Benton snowmobile club donates ResQ discs

by Dennis Dalman

editor@thenewsleaders.com

Something as simple as a fancy Frisbee can save lives, and that is why local law enforcement are grateful to have ResQ Discs, one for each patrol car.

Last week, the Benton County Snowmobile Club presented several law-enforcement agencies with the discs during a presentation inside the snowmobile-grooming equipment shed in Gilman. The club, whose members were well aware of the discs’ lifesaving potential, decided to buy 25 discs. There in Gilman to accept the discs were Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck, Sartell Police Deputy Dale Struffert, Sauk Rapids Police Chief Berry Beise and Rice Police Chief Ross Hamann.

Those who presented the discs were Del Rothstein, Benton County Snowmobile Club president, and the club’s vice president, Scott Jerve.

ResQ Discs were invented years ago by a man named Dr. Tom Sytko of the nationally famous Save A Life website. Since then, there have been stirring testimonials Coast to Coast about how the discs have saved lives.

How they work

Each ResQ disc is a round blaze orange hard-plastic ring that resembles in shape and function a large yoyo combined with a Frisbee. There is 100 feet of very strong but light nylon rope coiled within the disc. The user quickly unwraps about 20 feet of the rope, then throws the disc to a victim in danger of drowning. The person in peril grabs the disc, which is buoyant, and then the rescuer pulls the victim to safety.

Inventor Tom Sytko donated one of the discs to the Benton County Snowmobile Club because they have often been used to help snowmobilers who have fallen through thin ice. The members of the club were so impressed by the way the disc works they decided to buy some as gifts for local law enforcement.

Club members used to carry old sealed milk cartons and nylon rope just in case of a through-the-ice rescue. The ResQ discs are infinitely better, said Rothstein, the club president. And the law-enforcement officials who accepted them as gifts gave great big thank-yous to the club who gave them as gifts.

The club

The Benton County Snowmobile Club was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1984 and now has nearly 70 family memberships.

Annual dues are $35 per family, and the club meets for social hour at 6 p.m. with the business meeting starting at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday at Rumors Bar & Grill south of Rice for nine months of the year, other than the summer months (June, July, August).

The club is responsible for maintaining and grooming 101 miles of snowmobile trails in Benton County. It’s the club’s biggest job. They also clear the rails of overhanging branches and other debris, build and maintain bridges and gates as needed, maintain warming houses on the trail, work with landowners regarding trail location and trail use, and work very closely with the Department of Natural Resources Trails and Waterway Division.

Once tasks are completed, the paperwork covering all tasks and expenses is submitted to a grant-in-aid program through which a lion’s share of the cost is reimbursed.

Grant-in-aid trail funding comes from various sources, including registration fees people pay for their snowmobiles, trail-pass fees paid by Minnesota snowmobilers and a gasoline tax on gas when filling one’s sled. Twenty-five percent of the snowmobile gas tax is dedicated to snowmobile trails. The tax and its results pays off, according to snowmobile enthusiasts who say snowmobiling generates up to $200 million in tourism dollars in Minnesota whereas the total budget for the state’s trail systems is only about $15 million.

The grant-in-aid funds cover the work done by members of the snowmobile club, including equipment purchases and rentals, fuel, culverts, bridges, signage, trail maps and insurance. However, club members also work hard to raise funds to enhance other trail amenities.

The Benton County Snowmobile Club teaches a Youth Safety Snowmobile Training Course, hosts hot dog/brat cookouts on the trails and sponsors a Landowners Appreciation Dinner on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Members also organize a special annual snowmobile trip to somewhere else.

Anyone is welcome to join the Benton club. Just show up at the monthly meetings as mentioned above.