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At the risk of being flamed I guess I'll jump into this debate. As a
preface - I've only been the ride manager for 2 ECTRA rides so far -
Graves Mtn. 25. There have been about 100 sanctioned rides (both CTR &
endurance) put on here by Dip Lucy, and several years ago he decided to
start "training" me to manager the rides. For various reasons, including
having our trails erased by devastating mud slides, we have not been able
to have the ride every year. Our rides are held for two reasons - first
to promote and raise money to maintain the trails and secondly for love of
the sport.
I would not grant a refund to anyone who had already gone through the
initial vet check. ECTRA considers the vet check starting the ride. The
ride has already had an expense - meals, judges, camping spaces,
completion awards, etc., and in the last couple of years the bulldozers it
took to reopen trail that was washed away just a few weeks before the ride.
The last time I had the ride (1995) we sent our applications in July for a
Oct. ride and had it filled in 2 weeks. (we do pre-entries only, with a
waitlist of about 10-15, max of 50 riders). I end up returning about 20-30
entries each time because the ride is filled. We clearly state in our
entry forms what our refund policy is and I've never had anyone question
it. We will grant refunds prior to the ride because we can fill the spot
from the waitlist. Certainly, if a circumstance was extenuating (injury,
family emergency) we would consider a partial refund. Most of our
riders know this is our trail upkeep fund and consider it a contribution
anyway. I have occasionally allowed a substitute entry and let the riders
work it out between themselves. I try not to be unbendable and as
considerate as possible, but the riders have to recognize that the expense
starts at the time the entry forms are mailed out. (not to mention my long
distance bills :). I do take managing the ride for a profit seriously. I
know the man hours both voluntary and paid that it takes to make these
trails "competition ready". Our volunteers work hard to sell ads for our
ride program, find sponsors for the awards, and solicit donations for the
benefit auction we have after the ride briefing. We have made from $600
- $1000 just on the auction. In a good year we can sell $500 worth of ads,
and have the awards covered. If I can net $3000 then I know the trails
will be funded for one more year. I'm not ashamed of making a profit to
support our trails.
Now, on the years we don't have the ride we really have to solicit
donations from the folks who use the trails to train and for pleasure. We
can usually get $1-2000 this way. No hard sell. Folks around here just
appreciate the fact that there is a place to distance ride.
Sally Aungier
Mgr., Graves Mtn 25 (ECTRA) on the years that it is held.
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