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NMMBA Board of Directors Meeting

Date and location: Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 Acme Twp Hall

Attendees:  Heath Day, Mike Walters, Tim Reicha, Chad Schut, Kate White, Brian Pugh, Kim White, Chad Jordan, Tim Jenema

Absent: Steve Mentzer,Tom White  

Guests: Cindy Mussell

Mission statement → It is our mission to Envision, Build and Protect the mountain bike experience while respecting all forest users and uses.

Standing Agenda Items:

Annual Meeting Meeting minutes were approved by email.

Public Comments: 3 minute time limit

Financial discussion: General fund balance: $20,048.45

• We still have an open invoice for the balance of the larger storage unit that we moved into this winter. (We should seek a volunteer to build and install custom storage shelving this spring)

Grants:  

CCCC-Vasa Bike Park: Kate will complete and submit in March

Impact 100-Vasa Bike Park

(Membership Grant - do we have a female NMMBA (board or general) member interested in joining Impact 100?), TJ to reach out to Craig Ferguson to write this grant.

GT Band 2% Grant through GT County for Vasa Bike Park funding

Chapter Reports/requests:

TimBarn: Board adoption of proposed MOU

• Reviewed MOU, suggested adding barn share split between TART and NMMBA as square footage or percentage. Tim R will contact TART to add

• Motion to approve draft MOU for Timber Maintenance Facility ownership and management between TART and NMMBA pending above addition by Tim Reicha, support by Chad Jordan, approved unanimously

Platform for sharing materials - new shared drive “TART NMMBA VasaTrailblazing Tomorrow Fundraising Campaign”

Help identifying donor prospects

Determine means for receiving sensitive donor info (TART uses Salesforce, can we import/export via CE?)

• Kate to explore options and report back

• Brian Pugh acting as project manager met with TART’s Chris Kushman and Mike P from Keen to discuss building heating options

TCTN: 

• Brian Pugh has sought out two quotes to install well pump at VST trailhead to add water station in the future

• Brian Pugh also working on TCTF permitting plan

• VST vault toilet floor is very slippery with snow. Ask the DNR to post signs and make plans to fix issues this spring.

Shop rides: 

• No shop interest in leading winter rides

Hickory Hills: 

• Hickory Hills Advisory Committee has convened

Vasa Bike Park:

• Big fundraising effort to fully find phase three construction in 2025

Winter trails: 

• So much snow. Trails teetering between great conditions and too much snow.

• Electrical problems with NMMBA sleds at Palmer Woods and VST

Bike Leelanau

• Chad Jordan grooming Ursa Major and Ursa Minor at Palmer Woods. Will explore demand and ability to add more groomed trail for next season

Cadillac Pathway Update: 

• Regular fat bike and xc ski grooming ongoing

Glacial Hills

• Regular fat bike and walking path grooming ongoing

LMB/MMBA

• Meeting 12/5 7pm

• Jeff Carek interim ED

• Still working on new chapter guide

• Working with DNR to create consistent land use standards throughout the state.

• Wilderness First Aid March 8 & 9 2025, $250 with CPR add in at K-college

• Email jamie.e.mckinney@gmail.com

• Women’s skills clinic - 6/13-15

Old Business:

2025 Officer appointments

• Motion by Pugh to elect Tim Reicha as President, Mike Walters as Vice President, Kim White as Treasurer, and Steve Mentzer as Secretary for 2025. Supported by Heath Day, approval unanimously voted for

• Tim Reicha, Kim White, and Steve Mentzer all indicated intention that this will be their last year serving in these positions

Joint staff position w/TART

• Cindy Mussell attended to indicate interest in staff position after seeing this mentioned in previous meeting minutes

• Discussed primary roles and responsibilities and intention to post the position and interview hire later this year. Likely ahead of TCTF in late September

• More budgeting needed.

• TART partnership agreement also needs to be written as NMMBA does not have capacity to administer payroll.

Merchandise Manager

• Rachel Decker is interested to help with this volunteer role

• Merchandise inventoried

• Next steps to photograph merchandise and post to nmmba.net storefront, secure packaging and means for shipping, open storefront and advertise

• Kate, Kim, and Tim R to help onboard Rachel in the near future

• Keep an eye out for merch to be available soon!

Grayling/Gaylord trail group

• Nobody was able to travel to TC this month, will try again in March

2025 velcro membership straps - distribution?

• Will plan membership pavilion celebration ahead of MSB to distribute new membership velcro straps and stickers

New Business:

TCTF Expenses/committee

• Tim R presented two expenses for approval (podium backdrop and professional photography services) and discussion of assigning TCTF committee to approve future race expenses

• Motion by Tim R to appoint Tim R, Mike, Brian, and John Roe as TCTF committee, second by Kim, followed by unanimous approval

Primal jersey store

• No current capacity to open team jersey store this year among board members

• Tim R to communicate with Primal and explore alternatives