As I step down from my role as President of the Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club, I want to take a moment to reflect on what truly moves our club forward, our volunteers.
First and foremost I’m deeply thankful and grateful for all the sponsors, members, and volunteers, both on our board and throughout our community who have given their time, energy, and passion to help move NMBC forward. The trails we ride, the events we enjoy, and the advocacy work we’ve been able to accomplish are all the result of countless hours generously given by people who care about our community. None of it happens without individuals stepping up, lending their time, skills, and passion. Volunteerism is the backbone of NMBC, and it’s what ensures that mountain biking in Nanaimo will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Comparing ourselves to other trail organizations might be fair, but the NMBC has its own unique history and its own challenges that we collectively own and the only way we move forward is by continuing to raise our game together. This means supporting each other. People who show up and give their personal time are the ones who keep the wheels turning and the trails running smoothly.
We also face challenges as a volunteer run organization. For example; building in sanctioned trail networks without consultation. It puts the NMBC in a difficult position as it is our duty to enforce our land use agreements. These agreements are the foundation of the mountain bike community having access to trails on private lands in the first place. I humbly request that if you have ideas for improvements, please ask! We need both the ideas and the help to execute on those ideas. When we get bogged down in administrative work or chasing compliance issues, it takes away from the time we could be spending building trails for kids, new riders, and the community as a whole. When people feel the club isn’t doing enough for them, the natural response might be to pull back support. But the truth is, it’s impossible to do more with less – that math doesn’t math.
Here are some ways you can support the NMBC:
- Buying a membership
- Asking how you can help
- Showing up to dig days
- Lending a hand at events
- Sponsoring the club
Every small action adds up, and together, they make a big difference.There is no doubt in my mind that Nanaimo can be a world class destination for mountain biking if we work together to make that happen.
Over my five years on the board of directors, I’m very excited to have witnessed so much growth and progress for the NMBC and its members. We came through the end of COVID, organized countless trail clean-up and maintenance days. We hosted many XC and enduro races – including the launch of the all-female Murderhorn Maiden Enduro. Old trails were resurrected, some trails rebuilt, and started planning multiple new trails. We also secured a brand-new land use agreement and partnership with the Regional District of Nanaimo. Internally, we strengthened our board strategy and processes, improved member transparency, and introduced member surveys to better hear your voices. We ran many trail builders’ courses, chainsaw safety training, and launched a builders’ public forum to share knowledge and ideas. I’m sure I’m forgetting numerous things, but these are some milestones I’m especially proud of.
As I pass the torch, my hope is that the culture of togetherness, volunteerism and shared responsibility continues to grow. The strength of NMBC has never been in one person, it’s in all of us working together, giving back to the trails and community that give us so much in return.
Thank you to everyone who has stepped up during my time on the NMBC Board, it’s been an amazing journey. It’s been an honour to serve alongside you, and I look forward to supporting the club in new ways in the future and I’ll see you on the trails.
Community through Trails.
Spencer Brawn
