Meeting Minutes for: May 21, 2008 

Board Members Present

• Meeting was called to order by David Thomas at 7:00 p.m.

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  • April 16, 2008 minutes approved unanimously with editorial comment- Dave Thomas abstained. 

• E-mail Issue:  Dave Thomas will start a user group and wants all of the board to subscribe.  Jill will investigate a forum for the board on the website.

• Budgeting:  Dave Thomas wants all committee chairs to think about annual budgets for the July meeting.  The fiscal years starts in October.  Chel suggested a shell of plan first with timeline of August/September for committees, then the plan would go to a budget group.  Tom Gattiker wants to be flexible with the budget and allow a buffer.  Chel believes there should be a framework, but with the majority of funds to be uncommitted for opportunities that come up that are really great.

• Jeep Challenge Series:  Dave Beck stated the Series could be held at the Velopark in September.

• Annual Meeting:  6:00 p.m. at Smoky Mountain, business meeting at 7:00 p.m.    Julia Grant will give a 40 minutes Foothills Levy Status presentation at 6:00.  Each committee chair will have a 5-10 minute presentation followed by acknowledgments/awards, then Board elections and door prize drawings.  Harley moved to allocate $500 for annual meeting expenses, Bob Roehl seconded, motion passed unanimously.

• R2R Dog Working Group Update:  Margie gave an update on the task force.  The recommendations of the group, which would have restricted off leash dogs from everything but the upper foothills trails which are not easily accessed and some of which are also motorcycle trails, were met with public uproar.  The FCAC rejected the recommendations, but still want some changes.  Margie was one of two members who dissented with the recommendations.  Problems perceived with the working group included selection of members with agendas, flaws in the City of Boise’s complaint gathering process, and loss of valuable input from Dave Gordon due to his emergency neck surgery, among other things.  The FCAC tasked Dave Gordon with making new recommendations.   

 Margie expressed concerns due to complaints re: mountain bikers being handled under the same flawed process, and to comments from FCAC members about wanting to change access to some trails.  Proactive action is recommended to maintain as much trail access as possible. 

• MTB Etiquette in Foothills:  Dave Thomas said he is receiving a relentless stream of e-mails regarding mountain biker conduct in the foothills, and there are a lot of problems.  Two people have been injured in head-ons resulting in broken fingers in one week’s time..  Tom Gattiker will help draft a general letter.  A letter to the editor will be considered.  Dave Beck is getting complaints through the BYRDS, such as overcrowding and ignorance of etiquette.  He advocates a peer pressure campaign, targeting it at Tour de Fat, mounting a media campaign and utilizing public service announcements.  Addressing the problems without conflict is an issue.  Terry Floyd said the R2R rangers get the same reports.  He believes it could be ignorance and recommends calling people on it.  Tom Gattiker said trail conflicts are a result of the degree to which people think behavior is a norm.  We have to be vocal and model the behavior.  Dan Meeker thinks closing some trails might get offenders attention.  Harley thinks there will be information at the IMBA Summit.  Chel suggested going bigger, getting the 600 word review and calling Pete and Roger at the Statesman to interview some people from SWIMBA, R2R, Cycle Park and BYRDS, which will spur some letters back and forth.  Margie related that the FCAC along with Dave Gordon are considering the issue.  Chris Hess advocates thinking creatively, maybe slogans like “Don’t mess with Texas”, which was very effective.  Al did the “Keep It Single” last year.  Dave Thomas will contact Pete and Roger.

• Board Elections:  Tom Chelstrom reviewed progress of the nominating committee.  Ian and Gary need to get their bios in.  More female board members are needed, gender balance is a good thing.  Balancing passion for trails with other skill sets such as business, accounting and planning skills is good and we need candidates with certain skill sets.  SWIMBA members can print off a proxy form and appoint a member as proxy.  He wants an accurate up-to-date list of members.  He will design the ballot and proxy forms. Tom highly recommends Colby Selekof for the board-she is his replacement at REI and would be an asset.  He thanks Dan and Jill for their work on the slate of candidates.  Jill will post it to Idaho Outdoors and Al to MTBR.   Dan Meeker recommends Mike Edwards for the board, he is an experienced grant writer.  Discussion was held on board member attendance requirements – 6 meetings per year are required.  Margie will prepare a tally independent of the election process, but will be available at the annual meeting.

• Membership:  Jodi presented benefit ideas such as $5 gift card to Java, IMT water bottle, increasing membership fees and a jersey with SWIMBA logo and rules of the trails.  She has a vendor who wants their logo on one sleeve, cost is $15 per jersey.  Dave Thomas suggested we may need a different member purchase/renewal price.  Terry Floyd suggested never selling the jersey in stores.  Tom Gattiker wants to expedite the process.  Jodi will bring a sample to the annual meeting.  Jill wants to keep the look consistent with the website.  Jodi wants the marketing committee to work on the design.

