By Kathryn Reed

Even though decisions about how to proceed about incorporating are still up in the air, Lake Tahoe mountain bike enthusiasts are figuring out a way to have a single, proactive voice.

The realization of those resurrecting Tahoe Area Mountain Bicycling Association is that even if members don’t agree with the trails the U.S. Forest Service has designated for upgrades, TAMBA must be a team player in order to persuade the landowners to work on other trails.

With proper insurance, TAMBA members would be able to apply for permits from the Forest Service to work on trails the feds don’t have the money to work on. That is a goal, but not an immediate one.

TAMBA President Kevin Joell makes a point Jan. 26. Photo/Kathryn Reed

At the Jan. 26 meeting at Lake Tahoe Community College, the nearly two dozen people in attendance agreed the initial annual membership fee would be $10 for individuals and $20 for a family. In the future, tiered levels of membership are likely to be introduced.

Kevin Joell, president of TAMBA, said the board is analyzing documents to decide whether resurrecting the old TAMBA in California is more prudent than starting from scratch in Nevada, where the fees are lower.

He said cost, ease of forming the 501(c)3 and overall all benefits for the group are being weighed.

The website (tambaonline.org) is under construction. It will try to be the catchall location for all things mountain bike related to the greater Lake Tahoe are – including Carson City, Reno, Truckee and Kirkwood. There was talk of having a forum on the site so people could post information.

It was also agreed the board will meet once a month, though it is open to anyone, but is designed to be a meeting about nuts and bolts issues. There will be at least one general membership meeting a year. More may be scheduled, but committing to one will satisfy bylaw language.

Some discussion centered in whether to have a meeting to kick-off the mountain bike season in April and one in November at the end of the season. Some also brought up the idea of having meetings rotate between the North and South shores. The board will make the decision when to have the big meetings. As committees are formed, there will be those meetings, as well.