Metro Mountain Bikers as IMBA Chapter

IMBA has a new Chapter program, not to be confused with their affiliate program. They are asking local clubs, like Metro, to consider becoming IMBA Chapters, that is to say that all of our paid members would become IMBA members.
IMBA would take care of all of the behind the scene member renewal, recruitment and administration as well provide our club with use of their tax exempt status..all things now being done by WORBA.
Our members would all become IMBA members a gain all the benefits of said membership and would no longer pay dues to WORBA. (I am currently a member of both IMBA and WORBA).
I've attached the FAQ, 17 pages, for those interested.
Marty

Tags: Chapter, IMBA, WORBA

Attachments:

Chapter Program INFO_FAQ.pdf, 342 KB

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marty Weigel on November 16, 2010 at 10:41pm

IMBA had a webcast/ conference call today about this .. they're rolling it out slowly with a new group every 3 months. Also said they want to move to 50/50 split. They seem very committed to this for the future of MTB advocacy and it looks like they've worked out most of the bugs. . BTW, WORBA Board moved membership up to $30 and $50 for family. This means effective immediately Metro gets $0 per member, but WORBA pays our insurance, $8.50 per person. As new IMBA chapter we would get 60% per member ($12) but buy our own insurance... leaving $3.50....better than $0. At the 50/50 split our net jumps to $6.50. We would also gain all of the current IMBA members in our territory that are not current WORBA members as well as IMBA's fund raising support.

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Permalink Reply by Kenny Dretzka on November 22, 2010 at 6:07pm

Metro should apply for it own 501 and stop paying anyone to be involved. Not to sound harsh but WHWD. WHAT HAS WORBA DONE beside help create more groups that are not worba chapters anymore. There are 3 very strong chapters that keep it afloat, I do think it would be better to latch onto IMBA just for the name it pulls when appling for grants or other money. Most of the riders at S Kettles when we are working don't have a clue what Worba is when you bring it up.

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Permalink Reply by Greg Smith on November 22, 2010 at 9:10pm

I am all for the IMBA Chapter idea. IMBA does a tremendous amount of good for mountain biking as a whole and have had an active presence in Wisconsin for years. The ability for IMBA to look beyond local issues and work towards a national goal is powerful. By influencing national policy makers IMBA can pave the way for local chapters doing more grassroots effort to ensure we all have access to the MTB trails we want. By becoming an IMBA Chapter I think Metro will better be able to use its manpower for active trail tasks rather than on administrative tasks.

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Permalink Reply by Derek Theisen on November 23, 2010 at 8:07am

Given the fee changes, I don't really see a downside. The administrative services and online CRM tool alone probably make it worthwhile. Add in the IMBA brand and the additional members we'll pick up and I think there's a lot of value for MMB.

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Permalink Reply by Nate Swearingen on November 23, 2010 at 11:06am

Hello all. No, I did not die in a crash nor was I abducted by aliens. Just out of life in general, but trying to get things going so you'll see me this Spring if not sooner. Anyway, I have been volunteering in significant, "deep" roles in non-profits for several years serving on committees and Boards and attending conferences. Some on the County level, and one on the State level that works on a budget of over $600, 000.
This IMBA deal is something I think we should do. Strength in numbers, of course. Also, getting rid of administrative duties would be a plus. Also, in the slight Economic Depression, IMBA needs all the help that it can get. The other non-profits I've worked in are in the Mental Health advocacy & service areas; ESSENTIAL SERVICES, yet grant money is disappearing even from them. A lot of the foundations we got grants from were funded by foundations created by philanthropic Greatest Generation folks, who are now passing away. These foundations are "Sunsetting"-- no new money is coming in, and they will run out and simply die.
This is the situation for Essential Service non-profits. So, just like with Christmas shopping, what little money is around is going to them--not anything that could not exist and people woudn't suffer/die from it. Mountain Biking is seen as a luxury and so certainly will depend much more on contributions from riders. If I'm with a foundation and become aware of the issues and problems in Mental Health services, I wouldn't give a thought to something like us.
So, we're gonna have to remain largely self-funded, and I think that's OK. If this is gonna work though, many of US are gonna have to RE-PRIORITIZE where we spend our total cycling money. Basically, get a bike one level down from what you are planning on and give the difference in the price to an organization that protects, preserves, and improves the trail that you ride that fancy bike on.. This example is for road bikes but it still makes the point: Do you really need the Dura-Ace gruppo on your bike?? Or even Ultegra? I've got the 105 and it shifts wonderfully; has the "paddleshift" system just like the other two. Do you really need a Giro Atmos on your head? I've got a Delerium (Alchera/Influx) and the venting couldn't be better; also has the Internal Reinforcement just like the Atmos for about 1/4 the price.
Right there I just freed up $800 or $900 that could go to trails, safety advocacy, programs to introduce or sport to kids, etc. etc. Freed up that money and you can put it into the facilities/safety/general advocacy of the sport.

Think about it.

--n

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Permalink Reply by Mark D Hamilton on November 23, 2010 at 2:41pm

I am new to this, and mountain biking, furthermore I am not a paying member anywhere. That said, I looked at both WORBA and IMBA's sites and found easy membership access only at IMBA's. It seems this would be a large benefit to this local chapter, not too mention the additional resources listed in the PDF above. Just a thought.

Finally, how do I formally, i.e. not simply read blogs on some social network site, join metro?

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Permalink Reply by John Siegert on November 23, 2010 at 8:58pm

Metro should pursue IMBA chapterhood. It's the wave of the future; IMBA's going to be pushing it, and IMBA's position will be strengthened the more clubs sign up to do it.

So far, most clubs have experienced significant increase in income, based on absorbing IMBA members they didn't already have.

Not sure what Kenny's talking about with the 501(c)(3) and "paying anyone to be involved." A primary benefit of becoming an IMBA chapter is you fall under their already-existing exempt status. If Metro were to go out and get their own, there most assuredly would be costs involved.

Also not sure what he's talking about in saying that WORBA has created more groups that aren't chapters any more, or that 3 chapters are keeping it afloat. Chapters don't pay anything to WORBA. What's kept it going is the dedicated work of a very small number of volunteers who are trying to keep the whole state together. Maybe that's an idea who's time has passed. WORBA certainly has its weaknesses, but the existence (or not) of certain chapters, and the 501(c)(3) designation don't have much to do with it.

Looks like you've got a consensus, Marty; start the process!

Thanks, John Siegert/WORBA Treasurer