Luton Park Trail Day this Saturday August 8th, 9am

POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST 23RD...APPROACHING HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS WITH ALL THE WIDOWMAKERS AT LUTON PARK. Join us for another trail day on August 8th at 9:00 am. Meet at the Luton Barn on Kies Ave. Help us cut new trail. Currently we are about 2/3 of the way through the Black Loop (previously stated as the White loop). Chapter tools provided but we could use additional rakes for the day. Come rain or shine. With a good turnout we should be able to open this loop!

WMMBA Meeting Minutes - August 3, 2009

Western Michigan Mountain Biking Association

Meeting Minutes

Date: August 3, 2009

Location: Mangiamo Restaurant – 2^nd Floor, Grand Rapids, MI

Board Members Present: Rick Plite - President, Martin Hall-Treasurer, Nate Phelps-State Representative, Jennifer Bechtel – Secretary

Total Attendence: 5 members, 1 guest, 3 board members

Start time: 6:30 p.m.

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Meeting called to order at 6:34 p.m. – Rick Plite

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Minutes recap from June 1, 2009 – Rick Plite

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BikeStock Recap – Rick Plite

Was held last Saturday in Grand Rapids.

WMMBA had a membership table and acquired 8 new members. WELCOME!

Raffled off a donated Giant bike.

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Jason Schwab has linked-up our blog spot to Facebook and Twitter. – Rick Plite

Just a reminder that the blog spot is available to all board members to write a story, make a post. More updates = more readers.

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Stanaback Park Meeting – Rick Plite

City of Kentwood approached us about putting mountain bike trail on this 40 acres.

Location is 36^th and Breton in Kentwood.

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Gezon Park trail possibility – Rick Plite

Nate & Dennis met with Chad Root to consider putting in mountain bike trails at Gezon Park in Wyoming, MI.

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State Games of Michigan Coming 2010 – Rick Plite

Put on by West Michigan Sport Commission next June.

Committee members in place. Contact Rick if interested in joining committee to design the type of race and location.

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Yankee Springs Time Trial Committee – Rick Plite

Looking for Committee members for the 2010 race

Third Sunday in April

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MidWest Mountain Bike Summit Committee – Rick Plite

Current members include Nate, Jason, and Aaron. Need 3-4 others!!

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Brown County Indiana Bike Trip – Rick Plite

Had a great trip on a great trail system during July 18^th bike trip.

Planning chapter trip to there again the weekend of Oct 23^rd – 24^th

6.5 hr drive. Plan full three-day weekend.

Have cabins, lodge, indvl. Rooms, nice restaurants in the area.

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NCT Epic Trail Event – Rick Plite

October 9^th – 11^th

$145/person which includes everything, even the Founders.

A certified medic/mechanic will be the sweep this year.

Four spots still available!

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Halloween Party Planned – Rick Plite

Possible location – Mill Creek Tavern in Comstock Park with band

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Film Festival – Nate Phelps/Rick Plite

In conjunction with the Rapid Wheelman

January/February time frame.

Already have first film lined up.

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14.0 Treasury Report – Martin Hall

14.1 Currently at a low point in funding, especially in terms of planned activities.

14.3 We need fresh ideas for how to fund all these great activities!

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State Report – Nate Phelps

Funding is looking good for the MMBA overall due to spending less over the last few years. Individual chapters encourage to apply for grants from MMBA for local projects.

33% drop in membership. Will return to paper reminders, in addition to 90, 60, 30 day email reminders to renew.

Next Bent Rim Bugle will be last paper version. New pdf version will be in full color and longer. The February issue will still be print version each year.

Proposing an Advocacy Committee which will include hiring a part-time lobbyist to have a presence in Lansing. Possibly also a grant writer.

Looking at more non-race events at the State level.

Annual meeting will be inside this year. Either Lansing or Battle Creek. Looking for a facility that will allow bringing in dirt to create a pump track.

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16.0 Green Grand Rapids Update – Nate Phelps

16.1 In October, the final event is to present the five year Master Plan for the City of Grand Rapids which includes the Recreation Master Plan.

16.2 Nate has pushed for the opportunity for Greenspace and single track in City Parks.

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Bicycle Friendly Community Update – Nate Phelps

Part I was in April. Part II will be submitted this week.

Trying for a bronze level, to be updated each year.

City planners are considering the statistics showing more people move to cities that have bicycle-friendly communities.

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Trail Coordinator Reports

Luton – Rick Plite: Trail day this Saturday (Aug 8^th) to rake and cut out stumps. Had couple more trail days and now the black loop (previously white loop) adds 3 miles. Will have 9.3 miles when completed.

Ski Area – via Rick Plite: Met w/Ski Area reps and major changes include

Please, DO NOT ride across bridge nearest dumpster. That is for their maintenance vehicles and the blind corner creates a hazard.

Do not ride up the double-chair hill (trying to prevent erosion).

Do not use the gate in/out of Egypt Valley Rd.

Please follow signs that have been built, purchased, and put up.

Robinette’s – Glen: August 22^nd trail day when will extend on the north side.

The Robinette’s have been brush-hogging. Arrows have been put up.

Ionia – Guy: Please do not do work out there without notifying Guy first so he can contact DNR to let them know you will be out there.

DNR working on creating a Rails-to-Trails out there that would allow going around the swampy area (old trash dump and archeological site). Possibly next summer.

A reminder that Trail Coordinators who need to rent additional equipment for spring clearing can request extra funds above their current limit.

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18.0 Attendence at Meetings – Martin Hall

18.1 Seeking input to increase attendance at these meetings. Decision was made to market more effectively by repeating invites on Facebook and also emailing chapter members.

18.2 Need location that is quiet, non-smoking, serves food/alcohol.

18.3 Jason S. noted Twitter/Facebook users can opt-in to receive text messages to see when our pages are updated.

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19.0 Next meeting: October 5, 2009 –Mangiamos

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20.0 Motion to adjourn – Martin Hall. Nate Phelps seconded. Motion passed.

18.1 Meeting Adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

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These minutes to be posted at:

http://westernmmba.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Grand-Rapids-MI/westernMMBA/

Cannonsburg Ski Area requests

I recently met with the Ski Area management they have a requested a few changes in regards to riding on their property. They have asked me to post them up here.
#1 Please enter and exit the Ski Area property via the bridge located near the main lodge. The bridge near the maintenance building is now closed to foot or bike traffic. A couple reasons for this, the machinery in this area is dangerous and they use this bridge for vehicle traffic. They have had a few close calls with riders bombing over the bridge and nearly having head on collisions.
#2 Due to erosion, please don't ride up and down the ski slopes. Stay on designated bike trails only.
#3 Also due to erosion, the red gated entry off Egypt Valley Road is now closed to bike traffic. Please enter the property at the main driveway on Cannonsburg Road.
#4 Do not ride during the evening of Picnic Pops (5pm-11pm) every Thursday and Friday during July
They will be posting signs with all the changes and moving the Trail Head Sign to a more prominent location. I know habits are hard to break but these rules come at the request of the Ski Area and we are their guests. This is private property after all. Please spread the word so we can continue to enjoy the trails!