Newsletter Articles
| Petenwell ATV Club Election Results 2010 |
 |  |  |  |  |
| Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up |
| Thursday, September 16th 6:00 p.m. Meet at Josie's. * Bags and safety vests supplied. ** Boots and gloves suggested. The more people we have, the quicker the work is done! Monthly meeting at Josie's following the clean-up. |
| President - Chris Draper Treasurer - Kim Walrath Advisors - Don Walrath & Tim Wiesner |
| * Thank you to these members for their service to the Petenwell ATV Club. |
| May 2010 |
10th Anniversary Edition
A little history…
A few friends had an idea. They wanted to be able to ride their ATVs to the local establishments in
the Townships of Armenia and Finley, legally, so an “ATV club” was formed and the request for routes
was set in motion. The Town of Armenia was approached to establish an ordinance to designate ATV
routes in the Township, and a route system was devised. The first ordinance was approved in
December of 1999, establishing approximately 31 miles of routes in the Town of Armenia, with the
hopes that monies for the signs, posts, etc. for the routes would be obtained from a State grant.
The small group of riders had invited others to join in their crusade. Word of a local ATV club and
possible ATV routes spread fast and interest grew, officers were elected, a club name was chosen,
and on February 21, 2000 the first official general meeting of the Petenwell ATV Club was held at the
Armenia Town Hall in New Miner. The first executive board members were President - Chris Draper,
Vice President - Galen Ames, Secretary - Norma Hofmeister, and Treasurer - Tracey Winters, with
advisors Larry Hofmeister, Jim Murray, Al Podczerwinski, Don Walrath, & Frank Worzalla. (Any of
those names sound familiar?) The quest for routes went on. The Townships of Finley and Necedah
were approached to establish ordinances to designate ATV routes in those townships to help
promote business for all of the local establishments. It was revealed in late July that monies from
the State would not be granted to our cause. However, that did not stop the drive to get routes
open. The club would accept financial and physical responsibility of signing the routes, and
fundraisers were planned. At the publishing of the first newsletter in August 2000 the membership
was at 70, and that was with no routes yet to ride! Fundraisers were held, route signs were ordered,
and after a few more minor delays and a lot of hard work the first Juneau County ATV routes
officially opened at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2000; approximately 38 miles in the
Townships of Armenia, Finley, and Necedah. Of course our very first club ride took place that weekend!
By the October meeting in 2000 the club’s membership had grown to 140.
The routes continued to grow.
In 2001 the Town of Finley decided to open all of its roads as ATV routes, as there was such a
request for route access by residents of the Town.
In years following, clubs such as Castle Rock Family ATV Club and Bear Bluff ATV Club were formed
and established routes connected to the Petenwell ATV Club routes.
The routes continued to grow.
The Towns of Remington and Port Edwards designated ATV routes so that ATV riders could reach
establishments in Babcock.
More fundraisers were held. Club trail rides took place. Members took Trail Patrol Ambassador and
Safety Certification training classes. Safety Certification Classes were taught. Poker runs took
place. Christmas parties were held. Adopt-A-Highway clean-ups took place. New board members and
advisors were elected, and some were reelected.
And the routes continued to grow.
Throughout the years a lot has taken place. Most years have not been as eventful as the very first
year when first establishing the routes, but a lot of great times riding were had, new friends were
made, the outdoors were enjoyed, establishments were supported, the enthusiasm of ATV riding has
endured, and the routes continue to grow!
The present executive board members are President – Chris Draper, Vice President – Frank Worzalla,
Secretary – Tracey Draper, and Treasurer – Kim Walrath, with Advisors Dennis Castellon, Al Lila,
Don Walrath, Ray Weiss, & Tim Wiesner. The Petenwell ATV club is now at approximately 365 members.
There are now approximately 100 miles of ATV routes to ride as established by the Petenwell ATV
Club, which of course connect to many, many, more miles of riding pleasure in northern Juneau
County as established by the Castle Rock Family ATV Club and the Bear Bluff ATV Club. And the
Petenwell ATV Club continues to be financially and physically responsible for signing and renewing the
routes it has established. It’s amazing to see what has happened all because a few friends just
wanted a place to ride. Thank you to those friends, and the rest of the charter members: Dennis
Enerson, Larry & Norma Hofmeister, Chris & Tracey (Winters) Draper, Galen & Penny Ames, Jim
Murray, Shawn & Sherri Murray, Frank Worzalla, Kim & Don Walrath, and Tim & Jody Egland. And
thank you to the other members who have provided support to the club throughout the years. It’s
been a good ride.
Happy 10th Anniversary Petenwell ATV Club, and many more.
A few friends had an idea. They wanted to be able to ride their ATVs to the local establishments in
the Townships of Armenia and Finley, legally, so an “ATV club” was formed and the request for routes
was set in motion. The Town of Armenia was approached to establish an ordinance to designate ATV
routes in the Township, and a route system was devised. The first ordinance was approved in
December of 1999, establishing approximately 31 miles of routes in the Town of Armenia, with the
hopes that monies for the signs, posts, etc. for the routes would be obtained from a State grant.
