NEMBATCC

[Mt.A TODD]

Nemba Trail Care Crew. Not to dis IMBA TCC but couldn't we do this sort of thing on our own' "New England Style"! Get a old Van or big Suburban, give it a fancy paint job, load it up with tools and bike racks, outfit it with unique individuals, trail gurus each with their own special talents and trail knowledge. I know your asking yourself, "where's Mr.T?" this sounds like a TV show, but that is exactly what it is a NEMBA A-TEAM! Just like every episode, the team would roll into town to lend assistance (Nemba Chapters), formulate a strategy and devise a plan (work with Land Managers), then proceed to Kick Ass (Trailwork)!!! We could also send "NEMBATCC" to special events for PR and to attract new membership. I mainly put this post up to get some funny comments, but in a way, it is a good idea. ya think?

come on, it does have a nice ring to it, NEMBA TRAIL CARE CREW

[fellsbiker]

Oh cool!!! Can I be Face?? Can I can I can I???
http://www.ateamshrine.co.uk/face.php


Of coarse there is one flaw in the plan. I think all will agree, chances are any ONE of our bikes are probably worth more than the A-Team van ;D

[radair]

Sort of, anyway. Paul Peaslee and the SE Mass trailer are just about exactly what you describe, a one-man TCC.

This would be a blast to do if one didn't have to work for a living. Or have family responsibilities....

[gungywump]

Everyone has a favorite place to ride. One that they ride at least once a week or so. It would be so much easier if riders would all do a little trail maintainence every time they ride instead of waiting for a Trail Care Day. If you see a low branch, cut it. Overgrown bushes, trim them. I know there are things like building bridges, and heavy duty work that needs a larger crew but, the majority of trail care issues arrise out of an accumulation of neglecting small jobs.
So if you have a favorite place you ride alot do a little work everytime you and your riding partners go out.

[T Grimble]

A NEMBA Trail Care Crew is a great idea, and one that has been talked about in NEMBA meetings in the past. Alexis is correct in that we have the equipment (Paul in SEMASS and now in Greater Boston) and we have the expertise. In order to have a real impact we would need to have full time or significant part time people regularly working on the trails. This is a realistic goal. A lot of private trail building companies are springing up around the country to help meet the demand for trailwork. At this point in time it remains a goal without a specific plan for achieving it but I hope to see that change. NEMBA is growing and things that seemed out of the question before are now becoming achievable.

In the meantime, our trail maintenance series is a fantastic success. What a lot of people do not realize is that we use volunteer hours from these maintenance days to provide matching funds for grant monies. This money is real and substantial. This year in Greater Boston we are recieving over $20k from the State. This equates to 400 hours of volunteer time. It was with this money that Greater Boston bought their trailer and all of the tools to fit it out.

[johnbryanpeters]

How do you properly document the volunteer time?

J

[fellsbiker]

...This year in Greater Boston we are recieving over $20k from the State. This equates to 400 hours of volunteer time. It was with this money that Greater Boston bought their trailer and all of the tools to fit it out.


I don't suppose this trailer will be venturing into the Fells any time soon?

[T Grimble]

We properly account for volunteer time by asking everybody to sign in on a sheet at the start of each maintenance day. The total number of volunteers are multiplied by the length of time spent on the project that day. In addition there is usually some time spent by the organizers meeting with the land manager and laying out the work.

I would love to be doing work in the Fells once again. We used to do several maintenance days a year there. I do not think we will be able to do work in the Fells again until we can regain their trust. The Friends of the Fells is very vocal in trying to ban mountain biking in the Fells. We are very vocal with our position. As a result we are at a standstill. We will not be allowed any additional privaleges including the opportunity to do maintenance nor is it likely that we will lose our current privaleges.

[fellsbiker]

I would love to be doing work in the Fells once again. We used to do several maintenance days a year there. I do not think we will be able to do work in the Fells again until we can regain their trust. The Friends of the Fells is very vocal in trying to ban mountain biking in the Fells. We are very vocal with our position. As a result we are at a standstill. We will not be allowed any additional privaleges including the opportunity to do maintenance nor is it likely that we will lose our current privaleges.


What more can be done? Is this is good as its ever goona get in there? Whose trust do we have to gain, and how did we lose it in the first place? Its like we were set up to fail in there. What would need to be done to change things?

In order to have a real impact we would need to have full time or significant part time people regularly working on the trails. This is a realistic goal. .



How much does it pay and when do i start?

[fellsbiker]

Is "surveying the trails on your bike" part of this job? If so when do I start and who cares how much it pays, as long as its minimum wage or better ;D