[CSNMBP] 2010 Season Start-up

[Ryan]

Hi everyone,
Well, it's been a long time planning, but the Medicine Wheel Trail
Advocates MTB Patrol is officially starting this month with Cheyenne
Mountain State Park. The main goal is to maintain and expand trail
access, and the bike patrol is a great way to spend time doing what
you love while providing a good presence on the trails in this
region.

For anyone who has not yet joined IMBA, to join or renew with IMBA:

1. Go to http://www.imba.com/membership/choose_membership.php to join
or renew your patrol membership. We are listed as "Medicine Wheel
Trail Advocates" and appear to be the only group not in all caps in
the drop down list, so it's easy to pass by the name, but we're in
there! (if you are not interested in volunteering to patrol at the
state park, scroll to the bottom of the message).

For those of you who are interested in volunteering your time at the
state park, there are a few requirements they have, so I'll run
through those now:

1. Current CPR/First Aid or equivalent (this is necessary for IMBA as
well). This is something we should all have anyway as trail users, but
if you need to find a course, the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American
Red Cross has listings here: http://pparc.org/trained/classes.php. The
state park will need a copy of your cards. You can scan these and send
them electronically to me if it's easier than bringing them down
yourself.

2. The state park will also need a copy of the online IMBA patrol
test. This can be sent electronically as well and I'll pass it on to
Brian at the park.

3. If you haven't already done so, you will need the volunteer
application for the park. I have copies if you need some.

4. For those of you who couldn't make the orientation session a few
weeks ago, we will just have you call and talk with Brian Kerrigan so
he can go through general policies, etc. and make sure he meets you in
some way or another.

5. There is a volunteer log behind the front desk in the main park
building that you can use to log hours. After 48 hours you will
receive an annual Colorado State Parks Pass for your time. I will put
an IMBA bike patrol log sheet on the site and will try to leave some
in the log book behind the desk so you can record more information
from your ride there. One of the goals is to collect data on trail
usage and any incidents so we can have a record of how much use the
park is getting while we are there along with document any incidents
that you might help with, from a flat tire to a medical evacuation.
This data is what will help to legitimize patrol groups in this area
and support others around the country.

6. Memorial Day is the first day that I will be able to make it out
there and will plan on being available to run through the patrol
training and answer any questions before heading out on a ride. 10 am
is the time that I'll be inside the main building to help get folks
going. When you sign up with IMBA and receive your packet, please use
the patch and bike plate at minimum when riding in the park. If you
can purchase a jersey, please do so, but we are working on options for
this as well. The IMBA store has all of that merchandise.

For those of you who did attend the orientation at the park, you
pretty much have the green light to start. We just need to make sure
that your First Aid/CPR certs are current and the park has copies of
those cards and the IMBA test. If you need copies of the test, I have
some that you can use since they are essentially anonymous.

*** And for everyone, I have placards for volunteers to put in your
vehicles for free park access. I am still working on a way to get them
only to the folks who will use them regularly since the state park
doesn't want them to go out to everyone at all times for obvious
reasons. One option is leaving a couple behind the desk near the log
book, to be returned after each patrol day. If you have any other
suggestions, let me know! ***

*** For folks who are not interested in the state park, please let me
know if you would like to provide a patrol service at any other local
parks and I can help you get set up separately. There are a lot of
requirements at the state park because they have certain guidelines
that their volunteers have to follow. But if you decide that you would
like to provide similar services at a park closer to home or a park
that you frequent, just let me know because the trail usage data and
presence that we can provide will be extremely helpful (regardless of
the location) in helping to maintain and expand trail access in the
Pikes Peak Region. ***

Thanks and we're looking forward to getting started!
Ryan