by John | Mar 20, 2015 | Meeting Minutes & Info., Mountain Biking, Trail Awareness, Trail Building
CeMENEMBA Meeting Minutes
March 9, 2015
The regular monthly meeting of the Central Maine Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Club was held on March 9th, at Augusta City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Pres. Chris Riley at 6pm.
Members present included Chris Riley, Brian Alexander, Ted Sharf, Chris O’Toole and daughter, Carol, Ellen, Ted Eames, John Waller, and Garry Hinkley.
Carol Johnson announced she was resigning as treasurer as she is moving to Colorado. The group offered their thanks and wished Carol well. Chris R will contact Sarah Cross about accepting the treasurer position. Sarah was voted in as new treasurer on the 10th. Welcome Sarah!
Carol gave the treasurer’s report. She reported a beginning balance of $2,723.76, no expenses, and income $3,000 from Treadfest and $275 from chapter rebates for a balance of $5,998.76. Chris reported a $100 donation from Mike Sizinger in Carol Johnson’s mother’s name.
Project list. Chris has prepared a project list in google docs which he will circulate for comments.
Brian reported on the mapping project. He expects work to begin in earnest in the spring. NEMBA would like a presence on the ME Office of Tourism website.
NEMBA trail crew. Voted to fund two scholarships (with mileage expenses) to the NEMBA trail school. Motion made by Carol, and seconded by Ellen. Passed unanimously.
Ted Eames generously offered to donate a 720 bar and stem to volunteer working the most hours this season. (Officers are not eligible.)
Chris will be writing a (fundraising) newsletter. The scholarships and volunteer reward will be included.
Bylaws? Need to locate the chapter bylaws, or adopt new bylaws.
People for Bikes grant. CeMENEMBA has made the preliminary cut for this grant. Chris plans to apply for $10,000 to fund one-third of a summer trail crew project. The plan is for a six person crew (plus oversight) to work eight weeks on six sites. Chris intends to fundraise the balance. Grant is due by the end of March. Several letters of support will be solicited.
Meeting adjourned at 7pm to attend the Bond Brook long range planning meeting.
The Manchester and Hallowell Conservation Commissions jointly are pursuing a Quimby Family grant in the amount of $20,000 for the purpose of documenting and assessing the community’s recreational tails. The grant requires a 501.C3 organization to serve as fiscal agent. Garry has asked if CeMENEMBA would serve as the fiscal agent. There is no risk to CEMENEMBA as the Town of Manchester would manage any contracts and pay all bills.
by John | Jan 17, 2015 | Meeting Minutes & Info., Mountain Biking, Trail Awareness, Trail Building
CEMENEMBA Monthly Meeting
January 12, 2015
The Central Maine Chapter of the New England Mountain Biking Association held its regular monthly meeting on January 12, 2015 at 6pm at Augusta City Center. Present were Pres. Chris Riley, Treasurer Carol Johnson, Ian, Brian B, Brian A, Ted S, Ted E, Ellen, Mitch, Jean-Luc, Brycent, Sarah, and Garry.
Treasurers report. Carol presented the 2014 budget summary. She reported a beginning balance of $5,577.43, income of $2107.00 and expenses of $4797.39. In addition, Tread Fest income of approximately $3,000 will arrive shortly.
•John Waller has offered to develop an order site for our website to sell swag. Also, Mathieu’s may be willing to display and sell our swag. Chris R will be taking photos of the swag for the website and sending to John, and Carol is going to speak with Jim Mathieu’s.
•Membership. We are doing well and are up to 84 members. Chris would like to reach 100 members by springtime.
•We deemed it necessary to create an updated tools inventory as we head into springtime. Also need to create a wish-list of tools for the coming year. EZ-Diggers are needed for sure.
•Mapping Project. Brian A is working with Gill Cornelli from TRC on the trail mapping project. Intend to have the maps available by spring if possible. Much of this project is at the whim of Gill’s schedule, so the timeline is not something we can control. A single map of all the trails would be available for sale, probably with advertising.
•Coupon Books. Chris O’Toole is heading a project to develop a coupon book as a membership premium. Need to solicit businesses near trail centers to partner with. We are following the very successful VMBA model.
•Winter Carnival. The QR winter carnival will be January 31 from 10 to 2. GreatMainewellness.org Brian A is heading up volunteer coordination for this event.
•TNT’s will start May 5th, and will be every other Tuesday. Discussion about how much effort to give to satellite locations (Farmington/ Skowhegan/ Turner/ KH.) Would very much like to do another labor swap with FAT as a way of accomplishing a large project. At the next meeting people will be asked to come with a list of needs for their respective responsibility areas. Ellen/Chris O – PR. Garry/Carol – RES. Chris R – BB. Brian – KH. Goal of generating a list is to create a prioritized list for the spring.
•Family Picnic Day will be June 28th at the Res. Should mention to the Hallowell Conservation Commission.
