NOHVA Membership Fee Hike Approved

By Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

During the NOHVA Annual Meeting, a motion to increase membership fees was widely supported and adopted.  After April 1, 2010 NOHVA membership fees will increase to $30 single and $40 family.  The old membership rate of $25 single and $30 family will still be in effect until March 31, 2010.  Anyone purchasing a new membership or renewing their membership before April 1 can use the old membership rates.  Lifetime membership have increased as well.  Effective immediately, lifetime single memberships cost $600 for a single and $800 for a family. 

Admission to the jamborees and membership fee’s at the jamborees will not change this year and will remain at the same level as last year.  Officers will no longer receive free memberships unless they volunteer at a major fund raising event such as a jamboree.

The reason for the increase in membership fees is because of increasing expenses and a poor turnout at the 2009 Spring and Fall Jamborees.  Also membership numbers are down by about 20% from 2008 to 2009.  This has occurred even though more and more people are using the facilities that we support using volunteer membership fees.   

Granted raising membership fees may discourage people from joining NOHVA, we have to take that risk unless we are willing to dramatically change our role of helping manage ATV and dirtbike trails in Nebraska.   As an example, if we did not get the Yamaha grant again this year, the main NOHVA organization of NOHVA would have most likely folded in May. 

The Jamborees provide about half of our annual income.  It is calculated we lost between $15,000 to $25,000 in income in 2009 because of the bad weather during these events. 

Family memberships increased $10 because many members claim their friends and cousins on the membership.  Family memberships are limited to those that live in the same household or address.  It is not unusual for people to claim anyone they can under a family membership and we really don’t have a way to verify exactly who is living at the same address.  We do find it rather odd talking to people who claim that they ‘live together’ in the same household and are buying a family membership. 

The last time NOHVA membership fees increased was in November of 2004.  Prior to the increase membership fees were $20 single and $25 family.  This rate structure was in effect from 1988 to 2004. 

Even with the rate increase, we are hoping that recreational ATV and dirtbike riders area willing support us this year.  If NOHVA and our chapters disappear, and no other group of riders step forward to represent our interests,  the riding areas and trails that we have been involved with over the last 20 years will eventually close.

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This page was updated on Sunday, February 14, 2010