By Scott Burby | Region 3 District 7
As most people do around Thanksgiving time, I sit back and enjoy the company of my family and friends, I like to take a few moments on those days off to reflect and look at what is around me and how far I have come in my life. This year has marked some incredible changes for me, all sparked by a conversation in the fall of 2023 with current MISORVA president at the time, Paul Anderson. Paul and I knew each other from our activity in the Michigan Boondockers club, being active CCC members and our love for dirt bikes, so it only made sense for him to reach out to me about joining MISORVA and trying to help connect the dots with one of the many motorized recreational activities, dirt bikes. Nervous as ever, I set off on a trip to Newberry to attend my first ever MISORVA meeting on December 2nd, 2023. At the time my wife thought I was crazy, she just didn’t understand yet…. Because I thought I did understand why I was setting off on this journey….
Surrounded by many strangers who enjoy the same activities as myself I anxiously awaited the start of the meeting; this was by far the most I had ventured out of my comfort zone in a long time. With that over, and a new venture ahead of me I jumped headfirst into this volunteer thing by becoming the Dirt Bike Liaison and joining the Legislative Committee. This is where things got good, fostering relationships that will most likely last a lifetime was a benefit and learning how things work with the Snowmobile and ORV programs was educational, of which I am still learning.
With such an educational 2024 season under my belt, I was set to keep forging ahead with being more involved, I was also more involved with my own motorcycle club by helping to mark event routes and sweep ride at the end of the events and maintain trails, something that truly makes me happy. It was also the last meeting in 2024 for MISORVA when I was finally able to get some facetime with the Executive Director, Karen. We had some great conversations, and she was really diving deep into the questions of the dirt bike world and how we do things like maintaining the trails and hosting rides and how we even have some of the same issues with the DNR/State that many other clubs statewide have had over the years or still have currently.
Looking back on 2025, wow what a ride! In February Karen called me up at the last minute and asked if I wanted to attend the State of The State in Lansing, I jumped at the opportunity to help show a MISORVA presence. Not knowing exactly what to expect I was a little bit nervous again, but little did Karen and I know we would get to have some good educational conversations that would help steer future conversations.
In March we had some technological issues that stopped the Groomer Workshop dead in its tracks (no pun intended), but Karen and Gina pivoted and made some magic happen to get some virtual options availed to the attendees, one of those options was a presentation I was asked to create and facilitate that was spurred by a question from a State Representative during a meeting at the State of The State. Again, I was venturing into uncharted waters for me. And what a controversial presentation that was! I felt like a deer in the headlights with the flack I was taking for what was a simple question with what I thought was a simple answer, yes or no… I took that with a grain of salt at Karens request as I was ready to crawl back under my rock from which I had come from…. As I was still trying to wrap my head around one question, why am I doing this? And you guessed it, my wife still thought I was crazy…
At the end of March, we had one of the worst ice storms that northern Michigan has ever seen, crippling not only the local economies but testing the strength of communities. The snowmobile and ORV trails took a huge hit, the devastation in the woods was unbelievable, the clubs and trail maintainers couldn’t help but feel defeated. Many clubs have felt a decline of membership numbers over the years; the long-term members are aging out and there are not enough new young members joining back up. This is a struggle for all motorized recreation clubs, including the motorcycle club I belong to. However, many volunteers showed up when it counted, and many new people joined clubs because of this. People knew what we have and saw firsthand how close we came to losing some of it and I believe it made a lasting impact on those new club members.
In April MISORVA sent 4 representatives to the ACSA DC Fly In, I was blessed to be one of those. That was the experience of a lifetime, even though I was more nervous than I had ever been… Because this was a long way away from my rock… I would recommend this experience to any of the MISORVA BOD members, meeting with so many people from across the country who are involved and dedicated to their recreation was humbling. They all have similar yet different challenges they face, but at the end of the day it showed the meaning of the phrase “There is strength in numbers”!
The remainder of the year was kind of quiet for the exception of all my trips up north to clear trails, however June was very pivotal for me. My motorcycle club president had mentioned he was ready to retire, who would take his place? There were a few options, and a lot of whispers within the club, however our club numbers were in massive decline, and we were thinking it was time to fold it up. I had a conversation with some new and remaining members, and we decided no matter what we would keep it going somehow. Besides, we still had another event to host in October!
Well apparently, when you give some motivational insights to your fellow members that tends to build the foundation for them to vote you in as club president (who knew?) …. Now, don’t get me wrong, I was and still am honored to be voted in as the Tomahawk Trail Riders club president this past October, but with that new assignment and the new trial maintenance work I will be taking on in 2026, it led me to some major self-reflection. This was also the time I had finally found the answer to my question. Why am I doing this?
In the fall of 2024 at a club ride, it was announced at the prize drawing that my son was one of three generations that rode together on the ride that weekend. My father, myself, and my youngest son rode together like we always do. This was normal and I thought nothing different, until I looked back on that announcement. My son and I even rode sweep together to pull arrows from the route, just like the founding father of the Tomahawk Trail Riders club did with his sons! That is why I am doing this! I am volunteering when and where I can so that many generations can enjoy the motorized recreations of our choice!
I had to make the tough decision not to return as a MISORVA BOD member in 2026. I did renew my membership, well, because there is strength in numbers! And again, volunteer when and where you can, do not overextend yourself as you will burn out very quickly. All facets of motorized recreation need volunteers, from the club level getting the work done on the ground all the way to the folks fighting on Capitol Hill for your right to recreate, get involved somewhere!
I want to end my reflection with a huge thank you to each and every one of you, from the general membership, the BOD members, the executive level members, all the way to the office staff! Without people like you we would not continue to have what those that came before us fought so hard to achieve.
Ride right, ride safe, and ride sober! ν