Midwest reps discuss regional advocacy

IMBA Trail News
Volume 12, Number 3
August 1999

IMBA staff met with IMBA state representatives from five midwestern states in late June to review the status of trails and advocacy efforts in the region. Mike and Linda Tickle (OK), Rick Knoke (IA), John Horn (KS), Michael Cleveland (MO) and Tony Naikelis and Fred Grosse (NE) provided summaries from each of their states.

Mountain bikers in the Midwest are making great headway in the trails community, building strong relationships with land managers and other trail user organizations. In Oklahoma and Missouri, for example, land agencies are turning more frequently to mountain bikers for their advice and volunteer help, often maxing out the clubs' ability to respond. State Forest managers in Oklahoma are looking to develop new trail systems. In Iowa, cyclists are making steady progress creating the first statewide mountain biking organization. Encouraging more mountain bikers to get involved will be a key factor in improving and increasing trail opportunities in all five states.

The meeting ended with a goal setting session during which each state rep made a short list of advocacy action steps that will drive their agenda for the next year. Both reps and staff members noted that the small group format provided a better opportunity to exchange information and handle more detail. IMBA aims to have three or four regional meetings every other year, with a national rep summit on the years in between. For more information about the Midwest meeting, please send an email message to Jen Lamb at .