Starting and New Cycling Club

[CycleNaut]

Hi,

I am currently involved in helping organize a new cycling club. We have been riding together for a while and just recently elected our leadership. We have some questions that some here may be able to help with. First, what form of incorporation, if any, do most cycling clubs use? We are thinking non-profit. I'm not sure what all goes into getting non-profit status in Texas. Any info would be helpful. Second, we are concerned about liability issues. LAB and Cycling USA both offer club insurance. Are there others and which do you recommend? Finally, any general or specific recommendations for getting a club up and running would be greatly appreciated. That should be enough to get started.

Scott

[randya]

If it's purely a 'riding club', please repost this message somewhere else. If it's an ADVOCACY group, say so. If it's both, my apologies, welcome to our world!!!

[Chris L]

If it's purely a 'riding club', please repost this message somewhere else. If it's an ADVOCACY group, say so. If it's both, my apologies, welcome to our world!!!

I tend to think one can attract the other. Most cyclists when they first start out are generally only interested in the riding side of things, the advocacy bit comes later. Rides are a great way to attract attention to a club. Perhaps something that might be utilised to attract a few members is to publish some flyers that are distributed in bike shops in the area -- particularly if you can add some kind of ride calendar to them.

[CycleNaut]

Thank you. And yes, we are both a riders club and we have advocacy concerns. In particular, the county where we ride just wiped out some shoulders at several busy intersections to add left turn lanes. It made those intersections much more dangerous for riders. We want to get the county to adopt cycling friendly enginnering guidelines so that similar incidents don't happen in the future. We were at a bike rodeo earlier today handing out safe cycling literature and helping parents learn how to fit their children's helmets on appropriately. Now, Any advice on club organization - constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, insurance - nuts and bolts stuff? Thanks, Scott



I tend to think one can attract the other. Most cyclists when they first start out are generally only interested in the riding side of things, the advocacy bit comes later. Rides are a great way to attract attention to a club. Perhaps something that might be utilised to attract a few members is to publish some flyers that are distributed in bike shops in the area -- particularly if you can add some kind of ride calendar to them.

[Chris L]

Now, Any advice on club organization - constitution, bylaws, articles of incorporation, insurance - nuts and bolts stuff? Thanks, Scott

Perhaps running a google search on "Texas Incorporation Requirements" or variations of that phrase might net some useful results. Posting from Australia, I really don't know what the situation is there. Here at Bicycle Gold Coast we don't have an insurance policy on our rides, but we do require all new riders to sign a waiver prior to participation, basically holding them responsible for their own actions.

[RonH]

First, what form of incorporation, if any, do most cycling clubs use? We are thinking non-profit. I'm not sure what all goes into getting non-profit status in Texas.
Are you requiring some sort of "dues" or any monies to join? If so, how will the funds be used?
Will you have any paid officers (like an administrator)?
Did you elect a treasurer? You'll need a good one regardless of your tax status.