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IMBA Announces REI/IMBA Outdoor Stewardship Toolkits
For Immediate Release, December 15, 2003
Mountain bike groups coast-to-coast will soon receive a substantial boost for their volunteer trailwork projects, as a result of a $25,000 grant from Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), announced today by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
IMBA and REI will award outdoor stewardship toolkits to 50 mountain bike clubs in January. Each toolkit, which will be used by mountain biking clubs to build and maintain trails, contains eight components to enhance their on-the-trail volunteer efforts. These components include:
- 10 REI/IMBA trailhead education signs
- 1 McLeod trailbuilding tool
- 1 Pulaski trailbuilding tool
- 1 Brunton clinometer trailbuilding instrument
- 1 IMBA trailbuilding book, Building Better Trails
- 300 REI/IMBA Responsible Riding Tips flyers
- 12 pairs of REI/IMBA trailwork gloves
- 12 REI volunteer stewardship T-shirts
During 2003, IMBA's network of 450 affiliated clubs and 32,000 individual members performed more than one million hours of volunteer trailwork and built nearly 1,000 miles of new trails. IMBA and REI anticipate that the outdoor stewardship toolkits will motivate clubs to organize even more volunteer projects in 2004.
"REI has been an Above and Beyond IMBA corporate supporter since 1993, and is one of IMBA's very best partners," said IMBA Executive Director Tim Blumenthal. "They're always thinking of new ways to help mountain biking and the trails community. These REI/IMBA outdoor stewardship toolkits will inspire mountain bikers everywhere to continue to blend conservation work with their trail development efforts."
REI President and CEO Dennis Madsen said, "IMBA recognizes the growing importance of protecting our trails and open spaces, and we're thrilled to partner with them on this project, as volunteerism and environmental stewardship are at the very core of REI's heritage."
Toolkit recipients were selected based on need and merit. To view the full list of grant recipients and a toolkit photo, visit http://www.imba.com.
IMBA is a national and international education and advocacy organization with 450 member clubs, 32,000 individual members, and more than 400 corporate partners and dealer members. IMBA creates, enhances and preserves trail opportunities for mountain bikers worldwide. In 1988, five California mountain biking clubs created IMBA.
REI, founded in 1938 as a consumer co-op by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers, is a national multichannel retailer of quality outdoor products. REI sells all of the top outdoor brands for hiking, camping, climbing, cycling, paddling and winter sports, as well as its own high-quality line of award-winning gear and apparel, including its own bike brand, Novara. While anyone may join or shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee and receive a share in the company's profits through an annual patronage refund based on their purchases. A portion of REI's profits is set aside each year for support of conservation, outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship causes, with $1.8 million to be awarded this year and more than $9 million since 1976, to such efforts around the country. REI currently operates 70 stores in 24 states; two online stores - REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com - and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures.
Contact:
Pete Burhop, IMBA
303/545-9011, peteburhop@imba.com
Randy Hurlow, REI
253/395-5877, rhurlow@rei.comend
