NON PROFIT CLUBS DRAGGED INTO LAWSUIT

Hi, my name is Mallory. I am the current acting president of Valley Riders Snowmobile Club of Moscow & Bingham, ME and Moose Alley Riders ATV Club Solon & Bingham ME. On November 27th, both clubs were served a summons to court by five landowners that own land along the Solon-Bingham Railbed, also known as the Kennebec Valley Trail, a multi-use trail dating back to 1994 and had been used by the public since 1983. These landowners are suing Central Maine Power (CMP), Moose Alley Riders and Valley Riders. The two nonprofit volunteer-based clubs have maintained this section of the trail under a license provided by CMP to the state of Maine. Neither club has anything to do with the land ownership dispute but they are being dragged into this court case to shut down the use of this trail which would disconnect several communities and other sections of Maine's vast trail network. The Plaintiffs claim the club has been encouraging trespassing on their land (the trail in question) without authority, and have altered and ultimately damaged their land. They are looking to be compensated for damages, costs and attorney fees. We are at a point where both clubs need to hire legal representation. The response to the Court System for the summons is due within 20 days of delivery. Nonprofit snowmobile and ATV clubs operate mainly on state-funded grants and fundraising activities, which are mostly restricted funds that cannot be used for legal defense or costs not related to the grant. This leaves us with fundraising as our last resort...we have 17 days and counting to respond. Please, if you can donate to this cause, it's not just the riding community you will be supporting. You are supporting several communities in central Maine that rely on outdoor recreation to keep businesses operating, people employed and communities thriving!

Any residual funds raised by this campaign after our legal costs have been paid will be split by the two clubs for use in trail maintanance and other club operations.