I have to agree with Ken this is a great thread
As the Treasurer and Grants Administrator for JORBA I can't thank the paying membership enough.
Let me explain...Our first RTP grant was awarded to us in 2001 The RTP grants are performance based by that I mean we have to purchase the items (tools) and submit an invoice for re-payment. Early on JORBA had limited funds and the 2001 RTP grant was not executed until 2005 at that time we didn't have enough funding to do quantity purchases. This left us to purchase items at a higher price while also incurring extra shipping costs. We had to place multiple orders and wait to be reimbursed before doing our next purchase. Last year we purchased over $45,000.00 worth of tools for use on the trails in NJ. With a year and a half of membership funding we were still limited in our ability to buy everything we had grant funding for at one time and the purchasing took most of the year to accomplish. This year JORBA had its first festival we received funding in advance from several sponsors and yet if we had more cash on hand it would have made the task easier for the organizing committee.
Most of us would not think twice about spending $25 on a shiny new part for our bikes Why not $25 to help with the purchase of tools to maintain the trails we ride.
Thanks for all of your support
Mick
JORBA / SMART