February 2023
Rhode Island Chapter
New England Mountain Bike Association
February 2023 Meeting Agenda and Minutes
RINEMBA Meeting: 6:00 p.m. February 7, at NBX Narragansett, and Zoom.
Roll Call - Joe Duchareme, Shannon Lonarddo, Cyndi Schwarz, Linda Brocato, Jay Shuford, Jake Meehan, Chris Hughes, Wayne Asselin, Meg Marcille, Mark Savage, Dennis Wilson, Paul Kintz, Chris Perez, Adam Brule
Welcome to any newcomers. - No new comers
Comments/requests/concerns/questions/complaints from newcomers? - None
Administration
a) Membership numbers: -261 members. Up from 187 Feb of 2022
b) Financial summary
Opening balance: $4,853.56
Income: $1,450.17
Expenses: ($627.73)
Closing balance: $5,676.00*
*Missing receipts for Woody bridgework\
c) Next meeting – March 7, Location? Time? -Vote is for Black Oak @ 7PM, 6PM is hard for people to make in time. Pre Ride possible at Big River
d) Board attendance. (see above)
e) Annual Business Report to RI Department of State -Due May 31, 2023
-1 page form with a $20 filing fee - Wayne is handling it. Regional prez or vice to sign possible. Wayne will reach out to ED Nicole Freedman for signature.
f) Certificate or Liability Insurance renewal -Expires March 1, 2023 - Wayne working on this with corporate. Thank you Wayne.
g) Weetamoo transfer to MA on RINEMBA.ORG (complete?) - Yes. No longer on the Website.
5. NEMBA Board of Directors Meeting (Feb-13)
a) Wayne will be attending and provide updates -Adam will be there as well (zoom)
6. Glocester Land Trust Meeting (Feb-14)
a) Reached out to build Mountain Bike specific trails
b) They manage 13 properties, 1,300 + acres, ranging from 10 to 448 acres.
c) Not sure which property they are interested in. Mountain biking already in Robert Huckins Woodland which abuts Sprague Farm and Burton Woodland.
d) Next Land Trust Meeting is February 14th, 7PM at the Glocester Town Hall.
e) Jeff Doyle from QCNEMBA who was instrumental in implementing the Pomfret Forest project and is the closest expert on the NEMBA Signature Grant system. He also has a Pomfret councilman willing to speak on NEMBA's behalf if needed.
F) Kate McPherson, RINEMBA member, Environmental Scientist for DEM, resident of Gloucester, interested in helping in any way she can.
7. NEMBA Signature Trail Grant (Due Wednesday Feb-15)
a) Grants of $1,000-$10,000 for the creation of new trails
b) Application due Feb-15 - Currently RINEMBA doesn't have any project that fits the requirements.
8. NEMBA Leadership Summit (March 24-25)
a) Cape Codder Resort & Spa - Cape Cod
b) Participation (focus is the next generation of our leadership)
c) RINEMBA sponsorship for members?
d) Looking for presenters to discuss relevant topics – Any interest?
e) Cost: $130 registration + hotel (~$175)
Interested members: Adam, Cyndi , Wayne, Shannon, Dennis, Tabitha, Jake, Meg, Mark, Jay S, Sign up online and RIENBA will reimburse reg cost. Hotel booking code NEMBA23 for discounted rooms.
9. EMPTY Nip Bottle Collection by Friends of the Saugatucket (Ends Mar-27) -Meg to advertise again
a) Started 27-Dec, Runs for 90 days
b) Drop off spots for collections, NBX, Trek Warwick, Remys, Blackstone
10. Teach MTB Skills to Women this Season (Saturday April 8)
a) Teach women leaders how to teach mountain bike skills
b) NEMBA corporate lead
c) Westwood MA
-Interested members already submitted to Nicole: Cyndi, Meg, Tabitha, Linda. Shannon will reach out to Nicole as well.
11. Earth Day Activities (Saturday April-22)
a) Activities
b) Locations
Midway parking area (DEM special use application submitted, DEM to collect trash)
Big River (Covered under WGCC special use permit)
Riverpoint Park (Mike Iafrate to contact West Warwick) - Jay to reach out
Merino Park - Dumpster Available (Colin to contact Providence) - Jay to reach out
Donation to WGCC - Thinking $250 - Vote is approved. Shannon and Mark to make sure the check gets delivered.
c) Check List
d) Donation to WGCC - Thinking $250 - Vote is approved. Shannon and Mark to make sure check gets delivered
12. Trail School May 6-7 Woody Hill
a)Course layout
Virtual work ahead of the event
Friday - Leader arrive and scout trails
Saturday – Classes all day
Sunday – Classes all morning
Expecting 10 Leaders, 40 participants
b) Add adaptive multi-use trails to program- Might be a good idea to reach out to Chris Quirk or Bike On?
c) Camp site to be in Burlingame – 20 spots reserved
d) 4 positions reserved for DEM
e) 2 positions reserved for WLT
f) Useful to have political/economic implication session
g) RINEMBA sponsorship for members? -$200 budgeted per person 9 people total. 3 members to be sponsored.Possible age restriction? Dennis to find out from Paula. (post meeting note: age is restricted to 14 with parent/coach/guardian)
13. Beginner Mountain Bike ride clinic
a) Partnership with Remy’s
b) Dates? April 29th and 30th
c) Lunch included
d) Total of 20 people
e) Resources needed?
