Try and get some of your interested people to attend the Midwest Mountain Bike Festival here in the Quad Cities. This is not a shameless plug! It will really benefit you. Friday is full of interesting and useful advocacy training. Then of course just being around people and asking the type of questions you are here but doing it in person.

http://www.qcforc.org/content.php?143

Also touch base with the Illinois Valley Cycling Association. http://www.bikeiv.org/ I mention them because they maintain a trail system that is in a State Park so they should have lots of experience to share.