 Dave Thomas is working with Brett and Noah from Core Concepts on bamboo T-shirts.  He wants a link on our website to Noah’s so he can sell them with the profits back to us.  He has a design at $15-$20, will make 15-20.  Tom Gattiker wants them by June 7.  Dave will get 4 medium, 5 XL, 10L, will ask for women’s. Jodi said Earth Pure Organics can give us products with our label.  They use recyclable water bottles.  It could be a member benefit, along with nutritional bars and organic cookies.  They will do it very reasonably because they are sampling.   Jodi is working with Channel 7 on their web program re: trails, R2R and bike park – snow reports are off and trail reports are on along with rules of engagement.  Jodi wants our logo on it with a link to SWIMBA website.  SWIMBA would provide resources.  Jill likes the chapstick and water bottle ideas, they stay around longer.  Dave Thomas wants them by Tour de Fat.  Margie suggested water bottles are best for Tour de Fat because New Belgium has chapstick giveaways.  Jodi and the Tour de Fat committee will work it out. 

• Tour de Fat update:  August 23, 2008.  Margie met with Mike Craft from New Belgium when he was in town to finalize permits.  New Belgium will arrive in Boise 8/19/08.  SWIMBA may have to provide beer pourers for the event, all of whom would have to be TIPS trained on August 20, 2008, starting at 7:00.  Beer booth manager volunteers will meet with Mike from 6:00-7:00 on August 20.  We plan to increase the size of the parade from an estimated 1,500 last year, which was Tour de Fat’s 3^rd largest.  Volunteer numbers were discussed for ID banding, beer token sales, set up, tear down, water and enviro.  There will be a new side promotion to win a trip to Fort Collins through Tour de Fat.  Margie requested allocation of a $400 budget for possible expenses like food for volunteers at TIPS training.  Dan moved for a budget of $500, Al seconded, passed unanimously.

• KLUNKERZ:  Harley took in $1,400.  He wants to sell DVDs for $27.95.  He wants to bring it to Satchels next.

• Marketing:  No update at this time.  They will consider the member survey at their May 22 meeting, 51 responses.  They are working on the brochure.

• Position on Travel:  Dave Thomas said ICL has a $200 per board member per year maximum to be submitted on a form.  He wants to be sensitive about it since we have members paying $15 a year and he doesn’t want to give them the wrong idea about how those funds are spent, he wants to be cautious about the appearance of impropriety. 

 Harley said he is sharing a hotel room so that expense is halved, wants transportation, conference fee and lodging in the amount of $545.  He wants to bring a business strategy plan to the board, what to see and what to buy.  He still wants to be an active member of SWIMBA.  Al said Harley would be sent to the IMBA world summit to meet with others with problems.  Tom Gattiker asked if Cycle Idaho is a for profit business, also how it will benefit and what it is paying for.  Harley said it is an LLC and can buy stuff and has a business plan and strategy.  Dan suggested splitting it 50/50.  Harley said he wants $550 in addition to the $100 in gas.  Dan moved to give an additional $250, Al seconded.  Harley asked if anyone wants to raise it.  Bob raised it to $350 added to initial $100 for a total of $450.  Chris Hess seconded.  Vote taken, yes 8, no 4, abstain 2. 

• National Trails Day:  June 7, 2008.  9:00-1:00. Tom Gattiker said SWIMBA will have a presence at the confluence of a busy area and will have Gatorade, trail bars and brochures.  Chel will take a lead role, such as how to talk to people constructively.  He wants a couple more volunteers.  Tom wants $300 to fund giveaways like Clif bars.  Dave Thomas wants to ask Power Bar to provide bars, Dan Meeker will approach them.  Cody moved to allocate $300 for swag, Tom Foote seconded, passed unanimously.  Tom Gattiker thanked Chel and Terry.

• R2R Rangers:  Tom Gattker is setting up a ride for SWIMBA with them, maybe have a beer.  Dave Thomas wants to be available and needs a couple of dates.  They would meet at Municipal Park or Quarry View Park for a BBQ.

• Trails Committee:  Dan and Al provided an update on committee progress.  They would like feedback.  They believe a plan is needed for the Bogus down hill and freeride - Dave Beck is running with it.  Dan supplied a handout, will get together with project managers and create a bio, then meet with the marketing committee on how to market to the general public.  Again, they want feedback.

 The Four Rivers Resource Management Plan is in the scoping phase for NEPA.  Public input is solicited on issues they want the BLM to address.  The Public Scoping Comment Form was discussed.  Dan suggested meeting with Mike Edwards for information.  Al will send out the date. 

• Bike School:  Harley wants $25 from the allocated Sprockids funds for bike tools.  Jill moved, Tom Gattiker seconded, passed unanimously. 

• Adjourned:  9:52 p.m.