Arctic Bicycle Club
PO Box 230130, Anchorage, AK 99523-0130 www.arcticbikeclub.org
Dedicated to promoting bicycling safety, education and sporting activities
BOARD MEETING
January 13, 2010
ATTENDANCE: Ed Sniffen, Janice Tower, Jim Baker, John Lackey, Tim Berntson, Brent Gorman, Christopher Souser, Rose Lahti (guest)
Website: Christopher will issue an RFP for a web designer to revamp the main club’s website.
Forum: Ed will look into liability issues of forum moderation. A link will be added to the club website to the road forum.
Hotline: The hotline will remain in operation to inform bike club participants of upcoming events and last-minute changes. The board will reconsider whether to maintain the hotline as technology evolves.
Mailbox: The road division should open its own post office box. Other divisions will remain status quo.
Corporate Filings: Ed will maintain ABC’s corporate biennial filings with the State of Alaska.
Directors and Officers Insurance: Ed is looking into purchasing D&O insurance to protect ABC board members from liability.
501(c) 4 status: The ABC was denied 501(c)3 status as a charitable nonprofit. Ed will fine the necessary paperwork to attain (c)4 tax-exempt status.
Bike Swap: The ABC Bike Swap will take place on Saturday, April 10th from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. We will get the word out via the Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage Press, Flyers, webpages, email and forums. Vendors and other cycling related organizations are welcome to sell and distribute information.
Anchorage Bike Plan: The board voted to support the Anchorage Bike Plan which will go before the Anchorage Assembly for approval at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2nd. The ABC will need to rally a lot of support from the cycling community to get the plan approved. The board decided that when bicycling advocacy opportunities arise, the board will discuss whether to support the issue.
Title 9 Traffic Code Revisions: The laws governing bicycles is under review and will be up for Assembly approval this spring. The Anchorage Police Department has recommend a repeal of a change to the law made 5 years ago which allows cyclists using a side path to proceed across a side street or driveway without stopping, dismounting and walking the bike across. Repealing the law effectively places liability on the shoulders of the cyclist should he/she be struck by a vehicle when crossing these intersections. It would essentially force cyclists to use the roadway rather than adjacent side paths.
Membership: Although participants of bike club events are highly encouraged to become members, we should not turn anyone away from participating. Membership in 2009 was up slightly over 2008.
Affiliation with Sanctioning Organizations: The board decided to remain independent from USA Cycling and other sanctioning organizations because our club is small and we organize many cycling events. The board discussed the administrative requirements involved in being a USAC club and determined that it would overburden the volunteers that keep the club going. Moreover, the board agreed that we wouldn’t get much value in return for the expense and time commitment involved.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 17th 6:00 at Guido’s