Building Sales Vote

[dartagnan]

Anyone besides me wonder why the results haven't been released?. The last "yes" vote was released at supersonic speed.

[jamawani]

It takes time to get the results you want.
Be patient.

[DW]

It takes time to get the results you want.
Be patient.

Humorous.  Yet, history repeating itself or a portent of things to come?  Opps, but I repeat myself!

[dartagnan]

I have supported AC for some time now, but never sought out details about how its run. The conversations concerning the organizations fiduciary mismanagement and subsequent decision to sell off assets to continue operations prompted me to take a look. The BOD is a clown show! There are a few who appears to have business skills, but the majority are a DEI nightmare, which is clearly articulated in their Diversity and Social Justice policies. The organization seemingly blames its demise to a great extent on the "older generation" leaving membership. They wrongly assume that those of us over...say 60...no longer cycle? Nope, it ain't so, I am 79, and I and so many I have bikepacked over the years now have more time to bike...and do!. Could one of the issues be that they ignored those of us that could care less about reading in their new and slick-covered mag about GenX/Z trust fund babies traveling the globe? In my opinion that one issue was a sink for cash. Those of us "older generation" could care less. Combine that with the fact that bylaws appear to be secret, the non-election of  board members, and failure to recognize that their reluctance to partner with organizations (ride GPS, Bikepacking, to name a few)  that could add value to the routes they developed, resulted in a monumental failure.

[DW]

I have supported AC for some time now, but never sought out details about how its run. The conversations concerning the organizations fiduciary mismanagement and subsequent decision to sell off assets to continue operations prompted me to take a look. The BOD is a clown show! There are a few who appears to have business skills, but the majority are a DEI nightmare, which is clearly articulated in their Diversity and Social Justice policies.

The organization seemingly blames its demise to a great extent on the "older generation" leaving membership. They wrongly assume that those of us over...say 60...no longer cycle? Nope, it ain't so, I am 79, and I and so many I have bikepacked over the years now have more time to bike...and do!.

Could one of the issues be that they ignored those of us that could care less about reading in their new and slick-covered mag about GenX/Z trust fund babies traveling the globe? In my opinion that one issue was a sink for cash. Those of us "older generation" could care less.

Combine that with the fact that bylaws appear to be secret, the non-election of  board members, and failure to recognize that their reluctance to partner with organizations (ride GPS, Bikepacking, to name a few)  that could add value to the routes they developed, resulted in a monumental failure.

Dartagnan,

That's one apt way to put it.  Even weeks after new BOD members were appointed, the bios of two of them have still not been posted on the website.

The "ageing out" claim has long been the board's primary excuse for a 64% drop in membership since 2020.  Rather, two poor ED hires during that period together with the retirement and departure of several long-time staff and the concurrent loss of institutional memory are major factors in ACA's downhill slide and its loss of sense of self.  The remaining staff had little understanding of and interest in its origins and history.       

Well, neither the articles of incorporation nor the bylaws are secret.  Here they are, straight from the website.  They were amended some 15 years ago, rescinding members' right to vote for the board to allow for new member appointments by the sitting board.  Not at all a healthy situation.   

https://www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/upl
oads/2023/08/8039E9C5-62E1-BC68-648ED5F43B0CE274.pdf

https://www.adventurecycling.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/May2023-Bylaws-voted.pdf

After these last many months, I continue to wonder what the board is hiding.

[dartagnan]

DW,

Interesting. I looked but did not find these inks. Thank you! The lack of financial statement proficiency is a common issue with non-profit boards. It leads to bad decisions. In my opinion selling assets to support operations when the operators have made bad decisions should be a non starter.

[rafisher14]

Anyone besides me wonder why the results haven't been released?. The last "yes" vote was released at supersonic speed.

I think the mail in ballots are still be counted. Also, the first email about the vote said results would be announced on the 31st.

[Jim Cossitt, 1976 rider]

@dartagnan

Nails it:       "The BOD is a clown show! There are a few who appears to have business skills, but the majority are a DEI nightmare, which is clearly articulated in their Diversity and Social Justice policies. The organization seemingly blames its demise to a great extent on the "older generation" leaving membership. They wrongly assume that those of us over...say 60...no longer cycle? Nope, it ain't so, I am 79, and I and so many I have bikepacked over the years now have more time to bike...and do!. Could one of the issues be that they ignored those of us that could care less about reading in their new and slick-covered mag about GenX/Z trust fund babies traveling the globe? In my opinion that one issue was a sink for cash. Those of us "older generation" could care less. Combine that with the fact that bylaws appear to be secret, the non-election of  board members."

