January 2021

Rhode Island Chapter

New England Mountain Bike Association

January 2020 Meeting Agenda

RINEMBA January Meeting: 7:00 p.m. January 5, 2020 by Zoom.

1. Thank you Jenna for the minutes, Shannon for cat herding.

   1. Member #’s, account $, etc.

   2. $2470, after Johnny Cake deposits check we will have $1,975

2. Welcome to any newcomers.

3. John Machata trail grant. No news. Still waiting on DEM.

4. NST maintenance: Alan reposted.

5. Contact from Tiverton school dept to help with “a small jump park? Pump track? Or gravity trail?” Any news, Chris Hughes?

   1. Chris reached out, no response. Will reach out again

6. Woody Hill work permit for 1/9/21. Denied: “The committee has decided it would be best to wait until after hunting season is over to allow vehicle access behind gate on Woody Hill.”

Also: Glenn pursuing alternative WH access with town.

1. 2021 event calendar.

   1. Meeting Street Bike Club probably cancelled.

   2. Tentatively resume Fun Rides in July at earliest, likely August/September

   3. Virtual fun ride?

2. Purchase new tent - $600 for mid grade. Board to suggest color and logo (item #11, below) and Alan will pursue.

   1. Color choice is green (like old color) with blaze orange print

   2. Logo – idea by Chris Flanagan below, or wait for NEMBA corporate

3. Should we as RINEMBA contact elected officials to try to pressure DEM to change their rules?

   1. What would we ask for/ideas?

      1. Change to 75 limit for fun rides… specific and narrow request, but would require regulation change

      2. Ask for rubber stamp instead of a decision from DEM – suggestion to show them areas, what we as an organization could do to better the trails, ask for specific permission for trail building plan.

      3. Prompts from other NEMBA chapters saying how much they would love to come ride in RI, spend money, bring tourism to the state

      4. Want the ability to maximize what we already have, using the land that’s already there, making is useable for everyone, night riding

   2. Form a task force, identify what we want DEM to do, write it out in a document (strategic plan). Christopher D’Ovitio, Peter Gengler, Chris Perez, Dennis Wilson, Isaiah Smith, Tabitha Harkin, Patrick Haskell, Alan. To meet before next meeting

4. Ideas for 75 problem?

   1. Force limit with registration? (overflow would still appear to be the event; food truck would not come for only a 75 person event)

   2. Hold 2 day event

   3. Beginner, intermediate, advanced start times

   4. Events at staggered times

   5. Send ideas to me or present during Feb meeting, review regulations

5. Chris Flanagan presentation (see PDF for content)

   1. Ideas from presentation – get a winter virtual fun ride in place (maybe one in each of the major ride areas). Winter virtual ride series (5 locations for example).

   2. Video introduction to different riding areas, different loops GPX tracks to “guide” people showcasing beginner loops, intermediate, etc.

6. New Business from board?

   1. Chris Flanagan to take over website, get credentials from Matt Mlynec or Shannon. Build a prototype for review then swap the DNS (squarespace, pricing, webstore, etc). Chris to figure out pricing and options.

   2. Using Chris’ logo as official logo for RINEMBA

7. Comments/requests/concerns/questions/complaints from newcomers?

   1. Trail building series in south county – if you join you get your name entered in a raffle. Looking for more raffle items. Work at Woody Hill currently, but would like to expand to hiking trails and other places.