The Benefits of Joining an Association, Club or Dirt Riders Group

There are a lot of "potential" benefits in joining a local or regional dirt or trail bike riders club or association. Whether these benefits are realised will of course depend on how well that organisation is run and managed. Benefits may include:

• Organised Events and Outings (Runs, Rallies, Trail Rides and Camps)
• Information on where you can "legally" ride your dirt bike (Local Tracks, Trails, Parks)
• Access to club owned properties, tracks and/or land
• Access to club run online forums
• Guidance and Advice from more experienced dirt bike riders
• Rider Training and Education Courses
• Advice, help and tips for maintaining your dirt bike
• Deals on spare parts, bike repairs and bike maintenance through club sponsors

Before joining a club or association first check out their web site (if they have one), then go to a meeting or club outing and find out what they actually have to offer. Talk to some members and find out whether what the group does is actually right for you. Better to find out before you sign up and start paying a membership fee.


The Costs of Signing Up
with an Association, Club or Dirt Bike Riders Group   [ Back ] [ Top ]

Even though most registered clubs or associations are in fact "not for profit" entities, they will generally have a Joining Fee and/or an Annual Membership Fee to help cover their opperating costs and any services they may provide to their membership.

Opperational expenses will include things like mailouts to the membership, holding meetings, running and maintaining a web site, as well as paying for accounting services, legal services and possibly PLI (Public Liability Insurance). Registered associations and clubs in Australia are required to adhere to a Constitution and abide by the relevant laws governing Associations (which includes providing annual reports).

Some clubs own and maintain their own properties and land which will require ongoing maintenance. These facilities are usually made available to members either free of charge or at discounted rates.

Club or Association Services might include things like organising dirt bike rallies, club outings, rider training and dirt bike safety education. The services offered by a registered club or association to its members should be easily and publicly accessible, along with the organisation's Constitution, membership and information about the organisation's management.

Joining and membership fees are usually set at the discretion of the Committee of Management (if the club or association is a registered entitiy). There is no recommended minimum or maximum amount for fees, so if you feel the amount being asked is inappropriate, either contact the club or association's Secretary, or simply don't join.

To become a paid member of a club or association in Australia, you will have to be 18 years of age or older, or be represented by a parent or legal aged sponsor. Conditions for joining should be clearly set out in the club or association's constitution.

When you join a club or association, you agree to and are bound by the rules contained in the constitution. Though most associations will simply use the default "Rules of Association" (as provided by Consumer Affairs Vic, for example), it might be worth having a peek at those rules before you sign up. That way you will have some idea of what your rights are, within that organisation.


See Also: The Advantages of Joining Online Dirt & Trail Rider Forums