CeMeNEMBA Board Meeting Minutes
MARCH 25, 2024, 7pm
LOCATION: ZOOM
CeMeNEMBA held a regular board of directors meeting via zoom on March 25,2024. Members present were Chris Riley, Casey Beaudoin, Frank Jalbert, Matt Swan, Garry Hinkley, Renee Brezovsky, Ryan Walker, Max Pushaw, Jim Jacobsen, Leslie Wilson, and Jack Hinkley,
Treasurers Report – Treasurer Leslie Wilson reported minimal financial activity since the last board meeting. The current account balance is $74,053($60,000 in restricted funds). In addition, we received $385 from the White Duck restaurant for the night they hosted February 28th.
Follow up discussion regarding the trail grooming snowmobile Brian Alexander is purchasing from CeMeNEMBA. The outstanding balance for the sled is $2590. CeMeNEMBA allocated $2,000 for YHF winter grooming. To keep the books straight, it was agreed to issue a check to Brian for $2,000 and he will write a check to CeMeNEMBA for $2590. Brian transferred $2000 from Venmo to the CeMe checking account. Total outstanding balance is $590.
Trail Crew Update – The 2024 trail crew is pretty much set. Most of last year’s crew is returning, and a couple new members have been recruited, bringing the team to ten or eleven members, plus Jaimie. Jamie will start full time on April 1. Primary objective until the crew starts will be spring trail clean up, and prep for larger maintenance projects for when we have volunteer efforts, or trail crew.
Grants status – Chris reviewed the status of grant applications.
- a) Pay Dirt Grant – received
- b) Outride Grant – rejected. Very disappointing. Chris is trying to find out why we were rejected.
- c) American Trails Grant – rejected
- d) City of Auburn funding – allocated
- e) Pine Ridge – delayed – RTP constraints. Waterville has failed to complete certain tasks required for their previous grant. Once that is complete, we can reapply for another RTP grant.
- f) Surrey Hill – MMBTF – received. This is for phase 2 of Surrey Hill. Work will be over the next 2 years.
- g) City of Augusta funding – pending. Won’t likely know until September.
- h) Allen Whitney Donations – received. Two donors, totaling $6,000 to rehab the trails after the salvage harvest. $1000 contribution to all Manchester trails from Town of Manchester – specific to annual trail maintenance.
- i) What to do about KH earmarked funds? Discussion tabled for now.
2024 Financial Planning discussion continued
- a) Discussion on Sustainability and Long-Term Planning Strategies. We are still seeking ideas on long term financial sustainability and fundraising. Grants are a great addition but relying on them is a bad practice for our long-term goals. Most grant funders are less interested in helping with maintenance than with new trail projects. We have had very little success getting grant funding for maintenance needs. Maintenance is and should continue to be a significant priority of each season.
CeMe SWAG –
- a) SWAG committee update: Disa, Frank, Ryan. Approved the hats, shirts, and tank tops the committee recommends. Goal is to have all swag ready for the spring event.
2024 Events
- a) Spring Social and Auction. We need to make this our primary fundraising event for the year. Event will be at Absolem Cider, Winthrop on May 5th. The silent auction is open. It is proceeding very slowly. Fewer donations and less bidding than usual. Need to push for more items and activity.
- b) Titcomb Mtn Challenge – 6/15/24- we will need day of volunteers. Already have 70 entries, so off to a good start.
- c) Titcomb Women’s Clinic – 6/30/24 – Casey, Renee, Disa are working on the planning. Participation will be limited by the number of instructors we can line up.
- d) WNR Series – Chris will develop the ride calendar as the season progresses. He would like each board member to lead at least one ride this season. Expect the first ride will be April 24 at the Res.
- f) TNT Series – Calendar will be developed after trails assessment and the weather starts to cooperate.
May Meeting Date – Agreed to hold a brief board meeting at the Spring Social. This will include the election of officers and new board members by ballot. All members that show up to the event will be invited to vote. Email will be sent to all current members asking for nominations to the board for the spot left vacant by Zach.
Respectfully submitted,
Garry Hinkley, Sec.