April 2024
Rhode Island Chapter
New England Mountain Bike Association
April 2024 Meeting Agenda and Minutes
RINEMBA Meeting: 7:00 p.m. Tavern on the Hill, 809 Nooseneck Hill Rd, West Greenwich, RI
Roll Call
Mark, Wayne, Shannon, Dennis, Tabitha, Chris, Peter G., Amy M
Welcome to any newcomers.
Comments/requests/concerns/questions/complaints from newcomers?
Administration
Start of annual filing of RI incorporation (Wayne) – Due May
Payment made to State, should be all set
Insurance renewal (Wayne)
Wayne shared event certificate
Night riding expired in March, we’re waiting on workers comp renewal and would like to submit both at the same time
Blanket certificate expired, but we can get an event cert for Woody Hill in less than 24hrs if DEM asks
No MOU needed for rides after May (when night ride MOU ends)
Membership numbers – 275 at last check
Financial summary – Mar 2024
Opening balance: $4,204.79
Income: $962.50
Expenses: ($37.11)
Closing balance: $5,130.18
Next meeting – May 7, 2024
Charles will keep trying Black Oak
Arcadia pavillion with a ride
Trek Warwick - Mike Iafrates
DEM
Request placed for clarification on snow grooming requirements. There are no issues in areas where they allow snowmobiles (e.g. GW for instance). For other areas an agreement would need to be developed. A better approach is to submit a proposed amendment during the public comment period when the regs go out for public comment in the very near future.
Charles Picard to research regs and public comment period(s).
Model after night ride plan, where we add specific winter days where grooming would be allowed.
Establish a maintenance MOU with DEM. Mark Savage to find out where this left off with Alan’s previous conversations.
Snow grooming
Potential opportunity with onsite storage at Glocester Land Trust - Park for next winter. They seem eager to find a home for it.
Trek’s snow dog – transfer to RINEMBA? Storage? Mike needs an answer by October. Glocester would be great, 2nd choice would be send to quiet corner NEMBA and Pomfret, CT.
SIDE QUEST - not on agenda - good discussion on social media posts and how we can use these as opportunities to educate the mtb community on how we can affect change in the RI regulations. No firm decisions, just a good exchange of ideas. All agree we do not want RINEMBA to be seen as the fun police.
Joint trail build RINEMBA/Rhody Rovers
Same night as Glocester Land Trust, so Dennis can’t be two places at once
Park for now. Follow up for a trail day after their next event in June.
RINEMBA 2024 Fun ride planning
Diamond Hill: Reschedule for later in the year or cancel?
August or bust. TBD. Would be a shame to pass this up.
Ebb and Flow beer release fun ride - April 7,2024
Permit submitted to DEM pending approval - insurance not a blocker
Rain date needs to move to May-5 due to hunting opening weekends.
Weather looks good though!!!
Lead routes Ride leaders in place?
YES!
Dennis to give a ride leader briefing.
Registration setup/break down
Signage – Extras for raffles/sale at the event
After party at Grey Sails
Beer coozie - Approval from Grey Sails?
SIDE QUEST - work out a structure to incentivize carpooling
MBAS ride for Woody Hill – July 14, 2024 – Planning needed
Joe Ducharme BBQ - food truck offline, no alternate vendor on board
Beginner Clinics
Ryan Park beginner ride event May 18
Planning Committee - Jim, Chris D, Tabitha, Mark Troob
What help needed?
Affiliated vendors - Trek? Ride-On?
All vendors need to be registered and have a tax id on file. $150 for ten tents
VFW was going to donate burgers - food safety permits required
Dept. of Health does not classify hot dogs as food!!!
Recycle-A-Bike can provide bikes/helmets let them know what we need (Chris D)
Earth Day Activities (Saturday 20-April)
GENERAL NOTE: Combine a trail maintenance day with Earth Day cleanups for next year
WGCC cleanup - mainly roadside - meet at Old exit 6A park and ride meeting for Big River cleanup planning
Donation to WGCC - $300
NEYC Participation - yes
Team to hit Pine Top in Arcadia? Maybe next year
Woody Hill land trust activities - cruise and brews – more info available?
NEMBA Corporate
Conflict of interest acknowledgement for BOD’s (Complete?) Wayne =yes, Adam = ?
PK Memorial ride – May-18 Carlisle MA
Wayne will attend, it would be great to have others.
