The International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
Building Relationships is Everything
Back in 1991, my first year residing in the beautiful Haliburton Highlands of
Central Ontario, I decided to cold call John Blaicher an administrator of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC). I had recently become aware that John was an integral part of the OFSC’s Safe Riders education campaign. He was also highly involved with the Royal Life Saving Society Canada promoting the prevention of drowning.
We chatted for a while but, unfortunately nothing came of it then. It wasn’t until 2-3 years later that I met John face to face for the first time at the Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons’ offices in Scarborough Ontario. I was working at that time with Brian Burch, the Squadrons' Executive Director, on what was to become the Boat Pro Series, a collection of illustrated books covering boating awareness issues from safety to environmental concerns. John was there representing the Royal Life Saving Society on boating related drowning issues. How it happened, I really can’t recall, but for some reason Brian felt compelled to introduce me to John. Lucky me! John and I immediately forged a relationship that endures to this day as professional collaborators and very good friends.
You Never Know When the Chickens Will Come Home to Roost
John called me up shortly thereafter and suggested that he would like to set up a meeting with Edward (Ed) Klim President of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA). John and I met Ed in Port Huron Michigan and what followed became a wildly successful snowmobiling Safe Riders awareness campaign adopted by many snowmobile clubs and associations across the northern hemisphere. My art is still in use today. Talk about longevity!
"I have had the pleasure of working with Robert Van Nood in the development and expansion of our Safe Riders! snowmobiling safety campaign. The success and the positive impact of the poster series can best be understood by knowing that we have printed and distributed over 200,000 posters throughout North America. Robert Van Nood is a key player in this effort" ~ Edward Klim
Over the next two and a half decades I illustrated 15 highly detailed poster images blending my sense of humour and illustration style with a strong educational message. If you are a snowmobiler chances are good you will be familiar with my art. The original thought was that my work would be represented in a poster series. Today the art is also used widely for PSA campaigns in print, multimedia, for trail signage and even mobile trailers and billboards.