Falling Membership, Lack of Rider Support Hampers NOHVA Projects

By Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager

          Rider support for existing places to ride in Nebraska ATVs and dirtbikes are facing tough times.  The lack of support from riders, if not turned around could cause us to re-consider our involvement in places to ride ATVs and dirtbikes in Nebraska.  The lack of support is causing funding dilemmas for our organization resulting in two problems.

          The first problem involves falling membership and falling donations.   As of this writing, our organization has about 400 fewer memberships than it did two years ago.  Donations are down about 75% from 2004.  In spring of 2006 we mailed out over 950 renewal notices and a month later only about 2% of the previous members renewed.    

          The second problem involves an increase of about $5,200 for general liability insurance over last year.  Our insurance increased because of a miss-calculation in computing the premium over the last couple of years.  With the help of the Polaris Grant we now have funding to pay for the insurance and barely have enough to cover the jamboree expenses.  If we have a good jamboree, we should be alright.  If the jamboree gets rained out, then we will be forced to make some real nasty cut backs and big decisions about future NOHVA projects and involvement in existing areas to ride in Nebraska.  Days before the Polaris grant, as business manager and co-founder I was beginning to plan my resignation from NOHVA.  For me, it is too much of a risk to my assets to continue to be involved in the organization without insurance.   

          We purchase insurance to cover liability for the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa, the Flat Rock OHV Park near Sutherland, and the Alliance Motocross Park near Alliance.  The insurance also protects our volunteers at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey.   Our biggest liability (threat) is from the non-members who ride at the areas we are involved with.  We ask riders to support us with memberships to help us pay for insurance and maintenance of these areas.  As of this writing, our membership levels are way down leaving our treasury short about $12,000 (400 members).  Fewer riders are renewing their memberships.  Fewer new riders are joining NOHVA to support our work to keep areas open.  More riders are enjoying the areas we are involved with and not supporting us to keep the areas open. 

          General liability insurance is required by the land owners to keep the Flat Rocks OHV Park and the Alliance MX Park open.  While we cannot force riders to join our organization to cover the insurance and maintenance costs, we can only ask riders to support us.  NOHVA also purchases general liability insurance to cover our officers and directors against law suits filed primarily from non-NOHVA members who use the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa, the Flat Rock OHV Park, the Alliance MX Park and to cover potential risks at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey. 

We recently received a claim from a family that stated that we were responsible for an injury to a child that occurred after one of our jamborees.  They contended that our drag races disturbed the sand and caused their child to crash.  NOHVA officers smoothed out the starting area where the alleged accident occurred.   While the area around where we had the drag races was littered with logs, holes, and tire tracks from many people riding and racing around the area, the family blamed NOHVA for causing the injury.  Fortunately we had insurance at the time and the insurance company has taken care of the claim.  Thus far I have about 40 to 60 hours of time in documenting our innocence in this claim.  We did pay out an additional $348 to cover medical expenses. 

          We have been monitoring several other potential claims at Headworks as well.  We figure that about 20% of the riders at Headworks are NOHVA members.  Basically, NOHVA purchases insurance to protect NOHVA officers and volunteers.  We also protect Loup Power and a local land owner during the jamboree. 

          At a recent NOHVA Board of Directors meeting, it was decided that we need to find ways to cover the increase in insurance.  The NOHVA Board decided to increase the admission fee from $10 to $12 at the jamborees.  The Board further decided not raise membership fees.  Additionally, the board voted to change the requirements for chapters that need insurance.  Earlier this year we decided to refund back to the Flat Rock Riders chapter 50% of last years membership fees. 

          Unless our membership number increase, future NOHVA funding to the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey will be cut.  Historically, we have spent about $2,000 to $6,000 a year at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey for trail maintenance.  This year we have promised to donate about $1000 toward Dismal River Trail improvements, and we will try to make that promise.  We figure that about 5% of the riders at Halsey are NOHVA members.  Unless there is a substantial increase in support in riders who use trails at Halsey, we may no longer be able to fund trails there. 

          Concerning the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa, no one on the NOHVA Board of Directors is interested in staying on as officers if there is no insurance.  If we cannot generate enough revenue to fund insurance through 2007, we may be forced to consider dropping our support of the OHV park.  What happens to the Headworks OHV Park  after that is anyone’s guess. 

          This is how you can help.  Tell those who use the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa, the Flat Rock OHV Park near Sutherland, and the trails at the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey that we need help to keep these areas open.  We need memberships, and we need donations.  It’s that simple.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. 

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This page was updated on Tuesday, August 01, 2006