Yes, pretty confusing....let me see if I can put it in layman's terms:
Most snowmobilers are aware that, in the past, if they presented proof of membership in a snowmobile club the belonged to the parent organization known as the NHSA (New Hampshire Snowmobile Association out of Tilton), they would receive a registration discount. The law simply states that the discount is available to any club member that belongs to a club that that has membership in the NHSA. The individual club member DOES NOT need to join the NHSA to get the discount.
The NHSA charges $10 per member to represent that snowmobilers, and also provide a subscription to the organization's monthly (in season) newspaper known as the snow traveler.
For a number of years the NHSA interpreted the statute as meaning they could mandate that every participating club require all joining members to also join the NHSA at the $10 fee. This raises substantial annual for the NHSA. Several clubs and individual members filed a complaint with the Attorney General over this and several other issues. In the end the AG and the NHSA came to an agreement to stop this practice, which some believed a violation of anti-trust regulations.
Up to this point the original poster and many other clubs would generate their own internal club membership numbers that a member would then use when they registered their sled(s) to get the registration discount.
Recently the NHSA began an on-line registration process. That process was suspended during the AG investigation. Now that it is back on line the NHSA and Fish & Game (which has over-sight of the registration process and discount) have determined that club managed numbering systems cannot be audited effectively. Therefore it has been mandated that only the NHSA can issue an official membership number that will be recognized for registration discount purposes. The cost of this new service? $10 plus a transaction fee.
Some believe, as the original poster implies, that this was a work around to allow the NHSA to still collect the $10 they may have lost after the AG intervened, and are upset with both the NHSA and Fish & Game. They also allege that it will mean the end of folks registering and joining local clubs where they ride, especially through Club websites, and that will mean a substantial loss in revenue and foot traffic to local clubs and their nearby registration agents.
Others argue that it is only $10, a necessary fee to keep the NHSA functional and representing the sport in this greater time of need. Fish & Game takes the position that with the hundreds of thousands of dollars involved a reliable audit trail must be put in place.
There is a core group of riders and clubs that are vehemently opposed to this new interpretation, some who led the charge to have the AG investigate NHSA practices. There are also members and clubs that support the NHSA and Fish & Game in this effort. And, as always, it appears the vast majority of registrants are unaware or don't care about this long term battle between the NHSA, Fish & Game, and some riders and clubs.
Fairly complicated issue that most probably don't have the time to follow. Hope I've summed it up in a little more tidy fashion.....
