March 27, 2024 | 7:00pm
Metro MTB Public Meeting
Ray’s Growler Gallery
5* Board Members in attendance

40 Attendees

Mission Statement

Metro Mountain Bikers is a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to safeguarding the future of mountain biking through the preservation and promotion of responsible off-road bicycling opportunities.  Which includes the education, sponsoring events, trail construction, and trail maintenance.

Board Members

Melissa Clark, Chair
Kevin Eccles, Co-Chair                                                          
John Slawny, Treasurer
Michael Golden
Ron Stawacki*
*Confirmed Board Member at Public Meeting

Topics:

Thank you to our host, Ray’s Growler Gallery!

Public confirmation of Ron Stawicki as Board Member at Large for 2024 year.

• Ron Stawicki was elected by the Board of Directors in the January Board Meeting to represent Waukesha County for Metro. Per Metro Bylaws, Board Elected Officials to fill open positions need to be confirmed at next Public Meeting.
•  Board wants to ensure all 4 Counties are represented in leadership on the Metro Board. Board didn’t have a Waukesha County rep after Chris Shay’s term lapsed last year.

Metro MTB Upcoming Event:

Reminder to check our website ‘Calendar’ and Facebook Page for Event dates and Details:

• April 6^th: Bik-E-Sha: A Social ride, casual pace in Waukesha to Fox River Park sponsored by and starting & ending at Magellan’s on Main in Waukesha. After free pizza from Magellan’s. Donations for pizza go to our trail projects at Minooka. Thank you, Magellan’s for being a long-time supporter of our trails at Minooka Park!

• April 21st: Oak Hill Trail Clean Up for Earth Day: A great family trail work friendly event to put some volunteer hours in for your local trails. Litter clean up. Gloves, garbage bags, water and treats supplied.
•  May 4th: Women’s International Mountain Bike Day: Free all-day event with ladies (all-ages welcome) non-drop group rides, Bike demonstration by Brooks Adventure, ladies competitions, prizes, raffle, burgers, and drinks provided. Donations recommended. Event is open to all but activity sessions are just for the ladies.
• June 18^th: Kletzsch Trail Opening Event: Come out Tuesday night for a social, ribbon, cutting, and ride Milwaukee County’s newest mountain bike trail. Metro will be grilling, and beverages will be provided. Donations encouraged.
•  June 20-23^rd: Minority Mountain Bikers: 4 days of activities:

Thursday at Trek
Friday at John Muir
Saturday party at Bayview Wheel and Sprocket
Sunday WORS race at Minooka.

•  June 22 & 23^rd: WORS Collectivo Classic at Minooka: Mountain Bike races for all ages and levels. Stop by the Metro tent and say Hi! Fun for racers and for those that just want to spectate.
•  July 11- 14^th:  Metro Field Trip to Trek Trails at Mt Telemark (Cable, WI):

Join us in Cable WI and the Chequamegon National Forest to ride the premier new Trek Trails Powered by OTM and the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) trail system the weekend of July 11-14.
Trek Trails by OTM are a new machine-built trail system based in the Mt Telemark Village. The Trek Trails features 16 miles of cross-country, downhill, Enduro trails as well as a skills area and a pump track.

CAMBA is a regional XC trail system featuring 130 miles of pristine classic deep-forest XC trails in and around the Chequamegon National Forest. Ride for days and never do the same trail twice.

Metro will publish times for rider meet-ups of different skill levels over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Metro will host a fire-pit social at the Home Base at Mt Telemark on one evening, and, publish a time to connect as a club at a local tavern one evening.
The lodging and travel are DIY, to keep things loose.
Stay tuned to this FB Event page for additional details

Date: July 11-14, 2024

Places:
Trek Trails by OTM at Mt Telemark Village, Cable, WI.
CAMBRA trail system
Home Base at Mt Telemark - firepit social
Sawmill Saloon, Seely - a primary social hour option
Trek Trails by OTM at Mt Telemark Village, Cable, WI.

