IMBA: Possible new direction for the MMBA

[nate.phelps]

This went circular some posts ago.

Each chapter has a rep on the board, so the vote will be by the board. We will obviously be asking for input from the membership, regardless of direction taken,

Ideally, we will have a direction plan in place for the annual meeting.

[Loren]

Tidbit posted on an MTBR thread:

A couple more questions regarding membership...

IMBA offers a student/youth membership for $20. After the 60/40 split the Chapter ends up with just $8. We're paying $8.50 per member for insurance. It looks like a disincentive to recruit kids.

IMBA's membership page http://www.imba.com/membership lists many different types of "membership". Does the 60/40 split rule apply to all memberships, including retailer, club and corporate?

Marty, we met with our regional IMBA rep this week. My understanding is the split applies to all individual/family membership levels. If someone joins at $500, you get that split. It does not apply to corporate memberships, say if you have Trek, Specy, or Oakly in your backyard.

Doesn't really answer the 'retailer' part. Would we expect our corporate sponsors to remain contributors to the state level somehow? Or do those dollars disappear into the IMBA machine?

[dirt]

Tidbit posted on an MTBR thread:

A couple more questions regarding membership...

IMBA offers a student/youth membership for $20. After the 60/40 split the Chapter ends up with just $8. We're paying $8.50 per member for insurance. It looks like a disincentive to recruit kids.

IMBA's membership page http://www.imba.com/membership lists many different types of "membership". Does the 60/40 split rule apply to all memberships, including retailer, club and corporate?

Marty, we met with our regional IMBA rep this week. My understanding is the split applies to all individual/family membership levels. If someone joins at $500, you get that split. It does not apply to corporate memberships, say if you have Trek, Specy, or Oakly in your backyard.

Doesn't really answer the 'retailer' part. Would we expect our corporate sponsors to remain contributors to the state level somehow? Or do those dollars disappear into the IMBA machine?

Exactly as he said, the split only applies to Individual and Family memberships. Any current IMBA member above that level remain only an IMBA member, with no split to the chapter. But, that works both ways. If the chapter/org has a shop/corp/> Individual or Family member, that membership is not shared with IMBA. That member is only a member of the chapter/org, and ALL of that membership money stays with chapter/org.

So, as a quick summary, Individual/Family memberships are shared between IMBA/Chapter. Any other higher level memberships that IMBA OR the Chapter has remain solely the member of IMBA or the chapter, and there is no financial sharing of the membership monies.

[Di_bear]

So, then, would we consider having corporate membership for the state level to help fund projects such as a lobbyist? (iow, would Moss still be in business with the businesses?)

[J.knight]

After thinking about the decision of wether or not to defer the administration od MMBA To IMBA, here are my thoughts, with some questions.

1) Most of the country thinks of Michigan specifically and the Midwest in general as fly-over states. What assurances do we have that the efforts and money provided by MMBA wont be used on some issue in California or Colorado. How is IMBA going to help with boots on the ground advocacy issues like what is going on at Ft Custer right now with the Equestrians? I know IMBA didn't seem overly concerned about Shingle Mill pathway last year. It is much like the concerns we have heard from riders in the U.P.. How will Imba benefit us if we lose all of our places to ride? Will their representation be better after we hire them to do the administration duties?

2) What Ideas are being implimented to raise cash to hire an accountant to handle the duties of the treasurer? It seems to me there is a ton of wasted opportunity for fundraising by the MMBA. Membership drives and merchandise are two huge opportunities that are all but invisible to me. What about an event like HMBA's Brown County Breakdown? $50X2-300 entries would go a long way toward hiring a professional person. I mean MMBA events, not chapter fundraisers.

3) I think it is time for some new blood on the board. I appreciate the efforts of those there now, but like anything else Burnout is inevitable. If the organization is going to grow we need fresh enthusiastic people leading the way, not people who are doing it just because no one else will.

Again these are just the thoughts of a non-member.(I've never once been asked to join) So I hope no one takes offence or sees my post as a personal attack.

[c0nsumer]

3) I think it is time for some new blood on the board. I appreciate the efforts of those there now, but like anything else Burnout is inevitable. If the organization is going to grow we need fresh enthusiastic people leading the way, not people who are doing it just because no one else will.

Are you going to join / take on board-level responsibility?

