IMBA Chapter Program, is it right for FORC?

[AG]

I believe I mentioned that we could apply for own 501(c)3 stats which would eliminate the need to use IMBA's . Please tell me more of the plus to this JB, I'm looking for more pros before I vote. Most of the pros Tigris99 posted I do not see as relative enough to mention. I will find it hard to believe IMBA will bring any national event to this area let alone step up and save one of our small trail systems. I would be way different if there was acres and acres of BLM land that we are trying to access.

I am still listening. I have not dismiss this yet.

[dgw2jr]

I will find it hard to believe IMBA will bring any national event to this area let alone step up and save one of our small trail systems. I would be way different if there was acres and acres of BLM land that we are trying to access.

That is an excellent point. Everyone has aspirations to grow and succeed but the problem with growth is that you need room to grow. I just don't see where we could possibly expand around here. There are a handful of state parks/forest preserves in the area but they are small, the terrain is wonky and sensitive, and then there is the problem with shared systems. Anywhere we go, surely the equestrians will follow or they are already there, and IMBA might have our back to keep it bike/hike but in this region of the country horses have priority.

We could build new trails at our existing systems but at some point they will be maxed out. We don't want all the trail systems to look like Sylvan. The other systems environmentally couldn't handle it anyway and the land managers would simply think it ridiculous (if it were me). Our trails are great but we're never going to have a Levis/Copper Harbor/Cuyuna trail system around here. I'm not being a pessimist or a hater, just trying to be realistic about what we are truly capable of achieving.

Even if there wasn't a decision like this being made right now, I would like to know what the clubs 1/5/10 year plans are. How many members do we really want to have? The theoretical maximum would be the entire population of the QC metro area, not possible I know due to prevalent laziness, disease, or just plain lack of interest, but I'm trying to stress the importance of limitations. Has anyone done an analysis of our trail systems total rider capacity? So many questions... Sorry for the ramble