09/04/2024
Hello SORBA members and supporters,
I am excited to share some changes coming to our organization. Over the last few years, our chapter leaders and volunteers have put in the hard work, made incredible strides in growth for their local organizations, and because of that work SORBA has become strong enough to stand on its own. Since we began in 1989, we have expanded to include 47 chapters across seven states with more than 10,000 members. SORBA is a model organization for regional groups across the country.
This growth has been, in part, thanks to the continued support IMBA has given us, from first becoming a region of IMBA, to transitioning into a strong IMBA Local Partner. SORBA has relied on the IMBA membership platform for many years, and that tool, among others, has given us the ability to grow to where we are today. IMBA has been a great partner for SORBA and we will continue to support their national efforts in providing more trails close to home.
With growth comes the need for change. Over the last few years, it has become apparent we have outgrown the current membership system provided by IMBA. It’s time to upgrade. We understand that when you join your local chapter you want to support the trails in your neighborhood. Through a new membership portal, our SORBA chapters will be able to connect more effectively with members on a local level. There will be enhanced communication, the ability to join your local organization directly from their website, and a more effective way of showing your support through digital membership cards.
We started a FAQ page on our website for you to reference as we go through this process. Some of your questions we have answers for, others we are working hard to figure out. We plan to keep this page updated as we navigate forward.
Q: When will this change take place?
A: Our goal is to make this transition in April 2025. We’re excited to get it in place, but we want to take our time for a smooth transition and less stress for chapters and members. We want to share the news as early as possible to keep our valued members informed!
Q: That’s a long time from now, what should I do with my current membership?
A: Please maintain and renew your membership like normal. Your membership will still be good in the new system, and we will send a renewal reminder email as usual. Your chapter depends on membership to help fund projects and maintenance, and our membership count is our collective voice. It really makes a huge difference, so please stay current to continue supporting the trails.
Q: What’s this going to cost?
A: With any software change there are additional costs, and this situation is no different. We will also add a staff member to the SORBA team to help manage membership. And we plan to cover these costs without any extra expense to our members and chapters. However, we do have a fundraiser set up for the transition to help cover our costs for anyone interested in supporting our transition for a stronger organization. To make a tax deductible donation click here.
The strength of SORBA is our membership, and this transition will only make SORBA and our chapters a stronger organization. We thank you so much for your continued support for mountain biking and trails both in your hometown and across the Southeast.
Happy Trails,
Philip Darden
SORBA Executive Director