[J.knight]

3) I think it is time for some new blood on the board. I appreciate the efforts of those there now, but like anything else Burnout is inevitable. If the organization is going to grow we need fresh enthusiastic people leading the way, not people who are doing it just because no one else will.

Are you going to join / take on board-level responsibility?

I knew that woudn't take long.
I haven't ruled it out, but I have some possible conflict of interest issues.

[dirt]

3) I think it is time for some new blood on the board. I appreciate the efforts of those there now, but like anything else Burnout is inevitable. If the organization is going to grow we need fresh enthusiastic people leading the way, not people who are doing it just because no one else will.

Are you going to join / take on board-level responsibility?

I knew that woudn't take long.
I haven't ruled it out, but I have some possible conflict of interest issues.

Well, it was to be expected, since you're no the first person to say this.. and, to be honest, the current board members would completely agree with you. But, while it's a great suggestion, it offers nothing as to how to accomplish this.

Our chapter, least year, had exactly one person running for each position. It wasn't an election, it was a confirmation of the nominated people. Last year, for the 4 open At Large state board member positions, we had 4 people run. Same thing. I know of another chapter that currently has multiple positions for the upcoming election, with nobody nominated for some of the positions. They have less people running then they have positions to fill.

You suggest we need new blood, while currently we struggle to get enough bodies to fill the positions we have. This is not an uncommon struggle, which is one of the reason that IMBA is doing this program. If you can't find more people to do the work, then you start to look at ways to eliminate some of the work. When to comes down to business/financial/legal task vs advocacy tasks, it should be obvious which would be most beneficial to the org to rid ourselves off.

As for the other twp point you brought up: What about the local advocacy? The chapter and MMBA will still be around to focus on these issues, as well as a Regional IMBA rep over Michigan and the neighboring states. Their focus will be LOCAL issues.

And, as for the fund raising, you're correct, we do need to be better with that. But, it comes back down to who is going to do it, when the current people are burnt out from the work load we already have on our volunteers, and nobody new is stepping up to fill the current positions, let alone new people to take on new positions to take on additional tasks.

[dauber76]

Again these are just the thoughts of a non-member.(I've never once been asked to join) So I hope no one takes offence or sees my post as a personal attack.

I guess I'll say it. J. Knight, would you please consider being a member of the MMBA? We would love to have you as a member.

[scat silvurz]

I'm all for conflicts of interest.

The MMBA needs all the help it can get, why get picky now?

[dirt]

I'm all for conflicts of interest.

The MMBA needs all the help it can get, why get picky now?

Agreed.. Being involved in the cycling industry shouldn't be considered a conflict, and in fact, would be quite an asset on the board.

[dennismurphy]

Maybe JKnights on the board of the North Country Trail Assoc?

[Di_bear]

Again these are just the thoughts of a non-member.(I've never once been asked to join) So I hope no one takes offence or sees my post as a personal attack.

I guess I'll say it. J. Knight, would you please consider being a member of the MMBA? We would love to have you as a member.

I've asked everyone in our monthly newsletter (goes out to members), on various pages throughout the website, and in a couple of press releases. I'm sorry that it's not a personal invite, but I'm doing what I can. Chapters invite people to join or renew at chapter meetings and other events.

I joined the MMBA not because someone invited me (they didn't), but because I felt that Michigan needs this advocacy group to support out sport. I've been a member since 2007 and I search for all of my hidden pennies to pay my yearly membership fee. Someone did ask me to run for board member, and I'm glad he did. I've learned a lot, and while I certainly put forth my fair share of controversy, stupid statements, and slacking, I am also able to produce something on a regular basis for the good of the organization. I do what I can. It isn't always as much as I would like, for various reasons, but it's what I can, and that is what is important.

If everyone did what they could, it would lighten the burden for the those who are in over the their heads with responsibilities. If all that means is offering your support in the form of a membership, then that is incredibly important. We need more members. We need a lot more members to fund this organization and its advocacy efforts. We also need a lot more members so that our user group is taken seriously (numbers matter to the government and the DNR).

Now, for people who are looking for something to do, I really, really need your help with the BRB and Expo. Please volunteer. We are also looking for people to help guide the MMBA at the state level as At-Large Board Members.

[Michelle_Wissman]

Very interesting posts regarding the possible new direction for the MMBA. Will look forward to the Expo to learn more.

[dirt]

http://www.imba.com/news/three-more-clu ... er-program