The Watchmen

All disgruntled internet trolls are invited to come out from behind their keyboards and beak off in person at the Town Hall Meeting on April 15th.
http://www.nsmba.ca/content/2015-01_2015-town-hall-meeting-april-15

I'm tempted to go to the town meeting in the hope that someone has the balls, or the stupidity to actually go there and speak up!

I can almost imagine it now:

- Mark concludes his presentation and asks if anyone has any questions
- A guy (let's call him Brad) says 'yes', stands up and asks a question that puts him in the anti-NSMBA group
- Mark 'death stares' at Brad while everyone in the room turns around and looks at Brad in disgust
- One of the board members answers Brad's question at best as possible
- Someone else asks a benign question about something like how to find out about upcoming trail days
- Mark is still giving death stares to Brad
- The meeting concludes and everyone goes home
- Mark's secret police break down Brad's front door later that night and Brad is never seen or heard from ever again

There just seems to be so much weirdness with parts of the non-riding community that the Board believes it's best to stay quiet and deliver results. As for the NSMB.com boards, they have always been a tough nut and I just don't see that being a good channel for the NSMBA, ever. It is too anonymous and too toxic at times to be ultimately productive IMHO.

i see it the other way, ignoring that stuff just allows it to fester and people draw worse conclusions. it's much better off to deal with it directly in a non-confrontational and non-aggressive manner.

All I know is that when I moved here in 2007 from the UK (via Whistler) the Shore was a bit of shock to the system, and mainly for the wrong reasons. Sure there was plenty of cool moves (ladder to rock rolls on UOC and Expresso for example) but the 'gnar' was generally just an eroded mess and I don't think I went around a corner for over a year ;)

People can moan all they want but the trails seem a whole lot better now, and there is evidence of harder moves being built or rebuilt now the grunt work is getting done.

As for the NSMB.com boards, they have always been a tough nut and I just don't see that being a good channel for the NSMBA, ever. It is too anonymous and too toxic at times to be ultimately productive IMHO.

For sure. the internetz is a rowdy place but people here often listen to each other, except traildouche, but there have been some nsmba folks that have come on here and have calmed things down and others that just stir things up. I understand why some of them stay away. its probably a good thing.

All disgruntled internet trolls are invited to come out from behind their keyboards and beak off in person at the Town Hall Meeting on April 15th.
http://www.nsmba.ca/content/2015-01_2015-town-hall-meeting-april-15

Ask around I'm sure you could figure out who I am. This is a community board it's hardly anonymous.

Meaning
Troll /tr?l/
verb
make a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them.

I am not being a troll on this thread. Neither are the other people who disagree your point of view. And I would say any of this to your face.

Here is the problem with you and some of the people in your camp. If people disagree with you or speak our minds we are trolls.

I will not be at the town hall, I think it's pointless, I've had conversations with your group. In all instances they are unable to see the other point of view. Believe me I see yours and I can see why you are upset. What I also see and why I think it's pointless is that the people in your group believe they have a higher authority. They don't have to see the other point of view because they are right so go fuck off.

Well I have fucked off.

also you mentioned maybe I should be leader in a previous post.

I can't be, I'm not one of the Bros, I could never be elected. Maybe you should Be the leader sounds like you sing the right tune.

Bahhhh Bahhhh

^this is being a troll….. dick

All I know is that when I moved here in 2007 from the UK (via Whistler) the Shore was a bit of shock to the system, and mainly for the wrong reasons. Sure there was plenty of cool moves (ladder to rock rolls on UOC and Expresso for example) but the 'gnar' was generally just an eroded mess and I don't think I went around a corner for over a year ;)

People can moan all they want but the trails seem a whole lot better now, and there is evidence of harder moves being built or rebuilt now the grunt work is getting done.

no kidding, as recently as 5 years ago I remember regularly wondering if I was riding down a trail or creek bed whenever I'd ride the shore. Getting water off trails and preventing erosion is not "dumbing down" people, get it in your thick skulls!

I will not be at the town hall, I think it's pointless, I've had conversations with your group. In all instances they are unable to see the other point of view. Believe me I see yours and I can see why you are upset. What I also see and why I think it's pointless is that the people in your group believe they have a higher authority. They don't have to see the other point of view because they are right so go fuck off.

Well I have fucked off.

also you mentioned maybe I should be leader in a previous post.

I can't be, I'm not one of the Bros, I could never be elected. Maybe you should Be the leader sounds like you sing the right tune.

Boo hoo.

Dear everybody how has a beef with the way that the NSMBA is run:

My name is Rachid Nayel and I am the treasurer.

If you would like my volunteer position, you're welcome to it.

This year, I have been contributing between 40 and 60 hours of unpaid labour per month, for people who apparently don't appreciate my efforts. I will be resigning at the end of this year after holding the position for 5 out of the last 6 years.

If you would like my position now, you're welcome to it.

If you would like any position on the board, you're welcome to it, just show up at the AGM and get voted in. It is a democratic process, that plays out in fairness in front of the membership. You can influence change by contributing. The organization also has many volunteer opportunities, that anybody who wants to influence change is welcome to participate in.

Also, if you don't have something edifying to say, please mind what you say in a public forum where everybody can see and only the infuriated react. I appreciate your opinion, however, if your thoughts are paramount and must be expressed, please express them to my face so that we can discuss them like men. I understand that the internet is the great conductor of thought and conversation, however, rhetoric here will serve to infuriate and will not influence a positive resolution.

My email is rachid@nsmba.ca and it has been publicly available for years, if you have any points of contention regarding the organization and would like to contribute to its betterment, please contact me.

Finally, please have the kindness of heart not to slander the NSMBA's employees, if you have a comment, or a formal complaint, they can be sent to the directors: board@nsmba.ca, to me (rachid@nsmba.ca) or to Vince, the president (vince@nsmba.ca).