This whole cluster occurred because this BOD is not accountable to or responsive to the members.  It's that simple.   Had the BOD handled this differently from the get go (the June decision to sell) we would not be here.   

The building sale forced the issue of non responsiveness and lack of accountability to the forefront and those are the core problems.

Here is an excellent article on the pros / cons of "Nonprofit Law Jargon Buster – Voting Members vs. Self-Perpetuating Boards"

"Conclusion:

Both voting members and self-perpetuating boards shape how a nonprofit organization works. Having voting members keeps control in the hands of people who care deeply about the mission, but it can make board elections tricky and bring new governance issues.

Self-perpetuating boards offer steady leadership, though they can sometimes lose touch unless refreshed often. Think about your own group’s needs—do you want greater democracy or more stability?

If you need help with board bylaws or choosing a good governance structure, great guides and legal tools are just a click away; careful choices now will mean smoother days ahead for your nonprofit’s future."

https://charitylawyerblog.com/2011/04/26/nonprofit-law-jargon-buster-voting-members-vs-self-perpetuating-boards/

[RonSuchanek]

..."the majority are a DEI nightmare, which is clearly articulated in their Diversity and Social Justice policies."

Your response reads as a broad rejection of diversity, equity, and inclusion. If that’s where you stand, you may be better served by an organization that aligns more closely with those narrower views.

Cycling and cycle touring are evolving. Attracting younger and more diverse participants isn’t optional—it’s necessary for survival. Clinging to a depreciating building while catering to a membership that is steadily aging out is a clear path toward irrelevance.

And by the way, the ACA Building Sale FAQ clearly states that results will be posted by January 31 and outlines the financial and organizational challenges behind the decision. Take a look if you're interested.

Lastly, the fist-shaking anger and personal attacks aimed at the board and staff by a small number of disgruntled forum posters are counterproductive and almost certainly do not represent the majority of members who oppose the sale.

[davidbonn]

Just got an email reporting the results...

Thank you to the 8,271 members who participated in the recent vote on the proposed sale of Adventure Cycling’s headquarters building. Your engagement matters, and we, the board, are grateful that so many members chose to make their voices heard.

The vote concluded with 3,273.5 weighted votes (40.8%) in favor and 4,753.5 weighted votes (59.2%) opposed* — a marked change from the first vote held in the fall of last year, in which 94.7% supported the proposal. That shift deserves careful reflection.

As a result, the sale contract has been terminated, and we’ve removed the building from the market.

After the first vote, we understood the concerns raised by members as primarily procedural. We now understand that far more was being expressed. The second vote makes clear that what we treated as technical issues were, for many of you, symptoms of a deeper rupture of trust — real concerns about voice, transparency, how decisions are made, and by whom. By framing the repeat vote as a technical correction rather than an opportunity for relational reset, we missed an important signal.

As we move forward, I want to be clear about two things.

First, our deliberations, engagements, and decisions throughout this process were made in good faith, guided by what we believed to be in the best long-term interests of ACA during this time of real financial strain and uncertainty.

Second, intent does not negate impact. The impact of this process was painful for many, and we take responsibility for the ways our actions and decisions strained trust.

Why We Listed the Building for Sale Last Year

Since 2018, Adventure Cycling has experienced a gradual decline in membership, with sharper losses beginning in 2022. By 2024, multiple revenue streams — including membership, donations, grants, and tour profitability — were under pressure at the same time that temporary pandemic-era funding ended. Together, these shifts created a significant year-over-year operating cash flow shortfall.

In response, the board and staff reduced the 2025 budget by more than $1 million, including difficult staffing reductions of more than 30%. These decisions were made to protect the work that defines Adventure Cycling — stewarding routes, inspiring cyclists through our publications, and offering guided tours — while adjusting the organization to a more sustainable scale.

It was in this context that the headquarters building was listed, as one possible way to create additional financial flexibility and time to stabilize operations, adapt programs, and invest in innovation.

