Billings, Montana- Thursday, September 4, 2013– BikeNet is launching its first membership drive, “Join BikeNet 2013” with a kick-off event at the Base Camp Tuesday, September 10, 2013, at noon.
The kickoff event at The Base Camp will showcase grand prizes to be given away to individuals or businesses who sign up for membership before November 14, 2013. Annual memberships begin at $25.
Among several prizes, a Mountain Hardwear 3 corners tent, donated by The Base Camp and valued at $300, will be on display at the September 10 kickoff. It will be given away at a membership appreciation event on November 14. All new members will be automatically registered for the drawing and do not need to be present to win.
Also to be given away to BikeNet members is a New Belgium Fat Tire bike, donated by Briggs Distributing. Members who attend Bike Net’s largest annual fundraiser, Ales for Trails, will be registered to win the Fat Tire bike at the event September 27, 2013 at Dehler Park.
Members who purchase an Ales for Trails ticket will also receive an invitation to the exclusive VIP event, where they will get an opportunity to sample select microbrews and talk with brewers and BikeNet board members in a relaxed setting before the event is open to the public.
In addition to these “Join Bike Net 2013” specials, BikeNet members receive a BikeNet sticker to show support of the trails, invitations to members-only social and trail events, first pick at opportunities to volunteer, an email newsletter on the latest Billings trail news and an option to vote in board elections.
Anyone can join BikeNet by coming to The Base Camp on Tuesday, or by signing up online at https://bikenet.org and clicking the JOIN button at the top of the page.
BikeNet provides much needed community match funds for government funding sources for trail improvement projects such as Big Ditch Trail, Descro Park Trail, Lampman Strip Park Trail, Main Street Underpass, Bannister Trail, Broadwater Trail and Swords Park amenities. Since 2003, community match funds through BikeNet have totaled more than $206,000.
By providing matching funds for these projects, our community has been able to build more than $3.3 million worth of multi-use trails. Memberships will help connect people, bring more diversity and ideas to the organization, and provide a consistent funding stream to further BikeNet’s mission. Funds raised through memberships can support active transportation in many ways: for instance, over a year, one $10 monthly membership would buy a bike rack or approximately 9 feet of paved trail, and a $25 monthly membership would pave 23 feet of trail or 40 feet of a bike lane.
The public is encouraged to stop by The Base Camp Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013, from noon to 6 p.m., to register as a member or to get more information. Those who are unable to attend the kickoff event may also sign up at the Yellowstone Valley Weekend for Women Sept. 13-14, at Ales for Trails, or online by clicking the JOIN button on bikenet.org website.