February 2024
Rhode Island Chapter
New England Mountain Bike Association
February 2024 Meeting Minutes
RINEMBA Meeting: 7:00 p.m. Tavern on the Hill, 809 Nooseneck Hill Rd, West Greenwich, RI
1. Roll Call - Joe, Wayne, Shannon, Tabitha & Dennis Wilson, Phil Randolph, Mike Lombardi, Paul Kinz, Mark
2. Welcome to any newcomers.
3. Comments/requests/concerns/questions/complaints from newcomers? Phil- wants get back to riding, but do it easy, looking for group rides for seniors
4. Administration
a) Start of annual filing of RI incorporation (Wayne) - Need signatures, have from Feb to May to do it. On his radar.
b) Insurance up to date
c) Membership numbers -290 as of Dec. Should hit 300 in 2024!
d) Financial summary – January 2024
Opening balance: $3,600.01
Income: $964.00
Expenses: ($342.11)
Closing balance: $4,221.9
e) Next meeting – March 5, Location? Time? – Possibly a bike shop?
5. DEM
a) DEM is reporting seeing an increase in unsanctioned trail work, particularly in Big River and Arcadia. DEM is seeing this physically out on their properties, but also some pretty cavalier Facebook posts and the like. They have asked anything we can do to help educate would be greatly appreciated. – Feedback from group: Lets ask DEM to create a statement and we can share it. Don’t want to appear be the trail police again. Backfired in years past. Building in Carolina needs to stop. Touch base with possible Carolina trail maintainers
b) Waivers. Collect DEM-specific waivers; give to Mark
c) No additional ride nights can be added to the schedule as DEM has insufficient resources in enforcement to monitor NEMBA activities.
d) Approached DEM to arrange joint chain saw clearing of blowdowns – no interest yet
6. DEM – Snow grooming
a) Address when we get heavy snow.
7. Joint trail build RINEMBA/Rhody Rovers
a) Revisit in the spring – Dennis to attend another meeting.
8. RINEMBA 2024 Fun ride planning
a) Diamond Hill: April 7, 2024, rain date April 14, 2024
1. Updates on construction? DiHi construction may prevent April event. Scheduled call in late Feb
2. Waiting for DEM to let us know any dates in May to keep away from
b) Dates need to be submitted to Nicole Freedman – MBAS for BR? – Submitted
c) Big River or Woody Hill for MBAS? -Vote: Woody Hill July 14– Wayne to alert Nicole
d) MBAS increase in offerings on site. Possibly a band? Adaptive element? Food?
e) Grey Sail beer Release ride -separate from Fun Ride. Lead group rides. After party at Grey Sail. Can we have 2ndary activity at Fallon Lot? Need to submit DEM permit. Pick date ASAP.
9. Beginner Clinics
a) Ryan Park beginner ride and clinic. John Michada- working with Town of N Kingsown, there are parties all through the town and he wants to bring MTB into it- proposed general scope already.
b) May11th possible date.
c) Need coaches and ride leaders. More info to come. Half hour to one hour instructional clinic, 15-20 ppl. Then short rides. 75ppl total event.
d) Sell shirts provide food and drinks of some sort (snacks)
e) Would love to have a group of Seniors group, Retired led group, Ladies group
f) Discounted admission for members and Town of N. Kingstown residents
g) Tell people what equipment to bring. Helmets working mountain bike. Paul had great suggestions on requirements.
h) Possible expo with demos?
i) Dennis to Coordinate.
10. Earth Day Activities (Monday 22-April)
a) Activities -our initiatives or join others?
b) Location(s) and date(s)
c) Check list
d) Paul to talk to Westerly Land Trust, maybe piggie back on Earth Day event
e) Loop in Pete for Big River clean up
11. NEMBA Corporate
a) Chapter rebates arrived
b) NEMBA is an exhibitor at the 2024 Boston Outdoor Expo!
c) NEMBA Trail Grants – Applications due March 15
d) Lapped member list available – draft e-mail to reach out?
e) Women's Skills & Clinic Leader Training – Westwood MA - May-4, 2024 – Meg? Amy? Shannon interested? Mary? Tabitha to reach out. Get names to Nicole ASAP
f) Elevate Women's Weekend - Kingdom Trails – Jun-14, 2024
g) All-Skills Day - Westwood MA -Oct-4, 2024
12. Arcadia Bridge Build
a) Alan leading effort with coordination with DEM
b) Scheduled Saturday Feb-10 -4 people singed up so far. Might be OK with that.
13. Glocester Land Trust Meeting
a) Land trust is meeting next week, Feb-13
1. To discuss trail network development
b) Future opportunities
1. Group rides once trail network is established
2. Skills clinics
3. Fun ride
c) NEMBA Trail Grant application
14. Cumberland Town pump track
a) Groundbreaking scheduled for May-2024
b) NEMBA has been asked to help in some way – asked to fund a maintenance station. Proposal for a $1000 spend. Vote: approved
c) NEMBA Trail Grant application- Town has also approved trail building of a beginner loop and a pump track for kids strider bikes -Grant for 1500 to be prepared by Dennis/Willem Cooper
15. Regularly Scheduled Group Rides
a) DEM MOU Ends April 30, 2024
b) Woody Hill – 6 pm Mondays
c) Arcadia – 6PM Tuesdays
d) Big River – 6 pm Thursdays
e) Group sizes 10 or more need to split into groups less than 10
16. Trailforks
a) Pat Dowling is our Trailforks champion – any help/guidance needed?
b) Adaptive Trails- Speak to adaptive riders –any feedback from Chris Quirk? -no movement on adaptive
17. Ride area reps
a) Updates from the riding areas
b) Woody: Woody Hill- New flow trail is open Ebb and Flow. Matt for the sign? Budget for the sign?
c) Arcadia: Significant trail erosion and tress down from Jan storms. Would like to do a trail day with DEM, Sand Trail needs a switchback with erosion control. Mark to Approach with DEM...have asked or chainsaw build. Rerouting may be more challenging.
d) BR, LW, and DiHi good
Any news from corporate? (Wayne) Questions about the budget. Built in loss?
Current loss is $180,000. Merchandizing is under $10k?
Wayne to tell Nicole Woody will be MBAS
18. Insurance
19. New Business from the board?
Appendix A – Finances
Opening balance:
$3,600.01
Income:
Chapter rebates
$964.00
Expenses:
Zoom
Big River fun ride port-a-john
($17.11)
($325.00)
Closing balance:
$4,221.90
Appendix B – Event Dates
Diamond Hill: April 7, 2024, rain date April 14, 2024 (Tentative)
Grey Sail Beer Release tentative
Ryan Park beginner Event: May11th (Tentative)
Woody Hill: 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
