This session focuses on professionalizing the MTB movement. It all comes down to leadership – you can have people show up, but nothing really happens without leadership.

Capacity limits us – there’s only a certain amount of work that can be done based on the number of people. Leadership limits capacity – a club can be only as effective as its leadership.

Leadership defined: A process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others achieve a common goal.

What is the goal for your club? Recruit the resources you need (roles – define and make them finite, define success, recruit with purpose). What can one person do to make multiple people accomplish things (how do you multiply the leader?).

Knowledge, influence, connections – finding people that fit this category can make things happen (don’t forget about the local bike shop, it’s a hub for information for everyone). The quality of individuals you are able to recruit is related to the quality of your organization.

Delegate and then trust them to do the work. Listen – and listen to understand, not always to respond.

Encourage consistency and efficiency – these things facilitate participation.

Share knowledge, experience, perspective. Facilitate experiential learning – go ride!, meet other groups, speak publically. Enable Training – attend conferences, present at conferences, take classes (have a budget for this).

Allow people to step aside so they remain part of the group.

It’s okay to bring your day job to the effort.

What’s the return on the investment? Avoid event overkill.

Show appreciation for everything the volunteers do.

Start small, Focus on quality, Personalize your asks and proposals, Get to know donors and members, and lastly Brag – talk about successes and goals, publicize what you have done and what you are working on.