April 2026

Date/Time: April 7, 2026, 7:00 p.m. | Location: Zoom

1. Roll Call

Attendees present: RI, Wayne, Shannon, Charles, Liz, Tabitha, Cyrus, Chas, Jason. Adam and Cindy joined late.

📋 Meeting Notes: Brief discussion on AI note-taking tools. Charles, as secretary, retains authority to disable AI features in future Zoom meetings if preferred.

2. Administration

Meeting Minutes & Financials

Feb minutes approved (motion: Wayne, second: Tabitha).

Bank balance: ~$48,540 anticipated once Q4 funds clear.

+$7,306 Q4 donations | +$846 member rebates | +$2,574.50 LW Fun Ride funds

$185,000 incoming from DEM this month — NEMBA invoice needed.

Q: Should NEMBA central finance handle the $185K? RI to coordinate with Shannon.

Exploring Bill.com for chapter payments/rebates.

Backup Treasurer and Chapter President (view-only) need to be added to bank account ASAP. Wayne has signature access; needs online access — RI to resolve with Shannon.

2025 Financial Audit complete. Thank you Shannon.

📋 Meeting Notes: Wayne motioned to approve Feb minutes; passed. Bank account access and DEM fund management to be resolved before May meeting.

Action Items:

RI + Wayne + Shannon: Meet to set up Wayne’s online bank access and determine DEM fund handling (NEMBA vs. chapter account).

RI: Explore Bill.com for chapter payments/rebates with Shannon.

RI: Submit expenses for chapter meeting; coordinate Sinuosity and Echo Lake payments.

Wayne: Attend regional membership committee meeting; share updates with chapter before May meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

Next meeting: Cinco de Mayo (May 5) — options include hybrid at RI’s house with tacos, or online Zoom taco night.

Wayne and RI to connect the Tuesday before to discuss chapter matters.

3. Rhode Island DEM Updates

Orange Season returns April 18. Social post needed; consider highlighting local shop gear.

State business registration renewal: Complete (Wayne confirmed).

Charles to coordinate 2027 renewal. Remove from next agenda.

Winter trail grooming: DEM proposal submitted; Dennis pushing for approval.

Big River Comprehensive Management Plan: Goal is 40% trail reduction from 160 miles. RI met with new Director Hector Barreras; active MTB maps shared. WRB transferring management to DEM Forestry — should enable more official trail activities.

Diamond Hill MOU: Revisit after Eastern State Cup.

NEYC Race at South County Fairgrounds (2027): Proposal submitted Feb; not yet approved. Wetlands concerns may require temporary event variance. Bridge work needed.

📋 Meeting Notes: Business registration renewal confirmed complete. DEM Forestry transfer of Big River management is a positive development for official trail activities.

Action Items:

Wayne: Confirm business registration renewal online and send confirmation to Charles.

Charles: Remove business registration item from next agenda.

Chas: Lead Diamond Hill/ESC MOU follow-up with Jason this summer.

4. NEMBA Corporate Updates

NEMBA Signature Trail Grant submitted — thank you Tabitha.

Journey Care email training video available; Liz attended despite a scheduling conflict.

Wayne: 9 grant applications totaling ~$50K received across regions (SE Mass, Central Maine, Western Mass). Most requested $10K; one SE Mass request for $3,700 (bridge replacement).

Charles: Managing high workload; reset email filters for NEMBA account.

📋 Meeting Notes: Charles raised need for legal support/attorney access for chapters at the regional board level.

Action Items:

Charles: Raise need for chapter-level legal/attorney access at next regional board meeting.

Wayne: Evaluate grant applications with focus on public access criteria.

Liz: Attend any follow-up NEMBA email list training when scheduled.

5. Safe Trails Initiative

CPR/First Aid: Westerly Recreation planning 3x/year classes at low cost. Cyrus awaiting dates.

What Three Words (W3W) geolocation system introduced by Chas for ESC event safety. 100+ registrations; RV capacity increased from 10 to 12. Fire chiefs supportive.

RI requested W3W training be integrated into Safe Trails initiative.

📋 Meeting Notes: W3W is a strong safety addition. Chas will save training materials and coordinate with RI for integration.

Action Items:

Cyrus: Share Westerly first aid class dates as soon as available; loop in Liz.

Chas: Save W3W training materials for volunteers; coordinate with RI to integrate into Safe Trails.

RI: Conduct volunteer orientation (Zoom) for ESC including W3W and safety info.

