Enews News
Welcome to the first edition of Enews from CAMBA Country. In this e-newsletter we will present brief items to help keep CAMBA members abreast of ongoing activities and developments in our trail community. The Enewsletter will be issued a couple of times during the off season and periodically during the season to help fill in between our regular newsletter or to post news or announce trail work projects on short notice.
If you know anyone who you think would like to receive this newsletter, feel free to forward it on. You may also direct interested parties to our website where they can subscribe
Why not just do an electronic newsletter and dispense with the printed version you ask? Good question, and in time that may be the direction we go. Presently however, we do not have every member's email address and do not want to miss anyone. Plus there are still a few folks out there who don't do email or the Internet and we don't want to slight them either.
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It's been a busy off-season for the CAMBA board and staff. Many new and exciting projects are in the works. Here are a few. More details will be presented in our upcoming Pre-Season Newsletter.
Bylaw revisions
Several short sections of our bylaws have been revised to better reflect how we actually meet and do business. In addition, we have done a major revision to our Statement of Purpose. It is this section that defines who we are and what we do - essentially our mission statement. As you will see, we have begun to move in some new directions, in addition to our usual trail development and advocacy efforts and thus it is necessary to have our Statement accurately reflect this.
501(c)3 application
CAMBA has been a 501(c)6, tax-exempt organization since 1994. Under this Internal Revenue Service classification, we are exempt from paying income tax on any funds we raise or earn. This classification, however, does not allow contributions to CAMBA to be deducted by the contributor on his/her taxes. It also does not allow CAMBA to apply for certain corporate and foundation grants that require 501(c)3 status. One difference that we believe qualifies us for this status is the development of several educational programs in addition to the work we already do teaching and advocating about sustainable trail development. The lengthy application has been prepared and was recently submitted. Optimistically we can expect a determination in six to eight weeks.
CAMBA Kids
CAMBA Kids is a new program set to debut this summer. Modeled after the popular Nordic Kids cross country skiing program, CAMBA Kids will introduce young riders to off road riding and instruct them in the ways of the trail, safety, riding techniques and basic cycle maintenance. CAMBA board members Jeff Jackson and Darren Winchester have been instrumental in moving this project forward.
Finding the Rhythm of the Trail
CAMBA board member and enthusiastic trail volunteer, John Leighton, has authored an instructional guide to riding single track trails titled, Finding the Rhythm of the Trail. Leighton's 6,000+-word booklet has already been used as the foundation of a course he taught to some of the Birkie Girls last summer. The content of this book will also be utilized in the CAMBA Kids program. The book will also be available for sale from CAMBA and in local bike shops. The proceeds will benefit CAMBA trail development efforts. An early summer publication date is anticipated.
Minneapolis Bike Expo
CAMBA will partner with the Cable Area Chamber of Commerce, Telemark Resort, American Birkebeiner, Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival and Firehouse 50 for a substantial presence at the upcoming Minneapolis Bicycle Expo on March 3 and 4. Last year's debut event was impressively successful. If you are in the area, be sure to drop by. Better yet, if have time and are able to help volunteer to staff the booth, please let us know.
Trail development
It was a remarkable year in the realm of new trail development in CAMBA Country. The new Hatchery Creek single track construction started in June and continued through mid August, with additional work later in the season. Approximately six miles of trail were constructed. Plans call for completing the initial loop and then discussing continuation of the project with Sawyer County with a new loop north of Mosquito Brook Trail Head. Steve Morales and crew deserve a major pat on the back for shepherding this project along.
Raffle
CAMBA will be conducting a fund raising raffle this season, the Grand prize will be a Trek 8000 mountain bike facilitated by Riverbrook Bike and Ski. Second prize is a Garmin GPS training system facilitated by New Moon Bike Shop. A weekend for two at Cresthill Resort will comprise the third prize and two 2008 Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival entries will go to the lucky fourth place winner. The drawing will be held on Sept. 16, 2007 during the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festivals. CAMBA members will be sent packets of tickets to help sell them on our behalf.
Fund Raising
To tackle the major trail development projects this past season, CAMBA had to undertake an aggressive fund raising effort. This initiative took many forms, from mail solicitation, grant writing to good old personal contact. We were fortunate to receive several large grants and donations as well as numerous smaller donations. CAMBA is extremely grateful to everyone who contributed to this cause. We will publish everyone's name in our next newsletter and on our website. But (you knew there had to be a "but"), we are far from finished with our trail projects and our financial needs remain daunting, but realistic. We will continue to require assistance from members, businesses, the community and many other sources. If you know of any appropriate potential funding sources, please let us know so that we may submit a proposal.
From the Trails…
Rock Lake/Namakagon
We have too much snow now for biking and not quite enough to cover the rocks for skiing. If you are up this way try our two and five mile snowshoe trails beginning at the Rock Lake Trail Head. There is enough snow to make snowshoeing very attractive.
For those who have not visited Rock Lake trails, this is an area of very large hard woods. This area has not been logged for decades and probably will not be logged in the future. The National Forest Service has designated this area as non-motorized, providing the silent sports enthusiast a truly wonderful wilderness experience.
Three years ago that part of the Namakagon Trail system lying west of FR 203 (Lost Land Lake Road) and FR 206 was added to the non-motorized area. This designation will be implemented in 2007. The Forest Service has posted road-closing signs on the roads to Patsy Lake and Wilson Lake. Both of these lakes have campsites that in the future will be accessible only by non-motorized means. This is a great opportunity for those seeking sanctuary and solitude.
There have been many requests in the trail report boxes for log obstacles or log pyramids. Beginning with spring cleanup I propose to incorporate suitable deadfalls as normal trail features. Difficulty of any such feature would be in keeping with the general character of the section of trail where it is located. Any comments or suggestions in this regard would be appreciated. John Leighton, Namakagon Cluster Trail Steward.
Hatchery Creek
The low snow this season has had one hidden benefit - bike trails have remained rideable far longer than usual. Cold temps have further frozen the ground, insuring that no damage will be done to the trail surface. A number of intrepid riders have continued to ride the new Hatchery Creek Trail well into the "winter" season, even with a small amount of snow on the ground.
Should a real winter ever occur this year, several segments of the Hatchery Creek Trail have also been mapped and marked for snowshoeing. So, when it's too deep to ride, hop on the 'shoes and take a winter tour.