The small group of riders had invited others to join in their crusade. Word of a local ATV club and
possible ATV routes spread fast and interest grew, officers were elected, a club name was chosen,
and on February 21, 2000 the first official general meeting of the Petenwell ATV Club was held at the
Armenia Town Hall in New Miner. The first executive board members were President - Chris Draper,
Vice President - Galen Ames, Secretary - Norma Hofmeister, and Treasurer - Tracey Winters, with
advisors Larry Hofmeister, Jim Murray, Al Podczerwinski, Don Walrath, & Frank Worzalla. (Any of
those names sound familiar?) The quest for routes went on. The Townships of Finley and Necedah
were approached to establish ordinances to designate ATV routes in those townships to help
promote business for all of the local establishments. It was revealed in late July that monies from
the State would not be granted to our cause. However, that did not stop the drive to get routes
open. The club would accept financial and physical responsibility of signing the routes, and
fundraisers were planned. At the publishing of the first newsletter in August 2000 the membership
was at 70, and that was with no routes yet to ride! Fundraisers were held, route signs were ordered,
and after a few more minor delays and a lot of hard work the first Juneau County ATV routes
officially opened at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, September 29, 2000; approximately 38 miles in the
Townships of Armenia, Finley, and Necedah. Of course our very first club ride took place that weekend!
By the October meeting in 2000 the club’s membership had grown to 140.
The routes continued to grow.
In 2001 the Town of Finley decided to open all of its roads as ATV routes, as there was such a
request for route access by residents of the Town.
In years following, clubs such as Castle Rock Family ATV Club and Bear Bluff ATV Club were formed
and established routes connected to the Petenwell ATV Club routes.
The routes continued to grow.
The Towns of Remington and Port Edwards designated ATV routes so that ATV riders could reach
establishments in Babcock.
More fundraisers were held. Club trail rides took place. Members took Trail Patrol Ambassador and
Safety Certification training classes. Safety Certification Classes were taught. Poker runs took
place. Christmas parties were held. Adopt-A-Highway clean-ups took place. New board members and
advisors were elected, and some were reelected.
And the routes continued to grow.
Throughout the years a lot has taken place. Most years have not been as eventful as the very first
year when first establishing the routes, but a lot of great times riding were had, new friends were
made, the outdoors were enjoyed, establishments were supported, the enthusiasm of ATV riding has
endured, and the routes continue to grow!
The present executive board members are President – Chris Draper, Vice President – Frank Worzalla,
Secretary – Tracey Draper, and Treasurer – Kim Walrath, with Advisors Dennis Castellon, Al Lila,
Don Walrath, Ray Weiss, & Tim Wiesner. The Petenwell ATV club is now at approximately 365 members.
There are now approximately 100 miles of ATV routes to ride as established by the Petenwell ATV
Club, which of course connect to many, many, more miles of riding pleasure in northern Juneau
County as established by the Castle Rock Family ATV Club and the Bear Bluff ATV Club. And the
Petenwell ATV Club continues to be financially and physically responsible for signing and renewing the
routes it has established. It’s amazing to see what has happened all because a few friends just
wanted a place to ride. Thank you to those friends, and the rest of the charter members: Dennis
Enerson, Larry & Norma Hofmeister, Chris & Tracey (Winters) Draper, Galen & Penny Ames, Jim
Murray, Shawn & Sherri Murray, Frank Worzalla, Kim & Don Walrath, and Tim & Jody Egland. And
thank you to the other members who have provided support to the club throughout the years. It’s
been a good ride.
Happy 10th Anniversary Petenwell ATV Club, and many more.
| Happy 10th Anniversary Petenwell ATV Club! |
| Logo Contest |
The Petenwell ATV Club needs a new logo. Are you creative and/or have an idea for a new
logo? Then join the contest! Draw up and mail, or better yet devise a logo on the computer and
submit it by email. All entries must be received by July 14th, as they will be voted on at the
July 15th meeting. We are hoping to have apparel with the new logo available at the
Anniversary Party on August 28th. The winner of the logo contest will receive a free shirt!
logo? Then join the contest! Draw up and mail, or better yet devise a logo on the computer and
submit it by email. All entries must be received by July 14th, as they will be voted on at the
July 15th meeting. We are hoping to have apparel with the new logo available at the
Anniversary Party on August 28th. The winner of the logo contest will receive a free shirt!
Saturday, July 3rd the Petenwell ATV Club is again selling food at the New Miner Independence
Day celebration. This is our major fundraiser for the year, and requires a lot of work. Unfortunately
we usually only get a handful of people to help, so it seems like even more work for those few. So, if
you could help, even for an hour, it would be appreciated. We need help cooking and serving food,
selling raffle tickets, as well as cleaning up afterward. Most of the help is needed between noon
(right after the parade) and 3 p.m. Any and all help is appreciated. Please contact Kim Walrath or
Tracey Draper or email petenwellatvclub.com to volunteer.
Day celebration. This is our major fundraiser for the year, and requires a lot of work. Unfortunately
we usually only get a handful of people to help, so it seems like even more work for those few. So, if
you could help, even for an hour, it would be appreciated. We need help cooking and serving food,
selling raffle tickets, as well as cleaning up afterward. Most of the help is needed between noon
(right after the parade) and 3 p.m. Any and all help is appreciated. Please contact Kim Walrath or
Tracey Draper or email petenwellatvclub.com to volunteer.
| Your Help Is Needed… |
| Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration… Saturday, August 28, 2010 @ Wilderness Inn Poker Run ends at 6 p.m., winners announced by 7 p.m. Food, raffles, and more fun to follow! (As this is such a special event, this will take the place of the Christmas party this year.) |
| Petenwell ATV Club 10th Anniversary Party |
| Due to current financial situations, increased need of monies to maintain and expand routes, etc., it has become necessary to change the type of membership offered by the Petenwell ATV Club from a one-time membership to a yearly membership. In hopes of keeping people involved, it has been decided to keep the yearly fee nominal so that it is affordable for many, but will still benefit the club. Renewal membership letters will be sent out in January and will need to be returned by March 1st so that the necessary record keeping can be accomplished by the first meeting of the year. This will be initiated in 2011. |
| Memberships |