December 2024

Written By Charles Picard

Rhode Island Chapter

New England Mountain Bike Association

December 2024 Meeting Agenda
Date/Time: December 3, 2024, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom

1. Roll Call / Welcome Newcomers 

Dennis, Charles, Wayne, Jason, Adam, Tabitha, Paul


2. Public Comment

3. Administration

  • October Meeting Minutes

    • Motion to approve

    • Membership Update

    • Current membership: 262 (up 3 from October, down from August high of 279).

    • Goal: 300 members by January 1. - need to do a membership drive soon

  • Financial Summary (November)

    • Beginning Balance: $5428.79

    • Deposits: $11373.14

    • Expenses: $741.96

    • Balance 10/31/24 :$16059.67

    • Donation checks to Tour De Rhody, RI Food Bank

  • Next Meeting

    • January 7, 2025 Date pending. Location TBD. Tilted Barn closed for Jan. Looking for other options for in person meeting. Open to ideas.

      • New Brewery on Rt. 2?

      • Bradford Social Club, Westerly?

  • RINEMBA Needs Help!

    • Grant Writer - Thank you Wayne! 

    • Sales, fulfillment, and inventory of merch

      • Dennis unable to manage with current workload

    • Ride Leaders: Beginner/novice focus, adaptive? weekday and weekend.

    • Ride Lead Coordinator, new leadership position

    • Trail Bosses: Trail days.

    • Volunteer Coordinator: Events and trail days.

    • Woody Hill Representative. Paul leaving soon! 

  • Elections 2025 – January - last call!! 

    • Candidates

      • President: Dennis Wilson

      • Vice President: Charles Picard

      • Secretary: Tabitha Wilson

      • Treasurer: Shannon Lonardo

      • BOD Wayne

      • Back Up BOD Charles - Adam Brule stepping away (special election needed NOW)

      • No vote needed, but Mike Petrarca will be “at large” leadership team member

    • Leadership Team Adjustments 

      • Removal of inactive members?

        • Documented 10/2022 Must attend 4 meetings per year to stay

        • Same folks as last year -Dennis has had conversation with some, a few more to talk with

4. Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM)

  • Night ride recommendations submitted – awaiting feedback. Strill stalled… - Dennis to meet with the Dep Director this week. 

  • Orange Season

  • 2025 Fun Rides

    • License agreement; dates submitted. First draft missing items needs some edits. Event permits are for 200 people, falls under special use.

5. NEMBA Corporate Updates

  • Any updates from Wayne

6. Event Planning & Rides

  • Winter Meeting

    • Full chapter meeting at Tilted Barn in January. Pre-meeting ride planned (dress warmly!). - Tilted barn closed for Jan. Need to find another location ASAP. 

  • 2025 Events / Fun Rides Suggested Dates (submitted) 

    • Arcadia Clean Up: Sunday, March 30 -partner with AMC + Rovers

    • Arcadia NEYC Ride Event: Sunday, April 6 - Week after clean up -ride groups rather than arrows up

    • Big River Clean Up: Saturday, April 19 or April 26 (unconfirmed)

    • Woody Hill Fun Ride (MBAS): June 29 (fits lacrosse schedules)- Dennis to call Paul to find out how to schedule with WLT and WMLT. Paul will be available to support.

    • Big River Fun Ride: Sunday, September 14 -park n ride partially closed now, might conflict with Tour De Rhody, Dr. Tom has not set a date for TDR. 

    • Lincoln Woods Fun Ride: November 9

7. Member Opportunities

  • Group Rides: No night rides until DEM permits are obtained. -Anyone want to lead a ride? Any daylight hours will work. Anyone?

  • SafeTrails First Aid Training

    • 4-hour program covering common injuries; $85 per person, with classes of 8-20 people.

    • Free for ride leaders! Possible REI partnership;  Charles Picard to follow up

      • Will reach out after New Years.

  • Inclusion and Collaboration Committee – Tabitha

8. Glocester Land Trust Partnership

  • $12k needed for trail development plan. In discussions with builders. -$ goal met

  • Next steps: Confirm DEM regulations and contract Pinnacle for master plan.

  • Marketing: $1,200 raised from posters and videos.-Discussion about restricted Funds. Funds marked for Sprague can only be used for Sprague. 

  • Trek withdrew from Sno-Dog donation; sale price undetermined. - Could be a blessing with the amount of effort needed. 

  • Conservation Easements found. 

9. Ride Area Updates

  • Lincoln - Jay says “Stellar”

  • Diamond Hill - ditto

  • Woody

  • Arcadia – Jeff’s Trail is closed. Possibly dangerous. Updated on Trailforks

  • Big River – DNA not as bad as expected? Wayne investigated 

  • Burlingame - bridge planks need repair. AMC may already have a budget for that.

  • Ryan Park

  • Sprague

10. New Business

  • Open floor for new topics from the board 

11. Motion to adjourn. -

Charles Picard
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January All Chapter Meeting 2025
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November 2024