President's Quarterly Update

With just one day left in the year---and my term as president of COMBA---I wanted to briefly reflect on 2009 and the progress we made together...

We (the Board of Directors) started this year with a clear vision-- to make COMBA more relevant to the local MTB scene and raise awareness, not just about our organization, but about the need for it. I think we've succeeded in our mission.

• The (ongoing) construction of a new "black diamond" trail down in Buffalo Creek in partnership with the USFS
• Twice-monthly group/social rides, including one for beginners
• Our successful call-to-action email campaign re: the Apex Park management plan (760 messages), which per the Director of JCOS resulted in the compromise position on the forthcoming restrictions against cyclists
• Equally impressive call-to-action for attendance to the key Apex OSAC meeting (400+ cyclists!), resulting in the voiced support for bike-only options within JCOS by members of OSAC
• COMBA sent a representative (Director Beckman) to the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.
• 3 grant applications: 1 successful ($10,000), 1 rejected, 1 in progress
  
• Announcement of invitation-only IMBA Chapter beta program (rollout in 2010)
• COMBA exploring social networking opportunities on Facebook and Twitter
• Director Henley being named an alternate biking representative to the Trails Use Task Force
• Engaging JCOS leadership for promotion of more bike-friendly policy and trails
  
• National Trails Day support to the City of Lakewood at Green Mountain
• Participation in the "Bike Rights" event sponsored by JCOS at Matthews/Winters Park
• Highly successful Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day event at Bear Creek Lake Park
• COMBA award presented to JCOS Director at annual Plan Jeffco dinner gala
• COMBA-sponsored "Mini-crew" trail work event at Chimney Gulch
• As official adopters of the Colorado Trail, Section 1, COMBA reps (including yours truly) cleared winter deadfall from trail corridor to allow safe passage for all users
• Corporate sponsors program growth: Entropy Bikeworks, Yeti Cycles, Feedback Sports, Golden Bike Shop, Green Mountain Sports, Pedal Pushers, Singletrack Factory, Wheat Ridge Cyclery, Colorado Trail Foundation, Golden City Brewery, IMBA, REI, CottonQuips.com, Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop
• Significant revenue growth ('09 financials to be available first quarter 2010)
  
• Giving back to the community: bike wash fundraiser for local no-kill animal shelter in support of Oskar Blues, Spot Brand Bicycles, and Golden Bike Shop event
• Sharing of tools (in both directions) with the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance
• Tool trailer graphics "wrap" with branding of COMBA and our major sponsors
• Freedom Riders movie night at REI
• Numerous meetings with City of Golden personnel paving the way for a proposed MTB Park in 2010
• Team IMBA / Firecracker 50 fundraising event resulting in $6,853 in donations and matching SRAM money
• COMBA in the media: television, newspaper, and radio (MTB outreach, Apex, and Buff Creek, respectively)
• Hosting the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew for a two-day trailbuilding school event
• Private donations are up (thank you to our "angels", especially Mr. Anonymous)
  
• Establishing rapport with relevant "powers that be" at the national, state, county, and city level
• Membership growth: started the year with 79 members and currently have 334 paid members (and many more in need of renewal... hint hint); we're likely to hit 500+ once the IMBA Chapter program officially launches

Thank you, all, for your support in helping to make this a banner year for COMBA.

Election News

After last month's nomination cycle closed, we had 9 candidates qualify for 9 positions on the Board of Directors next year; subsequently, there is no need for voting to occur, as all nominees have been ratified as 2010 Directors:

Congratulations to the new and returning members of the board. Once they convene in January they will determine officers (President, Vice President, Secretary), per our bylaws. We're pleased that David Rontal will remain as Legal Counsel and that Dan Orlinski will join us to assist with accounting duties.

Annual Meeting

Mark your calendar: the 2010 COMBA Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, January 21, at the American Mountaineering Center in downtown Golden. Join us for project updates, cool shwag, and the chance to meet your new directors (did we mention there will be beer there?). Details to follow.

Don't forget: we will be choosing the winner of the new Entropy Bikeworks "Nancy" 29'er hardtail & fork that night (need not be present to win), so come on out and buy your last-chance tickets. http://comba.org/nancy

Executive Advisory Council

I'm pleased to announce the formation of an Executive Advisory Council for the Colorado Mountain Bike Association. This newly formed entity will allow for community leaders to have a more formal association with COMBA-- offering advice and feedback, as well as leveraging networking (bi-directionally) for a broader reach. Each member will determine his/her scope of involvement based on the issues at hand and the needs of the Board of Directors. For example, as president this year there were two important issues to me which I was not able to complete (yet); so as I step down from the board and join the Advisory Council I'll be able to see some unfinished business to fruition, namely-- a trail-side memorial for our departed friend and colleague, Anthony Sloan, and of course the proposed Golden Bike Park. Rest assured the Board of Directors will retain all voting rights and subsequently the authority to lead the organization as they always have-- the council will merely assist as we can:

Happy Trails!

That's it from me. It has been a pleasure to serve on the board these last four years and I am especially proud of what has been accomplished in 2009. I'm confident the 2010 leadership will make the most of the momentum gained this year and continue to grow the organization to its fullest potential. That said, any organization is only as strong as its members, so I would encourage each and every one of you to find some way to get involved next year... there is much work to be done: fights to fight, trails to build, and of course, bikes to ride! I hope to see you at the Annual Meeting.

Cheers.

Terry Breheny, President
Colorado Mountain Bike Association