2025 membership changes
Thank you for your support and interest in the upcoming changes to SORBA and our chapters in the near future. It’s an exciting time, where SORBA will take steps to support our chapters even better, and help connect our members to the local community even stronger. Here’s an update on where we are with the process and what the plan is moving forward. Please know that we have not answered all the questions yet; but we are working tirelessly to check the boxes. Below you will find a few FAQ’s of what we have found. This list will be updated as we go along to help keep you informed. Join us on the journey as we go back to our roots to cultivate a stronger future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is SORBA? Who is IMBA? How do Chapters fit into all of this?
A: SORBA is the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association. IMBA is the International Mountain Bicycling Association. Both organizations have supported and advocated for mountain biking and trails since the late 80’s. In 2007 SORBA and IMBA became one organization, and SORBA became a regional organization for IMBA. Then in 2017, due to unforeseen circumstances, SORBA split back off, but partnered with IMBA as part of their IMBA Local program, to help manage our membership for our chapters. With the current strength of SORBA and our chapters, we felt that it was a good time to strike out on our own for membership management, so we can provide a better experience for our chapters and members. SORBA’s key mission is to provide chapter support to 47 chapters in 7 states across the Southeast. The role of the chapter is to build and maintain outstanding trail systems to strengthen communities across the region.
Q: What is changing?
A: We are moving our membership to a SORBA app that is powered by Hivepass. Hivepass is a mountain bike organization-specific tool to help you feel more connected to your local community. Within the app, you will be able to manage your membership and view your membership card, various perks, and more.
Don’t want to download a new app? You can manage your membership through a web browser either on the SORBA site or your local chapter. But to get the full experience we encourage you to download the new SORBA app powered by Hivepass.
Q: What is Hivepass?
A: Hivepass is an app development company based in New Zealand. They specialize in providing solutions for mountain bike organizations. We have partnered with them to produce a SORBA branded app that will function the same as their current Hivepass app. Within the SORBA app, you will be able to join SORBA chapters, show your membership, learn about partner deals, and more. Hivepass also believes in continuous improvement, with even more features for our app on the horizon.
Q: Who will benefit from the transition?
A: Everyone! SORBA, our chapters, and our members. And with these benefits, your local trails will also see a positive change from better support.
Q: Will membership dues increase to pay for it?
A: No. It is extremely important to us that memberships stay affordable for individuals and families. However, we are working to add additional membership levels for those who can afford higher levels of support.
Q: Can I still access Expert Voice, member discounts and socks?
A: We are working hard to make sure you still have access to awesome benefits! Check out all of our current benefits here and we will continue to update this list. SORBA’s member kits for those at the $50/year ($5/month) and higher memberships will receive a welcome kit in the mail including a chapter sticker, SORBA sticker, and coupon code to the SORBA store!
Q: My membership is about to lapse, should I wait to renew?
A: Please don’t wait for the new system to renew your membership. Your membership will transfer over to the new system. Since we do not keep your payment information on file for your security, we will need you to input your payment information into the new system when it comes time to renew your membership. It’s important to retain your membership because your local chapter relies on your membership dues to keep progress moving forward.
Q: But SORBA has all the money, why should I donate or raise money for the cause?
A: SORBA is one of the leanest and meanest nonprofits around, providing a ton of value with a very small annual budget. Our highest paid employee makes $66,000 a year, which isn’t even our largest expense, and an annual budget under $250,000. When compared to our peers of similar organizations, SORBA is well below the industry standard. If you take a look at our programs page, it’s amazing what we provide. We are passionate about our mission and work within a tight budget to achieve that goal.
Q: Are we getting digital membership cards?
A: Yes, through our SORBA branded app powered by Hivepass, you will have a digital membership card as well as all sorts of new perks! Download the app to check it out!
Q: What does SORBA do to support the chapters?
A: SORBA is like a quiet machine working in the background while our chapters are in the community building and growing in exciting and visible ways. SORBA is there to help chapter leaders with any questions or obstacles as they navigate running a nonprofit organization. Everything from compliance to insurance, conflict resolution and fundraising must all be managed, and if we provide those support systems, chapters can focus on doing what they do best: build and maintain trail systems and create inclusive, active communities. SORBA provides liability insurance to all chapters, twice annual in-person events, educational opportunities in-person and online, and offers a unified voice of over 10,000 members to help make the mountain biking community in the Southeast a strong, unified, influential voice.
Q: What about IMBA?
A: It is important as advocates for us to work together and SORBA will continue to support IMBA’s national efforts for trail access and their mission of bringing more trails close to home.
Q: What happens to my current membership?
A: On April 1, 2025, all current members will be converted to IMBA National Supporter memberships until their expiration date. At the same time, your membership will also transition to a SORBA and chapter membership in the SORBA App, powered by Hivepass. There, you’ll be able to manage your membership and access SORBA and chapter-level benefits.
For security purposes, all annual auto-renewals through IMBA were canceled. If you’re on a monthly membership plan, those monthly charges will continue for the remainder of your one-year term as an IMBA National Supporter. However, monthly installments after April 1, 2025, do not transfer to your local chapter or to SORBA. To continue your support at the local and regional level, you will need to renew separately through the SORBA App.
If you have questions about your IMBA National Supporter membership or would like to cancel your monthly payment installments, please reach out to IMBA at membership@imba.com. Please note that if you do not cancel your monthly installments, you will be charged for the remainder of your one-year membership term and this does not transfer to your SORBA chapter membership.
For questions about your SORBA chapter membership, please reach out to us at membership@sorba.org.
As we approach the transition, keep an eye out for emails with instructions on how to download the SORBA App or access it via desktop. Once launched, all SORBA App emails will come from noreply.hivepass.app, so be sure to check your inbox to stay updated on your membership.
Q: Why is this transition happening now?
A: Both chapters and members have been asking for an upgraded system for quite some time. Recently, IMBA let us know their intention to move to a new platform. We felt this would be a great time to move on our own, knowing that the conversations were already being had, using the IMBA change as the catalyst to move forward with our own system that we can be responsible for.
Q: Who will be affected?
A: Our chapters will benefit from our new app that allows better communication and easier membership management. Members will notice an easier signup and renewal process. You will also get better communication from your chapter with push notifications and a direct newsfeed, all within the SORBA app. We’re hoping for a smooth and easy transition that will benefit both the chapters and our valued members. The user experience is extremely important to us.
Q: When will the change take place?
A: We will make the move to our new system on April 1, 2025.
Q: Will this cost money for the chapters or take away from trail funding?
A: No. We will not be charging chapters anything extra to fund the transition. And we will not use funding that has been allocated to trail projects. This means that fundraising for the switch will be extremely important.
Q: How will this impact SORBA and Chapters long-term?
A: The goal is to increase communication and connection to your local organization. With this better connection, we aim to improve membership and the effectiveness of our chapters.
Q: My membership is on auto renew, will it automatically renew in the new system?
A: Unfortunately no and that is for your security. We don’t keep your payment information on file so we will not be able to transfer that data to the new system. Keep an eye on your email when it comes time to renew and we will send you a link to join using the new system.
Didn’t find the answer to the question you were looking for? Send us a message and we will do our best to answer the question you might have!