June24, 2010
Craig Lyons
Berlin Daily Sun
GORHAM — As the popularity of off-highway recreational vehicles
is increasing in the North Country, a group of local residents banded together
and started a new O.H.R.V. club in Gorham.
“We all decided we needed a club here in Gorham,” said Henry Sanschagrin,
president of the Presidential O.H.R.V. Club. While only a few months old, The
Presidential O.H.R.V. Club is reaching out to the community to attract members
and increase its profile before undertaking any major efforts.
The group held its first meeting in April and attracted 12-14 people. As part of
the group’s organizational phase, Sanschagrin said the group met twice a month,
though at this point has switched to monthly meeting. He said the group has
elected officers and a board of directors and regstered the club with the state.
Currently, the group is still fine tuning its organization, looking for new
members and getting itself known in the community, said Sanschagrin.
He added the group launched its website, is on Facebook and finalizing its logo
and club by-laws. “We need to get ourselves known,” said Sanschagrin. “We’re
making a push to attract new members.”
Based on the number of people attending the meetings, Sanschagrin said things
are going well, and that a number of local businesses have been supportive of
the club.
“Now what we need is trails,” said Sanschagrin. He said at this time the club
has focused on getting the Presidential Rail Trail and Corridor 19 open for
O.H.R.V. use, so riders can connect to the trail systems in Berlin and Jericho
State Park.
Eventually, Sanschagrin said he’d like to see trails open through Gorham and
connecting into Shelburne. He added that would take some time to come to
fruition.
Sanschagrin said neither the club nor the state plan to open any trails into
Randolph or Jefferson. “It’s all a work in progress,” said Sanschagrin.
He said having the club provides a group voice to help move any trail opening
proposals forward. “It’s a lot better than individuals who speak for
themselves,” said Sanschagrin.
Sanschagrin said clubs help keep riding organized since O.H.R.V.s are becoming
more popular. “It’s a growing sport,” said Sanschagrin. “And it’s a family
sport.”
Looking forward, he said the club would give Presidential O.H.R.V. Club members
a voice and help make the sport more regional, said Sanschagrin. He added the
club wants to work with neighboring clubs in Berlin, Success and Millsfield as
well as local snowmobile clubs to help promote O.H.R.V. riding in the area.
Cooperation between the groups would make their efforts more successful, he
said. An O.H.R.V. club’s role would include trail construction and maintenance;
educating both riders and non-riders about how to properly use the trails;
provide safety courses; and other outreach efforts.
But still in its infancy, the club has plans for the future but remains focused
on increasing its profi le. “We hope to grow but everything takes time,” said
Sanschagrin. More information on the Presidential O.H.R.V. Club is online at
www.presidentialohrvclub.com.