What This Means for Adventure Cycling

Because the sale will not move forward, this particular avenue for creating additional flexibility is closed for now. While that narrows the margin for error, it does not make our future impossible. We have approved a deficit budget for the coming year, and we plan to operate our programs, celebrate the 50th anniversary, prioritize member retention and engagement, and stabilize revenue. We’ll maintain our established process for reviewing financial performance with staff and making course corrections as needed.

In the coming months, we will reassess what ACA uniquely contributes to the cycling community and how to deliver that work sustainably. In 2025, we explored potential paths to financial sustainability, including strategic partnerships and further organizational restructuring. That work gives us a foundation as we continue planning. 2026 operations will proceed as budgeted while this work continues. Strengthening transparency and governance is essential to rebuilding trust, but it doesn't solve our financial challenges. Financial and programmatic stabilization requires different work that is ongoing. We cannot commit to specific outcomes before that work is complete, but we will share our thinking on priorities and tradeoffs as decisions develop.

Building Trust with You

ACA’s future depends on our collective effort — yours, the staff’s, and the board’s. The challenges we face, including long-term financial sustainability, evolving member needs, and how we continue to innovate in service of adventure cyclists, cannot be addressed by any one group alone. They require shared understanding, mutual trust, and sustained collaboration.

We also note that the passion around the building sale ran high, and at times, that passion crossed lines. Personal attacks directed at members, staff, and board members are not acceptable and erode trust, regardless of where one stood on the issue. Disagreement is healthy in a membership organization; personal harm is not. As we move forward, we must all commit to respectful engagement rooted in genuine care for the organization we love.

We are grateful to the many members who wrote with thoughtful questions about our financial assumptions, decision-making frameworks, and stewardship responsibilities. We want to specifically acknowledge the Save ACA group and former staff who articulated concerns that resonated widely during this process. While perspectives differed on specific proposals, the depth of care and experience reflected in these exchanges contributed to our reflections. We are committed to strengthening how we engage with members and rebuilding trust through greater transparency and dialogue.

In recognition of the trust rupture this process revealed, the board reached out to Save ACA and held a preliminary facilitated conversation this week, grounded in our shared care for Adventure Cycling and a mutual interest in finding constructive ways to move forward.

Over the coming months, our Governance Committee will advance a set of concrete commitments, including:
Creating a governance landing page to make board meeting minutes, bylaws, member-facing financial summaries, and our investment policy statement easily accessible, with a clear place for members to ask questions
Scheduling board town halls and facilitating conversations to support dialogue and provide updates on board work
Establishing clearer pathways for member leadership, including opportunities to serve on issue-specific advisory committees
Administering surveys to gather member input to inform strategic decisions about specific programs
Continuing dialogue with members and former staff to inform board deliberations
Working Together with You

If you are passionate about supporting ACA’s mission and future, we also encourage you to consider standing for board service. There are currently three vacancies on the 2026 board, with additional openings anticipated in 2027. As we chart the next chapter, new energy and leadership will be essential. We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in member engagement, nonprofit leadership (especially in cycling or trails), and change management. Find information about board service and the nomination process here.

We also heard from members who shared that, should the building not be sold, they would be interested in supporting ACA financially. We are grateful for that generosity; members who wish to explore this further may contact staff at development@adventurecycling.org.

The months ahead will require more frequent, candid communication. Please ensure you're opted in to receive all our emails, especially the Member Newsletter— our primary channel for updates and opportunities for dialogue. Note: receiving this email does not mean you are opted in to all communications.

You can review and update your preferences here:https://public-usa.mkt.dynamics.com/api/v2.0/orgs/7d769369-00fb-46b6-b0d4-6ab63320ee4f/consent/preferences?contextId=c76f987a-b37c-4ea5-ab49-319df0560300.

Finally, we want to acknowledge the extraordinary work of ACA’s staff and Executive Director Andy Williamson. The past two years have been exceptionally challenging, and throughout that time, staff have continued to show up with professionalism, creativity, and care, ensuring our routes, maps, publications, and experiences remain available to future generations of adventure cyclists.

With your support, 2026 has the potential to be a pivotal year for Adventure Cycling. We invite you to join us in honoring our first 50 years and working together to build a joyful and sustainable future for the next generation.

With respect,

Flavia Chen
2026 Board Chair
On behalf of the Adventure Cycling Association Board of Directors

So our voices were heard.

[jmlysne]

The squeaky wheel got oiled.