Remys is open to rain date -Vote to accept proposal from Remys (Chris P) Approved - by board - Remys to handle developing program. Mark to handle permits. Meg and Dennis to advertise and set up registration.
14. Regularly Scheduled Group Rides
a) Daylight savings starts Sunday March 12
b) Add Diamond Hill - will need permits and ride leaders. Let's start with non permitted daylight rides to gain traction and develop interest first.
c) Add Lincoln Woods - Extra permit requirements due to Parks dept. Similar plant to DiHi Let's start with non permitted daylight rides to gain traction/interest first.
d) Land manager permits - DEM night rider agreement extends to the end of April. Plan is to continue the program in the fall. For summer we can hold daylight rides of <20 keeping the same schedule we have now. Remy’s to add Wednesday nights at Woody Hill starting March 15th at 5:30
15. Trailforks
a) With Glenn’s departure, leaves RI under-represented -Jenna Ducharme may be interested in helping out.
b) Help from regional NEMBA - no thank you
-Sidebar need to Close Carolina stream crossing on TF
16. DEM:
a) Waivers. Collect DEM-specific waivers; give to Mark.
Woody Hill ride leader - Rob Campbell - Dennis/Eric Ingram to fill in as needed
Arcadia ride leader – Chris D'Ovidio
Carolina – Jacob Meehan - Unable to lead after Feb 28th
Big River ride leader – Mark Savage
b) Night Ride leaders – need more
c)Night riding pilot. 2022/2023 season ends April 30. DEM planning to do one more pilot 2023/2024 and then approach changing their regulations to make it permanent
d)Snow grooming – With DEM legal, not making progress. They will work with us on a case-by-case basis when a storm arrives in the interim.
e)Management planning project underway in Big River. Trail cameras installed. NEMBA will be consulted for input.
Pending items:
f) Special license for >75.
Parking discussion (here as reminder)
g)Greasy Joe’s parking. No movement. DEM acknowledges the issue. WRB not inclined to improve parking. S.P. barracks will not encroach on P&R.
h) Burlingame Bridges on Park side. Reminded DEM early November. No update.
i) Management Area Land Use Plan (name?). Soon but not imminent. DEM will maintain internal access roads. Will farm out trails to various user groups in sectors. RINEMBA to take Woody Hill, Big River (?), Carolina (?), Portion of Arcadia (?)
j) Chainsaw use. Allowed with proper insurance and approved cleanup effort.
“Proper insurance” being reviewed by DEM. NOT a done deal yet.
17. Chapter meet with Executive Director Nicole Freedman
a) Average age is +40 years, 80% male
b) Interested in expanding diversity in membership
c) Youth focus
18. Chapter Logos
a) NEMBA regional can help Chapters design new Chapter logos to mirror NEMBA regional’s current logo - Chapter Vote not to change logo
19. Ride area reps
a) Updates from the riding areas - no major changes. LW and DiHi still have lots of illegal building.
20. Woody Hill
a) WLT MOU (Chris P/Paul K) – indefinite hold
b) Any update and/or help required?
21. Any news from corporate? (Wayne) -nembafest Aug 5-7th
22. New Business from the board?
-Add how to put up trail reports using Trailforks on to Website - Dennis
- Dennis to write a user survey Tab to help- Use purchased trail saws as incentive
Appendix A - Finances
Opening balance: $4,853.56
Income: T-Shirts 34.17
NEMBA chapter rebate $1,416.00
Expenses: Lincoln Woods fun ride ($111.69)
SouthCoast NEMBA donation ($500.00)
Zoom ($16.04)
Closing balance: $5,676.00
Projected expenses: $1400 – Woody Hilly
$1800 – Trail school sponsorship for DEM, WLT, RINEMBA
$875 – NEMBA Leadership Summit sponsorship
$300 – Beginner Mountain Bike ride clinic
$250 – Earth Day donation WGCC
$20 – Annual Business Report to RI Department of State
Total: $4645
*$200 not accounted for from Woody Expenses
Appendix B – Event Dates
2023 event dates:
Woody Hill: July 9, rain date July 16
Diamond Hill: Aug 13, rain date Aug 20
Big River: Sep 17, rain date Oct 8
Lincoln Woods: Nov 12, rain date Nov 19
-Meeting adjourned 8:10PM
