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Club Care Success - Thanks!
11/09/08 at 8:31pm
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CLUB CARE SUCCESS


Yesterday's Club Care was a big hit for all who attended. We had a terrific presentation and discussion at REI followed by a Jersey Mike's lunch and a great ride at Lake Norman State Park. What a day to ride!!

We had 4 different mountain bike clubs and at least 2 road clubs represented. Almost 30 people attended. Kelly and Collins Bishop, IMBA's East Coast Trail Care Crew, gave us a wealth of information, including specific guidelines and ideas. All of the clubs were involved in the discussion and provided feedback to each other. Collins said that we were the most engaged group they've had yet for a Club Care meeting. There were a lot of take-aways and I'm excited about making plans - and some changes - based on what we learned. 

I want to thank everyone who came out and took time out of their schedule for this event. Also, thanks to REI for designing a community meeting room into their new store at North Lake Mall and for being a supportive and gracious host. (Thank you Bill and Aubin!!) Thanks also to Co-Vice President elect Ed Autry for organizing the food and refreshments.

This is at least the 4th trip to this area by an IMBA Crew in just the last couple of years. Kelly and Collins are a terrific couple and are an example of why IMBA has been so successful over the years. They are clearly experienced, display a committment to excellence, and their attitude is infectious. Kelly and Collins also want to continue to help us build our clubs and meet our goals and we should continue to take advantage of this marvelous resource. I know I look forward to their next visit. Maybe by then Collins will be able to keep up on the ride. Cheesy

Thanks to all! Now let's git-er-done!

Jim Grover
President, Tarheel Trailblazers

« Last Edit: 11/09/08 at 8:33pm by Advocat »  
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TRAILS........................................CONNECT........................................PEOPLE
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cruzona62
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Re: Club Care Success - Thanks!
Reply #1 - 11/10/08 at 12:34am
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Thanks for the update Jim!  Sounds like a successful and well-received presentation by the IMBA trail crew.   Smiley   Any particular words of wisdom you'd like to share?   Tongue
  
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Re: Club Care Success - Thanks!
Reply #2 - 11/10/08 at 12:49am
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Saturday was a really great day, both for a learning perspective and from a fun perspective. I think the club will see some details of what we learned in the near future, and it was just a cool day all around. Having it at REI was a great location (hard on the pocket books for some wth so much neat stuff to purchase Roll Eyes), the ride at LNSP was fun (even if I arrived late and had to chase down the group after picking up the better/smarter half), and Flyinelvis, Cathy, Cyclepath, and Kelly and Collins joined us at our house for some grilling, a few bevy's, and some general telling of lies  Tongue

Kelly and Collins were some of the nicest/coolest folks you could meet. We had a great time, talked until midnight, and got some great tips on road trips to ride that I wouldn't have expected.
  
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Re: Club Care Success - Thanks!
Reply #3 - 11/10/08 at 5:31pm
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cruzona62 wrote on 11/10/08 at 12:34am:
Thanks for the update Jim!  Sounds like a successful and well-received presentation by the IMBA trail crew.   Smiley   Any particular words of wisdom you'd like to share?   Tongue


I think we see a few primary areas of focus - but chief among them will be more emphasis on the social component of the club.

Kelly & Collins identified the 3 necessary activities to create a sustainable club as Advocacy, Trail Work and the Social aspect. As an organization we done pretty darned well at advocacy and trail work, but we have purposefully avoided the social component. I believe strongly (and I think the others who attended the session would agree) that we need to change that. Its like the three legged stool - you need all 3 parts engaged to excell.

More to come. If anyone has any questions or thoughts, post 'em up or give me a ring!
  
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Re: Club Care Success - Thanks!
Reply #4 - 11/11/08 at 1:35am
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It was a tremendous day for mountain biking in the Metro Charlotte region...YOUR club is getting plenty of exposure and that bodes well for our future growth in the community...

Special kudos go of course to Kelly and Collins who moderated the meeting and planted seeds of growth for the club...

To club president, Jim Grover who has made the club care clinic one of his many projects over the past year...Jim's first year as president has been met with many accomplishments and I wish him well as he enters term number 2...

To newly elected co-VP Edward Autry for handling the food and refreshments, and for taking on a leadership role (not to mention the MC duties at meetings!) in the club...Best of luck Edward!

To the four presidents that attended the meeting on Saturday, showing that we never go away, but just drift behind the scenes and continue to make things happen...

To our tireless volunteers, many whom are captured in the following photos, for their tireless efforts...

To the Dirt Divas, for always being there...

And to our general membership...2009 is going to offer many opportunities in the mountain bike community...Find your role, plug in and be a part of an exciting time in the growth of our club in the community...

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The group poses for a photo op prior to the LNSP ride...

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Frankie and Johnny on the Norwood Loop...

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And IMBA Trail Crew Leader Collins follows Chris on the Itusi Loop...
  
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When I was a kid, I prayed for a bicycle.  When I learned it didn't work that way, I stole one and asked God to forgive me...
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Re: Club Care Success - Thanks!
Reply #5 - 11/11/08 at 3:52pm
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     One of the biggest responsibilities of the Trailblazers as a club is mountain bike advocacy.  The IMBA folks helped us to realize that there are really three components of advocacy:   Political, Physical and Social.    As a club we have always stressed the Physical aspect by putting our backs into our trails, and it shows.  Tom and Jim, our past and current club presidents, have really helped the Trailblazers step up the Political aspect of our Advocacy campaign. We are now highly recognized as valuable assets to our land managers as opposed to being just squeaky wheels.  In the past, we have purposely passed on many of our Social opportunities. The IMBA Club Care session made it clear that in order for us to be true Advocates, we must embrace these opportunities instead of passing them off to The Dirt Divas or Charlotte Sports Cycling or others.  In fact, the Social component may well be the key to club sustainability that we have been searching for.  The Trailblazer Board will be asking for the input of the mountain biking community to see how we can make this adjustment and better meet the needs of our cause.
   
      I would expect to see a lot more emphasis by the club in the near future to promote scheduled rides, restaurant and bar socials, and riding skills clinics to name a few things.  Of course, the success of this outreach will be hinged upon the willingness of our more than 400 current members to take an active role in these types of events.  Maybe those who do not care much for doing trailwork will find an opportunity to step up and help put on a post-trailwork cookout.  Or maybe a post-ride get together at the nearest restaurant/bar.  The possibilities for Social Advocacy are far reaching and I think that they may be the key to helping us find the successors to our Board of Advisors and Board of Directors, thus eliminating the spectre of burnout for our club leaders.      
     
       So go ahead and start thinking.      What can you do for our club?
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I cannot WAIT until Tuesday...
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Re: Club Care Success - Thanks!
Reply #6 - 11/12/08 at 2:13am
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Thanks for sharing the highlights.... especially for those of us who couldn't/didn't make it to the meeting. I think the idea of focusing on the social aspect in conjunction with club advocacy and trail building is an excellent one.  Besides, how could anyone resist hanging out with some good folks over a few "bevy's"? Cool
  
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