The NSMBA is a community organization that is run by volunteers, for the most part, and the few employees we have are dedicated, underpaid and deserve better than to be insulted (online, in person or otherwise). I realize that some people may feel like they aren't listened to, and we have a forum to listen to them.

The NSMBA holds monthly board meetings which are open, you can either view them on the calendar publicly available on www.nsmba.ca or email info@nsmba.ca for further information (I encourage the latter as the location is susceptible to change).

Kind regards,
Rachid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOrLNHbEzMg

Hehe, this one is better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_eBTkB-rs

Boo hoo.

My point exactly

The NSMBA is a community organization that is run by volunteers, for the most part, and the few employees we have are dedicated, underpaid and deserve better than to be insulted (online, in person or otherwise). I realize that some people may feel like they aren't listened to, and we have a forum to listen to them.

The NSMBA holds monthly board meetings which are open, you can either view them on the calendar publicly available on www.nsmba.ca or email info@nsmba.ca for further information (I encourage the latter as the location is susceptible to change).

Rachid's note has to be acknowledged for its entire contents, and this in particular ^^^

With respect to those here in the Forum, no one can undo what ever water has gone on under who ever's bridge, when ever ago… (and that applies to me too)…

So if you want change, be the change. Easy to say, energy to do.

Stand by your words, like Rachid has done, with full name and position and contact details- professionally, with accountability. It is amazing how your writing and expressing changes!

I do not know anyone in here really with the pseudo names. What I have learned the last three weeks is to speak directly and engage with the NSMBA. I will do so directly with Vince and Rachid. Being grumpy behind their backs is no way forward for positive change I have learned and Rachid has noted to this Forum.

MTB Cypress supports the NSMBA. It, (I, Gord Berg) and the two builders riders that I met with last night, one of which is also part of the TAP programme and interested in helping with Cypress and visualizing its' future, discussed how we can be consistent and complement the NSMBA and its Mission Statement and future!!! This is key.

It was a really good conversation and I learned a lot! In fact one of the builders was in the infamous newspaper photo and he was one that gave his time up for the last night's meeting, and I learned a LOT from him and how that all went down. So, I can admit that I initially reacted and handled it poorly, and with his comments last night, and Rachid's today, I have learned an important lesson.

Where I am going with this is that Nothing is Perfect. What Rachid said is spot on and serves an important lesson:

What if ALL the organization RESIGNS? Who would step up? Could they do ANY BETTER? Would they be susceptible to the same PERCEPTIONS…

We have one trail association, nothing is perfect. It is pretty damn good. I thank Rachid for all his efforts!

Wow! You are one bitter dude, with a bee in his bonnet and an axe to grind. Not exactly leadership material. Probably for the best if you're not there. People like that aren't very useful to have around.
Ride On Non-Bro!!!

hey man, taking that route only gives those who may oppose some of what the nsmba is doing fuel for a negative repsonse. does it make any sense to perpetuate the negativity and allow it to continue?

if people can't disagree without any sniping maybe saying nothing is better as the back and forth doesn't solve anything. it's the same message for resnick, feel free to state your case but leave all the drama out of it.

Wow! You are one bitter dude, with a bee in his bonnet and an axe to grind. Not exactly leadership material. Probably for the best if you're not there. People like that aren't very useful to have around.
Ride On Non-Bro!!!

Aren't you a watchman? Shouldn't you be setting a good example?

Dear everybody how has a beef with the way that the NSMBA is run:

My name is Rachid Nayel and I am the treasurer.

If you would like my volunteer position, you're welcome to it.

This year, I have been contributing between 40 and 60 hours of unpaid labour per month, for people who apparently don't appreciate my efforts. I will be resigning at the end of this year after holding the position for 4 out of the last 5 years.

If you would like my position now, you're welcome to it.

If you would like any position on the board, you're welcome to it, just show up at the AGM and get voted in. It is a democratic process, that plays out in fairness in front of the membership. You can influence change by contributing. The organization also has many volunteer opportunities, that anybody who wants to influence change is welcome to participate in.

Also, if you don't have something edifying to say, please mind what you say in a public forum where everybody can see and only the infuriated react. I appreciate your opinion, however, if your thoughts are paramount and must be expressed, please express them to my face so that we can discuss them like men. I understand that the internet is the great conductor of thought and conversation, however, rhetoric here will serve to infuriate and will not influence a positive resolution.

My email is rachid@nsmba.ca and it has been publicly available for years, if you have any points of contention regarding the organization and would like to contribute to its betterment, please contact me.

Finally, please have the kindness of heart not to slander the NSMBA's employees, if you have a comment, or a formal complaint, they can be sent to me (rachid@nsmba.ca) of Vince, the president (vince@nsmba.ca).

The NSMBA is a community organization that is run by volunteers, for the most part, and the few employees we have are dedicated, underpaid and deserve better than to be insulted (online, in person or otherwise). I realize that some people may feel like they aren't listened to, and we have a forum to listen to them.

The NSMBA holds monthly board meetings which are open, you can either view them on the calendar publicly available on www.nsmba.ca or email info@nsmba.ca for further information (I encourage the latter as the location is susceptible to change).

Kind regards,
Rachid

Rachid, thank-you for all your efforts. For all the negativity that can circulate around these issues, I think most people do value and appreciate the work of the NSMBA and it's volunteers. You're right that it's not fair to have to deal with the abuse at times and while not excusing it, it happens because people are passionate about the trails they ride. The day that there is no passion is the day that things will be be in a bad spot. Definitely feel proud of yourself for taking the time to contribute and being a valuable resource for the community in a position that doesn't always get the recognition it deserves for the importance that it holds.

Cheers!

Mark