Merrymaking and the Power of Community

By Ryan Schutz and Kristin Butcher, IMBA/Subaru Trail Care Crew

When we helped form Club Mud in Florida, we quickly realized that advocacy requires a lot of hard, behind-the-scenes work. Meeting with land managers, formulating management plans, fundraising - it all amounted to a full-time job. To avoid burnout, we consciously decided to emphasize the things that make volunteerism fun.

Think Beyond Advocacy

Club leaders should bear in mind that riding a mountain bike is the most fun you can have while wearing stretchy clothing and a helmet. We strongly recommend advocating for good times.

What kind of fun events can build stronger clubs and better advocates? Any event, large or small, can improve the club as long as there is a focus on socializing. Trailwork days could include lunch and a raffle, community assemblies can start with a social ride to town hall, club meetings might conclude with a movie and fizzy beverages.

Overworked club leaders may shy away from organizing social events, but they should not neglect this vital need. Invite your most outgoing members to step up and take lead roles. Start with a creating list of ideas for new events, and include anything that sounds like a good time. Group rides, poker games, out-of-town trips, and dirt-free social events are just a few ways to bring the mountain biking community together in the name of merrymaking.

Fundraising With Events

The benefits of club events aren't limited to growing membership or cultivating leadership. With good planning, events can significantly increase club resources. Seek sponsors and develop relationships with local businesses. The donations you receive from local merchants, plus increased membership, usually offsets the cost of hosting a few parties.

While holding events may not be the magic elixir to every club's problems, they're a good start. A few packages of hotdogs - combined with some obligatory tofu and a vat of potato salad - can have an amazing effect on worn-down volunteers. Events can be used to give back to the community, make your group blossom, or simply as an excuse to find out what your friends look like without helmets. Advocacy is fueled by the same community it strives to serve. So get out there and have some Lycra-clad fun.

Club Mud members make sure that advocacy and good times go hand-in-hand.

Party Planner: 6 Merrymaking Tips

1. Plan ahead. Impromptu events are great, but it's hard to gather everyone on the spur of the moment.
2. Spread the word among all your volunteers by using as many communication avenues as possible.
3. Invite newcomers - reaching out to the local community is a great way to boost membership and gain new volunteers.
4. Make sure the activities are accessible to all. A too-grueling social ride can turn off as many people as it turns on.
5. Break down the barriers between cross-country nerds, freeride brahs and trail-work gurus. Make sure your social events have cross-clique appeal.
6. Seek sponsors for club events; local bike shops and eateries might be interested in supporting your good times.