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Transition to IMBA Chapter Program

IMBA Chapter Program

Introduction
The International Mountain Bicycling Association developed the IMBA Chapter Program to strengthen mountain biking advocacy by combining local and national efforts. Mountain biking advocacy comes to fruition on the local level, but there are challenges for local clubs, especially those that are growing. Business and legal savvy rapidly dominate the clubs, causing volunteer burnout without even hitting the trails with tools in hand.
IMBA advocates travel the country speaking at different mountain biking events, teaching volunteers how to build sustainable trails, and advocating on national and regional levels. IMBA points out that volunteer burnout is a real issue affecting all clubs, and that a partnership between IMBA and local clubs would relieve local volunteers of demanding task associated with running an organization, which would minimize burnout.
The Michigan Mountain Biking Association knows firsthand how business and legal issues dominate the state organization, and that maintaining effective insurance policies and adhering to the law can be quite costly. The MMBA wants to focus more on local advocacy. It is because of this that the MMBA chapters are moving forward with the IMBA Chapter Program application process.
During this process, the MMBA Chapters have the option to draw new boundaries and change their names. They will ultimately become IMBA Chapters, with IMBA tending to the administrative business of the organization.
For a quick summary of the program, here’s a couple of web pages that IMBA has on the program:
What this means for MMBA Members is that your chapter would become an IMBA chapter – instead of being an MMBA chapter and your membership becomes an IMBA Chapter membership – instead of an MMBA membership.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve been compiling a list of Frequently Asked Questions on the MMBA website. These are questions that we have heard out in our community, as well as some Frequently Asked Questions that IMBA has fielded from other clubs as they work through this process.  for the most up-to-date answers to Frequently Asked Questions, see the FAQ page.
Proposed MMBA Organization – Post IMBA Chapter Transition
The MMBA will continue to exist. Since the administrative tasks will be handled by IMBA, the MMBA will be able to focus on state-level advocacy efforts.
There is a vision and a direction that is being followed. The state board will be working with other like-minded organizations to become members of the MMBA. Each Michigan IMBA Chapter would also be a member of the MMBA. The member organizations would help decide the direction and strategize for funding, advocacy and events.
Our current Advocacy Team (lead by John Gonway) will continue to bridge the gap between state and local advocacy.  They would continue to take direction from the MMBA board and continue to be our key line of support for our local advocacy efforts.  The MMBA would still support CPS and MiSCA.  We would still maintain the MMBA website and newsletter.  The annual meeting would still bring us together in the winter and if all goes well, perhaps some new state-wide mountain biking events could be seen.
The organizational chart below is a direction that the current MMBA state board is working toward.  Please note, the organizations listed in the “Other Mich Cycling Orgs” are purely examples of the types of like-minded organizations we see as part of the MMBA going forward.
 (click to enlarge)
Proposed MMBA Org Chart - post IMBA Chapter transition

Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the more frequently heard questions regarding the IMBA Chapter Program transition.

 

Q.  Why is the MMBA transitioning into the IMBA Chapter Program

A.  One of the greatest benefits of partnering with IMBA is to have paid professionals run the business of the organization. Currently, we have part-time non-professionals running a business, making sure taxes are done correctly, ensuring books are handled in the way they need to be, and attempting to comply with dozens and dozens of laws very specific to running a 501(c)(3). This is not in the best interest of the organization

 

Q. Will the IMBA take over our advocacy efforts in Lansing?

A. No, the IMBA will not take this over.  And this is why the MMBA will remain.  We need the MMBA to restructure and grow so that it will be able to be the voice of Mountain Bikers in Michigan.   However, as IMBA chapters, we would have a regional representative that would be our paid local representative.  While this does not replace the MMBA, being a IMBA chapter with a regional representative is a model that currently works for the majority of Mountain Biking organizations in the country.  The majority do not have our current model of organization.

 

Q.  What will happen to my MMBA membership?

A.  IMBA will grandfather all single and family memberships into the program. For example, if you just renewed your MMBA membership, it will convert to an IMBA membership for your IMBA Chapter. For the same membership fee, you will become both an IMBA and a local Chapter member; one membership for both local and national efforts.

 

Q. Where is my money going?

A. IMBA is tasked with handling all membership applications. Membership dues are paid to IMBA, then 40% of those dues are returned to the local chapter. IMBA keeps the other 60% within IMBA Chapter Program.  As new chapters come onboard the IMBA Chapter program, the program’s income increases.  Its is because of this that IMBA has spoken of its desire to pay for all chapter insurance costs and increasing the revenue split to 50%.  However, they believe that these decisions should be up to its chapters and therefore, IMBA is looking to start a congress comprised of IMBA chapter representatives.  This congress would be responsible for deciding the direction of the Chapter Program funds.

 

Q.  Who will pay for insurance?

A.  Currently, the chapters are responsible for insurance costs for trail days and events, but they can use the insurance programs through IMBA costing $5.50 to $8.50 per member.  IMBA is currently negotiating a discount (possibly as much as 20%) with their carrier.  This discount would apply to us as IMBA chapters.

 

Q. What about Chapter Fund Raisers and individual donations?

A. Any money raised by the chapter will remain the property of the chapter. Only membership money is split between IMBA and the local chapters. Each chapter will have its own Employer Identification Number (EIN), so the money and assets of a chapter will be the property of the chapter. Currently, all assets belong to the state-level MMBA.

 

Q. I’ve heard there isn’t a regional IMBA representative in our area – how does that affect us?

A. At the 2011 MMBA Annual Meeting & Expo, IMBA Executive Director Mike Van Abel said that IMBA has the funding for a regional director should the Michigan chapters join the IMBA program.

 

Q.  Won’t the MMBA just fall apart once all of its funding has been removed?

A. It is estimated that the MMBA will be able to sustain itself on $5,000 per year. The state MMBA currently has enough money to sustain itself while it restructures. In addition, new corporate memberships have been developed so Michigan businesses may continue to support the MMBA. Any corporate memberships with the MMBA will support only the MMBA. Likewise, any corporate sponsorships through IMBA will not support the MMBA or any of the IMBA chapters.