Who: All Metro Mountain Bikers and their peeps! There are trails to meet everyone's MTB sweet spot.

Respond to the Facebook Event so we have a feel for participant numbers. Book your lodging and camping options early for the best locations!

Our goal is to keep the weekend loose and informal, while providing the opportunity to socialize and explore new trails together

• September 13-15^th: NICA at Minooka

February 2024 Trail Fairy of the Month goes to Tom Vomastic! Tom V has been out day after day to our Tosa Trails to clear Oak Hill 4 solely after the January storms. Thank you, Tom V, taking on and owning the Oak Hill 4 loop!!

Krist Crew Saw Blades Fundraiser! Melissa created a Facebook fundraiser to replace the saw blades for the famous Kirst Family Trail Fairies, that have been out clearing all the dead falls on Metro’s longest trail. The Facebook fundraiser raised over $1,200! And we presented the Kirst Family with a fleet of replacement blades. Thank you, Glenn and family for all your work!!

2023 Volunteers

• 275 Volunteers participated in 2024!
• 6,400 Hours!!! A Metro MTB record of volunteer hours!
• Recognition of our 58 Trail Fairies for 2024 (Volunteers with 20 or more hours for the year):

Steve Schoen
Tom Hartman
Gavin MacLeod
Melissa Clark
Kevin Eccles
John Slawny
Mike Vance
Jeremy Deitzel
Glenn Kirst
Chris Shay
Bob Meurer
Andrew Kirst
Steve Giles
Craig Ruhland
Andy Van Sistine
Marty Weigel
Darrin Jaeger
Kyle Ferkans
Chris Cooper
Tom Vomastic
Kayla Weiss
Mackenzie Kirst
Lindsay Carlson
Ron Stawicki
John Schultz
Maddie Kirst
Matt Weege
Dan Kutz
Cole Pfeiffer
Nathan Allen
Steven Spenner
Armando de la Torre
Danielle Cychosz
Josh Pollack
Kollin Kozik
John Buran
Harold Schmidt
Joe Schuster
John Archer
Beth Cruz
Ben Jilek
Chris McArdle
Isaac Olson
Scott Phelps
Bill Nelson
Bryan Douglas
Dave Culbertson
Maggie Attoe
Nick Kelnhofer
Matt McKenney
Scott Zinky
Chris Wold
Dave Burch
Earl Gesling
Jennine Pufahl
Nick Meulemans

Heritage Trail Updates:

• We finished 3 new trails with features in 2023!
• Mike Vance is coordinating trail volunteers for 2024, If you’d like to be part of the Heritage Trails Volunteer crew, please reach out to Mike on Facebook messenger or at : mikevancegolf@hotmail.com
• Future Trail Projects:

1. Finish the Flow Rider return trail
2. Build out the Skills Area (fundraised in 2023)
3. Improve Take on Me (the blue trail)
4. Return to Double Dragon

• Fundraising is needed for Heritage to continue building.

Ozaukee County: Introducing our new Port Washington Trail Stewards: Dwight Maynor & Alex!!!

Milwaukee County:

Kletzsch Park!  Our newest MTB trail:

•  THANK YOU:  Steve Giles, Jennine Pufahl, Nate Allen, and Craig Ruhland!!
• Approximately 1+ -mile of new built last fall and trail will be completed this spring
• Awaiting final review with Park and Signage installation this Spring to Open

We Need Support:

• Manage An Event (like tonight!)
• Coordinate a Membership Drive (online, at a trailhead, or at a public event)
• Support a Trail Work Day
• Be a Trail Steward or Adopt a Trail Section
• Approach Sponsors & Corporate Donors
• Design & Manage New Metro Swag
• Identify and Apply for Grants
• Host a Group Ride
• Expand our Social Media Presence
• Coordinate with NICA
• Become a Board Member this Fall!

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm