June 2025
Rhode Island Chapter: New England Mountain Bike Association
June 2025 Meeting Agenda
Date/Time: June 3rd, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom
1. Roll Call
Jay S, Adam Carroll, Dennis Wilson, Tabitha Wilson, Charles Picard, Wayne Asselin, Shannon Lonardo, Cyrus Beasly, Adam Brule
2. Administration
March Meeting Minutes
View MinutesMotioned by Charles, second Wayne, motion passes
Quarterly Updates
Membership and financial summaries moved to quarterly Chapter meetings
Upcoming Meetings
Next Leadership Meeting: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (Zoom)
Action: Cancelling the july meeting.
Next All Chapter Meeting: Date TBD July 26 recap meeting
Action: Tabitha to check with NEMBA calendar and see about booking with crafted hope
Payments/Reimbursements – Status Update
Willem Cooper (LW Project Fuel): $233.82 -sent
Westerly Land Trust: $100 -sent
Eric Meehan (B-Game Badgers): $834.00 -sent
Jenifer Talancy (Big Ringers): $834.00- sent
Dennis (Spring Expenses): $448.59
Action: Shannon to follow up on this one
Charles (Signage): $401.19 -sent
Upcoming: Cyrus and Mike P (Trail School): $139.87 each
Action: Shannon to follow up on checks to send- spring expenses
LW Cookout – This Sunday
Charles informed the group this is possibly not occurring, or occurring without him.
30-Year Anniversary Logo & Shirt Design - Tabitha
Requesting design approval
Discussion on gear fulfillment options
Action: Tabitha to go back to the drawing board. Not much interest in the pirate theme, want to see hurricane flags, sharks, little interest in the design as is.
3. Rhode Island DEM Updates
Orange Season
Over until September 13 - Create media post
Action: Adam- please put out an end to orange season post
2025 Fun Rides
DEM License Agreement approve
Next Step: Dennis to Reserve dates
Echo Lake Project
$15,000 design contract signed - Check received by NEMBA
Funds can only be used for Echo Lake project
Big River Comprehensive Management Plan
Alan and Mark previously involved
DEM will notify RINEMBA about public comment periods
Some Water Board members favor restrictions—stay engaged
Plan is moving slowly, awaiting public comments
Diamond Hill MOU
Need to discuss maintenance agreement at next DEM meeting
Has not moved since last conversation.
4. NEMBA Corporate Updates
Board Restructure
Updates from Wayne
PK event, 140 attendees; update on restructuring plan, bylaws have been crafted and need to be submitted to the state of MA for approval (501c3 in MA); NEMBA has 3 summer interns creating photo library and updating handbook and trail design guidelines, More grant opportunities available via Nicole email; Next board meeting July 14
Trail School 2025
June 6–8 in Williamstown, MA
Registration open
Cyrus and Mike sponsored by RINEMBA
Registration still open, just need proof of attendance
Action: Adam to post about registration
Elevate Women's+ Festival
June 6–8 in Stowe, VT.Tabitha attending on behalf of NEMBA and leading rides.
NEMBA Quebec Trip 2025
August 8–11
Membership Drive
Extended through June 8
One more media push encouraged
Lots of prizes available
Action: Adam- do one more post on the membership drive
New Member Benefits
Stratton, Atomic, Thunder Mountain, Dirt Church
Plus existing local partners
Action: Adam please do another media post on this.
5. Safe Trails Initiative
Ride Leader Best Practices
Action: Dennis will share Guide with team
Evacuation Signage (Charles) - Project complete
CPR / First Aid Classes - On hold due to funding
6. Events & Rides
April 27 All Chapter Meeting @ Crafted Hope Brewing
Great turnout—thanks to Crafted Hope!
Suggestions/feedback welcome
Discussion: Less people as before, feedback -There was a race that weekend- Race Day XC, Regarding Pizza- Charles proposes to consider the foodtruck and do a voucher system instead.Action: Charles to look into food truck tie in.
Woody Hill Fun Ride (MBAS) – June 29
Permits approved
14/175 tickets sold - email and social post this week
Proposal: Sponsor Glenn T + guest with complementary ticket
Action: Approved
Dennis to lead; Paul supporting
Food vendor not secured—Paul checking if informal grill possible
Shimano demo bikes!!
Volunteers Needed – Eventbrite link coming soon
Action: Adam will need to post to social for volunteers
Water Stop Supplies: Volunteer needed
Action: Dennis will give list to Cyrus to do this
Trail Work: Punch list of issues being developed
Informal team forming to address tasks independently
Paul, Dylan, othersAdditional value ideas welcome:
How about event stations like best dam ride
In the future get a shop that has a brand that has a demo fleet, if they are in the area
Raffle- needs human power
Timed runs on Ebb and flow?
Need to ask Paul about use of fields outside play areas
Town of Westerly come talk about Pump track? Cyrus to ask
Big River Fun Ride – September 14
Wayne to lead
Park-n-Ride detour required (DNA trail) confirmed it will not be touched.
Dennis submitted permit request, getting date solidified
Action: Wayne and Charles to do trail maintenance
Lincoln Woods Fun Ride – November 9
Charles to lead
Permit request needed via park portal
7. Member Opportunities
Group Rides
Weekly rides ongoing
More ride leaders stepping up
Need beginner ride coordinator
Coordinate with Shannon on transitions
Huge team of ride leaders, still need more beginner rides. Tricky as to where to do them.
When Shannon gets back, want to have a pre-sign up. Eventbrite pre-sign up page could work.
QC does a sign up and it works easily for them. Can’t be too rigid. Maybe have rideleaders@gmail and all people can have access to the same sheet. Have all the same ID.
Low Gear Ladies
Lexi leading at Woody
Can we add another night- Find a female ride leader for Lincoln Woods
Trail Days
Let's set up some trail days!
We have trail tools! Can do some work in areas.
8. Glocester Land Trust Partnership
Project on hold pending DEM/Nature Conservancy easement negotiation
They are not going to contest the easements. Can do hand built trails and another clinic. Can still ride there. Take this off the agenda.
9. Echo Lake Project
$15K secured for Phase I planning/design
Sinuosity of VT confirmed as builder
Estimated:
7.2 miles of trail
$60K per mile ($432K total)
Available funds: ~$165K
Grant writing in progress
Tabitha submitted 3 Grants: IMBA Grant, RI Capacity Grant and NEMBA Grant
Still in the running for IMBA Grant, NEMBA Signature Trail Grant ($10K)
Next Step: Build project webpage (see Shaker Ridge as example)
Action: Tabitha and Mike to help with this project
10. Ride Area Updates
Lincoln – Road repair and E911 signage complete – kudos to Charles!
Diamond Hill – MOU discussion continues; new volunteer: Jonathan Lagoy
Woody – See above
Arcadia – Clean and maintained
Big River – Sunken bridge noted.Don’t want to go out until water goes down.
Burlingame – AMC hosting major trail day on June 7 (Trails weekend)
Ryan Park – [No updates]
Sprague – Will be removed from next month’s list
11. New Business
Trails weekend July 6/7
12. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Wayne, Second by Charles