6. Events & Rides

2026 Event Schedule

ESC Enduro at Diamond Hill — April 24–26 (signups active)

Big River Cleanup — April 18 (12 signed up; roadside trash)

Woody Hill Fun Ride — June 28 (signups active)

Big River Fun Ride — Aug 16 (DEM-approved date)

Lincoln Woods Fun Ride — Nov 8 (DEM-approved date)

Woody Hill Fun Ride (June 28)

Cyrus taking over coordination from Paul.

WLT and WMLT approvals need confirmation by Cinco de Mayo meeting.

Route planning and vendors to be finalized within 30 days.

Need second ride leader for fast/intermediate group.

Single Speed New England at Big River runs same weekend (June 26–28) — no RINEMBA support needed, awareness only.

Action Items:

Cyrus: Confirm all approvals with Westerly Land Trust and Wesley Municipal Land Trust by May 5.

Cyrus + RI: Collaborate on route planning within 30 days.

RI: Secure food vendor and demo bikes for Woody Hill Fun Ride.

RI: Monitor for second ride leader candidate for fast/intermediate rides.

Big River Fun Ride (Aug 16)

Coordinator needed by May 16 or event will be canceled.

Potential beer collab and after-party with Crafted Hope if coordinator secured.

Action Items:

Liz: Post on Anchored in Dirt and social media for Big River Fun Ride coordinator. Emphasize Big River experience required.

Jason: Notify NBX customers/community about Big River Cleanup and volunteer need.

Group Rides

Mon: Woody (fast XC) | Tue: Arcadia (intermediate) | Wed: Uncle Leo at Lincoln Woods (dates TBD) | Thu: Big River

April 19: Low Gear Ladies at Woody returning.

Mellow ride leaders needed for summer — all members encouraged to recruit.

Action Items:

All: Recruit mellow ride leaders and Big River Fun Ride coordinator.

Beginner Clinic

📋 Meeting Notes: Discussed organizing a beginner MTB clinic in September/October.

Action Items:

Tabitha: Reach out to Jared (and others) about leading a beginner clinic.

Charles: Keep beginner clinic on next month’s agenda.

7. Echo Lake Project

Total DEM funding: $200,000 ($100K additional confirmed).

Additional RINEMBA fundraising: ~$30K raised. Grant writing ongoing.

Estimated scope: 7.2 miles new trail at ~$60K/mile + bridgework (~$460K total).

Construction split into two phases:

Phase 1 (non-wetland) — underway 2026, volunteer work only so far.

Phase 2 (wetland) — moved to 2027 due to DEM permitting challenges.

Sinuosity on site this month to confirm schedule. Full design report + cost quote coming soon.

Contract with Sinuosity needed to establish time/budget parameters. Wayne inquired about insurance — updated requirements paid; delays with insurance agent and DEM certificate.

Webpage needs project updates (progress, construction start, funds raised, new photos).

📋 Meeting Notes: Construction slower than anticipated due to brush thickness and wetlands permitting. Phase split is the right call. Legal review of Sinuosity contract accessible via NEMBA Regionals pro bono attorney.

Action Items:

RI: Draft Sinuosity contract; circulate to Tabitha and Charles before sending. Then send to Wayne and Charles for legal review.

Wayne + Charles: Review Sinuosity contract and coordinate with NEMBA regional legal.

Liz + Tabitha: Update Echo Lake webpage with current progress, construction start, funds raised, and photos.

RI: Recruit trail bosses/NEMBA leaders for Echo Lake volunteer days and schedule trail days.

RI: Recruit NEMBA reps for Echo Lake trail days to manage waivers and volunteer coordination.

All: Continue seeking sponsorships and donation matches for Echo Lake; ask employers about matching.

8. Ride Area Updates

Lincoln Woods — Excellent

Diamond Hill — Trees down on XC course; Enduro course excellent

Woody — Excellent

Arcadia — Trees down

Big River — Trees down; Burnt Sawmill a mess (flooding + logging)

Burlingame — Very good

Ryan Park — Unknown

9. New Business

New board member candidates Chris and Stacey did not attend required meetings; deemed not serious. No action needed.

April newsletter drafted by Liz: covers Orange season, Earth Day cleanup, upcoming rides. RI to review when time permits. Input requested from Dennis and Tabitha.

📋 Meeting Notes: Chas interested in expanding portfolio toward rehabilitation projects at Diamond Hill — building relationships with environmental nonprofits for trail restoration and native flora reestablishment.

Action Items:

Liz: Finalize April newsletter with input from Dennis and Tabitha. Continue soliciting content ideas.

RI: Review April newsletter draft when time permits.

RI: Update event schedule if any additions or changes are identified.

10. Motion to Adjourn

Motion to adjourn: _______________ Second: _______________

Annotated from Zoom AI summary — April 7, 2026. Prepared for RI NEMBA chapter records.