We kick off the 2018 season with an episode about membership. Executive Director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Tom Stuessy shares why membership is up in Vermont. We’ll also learn why membership is so valuable to an organization, beyond simply funding. In addition we’ll hear from Bruce Schroeder of the Central Oregon Trail Alliance about what they’re trying out when it comes to membership.
Ep 26 – Bikes in Wilderness Part 2: Interview with Eric Melson of IMBA
As part two of our three parts series on bikes in Wilderness Areas in the US we hear from Eric Melson of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). Eric’s new role is in Government Relations and he’ll give the background on the Boulder-Whiteclouds and explain the new Recreation Not Red Tape Act. Next episode we’ll be hearing from Ted Stroll, President of the Sustainable Trails Coalition.
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Ep 16 – Digging Into the IMBA Board: Interview with Kevin Loomis of SDMBA
This episode we hear from Kevin Loomis of the San Diego Mountain Bike Association. He’s the President of the 2nd largest city chapter of IMBA and has some concerns about the IMBA Board itself. Including the lack of IMBA Chapter Representation on the current Board, and how, despite, three rounds of layoffs for staff, no changes have been made to the Board itself.
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Ep 15 – The End of this Chapter?: Six IMBA Chapters On Why They Decided to Stay or Leave
This episode we discuss the IMBA Chapter program and hear from 6 different voices. My guests come from different Trail Associations in the US, some have left the IMBA Chapter program and others have chose to stay. My first guest is Matt Andrews, Executive Director of the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists and former Regional Director of IMBA. Next is a discussion with 4 representatives from different clubs. Brannon Pack, Executive Director of the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists, and Lance Pysher, President of the Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists, both groups have decided to remain IMBA Chapters. We’ll also hear from Ben Horan, Executive Director of MTB Missoula and President of the Salem Area Trail Alliance, Jeff McNamee; both groups who have left the program. And finally we chat with Kevin Adams of the Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition and former Vice President of Chapter and Member Services at IMBA. Kevin recently wrote an article for Singletracks titled, “Is the IMBA Chapter Program Right for Your Club? Analyzing the Pros and Cons” and we’ll get his advice for any IMBA Chapters out there.
Ep 14 – IMBA’s New Executive Director: An Interview with David Weins
This episode we sit down with IMBA’s brand new Executive Directer: David Weins. We discuss Dave’s work with the Gunnison Trails in Colorado, his new position as E.D., IMBA’s role in Washington, D.C., the chapter program and the future of the organization. There’s been much change at IMBA of late and we’ll hear David Weins himself about what that means for IMBA going forwards.
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Ep 13 – Keeping the Focus Local: Looking Into the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and the Cold Creek Mountain Bikers
The main guest is the Executive Director of the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance, Yvonne Kraus. We discuss what their chapter program is all about and we learn what Lobby Day is. We also sit down with the President of their Cold Creek Mountain Bikers chapter, Eric Albers, and get their perspective.
Ep 11 – Working Together: Interview with Thomas Schoen of the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium
Kicking off a new 3 part series about Consortiums and Umbrellas, we ask: What happens when clubs and trail associations work together? It’s not always sunshine and rainbows; why is that? This episode we explore the many successes of the Cariboo Mountain Bike Consortium and chat with the president and executive director, Thomas Schoen.
Next episode we’ll look closer at the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance and what they’re doing in Washington State. The final episode of the trilogy will be a discussion with David Weins, the new Chair for International Mountain Bike Association, and we’ll discuss what’s new and what IMBA does in Washington, DC.