATV Board. The board will be officially dissolved in the October General Membership Meeting.
  Nominations and elections will held in the October GM. We will be looking for a NDATV Secretary.
• In the March director’s meeting it was decided that all ATV Safe Riding training will be conducted by OFATV.
• There were no proposed changes to the NDATV Corporate Bylaws.
• We will be going to Brighton, Cramahe and Hamilton Townships this year with our ATV Road Use Bylaws presentations.
• In May 2016 NDATV raised $1, 650 on our Northumberland Food for Thought Student Nutrition Program fundraiser. Mike A. arranged with Cameco to match our donation to give NFFT at total of $3,300 in 2016. The total raised by the club to date for this program is $17,947.01. Our next main fundraising event for Northumberland Food for Thought Student Nutrition Program is scheduled for 2018. 
• Due to the current flooding the Johnstown and National Valley trails are closed.
• The President, Vice President and Chief Warden met with the two Northumberland County Forest Officers in March.  There is an ongoing discussion between the townships and Northumberland County and it’s a possibility that this may be resolved in 2018 so all trails in the Northumberland Forest is owned by the Northumberland County.  The Northumberland County Forest Officers suggested that the forest volunteer course is still very valid and there are several reasons why our wardens should take the course. 
• Mike A. introduced Darren Crawford representing the Big Boy Power Toyz organization. He explained what they are doing and are planning. Their website is: www.bigboypowertoyz.com.
• It was raised in the meeting that the club should push for high visibility clothing while riding. 
• It was brought up that after a ride check for ticks.  Lime disease is not fun.
• Safe riding habits was discussed and what we should do on every ride so that everyone has their lights on, stop when the person following is no longer there and how to ensure that we do not lose anyone on a ride by having the second vehicle stop at a turn to show where the following riders should turn and then joining the ride at the end of the last rider.

Meeting was adjourned. and the ride started at 11:20.
Pictures of the ride, available here.

The NDATV Club hosted its first ride of the 2017 season on Saturday April 15th. We had 30 ATV’s and 34 riders attend this event. It was a sun/cloud start to the morning as the group left Corbyville on route to Sharbot Lake.

The trail had a few flooded areas where the water was deeper than usual, but still passable, and they were dusty in most places, which was not unusual. We met up with the Peterborough ATV Club at the steel bridge 108/212 junction in Crookston who also had their first ride of the season, so the 108 trail (Trans Canada Rail line) saw some action for sure, as they were heading to Kaladar.

Once we reached Kaladar, a few drops of rain began; as we proceeded further east, it became a steady light rain. We arrived at Sharbot Lake and had a great lunch at the Maples Restaurant; the staff were friendly and provided exceptional service. The food was excellent with a variety of menu selections and priced reasonable, their homemade burgers are awesome. If anyone is planning a ride or out in that area, I highly recommend the Maples Restaurant.

After lunch we began our return to Corbyville, raining a bit harder now, but there was a positive side as we drove further west the rain lessened and eventually stopped when we stopped for gas in Kaladar. It made way for a dust free ride home. We travelled 230 Km round trip, which made for an enjoyable day on the trails for all.

Pictures of the ride, available here.

NDATV attended the Toronto Sportsman Show on Friday March 17th working at the OFATV booth.
The photographs taken by Scott Shepperdson is of Laurie Shepperdson discussing the OFATV and NDATV Clubs to two potential new members.