Grand Mesa Nordic Council

 

Five Year Plan

 

June 8, 2004

 

 

Introduction:  Grand Mesa Nordic Council is a community based nonprofit organization composed of cross country skiers from around the Grand Mesa region.  The Council is governed by an appointed board of directors from the local communities and funded by membership fees, business sponsors, fund raising events, and grants.  Grand Mesa Nordic Council is dedicated to promoting fun, safe, diversified cross country skiing experiences on the Grand Mesa for skiers of all ages, abilities, and interests.  A primary emphasis of the Grand Mesa Nordic Council is trail grooming, maintenance, and development.  The Grand Mesa, located in western Colorado, is the world’s largest flat top mountain with over 200 lakes at an elevation above 10,000 feet.

 

 

Organization History:    The Grand Mesa Nordic Council was founded in March, 1990.  The new organization was immediately successful by recruiting members and getting grants from Delta County, Mesa County, and the Grand Junction Lions Club which made possible the purchase of its first snowmobile, a 1991 Ski-Doo Alpine II, and some basic grooming equipment.  Permits to groom were granted by the U.S. Forest Service.  IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit and 170(b) tax deductible charity status were granted by the IRS.

 

 

Trail Development History: 

 

Winter trail grooming officially began at the Ward Lake trail system during the week of January 14th, 1991.    It was the original goal of the eight volunteer groomers, working in pairs, to have at least 5 km of groomed tracks available at Ward Lake and/or Skyway for each weekend.   By January 19th, 1991 a 12 km system had been packed out by GMNC volunteers.

 

Summer and fall trail maintenance work by volunteers has been ongoing annually since the organization’s inception.  This work has included expanding routes, widening existing trails, constructing bridges, and clearing debris, boulders, and trees.

 

By the 2002-03 season, the GMNC had a grooming budget of approximately $14,000, which included funds for a paid groomer.  Twenty-five to thirty kilometers of trails were groomed and available on a daily basis, weather permitting.

 

 

 

 

 

Finances:

 

Membership/Revenue History:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Season

Members

Membership

Revenues

Revenue

from Grants, Donations, etc.

Total

Revenues

1990-91

77

 $1,820

 $10,867

 $12,687

1991-92

93

 $2,292

 $13,388

 $15,680

1992-93

127

 $2,923

 $6,669

 $9,592

1993-94

149

 $3,110

 $10,978

 $14,088

1994-95

149

 $5,180

 $6,147

 $11,327

1995-96

154

 $4,995

 $2,729

 $7,724

1996-97

150

 $4,531

 $9,376

 $13,907

1997-98

130

 $7,365

 $12,049

 $19,414

1998-99

120

 $6,987

 $8,983

 $15,970

1999-00

106

 $8,465

 $9,038

 $17,503

2000-01

242

 $10,731

 $10,955

 $21,686

2001-02

278

 $12,145

 $8,640

 $20,785

2002-03

285

$13,198

$23,618

$36,816

2003-04

371

$15,455

$14,835

$30,290

2004-05

366

 $16,700 $11,189 $27,889

 

 

 

 

Current Inventory:

1969 Alpine Snowmobile (Pd $1000 1/23/98) (Sold $1200 10/03)

1991 Alpine snowmobile (Delta County purchased for GMNC) 

2000 Artic Cat snowmobile (Pd $6715.25 ‑10/27/99)  

2001 Artic Cat snowmobile (Pd $6500 ‑ 9/18/01) 

2001 Hau Trailer (Pd $995 ‑3/26/01)   

2002 Yellowstone HDPE Roller/compactor (Pd $1555 ‑ 2/21/01)

Trail Grooming Equipment (roller, grader, etc)

Trailer owned by Delta County but gave to GMNC

Chainsaw + case (Stihl‑SIN 253909810) (Pd $324.90 ‑ 11/9/02)

Old roller and another track setter.

