Trail design, development, and maintenance are key components of the MMBA and mountain biking in Michigan. And little of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers.
Throughout every year, MMBA volunteers work on trails from simply trimming branches to building some of the best trails in America. The MMBA tallies these efforts and rewards member volunteers who contribute 10 hours of effort. This award program is the Ed Berta First Across the Finish Line (FAFL).
Also, each MMBA Chapter selects a Volunteer of the Year based on exemplary performance. Likewise, the MMBA board chooses a Statewide Volunteer of the Year. All of these awards are presented at the MMBA Annual Meeting on the first Sunday of every February.
Beyond the awards, the MMBA finds it very beneficial to present these volunteer hours to land managers. This shows that we can ride responsibly and be stewards of the trails and other natural resources.
History
The program begin in 1997 when an anonymous donor gave $10,000 to the MMBA. The donation was spread over a few years and spent it on awards for volunteers that worked 10 or more hours on the trail. Due to it's success, the MMBA has decided to keep the program running.
