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- Thread starter Patrick
- Start date
Bring me solutions, not problems.
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rick81721
Lothar
A Potted Plant
Honorary Sod
I'm an ideas guy most of them are shit but they're there.
I was going to joke around with Pat in the crypto thread about starting a mtbnj crypto but I didn't know for what.
Here is my idea, ppl get paid crypto for trail maintenance, jorba membership, basically anything that has a positive impact on the mtb community.
You can use that crypto for mtbnj premium that would house hidden sub forums where team/group/site rides are posted. Post fs ads, and get the ability to use features like the ignore function.
@RobW would have to volunteer his way to ignore me.
Of course everyone doesn't have free time you could buy mtbnj funny money to post the ads you want and that would go to jobra.
This is the best forum I've had the pleasure of being on and it's the only one that doesn't make me pay. As annoying as it is ppl paid for trail forks the second that became a thing, and the same with Strava.
You are so humble Norm. You've been super successful in maintaining access, maintaining trails that you steward and keeping a seat at the table as a legit stakeholder in WMAs and beyond. The WMA thing is, and likely will always be, an uphill battle. You've also contributed a ton to JORBA as a past director and one of the longest standing board members. You are also legend status in my book =)
I wholeheartedly agree. This is true for any advocacy organization at any point in their history or future.
75% of the reason I ran for council in my town was to hopefully make headway in Essex County for MTB access. I'm on the younger side and new to the scene and enjoy the outreach part but I lost so. That plan didn't go anywhere.
I help admin the FB page for NJ Mountain Biking but I try to keep a low profile... I'll add MTBNJ group ride info and a JORBA shout out here and there... but, after a few incidents* 🙄, I've tried to step back a bit.
* incidents which made me change my profile name, tighten up my profile privacy settings, block people from the MTB page and block people from my own page.
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serviceguy
Well-Known Member
Could additional permanent signage on the actual trails (trail head, intersections etc.) help somehow? Something along the lines of "This Trail is Maintained by JORBA, Wherever Chapter. Please consider joining JORBA.org to make sure we can keep working for you!" and maybe a map of the trail above/below. It would probably help if somehow made official by the State/County Park agreeing to put their logo on it...just a thought.
+1000, JORBA Norm is my hero.
I think I joined JORBA shortly after I got into mountain biking, and it boggles my mind that more people don't. My membership has also lapsed a few times because I would forget to renew it until someone poked me about it, but there is really no reason not to join. What NJ mountain biker can't donate $25/year? Even if you think you get no direct benefit from it, it would at least show your appreciation for those running the org and putting their time and sweat into it.
robmaurizi
Well-Known Member
I just re-upped my Jorba membership the other day, and sometimes I wonder the same thing about where the dues go (especially here in Essex County, where we're legally prohibited from seeing any of the the fruits of Jorba's labor), but I'm reminded of it when we go to Allaire or High Bridge, or anyplace else that Jorba does amazing work.
While reading through this thread, a few things come to mind:
- A larger tie-in with NICA could be helpful. Our team (Essex Offroad) has a ton of families, many of whom are new to MTB. Here in Essex County, we've got limited places to ride, so if the League newsletter had a bit about JORBA, and maybe featured a JORBA-maintained area or local chapter, that could help to increase awareness of the organization.
- What if NICA league dues increased a bit and included a youth JORBA membership (w/ the option to upgrade to a family membership)? That could cover both the warm body count as well as the dollars needed to go with it.
- Things like the Grasshopper Kids Race (is that going to be held again this summer?) could be helpful in bringing both the sport and awareness of JORBA to more people. Could JORBA and local NICA teams host several of these during the NICA off-season (summer/fall) across the state?
- Connection to Mountain Creek like how VMBA now offers downhill tickets with every membership—either a full-on ticket, a or couple of half-price coupons or something could go a long way to attracting people.
- Are there JORBA discounts at bike shops? I know there are economics at play there and I'm not a shop-keep so I'm not privy to how pricing in the industry works, but I feel like there must be some wiggle room in there someplace to help drive advocacy for a sport which would wind up bringing customers back to the shop. Discounts at other places near trails as well like restaurants & pubs, etc. This also helps to define "MTB-friendly" areas around the state, and if communities see some economic impact from their trails, that can help a lot.
Just brainstorming here, but I figured I'd throw it all out there.
While reading through this thread, a few things come to mind:
- A larger tie-in with NICA could be helpful. Our team (Essex Offroad) has a ton of families, many of whom are new to MTB. Here in Essex County, we've got limited places to ride, so if the League newsletter had a bit about JORBA, and maybe featured a JORBA-maintained area or local chapter, that could help to increase awareness of the organization.
- What if NICA league dues increased a bit and included a youth JORBA membership (w/ the option to upgrade to a family membership)? That could cover both the warm body count as well as the dollars needed to go with it.
- Things like the Grasshopper Kids Race (is that going to be held again this summer?) could be helpful in bringing both the sport and awareness of JORBA to more people. Could JORBA and local NICA teams host several of these during the NICA off-season (summer/fall) across the state?
- Connection to Mountain Creek like how VMBA now offers downhill tickets with every membership—either a full-on ticket, a or couple of half-price coupons or something could go a long way to attracting people.
- Are there JORBA discounts at bike shops? I know there are economics at play there and I'm not a shop-keep so I'm not privy to how pricing in the industry works, but I feel like there must be some wiggle room in there someplace to help drive advocacy for a sport which would wind up bringing customers back to the shop. Discounts at other places near trails as well like restaurants & pubs, etc. This also helps to define "MTB-friendly" areas around the state, and if communities see some economic impact from their trails, that can help a lot.
Just brainstorming here, but I figured I'd throw it all out there.
You may remember 2 years ago when I picked up this ball (I guess I do this every 2 years) and reached out to a lot of expired members. Anecdotally my experience would put the responses into these categories. This is a list of the people who do not renew:
* Ok sure I'll do it...eventually
* Why should I give money? What's it do for me?
* Totally ignore me
* I have moved out of NJ/stopped biking
The last was more common than you think.
Shaggz
A strong 7
This is sort of in-line with what I was thinking as far as H2H and other races-events go. $5 at registration goes to JORBA, if you are a member, fee is waived.
I recall options to add a shirt, Bicycle Magazine, sign up for Road ID discount etc, when registering for something using Bikereg. Is it possible to add "JORBA Membership/Donation" as an option?
Battling a little insomnia. just joined. Feel free to pester me in 2 years.
If the race is inside a JORBA maintained park, this feels more than reasonable to me.
That sucks, what’s wrong with people.
In the past year I’ve ridden Stephens, mooch, ringwood, ramapo, jungle,, Mahlon, wildcat, sterling, 6bmile, Lewis morris, wildcat, and high mountain. I don’t know about high mountain, but I think Jorba has done many things at the rest. My point is, I think just about every trail system in northern NJ gets help from Jorba.
probably not enough.
Oh I'm well aware. Gotta lead some horses to the water. For triathlons we have to have to have a racing license to participate so if you want to race you can buy a $15 one day license or $50 for the annual license that you can add on when you register for a race. That type of system could easily work with a JORBA membership.