Pandemic Response
April 26, 2020
Hello….
We all hope that you are staying safe, healthy and positive. We want to thank-you for your previous and continued support throughout this Global Pandemic. As you know the Fernie Mountain Bike Club (FMBC) is all about events and so far 2020 is not looking very good for group gatherings. We have some good news and some sad news so let’s start with the sad news as it is always better to finish with good news.
SAD NEWS
The FMBC runs events and fundraises for the Fernie Trail Infrastructure. The monies raised from these events as well as membership fees go to the Fernie Trails Alliance who runs maintenance and negotiates land use agreements with landowners in the valley.
Here is a list of events that we normally put on:
Trail Razr V – cancelled
Bike Blitz II – cancelled
Little Critter Criterium – suspended
2Knee rides – suspended
FMBC Strider club – suspended
Fernie Women on Wheels – suspended
WAM BAM DIRT JUMP JAM – hmmm….cross our fingers?
Project 9 Race – see WBDJJ response
Dirt Diggler – wait and see
High Roller – all of the above?
Yep, we’re hoping that we’ll get the go ahead from Dr. Henry but we just don’t know what is going to happen for the 2020 bike season. In response to that uncertainty of our event schedule but also with full knowledge that our trails will need work we are launching a Temporary Pandemic Pass. $5 for families, individuals, seniors and youths. If you need the help then please take it, sign the waiver and come to our events. If nothing has changed for you then please renew at our regular rates. ($40 individuals, $90 families, $25 for seniors and youths). Purchasing your FMBC membership also gives you the new Fernie Trails Alliance Trail Pass that is being introduced this year.
There are so many unknowns and questions at this point. Should we even be riding our mountain bikes during a pandemic? Is it responsible to put ourselves in harms way when hospitals and healthcare workers are stressed? Is it exercise or a hobby? There is no doubt that accidents do happen to the most skilled riders so the FMBC encourages all riders to #stayhome, practice social distancing and wash your hands about a bazillion times a day and try to flatten the curve.
If you do ride your bike, ride well below your comfort level and ride near home (ideally, this should mean not driving anywhere to ride). When encountering others on the trail, be kind and allow lots of distance.
GOOD NEWS
As mentioned above your FMBC board has voted to introduce a Temporary Pandemic Pass for those of us who have been financially hit. We want you to renew just in case we do get to run some events this summer/fall. We encourage those who can afford to do so to make donations over the membership fee but we want to be as inclusive as we can during this time.
Regarding Corporate Memberships, we had 28 membership sales last year, which was our best year ever. This year we had a few eager businesses renew early. Big Bang Bagel, Claris Media, Red Tree Lodge, Tourism Fernie, and Rocky Mountain Optometry have all renewed. We have offered a refund or partial refund for these businesses. If you supported us last year then please do not feel like you need to do it again this year as we know that money is tight. We have also put together a new $100 Corporate Pass for 2020 which can be purchased on the FMBC website.
Usually we have our ever popular Annual General Meeting during the Bike Blitz but in seeing that we have cancelled that event then we need to move the AGM. We hope the September 2020 High Roller will be the place where we hold the Annual General Meeting. If not, then we will look at other online options.
We have had a few directors step down and new ones step up. Thank you to Heather Lavers, Aaron Glover, Tom Gibson and Rick Weiss for all their help in the past. Welcome to our interim directors Dustin Denham, Cindy Sleeman and Jennifer Sliva.
In February 2020 we voted on supporting the Fernie Trails Alliance with a $10,000 donation. We didn’t take any pictures or post anything as we were waiting for everyone to get together for a group shot….whoops! Here is a cheque handing over pic from our Trail Razr IV. With your support we sent over $50K to the Fernie Trails Alliance in 2019.
LAST WORD
Thanks for your previous support and for your support in the future. We all look forward to the day when life can return to ‘normal’ and we can just ride our bikes with our friends.
On behalf of the FMBC board of directors…
Troy Nixon
FMBC Chair
