Kissena Forum Archive

Board Meeting Summaries & Announcements

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Meeting notes from tonight's meeting:

Training Camp:

  • Los Angeles, with a preference for the Malibu mountains (west side), was suggested as the location.
  • Dates of March 1st to 9th (Saturday - Sunday) were proposed for the camp.

Team Calendar:

  • Key events on the team calendar were identified:
    • Superbowl Ride - February 9th (Sunday)
    • Training Camp (March 1st-9th)
    • Races (specific dates to be determined)
    • Off-bike events (details to be finalized)
  • The importance of developing the calendar with considerations for access, development opportunities, and ChampSys kit order minimums (which should coincide with recruitment and event planning) was highlighted.

Tech:

  • Renewal for Vanilla ($1509.48) due on January 1st was discussed. As the cost increased from last year's $1372, exploring alternative options was suggested.
  • Evaluating options for communication platforms like Discord was also mentioned.

Treasury:

  • There is just under $4,000 in the team's PayPal account.

Additional Discussion Points:

  • Lennart proposed conducting a survey to identify member goals for the upcoming season and facilitating connections between members with similar goals for motivation and resource sharing.
  • A "Skills and Drills" ride series was proposed for next season, starting in the first half of March with subsequent meetups throughout the season.
  • Weekly training sessions in Prospect Park during warmer months were also suggested.
  • Discussions around grouping new riders with experienced members for mentorship and developing a training plan took place.
  • Eloy emphasized the importance of structured training plans and scheduling regular rides during the off-season, including weekly rides in Prospect Park, individual challenges, and incorporating specific rides like the February race and the Super Bowl ride into the calendar.
  • Eloy proposed a meeting with the Prospect Park Alliance (PPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to discuss the impact of planned changes to the lake on the cycling lane and explore the possibility of implementing recommendations from a similar study conducted on Central Park in Prospect Park.
  • Patrick has access to the team's two-factor authentication.
  • Guy proposed setting up a monthly newsletter with interesting articles and also offer team members to know more about each other via a "Spotlight" column.
  • Dave mentioned relaunching the Kissena.cc blog to share updates and potentially acknowledge race sponsors. 

Action Items:

  • Finalize details and logistics for the proposed training camp in Los Angeles.
  • Develop a team calendar incorporating key events, access considerations, and kit order deadlines.
  • Investigate alternative options for the Vanilla renewal and explore other communication platforms, like Discord.
  • Lennart to conduct a member survey to identify individual season goals.
  • Develop a plan for the "Skills and Drills" ride series and weekly training sessions.
  • Identify cycling experts to collaborate on developing a training plan.
  • Eloy to propose a structured training plan and calendar for group rides.
  • Schedule a meeting with the PPA and DOT to discuss the impact of planned Prospect Park changes.
Friendly reminder that our February board meeting is tonight at 8:15pm.  RSVP at the link below.

This is a great way to share your opinions and get involved on the non-riding side of the club!

https://calendar.app.google/H74fTYSe9u96QsX39
As a heads up, since most of the board members see away at training camp, the March board meeting is being moved to next week, March 10th @ 8:15pm.  We'd love to see you there!  (Link is below)

Kissena Board meeting (member invite)Monday, Mar 10 · 5:15–6 PMView details & RSVP
https://calendar.app.google/NmBNH1r66QZj8bDJ6
Bumping this as a quick reminder that th March board meeting is tomorrow.  You can join with the link in my previous post.

Come share your voice!
Summary of tonight's board meeting:

  • During the Kissena Board meeting, key updates were shared regarding membership dues, with 20 members having paid for 2025 while 26 remain unpaid, Blake to send a reminder email. 
  • A new member ride is scheduled for 8:15 AM after the Verge series race on the 23rd, which will start at 6:50 AM and conclude by 9:00 AM. 
  • The board discussed increasing women’s participation in races, responding to Anna’s email regarding separate women’s fields, and potential future sponsorships and podium opportunities. Eloy will draft a response to Anna, with Blake reviewing it before sending. 
  • Miscellaneous topics included a call for assistance with marshaling duties, while the registration desk process was streamlined. Lastly, there was a brief recap of a recent trip to Arizona, highlighting its scenic views and challenging conditions.
Summary of the general meeting:
The meeting focused on several key updates and action items related to race series, development, park collaborations, and sponsorships. 
  • Tom Mains provided updates on women's race categories, advocating for equal payouts for the top half of the field and adjustments to race payouts. 
  • The discussion included plans for a skills-focused weekend rides for road and training sessions for the track. 
  • Eloy reported on the Prospect Park lake renovation and plans for a Bicycle Day event scheduled for the end of the month. Email to club to follow. 
  • The meeting also addressed technical issues related to board member documents, website updates and dues. 
  • Action items were assigned to various members, including coordinating track training dates, preparing materials for the Bicycle Day event, and opening the kit order store promptly.


Hey team, sharing an update on kit/clothing notes from our last board meeting on May 5th.

Due to the unpredictable tariff situation affecting Champion System (pricing, production, availability) the board thought it was best to pursue an alternate vendor.

A lot of factors aligned for Verge Sport so we are pursuing a pilot run with them.
  • Factory in Philippines which seems to be less affected by tariffs.
  • Charlie Issendorf (former KCC/PP race director) has been their VP of Sales since Feb 2024.
  • Verge Sport is the title sponsor for one of the two PP race series and is the leaders kit supplier for the L&C series as well.
  • Verge Sport offers an "always on" store so we don't need to have specific order windows.
We received and evaluated samples and they are at least on par with CS quality. We plan to pilot a "standard kit" with the same design as what we currently have with CS. This allows us to do an apples to apples comparison and will maintain a cohesive team look regardless of kit vendor.

If all goes well, we will continue and expand the partnership. If we find something lacking the good news is we can continue to order from CS (albeit with the tariff issues).

I'll keep everyone updated here, but please feel free to ask any questions or send me or anyone on the board a DM if you have any concerns or ideas.
Summary of 6/2 Board Meeting:
  • Verge Kit Discussion: David is working on finalizing the Verge kit design, addressing concerns about hidden minimums and formalizing agreements.
  • Community Activities: The board reviewed successful events and planned a summer cookout and the Summer Century ride.
  • Unsanctioned Racing Resolved: The issue of unsanctioned racing appears resolved, with efforts to improve park safety ongoing.
  • Team Development Plans: Lennart outlined structured training plans to improve team performance and member skills.
Summary of 6/2 general meeting:
  • Rider Training: Lennart proposed structured exercises to boost riders' comfort with speed and paceline skills.
  • Member Engagement: Blake reported on new members' activities and planned a ride for prospective members.
  • Race Coordination: David outlined details for upcoming race events, ensuring smooth organization.
  • Treasury Update: Mark discussed the club's expenses and current treasury status. (Current balance of $5,500; recent expenses: Wufoo renewal and reimbursing Eloy for printing costs)
  • Nonprofit Status: The board is working to restore the club's revoked nonprofit status for legitimacy.
Happy New Year!

It's been a minute, but want to remind the team that the board meets every first Monday of the month and it is open to all members to attend as well!

Kissena Board meeting (member invite)
Monday, January 5 · 8:15 – 9:00pm
Time zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rfs-isvw-kvs
All, a reminder that the board formally meets on the first monday of the month, 8p ET (tonight!). These meetings are virtual and open to the entire club! 

Lots of things to go over and discuss as the season is starting and Prospect Park races begin this coming Sunday!

Kissena Board meeting (member invite)
Monday, March 2 · 8:15 – 9:00pm
Time zone: America/New_York
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/rfs-isvw-kvs