Greater Portland NEMBA

GP NEMBA received its charter as a chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association on October 17, 2009.  Below is our petition defining our goals:

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The area surrounding Portland, Maine is situated near many excellent mountain biking trails and potential future opportunities. Some of these trails are highly developed and protected for future user groups while others are simply pre-existing trails regularly used for recreation. The city of Portland is home to approximately 64,000 people while the surrounding areas include around 230,000 residents. Many of these people enjoy being outside as often as possible, and a great deal are cyclists. Currently, there is no unified group representing the interests of, and channeling the energy, of the local mountain bike community. An impressive number of people in the area have come out of the woodwork expressing interest in supporting and being involved with a local NEMBA chapter. The community appears to have sufficient interest in the group and a great deal of energy ready to be focused towards maintaining and improving the trails networks we are so fortunate to have around town.

Representatives from The Falmouth Land Trust, Sebago to the Sea Coalition, Friends of Bradbury Mountain, Healthy Casco Bay (A Local Healthy Maine Partnership), the Rage on Portland mountain bike community, the Allspeed bike group, and a number of local bike shops have pledged their support to a local NEMBA chapter. Initial activities that have been discussed for the group are continuing to support the Sebago to the Sea trail project while keeping the interests of mountain bikers in focus, supporting the Friends of Bradbury Mountain as they continue their trail maintenance work at Bradbury mountain, re-establishing a “NEMBA Day” at Bradbury Mountain State Park, and providing general man-power support to trail maintenance and improvement projects undertaken by the Falmouth Land Trust and Portland Trails organizations. Hopefully these individuals who have pledged their support to the chapter will pay membership dues and also give some of their free time in support of group projects. As the chapter gains momentum local business in both the mountain bike and general outdoors industries will be approached for their support.

For the interim, our chapter will offer leadership positions to a representative /liaison from each of the following community groups: the Sebago to the Sea Coalition, Portland Trails, Friends of Bradbury Mountain, Falmouth Land Trust, Healthy Casco Bay, Team Bikeman, the Rage Mountain bike community, the Allspeed mountain bike riding group, the Cape-Able riding crew, and other groups yet to be identified. From feedback received in the planning of this group, it is important to the membership to have all area riding areas /groups represented so they not only have a position in decision making, but also have a vested interested in the success of the chapter. After the group is up and running an Executive Committee with a rotating President, Vice President, and Treasurer will be elected by the membership at large. Collectively the Executive Committee and representatives /liaisons will focus on specific club activities such as trail construction and maintenance, events such as group rides and social activities, and youth and community outreach involving our members and other community organizations. A leadership succession plan will also be included as part of our organizing documents.

Through a combination of planning, communication, and outreach the Greater Portland NEMBA chapter will work together to build, maintain, enhance and protect existing and new trail segments in the area for current riders and future generations.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions either before or after presenting this petition to the NEMBA Board of Directors.

Happy Trails,

Mitch Wacksman

Interim President, Greater Portland NEMBA