Questions about bike or triathlon clubs

[silver]

To any of you who participate in bike or triathlon clubs.....

Do you know anything about the organization of the club? How the bank accounts are set up? That kind of thing.... How's it done?

thanks!

[Fredwina]

We may not be the most organized bunch.
Checking , we have a account in the club's name. The Treasurer and President are authorized to sign (I'm the secretary)
we have a meeting once a month to conduct club business and decide what we're going to do for the next month. We also a a general membership meeting- which is usually dinner followed by a Cycling related talk - this month we had a retired pro who now runs a LBS
we're not incorporated - yet.
Anything else?

[silver]

Oh, good, that's what I was hoping. I didn't want to have to do anything formal.

Do you ever anticipate needing to get incorporated? I hope not.

thanks, I may have more questions as time goes forward.

[Fredwina]

Actually, we had a board meeting last night and were discussing that.
we're looking from a liability issue i.e, if some one goes down on a ride and sues the club(we also don't have liability ins) can they file a lien on our(board member's) property? Being incorporated will limit them to just the club property. We still getting legal opinions on this.

[Grog]

Not sure about a the incorporation details but my club (in BC, Canada, so YMMV) is a member of Cycling BC. Each member has to be a member of the club and a member of cycling BC (we get sort of a group discount), which provides for insurance. We require people who ride with us to be a member so that liability and insurance issues are taken care of. As the rides are put up by the club, the club is responsible for them.

My guess is that we're also incorporated, which clarifies legal responsibilities as well...

Not sure about the US, but incorporation is not that big of a deal, if a little costly (around $200 here). But then you need to have a board and an annual meeting of members.

I'm pretty sure you can get started informally, but as you grow (and seek sponsors?) being incorporated will help.

Good luck!!!

[Crankin]

The liability issue is a huge thing with the AMC. I am the secretary of the bike committee of the Boston chapter and my husband is the treasurer. The liability rules changed a couple of years ago; in addition to signing the release, all rides must a have a sweep and we have to account for everyone when we return from a ride. We have to keep the group together (between the leader and the sweep). Now, I do this anyway, but this is not the practice of most of the clubs around here. The rules we have are based on hiking trip rules, where they make sense, but a few bike leaders have quit over the keeping people together thing. If we don't follow these rules, the AMC won't support us in a lawsuit. I had my crash last month on a ride with another club. Although this was a "stay together" ride, they pretty clearly left us on the road, fixing my bike. The leader said they waited down the road, but no one rode back to check on us, figuring we were experienced riders. Yea, and we rode our bikes to the hospital, when my husband's arm started swelling! It was the worst example of following common sense liability rules.

[silver]

Well, I do know that the liabilty on a ride or activity is not a problem for us. We are a triathlon club and are a member of USAT. We have liability insurance with them. So we don't have to worry about liability for someone getting hurt on an activity. I was thinking more like financial issues.

[silver]

The liability issue is a huge thing with the AMC. I am the secretary of the bike committee of the Boston chapter and my husband is the treasurer. The liability rules changed a couple of years ago; in addition to signing the release, all rides must a have a sweep and we have to account for everyone when we return from a ride. We have to keep the group together (between the leader and the sweep). Now, I do this anyway, but this is not the practice of most of the clubs around here. The rules we have are based on hiking trip rules, where they make sense, but a few bike leaders have quit over the keeping people together thing. If we don't follow these rules, the AMC won't support us in a lawsuit. I had my crash last month on a ride with another club. Although this was a "stay together" ride, they pretty clearly left us on the road, fixing my bike. The leader said they waited down the road, but no one rode back to check on us, figuring we were experienced riders. Yea, and we rode our bikes to the hospital, when my husband's arm started swelling! It was the worst example of following common sense liability rules.


Yikes! I need to see what the USAT requires, but like you said this sounds like common sense to me.

[wannaduacentury]

We may not be the most organized bunch.
Checking , we have a account in the club's name. The Treasurer and President are authorized to sign (I'm the secretary)
we have a meeting once a month to conduct club business and decide what we're going to do for the next month. We also a a general membership meeting- which is usually dinner followed by a Cycling related talk - this month we had a retired pro who now runs a LBS
we're not incorporated - yet.
Anything else?

Ditto with my club. We're also working on tax exepmt status so we can team w/ others to sponsor events and being tax exempt would help w/that. I don't know all the inticisies yet, but I'm learning :) Jennifer

[silver]

Can you keep us up to date as you learn please?
and can you all tell me the size of your clubs?
and also, mention whether they are cycling or tri clubs?

Thanks! sorry I've so many questions...I think this is one of the most amazing things about the web, comparing notes with others on related topics.

[Fredwina]

Cycling Connection (www.cyclingconnection.org) has about 70-80 members, we are strictly a cycling club, but we have a Triathlon club, Tri Connection (www.coach-tony.com) That's loosely affiliated with us. They're about 40 or so

[Fredwina]

Update:
According to a Bona Fide member of the California Bar, either Liability Insurance or incorporation will do trick Re: property liens from Frivolous Lawsuits. While it highly unlikely that some could seize your house, you'd still need to pay for atty fees to defend yourself.
We're not incorporated, but we do put on an "event: ride (http://www.tourdefoothills.com/). Granted, the primary sponsor is incorporated.
We also now make rider sign off on a liability release, both for the club,, as weel the shopping center where our rides leave from.