Courtesy of Keweenaw ATV Club Whether it is helping on maintaining a trail during the Fall Trail Maintenance program or just stopping while on a fun trail ride, active membership in the Keweenaw ATV Club is not only fun, but can be the start of lifelong friendship.

The single issue that unites clubs and organizations all over the Copper Country is getting young people to join. Even when the rewards of membership include getting new friends and having fun together, the camaraderie of becoming an active member of the Keweenaw ATV Club goes even further than the good nature everyone receives.

It includes having fun while maintaining the very same Off Road Vehicle trails that you and your friends enjoy riding. The trails that ORV riders from all over the Midwest will be coming to our area for the popular KATV Fall Color Ride on Oct. 5.

Since the conception of the KATV Club exactly 20 years ago, numerous lifelong friendships have been built. From 2004 to today, club members are proud of building one of the best ORV Trail Networks in the entire Midwest. Past and present club members are extremely proud in coordinating events, rides and the annual picnic.

“In our 20th year anniversary we had a really great turnout for our Annual Picnic,” stated KATV’s Daryl St. John. “As many know we have some really great volunteers that ‘adopt’ a section of a trail for trail maintenance.”

One can imagine the pride one has when riding the section of the trail you worked on, and telling family and friends about it! This doesn’t even include the new friends you acquired by being a member. Ask a former Boy or Girl Scout about the memories they have when they were first a teenager. Same goes with a Lake Linden alumni of past football teams, or an alumnus of the Calumet High School hockey team, or a Hancock recent graduate from their high school basketball team. Every single one has great stories to tell; some are even true.

It’s the same for a youngster joining the KATV Club. From just going on a ride to the recent ‘grading’ of a trail, a member is building long lasting memories. “We’ve got the grading done on the ‘B’ (Mandan) trail. We’ve worked with the Keweenaw Snowmobile Trail in putting in a new bridge. It was a great group to work with, and we really appreciate all the work the volunteers did,” commented St. John.

Ask any parent what they are concerned with when it comes to their children making new friends. They will say that they hope their children associate with friends that will help make them better adults. This is where it is imperative that parents encourage their children in becoming an active member of the KATV Club. After all the kids love to ride! Here is a way they can have fun riding their ATV or SXS AND claim pride in that trail they worked on. Or better yet, a trail the kids were instrumental in building!

“It’s getting really hard to get new active members to volunteer,” explained Kitty Beleck of the KATV Club. “Parents please come to our next meeting. Bring your recent High School graduate, or a friend. It is our Annual Meeting where officers will be elected.”

That important annual meeting is on Monday, Oct. 7. It is at the Hubbell VFW on M-26. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. “We will be holding our election of officers and updating club business. If you are interested in an officer position, come to the meeting,” Beleck stated. “All new members are encouraged to attend. Please bring a friend.”

It’s new and old friends that makes the KATV Club so special. Yes, it is the KATV Club that is instrumental in a major part of our area’s Tourism economy. It’s a proven fact that the KATV Club has built an exemplary ORV Trail Network. However, all this starts with friends working with friends while doing what they enjoy. That is riding an ORV.

One of the most popular rides in the Midwest is the KATV Club Fall Color Ride. That will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5. They will meet at the Drift Inn at 9 a.m.

“Please bring a bagged lunch as we will stop along the trail. The ride is open to everyone,” concluded Beleck.

“The ride is a lot of fun, and the color is ‘tree’-mendous,” St. John stated.

It’s rides, like the KATV Fall Color Ride to just getting fellow members together to go for a ride, that you will remember for years to come. It doesn’t matter what age or riding experience you have, please go to the Oct. 7 meeting at the Hubbell VFW, or go to www.keweenawatvclub.com to join. Individual membership is only $25 a year. Full family membership is only $35 per member.

Whether you are fortunate enough to have your own ORV, looking to buy an ORV from anyone of our excellent local ORV dealers, or to rent at ORV for the day, this is a great time of the year to get out and ride. Please join one of the best organizations in the Copper Country, the Keweenaw ATV Club.