COMBA is now an official Chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). We have long been an "affiliate," along with hundreds of other clubs across the nation. However, we are pleased to have been selected as one of only a handful of clubs to participate in the launch of a new Chapter program which IMBA will be rolling out in coming years.

What does this mean?

For starters, the program includes joint membership, so all current COMBA members will now also become IMBA members. Similarly, a region -- which consists loosely of Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Broomfield, and Adams counties -- has been defined and all IMBA members residing therein will become COMBA members, thereby increasing membership for both organizations!

Another huge benefit is that, starting next year, IMBA will be handling our membership services, providing the technology and manpower to oversee things like renewal notices and dues collection -- business services which are often difficult to fulfill from a volunteer-led group. Additionally, we'll be able to use the buying power of IMBA to decrease some costs associated with direct marketing and the like.

Please note that COMBA will still be led locally by your elected Board of Directors. Look for more details in coming weeks, but we wanted to let you know about this important development. We're confident that COMBA's participation in the IMBA Chapter program will make us a stronger and more effective organization.

...So let's have a party!

To celebrate our IMBA Chapter-hood, COMBA will be throwing an after work party on Tuesday, November 17th (one week from today). Please plan to join us at Wrigley's Bar & Grill (18200 W. Colfax Ave. Golden Colorado 80401) starting at 5:30pm.

We'll also be using this event as an end-of-year fundraiser: a mere $5 suggested donation at the door gets you all the pizza you can eat (compliments of IMBA). Raffle ticket sales, MTB movies playing, and shwag giveaways... so come on out and have some pizza & beer and toast the successes of 2009 as we look ahead to 2010!