Media blast to solicit participants
Trail school - full weekend school scheduled Jun-8 at Middlesex Fells, Medford, MA . Opportunities for us to host local trail school – min 25 participants. We struggled to get 5 last year.
Quebec NEMBA Friends and Family Weekend - Aug 8-12
Matt Schulde has notified NEMBA of his intention to step down. Actual date to be determined to allow VP replacement to be added to the board.
Women's Skills & Clinic Leader Training – Westwood MA - May-4, 2024
Elevate Mountain Bike Festival - June 14-16, 2024 in East Burke, VT
Women and gender expansive cyclists
Group Rides, Workshops, Clinics
Coaches & Volunteers Needed
Arcadia Bridge Build
Leftover wood from the old bridge available for repurposing.
Glocester Land Trust Meeting
Glocester Land Trust approved a motion to move forward on a partnership with RINEMBA to build a professionally designed mountain bike trail in Sprague Farm
We need to contact professional trail builders and create a first steps action plan before the next meeting
Pinnacle Trail Builders
Mike Leblanc as a backup (of Mike’s Trail fame)
Apply for a NEMBA trail grant to go towards the master plan. Deadline moved out so we have some breathing room.
$200k for a 5mi trail, $400k for 10mi
compounding grants, NEMBA + IMBA + Shimano, all matching grants
$10k for 5mi planning, $20k for 10mi planning.
Cumberland Town pump track
Groundbreaking scheduled for May-2024
NEMBA contribution $1000 approved, bike stand in Dennis and Tabitha’s garage
NEMBA Trail Grant application - Dennis/Willem
Most pressing need is diesel fuel and funds for a strider area.
Regularly Scheduled Group Rides
DEM MOU Ends April 30, 2024
Woody Hill – 6 pm Mondays
Arcadia – 6 pm Tuesdays
Big River – 6 pm Thursdays
On May 1 moves from Park and Ride to Burnt Sawmill
Group sizes 10 or more need to split into groups less than 10
Trailforks
Pat Dowling is our Trailforks champion – any help/guidance needed?
Adaptive Trails- Speak to adaptive riders–any feedback from Chris Quirk?
Ride area reps
Updates from the riding areas
Big River is WET
Lincoln Woods is mostly fine.
Any news from corporate? (Wayne)
38 board member to ~16-18
Wayne could be stepping into Matt’s role as RI rep, this position should survive a restructuring
May 18th will be next update on BOD structure status
New Business from the board?
Appendix A – Finances
Opening balance:
$4,204.79
Income:
Chapter rebates
$962.50
Expenses:
Zoom
Corporate registration renewal
($17.11)
($20.00)
Closing balance:
$5,130.18
Expenses for next month
Woody Hill Sign $84.00
WH Beer Ride - Koozies $462.90
Leaf Rake - Supplies $38.49
Bike Station $796.72
Big River Cleanup donation $300
Chain Saw supplies $66.10
Appendix B – Event Dates
Diamond Hill: Reschedule to later in the year
Ebb and Flow fun ride: April 7, rain date May 5
Ryan Park beginner clinic: May 18
Woody Hill MBAS: July 14, 2024, rain date July 21, 2024,
Big River: Sep 15, 2024, rain date Sep 29, 2024,
Lincoln Woods: Nov 10, 2024, rain date Nov 17, 2024
Appendix C – Winter 2024 hunting season
Deer
EASON
DATES
Archery (includes Crossbow)
September 9 - 10 (Youth only, Zone 1)
September 23 - 24 (Youth only, Zone 2)
September 15 - January 31, 2024 (Zone 1)
October 1 - January 31, 2024 (Zone 2)
Muzzleloader
October 28 - 29 (Youth only Zones 1, 2)
November 4 - 26 (Zones 1, 2)
December 26 - January 2, 2024 (Zones 1, 2 Private land only, antlerless deer only)
Shotgun
December 2 - 17 (Zone 1)
December 2 - 10 (Zone 2)
December 26 - January 2, 2024 (Zones 1, 2 - Private land only, antlerless deer only)
Special Season for Disabled Hunters: Patience and Prudence Islands (Zone 3)
October 24 - 27
Turkey
SEASON
DATES
Fall Archery
October 1 - 31
Youth
April 15 - 21, 2024
Paraplegic
April 20 - 21, 2024
Spring
April 25 - May 19, 2024