• We will be scheduling a “Trail Fest” on June 7th (National Trails day.) Spread out to PR, BB, Res? Or focus on one location? Details to be discussed at next mtg.
•Treadfest will be Oct. 18th.
•Trail Stewards. Garry will take the Res with Carol as back up. Otherwise, assignments remain the same.
•Maine triple Crown race? Carrabassett, Presque Isle, BB? Chris to reach out to the other race directors to talk about the possibility of doing this.
•Carlton Pond, Readfield. Has been logged and no longer is a primary water supply. It is available for trails, and CEMENEMBA has been invited. We will be doing a walk-through with Jake Maier over the winter/spring to discuss possibilities.
•Quarry Road – opportunity to build some single track.
•Paid trail crew. Need to explore funding/grant options. Chris has written an outline to get this started. Chris is researching grant options and working on refining the outline and creating a clear path forward.
Maine Stage Race concept- see handout. Chris wants feedback.
•NEXT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 9 @ 6 PM. LOCATION WILL BE AT AUGUSTA CITY CENTER UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED .
by John | May 14, 2014 | Mountain Biking, Trail Awareness, Trail Building
Next time you see Brycent Cross, Ted Scharf, Carol Nunemaker Johnson, Ian Ogilvie, Brian Alexander, or Glenn Mills make sure you thank them for the sweet new section of single-track that got built, benched, and buffed at Bond Brook! We had a great time, got a lot done and can’t wait to go ride it tomorrow night. The next TNT is in 2 weeks and it would be amazing to double our workforce.
by John | Apr 11, 2014 | Meeting Minutes & Info., Mountain Biking, Trail Awareness, Trail Building
Central Maine chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association
April 8, 2014 meeting minutes
The Central Maine Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association held its regular monthly meeting on April 8th, at Augusta City Hall, starting at 6pm. President Chris Riley presiding.
Members present: Chris Riley, Pres.; Brian Alexander past Pres.; Ellen Wells; Mack McAfee; Ian Oglivie; Ted Eames; and Garry Hinkley, Sec.
Chris provided 2014 member decals for members’ bikes.
Treasurers Report. Chris gave the Treasurer’s report. He reported a balance of $5707.90. There were no expenses reported since the last report. We received $100 from NEMBA for our quarterly reimbursement for membership dues.
Cape Cod NEMBA conference. Chris gave a report on the recent NEMBA NE trail advocacy conference held on Cape Cod. Chris reported that there were approximately 125 participants. Each chapter gave a report and shared ideas. Chapters were urged to stress building membership. NEMBA plans to mail reminders to approximately 4500 lapsed members.
Speakers also stressed the importance of supporting local bike shops. Need to work with local land owners and with allied groups. Speaker noted that research shows bikes do not damage trails any more than hikers.
The northeast has a diverse trail system, often multiuse. Trail connectivity is becoming an important issue. Mountain biking is becoming an important tourism component.
Grant: Chris mentioned the possibility of the four Maine NEMBA chapters pursuing a joint Recreational Trails Program grant to hire a trail builder or trail crew. . (Partner with ATV clubs as a way to ensure grant success?)
Youth movement also was stressed, including kids’ rides and races. We agreed to look into sponsoring an event or series of events in the Augusta and/or Waterville areas for kids.
Membership goal. CeMENEMBA has approximately 55 paid members. We established a goal of 100 paid members by end of 2014. Chris noted that Mathieu’s will be signing up seven employees. Discussed other options for building membership. One idea suggested was in exchange for allowing local bike shops to advertise on our trailer, the shops would buy a membership for each new mountain bike sold (over a certain dollar threshold.) Chris will approach local shop owners to discuss this idea and hone in on the concept.
Member Coupon books: Discussed the possibility of soliciting discounts from local businesses and putting together coupon books as membership incentive. The value of the discounts could far exceed the cost of membership. Chris will explore the concept.
Ellen reported on “Let’s Go Mountain Bike Day”, part of the Family Fun Series, scheduled for May 31 at Quarry Road, Waterville. The event is sponsored by Inland Hospital in partnership Healthy Home ____ Council. She reported that bikes are available, but staffing is needed, including a bike safety instructor. Brian, Chris, Ian, and Ted volunteered to assist with the event. Ellen will find a bike safety instructor. Free helmets will be available.
CeMeNEMBA spring gathering. Chris reported on the plans for the April 16th spring gathering at the Weathervane, Waterville. E-invitations have gone out, with about 25 RSVP’s so far. Chris and Ellen will collaborate on a slide show. In addition to being a social event, Chris wants to gather peoples’ thoughts on what the organization should work on; plan projects etc. Also ways to boost membership. (Bigger membership equals bigger projects, and more grant opportunities.)
Trail master/Trail stewards. We agreed we should focus on maintaining our current trail system rather than pursuing new trails. Agreed that Brian Alexander would be our overall trail master. Stewards were appointed for the following trails:
Belgrade Highlands, Brian /Hallowell Res, Carol Johnson & Jeff Lord / Summerhaven, Garry / Bond Brook, Chris Riley / Pine Ridge, Ellen with help from Chris O’toole and Ian.
