Organizing a Club

This was a response by NYSORVA's president, to the questions from a rider about how one would go about organizing a club.

I'm not sure what the exact prescription for success is, but I will tell you what worked for us [in developing NYTRO].

1) Organize you working staff, i.e. president, vp, sec., treas., ride coordinator, etc. Whatever positions you want to create or ones that you can fill with people that will do WORK., NOT just riding buddies that want to drink and ride but not do work.

2) Decide on a club name. Make an application. Decide on amount to charge for dues. Usually $15 single membership, $25 for family membership. We also charge a $10 fee for initiation, which covers costs of processing, phone, electric, etc. We also give a membership kit which includes trail maps, ATV law brochure, laminated membership card, newsletters, etc., as part of the initiation fee.

3) Find a place to meet comfortably. A VFW or Fire Hall (whatever).

4) Make a flyer and post it EVERYWHERE. Grocery stores, gas stations, dealers, wherever.

5) Put an ad in the paper requesting all interested off road riders to come out.

6) Try and get some dealers on board as discount sponsors to entice people to join. Usually dealers give 10% to club members.

This will take you some time. But work at it. Set attainable goals and make sure you complete them. It will all gel quicker than you think.

Let me know if this has helped at all.

Al MacKenzie
Past NYTRO Inc. President
Past NYSORVA, Inc. President
NY Partner to NOHVCC, Inc.

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