2003 Yellowstone HDPE Roller/compactor  (Pd $1610 – 4-1-03)

2002 SkiDoo Skandic snowmobile (Pd $6,000 – 10-1-03)

 

                       

GRAND MESA NORDIC COUNCIL

2004-2005 FINANCIAL REPORT

 

BEGINNING BANK BALANCES 5/6/04                                                                   $33,821.19

INCOME

                Grants                                                                                                   4,681.00

                Trail Boxes                                                                                            2,466.00

                Races                                                                                                    1,339.00 

                Fund Raising & Events                                                                           1,780.00 

    Interest & Misc                                                                                         323.39    

    Membership                                                                                         16,700.00

                Maps                                                                                                        600.00

                Income for Year                                                                                 $27,889.39

TOTAL INCOME                                                                                                          $61,710.58

EXPENSES

                Capital Improvement                                                                              3,950.00 

                County Line/Skyway                                                                            11,846.56

                Ward                                                                                                     1,598.42 

    Races                                                                                                        385.75    

                Fund Raising                                                                                           1,817.80               

                Insurance                                                                                                1,450.00

                Newsletter                                                                                                 872.83    

    Misc.                                                                                                         463.35

               

TOTAL EXPENSES                                                                                                        $22,384.71

 

ENDING BANK BALANCES 5/5/05                                                                            $39,325.87

 

 

                                                                                                           

 

 

IRS status:  The Grand Mesa Nordic Council is an IRS 501(3)(c) nonprofit and a 170(b) charity that develops and grooms cross-country ski trails for public use.

 

 

2002-2007 Five Year Goals:

 

1.      Maintain and upgrade current trail systems at Skyway, County Line, and Ward Lake prior to snow season by clearing of trees, brush, and other impediments to snow grooming in the winter.

 

2.      Raise money through memberships, donations, grants, and sponsors to pay for trail groomers and grooming equipment to keep trails groomed at Skyway, County Line, and Ward Lake throughout the winter season.

 

3.      Coordinate and work with the USFS on the maintenance and posting of signs on trails for navigation, safety, and preservation of quality of groomed trails.

 

4.      Publish trail maps for public use at trailheads, Grand Mesa Forest Service Visitor Center, and other locations.

 

5.      Publish a newsletter at least twice a year.

 

6.      Publish a Grand Mesa Nordic Council web site that promotes and informs about GMNC cross-country skiing on the Grand Mesa.  http://gmnc.info 

 

7.      Add additional trails to the Grand Mesa cross-country trail system where needed with USFS approval.

 

8.      Host at least four cross-country ski races each season for skiers of all skill levels.

 

9.      Assist beginning cross-country skiers through publications, tutorials, and lessons.

 

10.  Partner with a corporate sponsor who can help sustain the viability of the Grand Mesa Nordic Council through ongoing financial assistance in return for acknowledgment of the partnership in Grand Mesa Nordic Council publications and web site.

 

11.  Support USFS efforts to pave the skyway parking lot.

 

12.  Support USFS efforts to build a new outhouse at County Line.

 

13.  Support USFS efforts to enlarge and pave parking lot at County Line.

 

14.  Upgrade grooming equipment as needed.

 

15.  Mark trails with blue diamonds with USFS approval: Crag Crest, Waterdog, Griffith, West Bench Trails. 

 

 

Board of Directors:

 

Joe Ramey,  GMNC President,  Profession: Meteorologist

 

Bob Remmerde,  Board Member,  Profession:  Private Investigator

 

Ruth Wild,  GMNC Treasurer,  Profession:  Retired Competitive Swim Coach

 

Marie McGowan, GMNC Secretary,  Profession:  Entrepreneur

 

Kenton Shaw,  GMNC Grooming Coordinator,  Profession:  Construction Supervisor

 

Deb Scenters,  Newsletter Editor,  Profession:  Marketing Director

 

Joyce Tanihara,  Board Member,  Profession:  Administrative Assistant

 

Jerry Evans, Board Member,  Profession:  Commercial Airline Pilot

 

Suzi Evans, Board Member,  Profession:  C.P.A.

 

Tom Ela,  Board Member,  Profession:  Student

 

Jan Rupp,  Board Member,  Profession:  Teacher

 

Fred Wild,  Board Member,  Profession:  Retired Farmer

 

Sarah Stephenson,  Board Member,  Profession:  Administrative Assistant

 

Hege Randall, Board Member, Profession:  Ski Coach

 

Winslow Robertson, Board Member

 

APPENDIX:

IRS 501c3 Status (letter from IRS dated Nov 27, 1991)

Articles of Incorporation

GMNC By-Laws