Stewards are responsible for monitoring the trail conditions and reporting issues to the trail master.
Wednesday Night Rides. Brian will continue to lead many of the WNR’s. Others will be asked to fill in on an as needed basis when Brian is unavailable. We will be having split rides when the group gets larger, or there are many riders with differing abilities and interests. A faster group could split off with different leaders. Also discussed and probably will try implementing the “second rider drop” concept. Under this plan, at an intersection, the second rider in the group waits and directs the group until all riders have passed. That rider goes to the end, and the next second does the same. The ride keeps moving, and no one gets left behind. Chris reported it worked well on his rides on the Cape.
•Brian will call the first WNR in May for the rail trail.
•Tuesday Night Work nights. The first TNT will be May 13th at the Res. TNT’s will be held bi-weekly. Brian is working to get the tool trailer ready.
•Quarry Road/Pump Track. Funding for the Quarry Road pump track has been diverted. There is a possibility city funding will be restored. Still hope to work on the pump track this year. Perhaps some other arrangements can be worked out for materials, equipment and labor. Would like to have available for Ellen’s early fall event.
•FAT BIKE RACE/EVENT: Discussed sponsoring a winter series, perhaps a bi or triathalon (bike, ski, snowshoe) at Quarry. More discussion to be had at following meetings.
Signage/Trail closures. Trail closure signs need to go up. Brian and Ted will see to it. Ted also discussed the possibility of getting some signs to mark our trails. He will investigate and report.
T-Shirts/Swag. Chris will look into ordering T-shirts for sale/rewards.
Respectfully submitted,
Garry Hinkley, Sec.
by John | Mar 25, 2014 | Meeting Minutes & Info., Mountain Biking, Trail Awareness, Trail Building
Dear NEMBA members and friends 3/24/14
With spring riding around the corner and a great season of winter riding waning, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to all of you and introduce myself in my new role. As I imagine many of you have already heard I have been elected as the new President of CeMeNEMBA. I’m excited to serve in this new role and am honored to work with all of you and on behalf of riders in our community. My hope is to give mountain bikers a strong, unified voice that has a seat at the many tables in the region regarding trails, trail use, and trail development. We have had the good fortune of an incredibly strong start over the past many years, and without the amazing work of my predecessor and the legions of volunteers he’s brought to the table we would not have places like The Res, Bond Brook, and Pine Ridge to keep our riding appetites sated. I can’t imagine what it was like to start building these networks so many years ago. My hat goes off to anyone that’s put a shovel to dirt, clipped a corridor, shaped a berm, built a bridge or rock armored a mud hole. Over the past few years I’ve worked alongside many of you on different trail projects and continue to be blown away at what a small group of people can do in a short span of time. My hope is that we are just getting started!
A core group of CeMeNEMBA members have worked hard over the last couple of years to bring new trails to our networks and provide riding opportunities to an even broader group of athletes and recreationalists. Dirt Divas have ushered in a new crop of women riders to our region, some of which have clearly stated that without the brainchild and enthusiasm of Ruth Lessard and Carol Johnson they might never have been enticed to give this sport a try. Brian in his welcoming way has increased our weekly WNR to unprecedented numbers. This no-drop ride has become a staple of our region and is a social highlight of my week in the warmer months. We saw as many as 40 on a ride at The Res last summer!! With recent additions of trails like Wannabe, The junkyard, 6 back, Insulator, and the newest addition of The A Trail at Kennebec Highlands we are seeing our trail systems grow and it’s now feasible to create longer rides that challenge all abilities. We truly have an amazing foundation from which to go forward.
As the new president I have a few pet projects that I’d like to bring to the table and create open discussion and brainstorming about. I would like to invite all member and non-members to an open discussion about the future of CeMeNEMBA, riding in the central district and where you would like to see things go. I have a lot of ideas of my own, but before I set any agenda I feel that my job is to represent all of you, your needs and concerns. This meeting is a place to bring your positive energy, your creative thinking cap, and your ideas for building an even larger playground for us all in the region. We will discuss the existing projects for the spring and summer building months, our schedule of events, and ideas of how to increase our membership numbers and local involvement. In trail-side conversations with a number of you I’ve heard a ton of ideas and heard energy around ways to increase riding potential in the region. Please bring it all to the table!! This gathering is open to all members and non-members.
I hope to see you on Wednesday evening the 16th of April at The Weathervane in Waterville. Come early to socialize and catch up with friends; we will get started with our discussion at 6:30 and hope to wrap up by 7:30-8.
Many thanks.
Chris Riley
CeMeNEMBA President
Chrisriley73@gmail.com
207-232-7174
by John | Mar 22, 2014 | Meeting Minutes & Info., Mountain Biking, Trail Awareness, Trail Building
The following link will open a PDF of the meeting minutes…March 11th Meeting Minutes
