DISQUS

Art Goodtimes · 1 year ago

Little Ceremony in Club Ouster great story, leslie. well done.

one small quibble. don't know what i said that came out as "ceremoniously". actually, the point i thought i tried to make was that paula swenson of gunnison decided at our caucus breakfast to nominate me. i knew our progressive caucus didn't have the votes, but i felt the caucus wanted to the show the club that they had a different vision than the direction things had been heading.

the choice between jeff comstock (for whom i have great personal respect) and myself underscored the club's swing to oil & gas dominance when jeff spoke -- before the vote -- about supporting the energy industry and i spoke -- before the vote -- about diversity. that i lost there wasn't unexpected. but that i, as incumbent, was then ousted a few minutes later for the secretary position by craig meis after a quick floor nomination by ann mccoy was surprising, since i have been the lone progressive voice on the 15-member executive committee, although our progressive caucus of six or so counties represented a significant block (25%) of the group's 24 seats (the club is actually made up these days of 22 counties and two indian tribes -- although only one, if ever, participates).

when in the week after, as you explain, reeves and new president rikki santarelli refused to appoint one or two progressive members to the exec committee in my place (the chair gets to make multiple at-will appointments), i realized it was time to stop pretending the club was ever going to speak for san miguel county's citizens.

again, good job.

R · 1 year ago

I agree ... this story is very well done, Leslie.

You pulled in comments from quite a few different people and did an excellent job of painting a picture of what happened during and after the Spring Meetings of the West Slope Special Interest Sub-committee of the Expanded COGA Board (aka "Club 20").

All the best to you and yours, Art.

greenchiledem · 1 year ago

Well Art's resignation has done it for me. I have been an individual member of Club 20 for a few years. I am not very active, because I don't have the time to devote. I joined because many said 'we need progressives in the group' to have affect change. I haven't seen it make a difference. In fact with the O&G; interests, things are worse. I will not be renewing my membership. I'll use the $100 to donate to Western Colorado Congress or some other such organizations.

Nice story Leslie btw.

med · 1 year ago

med As a member of the board of the rocky mountain chapter of the national association of royalty owners(NARO-Rockies), we made the decision 2 years ago to discontinue our membership with Club 20.  Even though these citizens of Colorado own the minerals that the oil and gas companies are extracting and making millions from, NARO-Rockies was refused access to many of the energy policy meetings by the industry reps on the committees, though we even had a position on the committee.  This type of behavior is inappropriate for an organization that is to represent all areas of the counties-especially the citizens.  Perhaps it is time that a new, diverse, well-rounded and open organization should be started to actually represent the western slope on issues.

MED-NARO-Rockies

Art Goodtimes · 1 year ago

An Alternative to Club 19? med-naro-rockies is right on point.

we need a western slope lobbying arm that isn't a chamber of commerce cheerleading for (certain) industries (and not others).

we need a diverse well-rounded and open organization that lobbys in denver and dc to balance economy and ecology on the western slope and that makes all industries welcome, all citizens welcome, and isn't beholden to one powerful cabal of oil/gas/coal interests.

and discussions to that end are underway as we speak. anyone interested in joining that discussion (ex-club members welcome), email me at gourds@paleohippie.com

thegrunt · 1 year ago

Freedom to associate and choice drives spicy green latinia Right to Work is right for all Coloradans. Glad to know you'll be on board for A Better Colorado ;)

thegrunt · 1 year ago

Hey med Mineral and O&G; rights owners ... aren't you the guys that get all the tax breaks.

Truthteller · 1 year ago

Do you.... ...feel that you speak for San Miguel County's citizens?

Truthteller · 1 year ago

No response to the question, eh? Figures.