Monthly Voice
January 2019
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In This Issue

Executive Director's Corner

Club 20 Member Satisfaction Survey

Club 20 Team Spotlight

2019 Legislative Session: How To Stay Connected

Club 20: In the News

News from Around
Western Colorado

Upcoming
Club 20 Events

2019 Sponsorship Opportunities

Club 20
Blast from the Past

Corporate Spotlight
CLUB 20
Staff & Leadership Directory

Executive Director

Membership & Communications
Director

Administrative
Assistant

Board Chair

Board Chair-Elect

Immediate Past Chair
Welcome New Members

New Platinum Member
Chevron


Kenneth Dolezal
 Executive Director's Corner

As the 72nd State Legislative Session begins TODAY, Club 20 staff will be reviewing more than 700 bills and taking positions on those with the greatest impact to Western Colorado. These positions will be emailed out to legislators and Club 20 members on a weekly basis. Please take a look at the Club 20 website to see a full listing of these bills and to access our searchable resolution database.

Hearing from your, our members, is critical during the session. Please do not hesitate to contact the Club 20 team with any questions or concerns you may have.

Let the fun begin!

Christian Reece
Executive Director
CLUB 20

We need to hear from YOU!

Please Take the Club 20
Annual Survey Today
Those that complete the survey by January 14th will be entered into a drawing, & the winner will receive one FREE EVENT REGISTRATION to be used in 2019 (this includes the Washington, DC trip-a value of up to $375)

Why? We actively strategize about how we can improve Club 20 membership. Input from those we serve helps us to look at improvement from all angles. Thank you in advance for sharing your voice in helping us to serve you as a Club 20 member!
From one respondent:

"Club 20 is moving towards and establishing great leadership throughout the organization and with our staff."
Club 20 Team Spotlight

Club 20 is starting out 2019 with some new faces on the team and are looking forward to supporting Club 20 members as they advocate on behalf of Western Colorado.
Andrea Wilson (on the right), Administrative Assistant, joined shortly before Christmas. In March, she will have lived in Colorado for three years, and comes to us from Arizona where her family owned a furniture store. During her time there, she was also active in breeding, raising, training horses.

Andrea has a career background in small business ownership and big box retail management. Andrea values the business minded experience she's gained in the spectrum of managing twenty employees as an entrepreneur with her husband of 20 years and also serving in retail management with oversight of approximately 125 associates.

She has been excited about putting her roots down in the Grand Junction community. With a middle school student and two full-time CMU students, she has acted as a volunteer and looks forward to further involvement in the community.

Of her new position with Club 20, Andrea said, "I love this opportunity to be involved and get to know people in the Western Slope community. The challenge to organize events for Club 20 invigorates me because of the value of bringing people together to make a difference in rural Colorado."
Jen Schumann (above left), Membership & Communications Director, jumped into the frying pan during the 2018 Fall Conference. She has a background in serving as a teacher and personal injury paralegal. Jen holds a bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in Special Education. While doing master's studies she presented at local, state, and national gifted-talented conferences on the importance of facilitating brain-based learning with critical thinking game play.

Regarding the career transition, Jen shared, "When I came across the opportunity to join Club 20, I felt my choice to leave the classroom validated my desire to get more involved as an agent & servant of change in the world around me."

"I'm excited to work among so many subject matter experts in Club 20 membership. It is inspiring to be around those that serve in the capacity to protect, expand, &/or innovate in their field of discipline."

Jen has lived in Colorado about ten years, and is married to a native Coloradoan who served in the Air Force. There is plenty of banter in the household over which military branch is best, as Jen's oldest daughter is an active Marine. Her son is currently a freshmen at Grand Junction High School and is active in orchestra.
2019 Legislative Session Convenes Today
The 72nd General Assembly of the Colorado legislature convened its first regular session on January 4th.

Club 20 will provide updates on bill positions weekly as the session progresses. For a full listing of the bills we have taken positions on and a list of the bills we are watching, please visit www.club20.org.

Photograph by Greg O'Beirne
Leadership Elected for 2019 Legislative Session
The Colorado House of Representatives and Senate have elected the following for the 72nd General Assembly:

House

Speaker of the House -
Representative KC Becker (D-Boulder)

Majority Leader -
Representative Alec Garnett (D-Denver)

Assistant Majority Leader -
Representative Chris Kennedy (D-Jefferson)

Dem. Caucus Chair -
Representative Edie Hooten (D-Boulder)

Deputy Caucus Chair -
Representative Michaelson Jenet (D-Adams)

Majority Co-Whips -
Representative James Coleman (D-Denver) and Representative Jeff Bridges (D-Arapahoe)

Minority Leader -
Representative Patrick Neville (R-Douglas)

Assistant Minority Leader -
Representative Kevin Van Winkle (R-Douglas)

Minority Whip -
Representative Perry Buck (R-Larimer, Weld)

GOP Caucus Chair -
Representative Lori Saine (R-Weld)
Photograph by Greg O'Beirne
Senate

President of the Senate -
Senator Leroy Garcia (D-Pueblo)

President Pro-Tem -
Senator Lois Court (D-Arapahoe)

Majority Leader -
Senator Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder)

Assistant Majority Leader -
Senator Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora)

Dem Caucus Chair -
Senator Faith Winter (D-Adams)

Majority Whip -
Senator Kerry Donovan (D-Vail)

Minority Leader -
Senator Chris Holbert (R-Douglas)

Assistant Minority Leader -
Senator John Cooke (R-Weld)

Minority Whip -
Senator Ray Scott (R-Grand Junction)

GOP Caucus Chair -
Senator Vicki Marble (R-Fort Collins)
New Colorado Cabinet Appointees
Governor -Elect Jared Polis recently announced his first round of cabinet appointees to focus on the operations and management of the state's government.

These appointees are currently going through a confirmation process with the Colorado Senate:

Stan Hilkey , Department of Public Safety
Patty Salazar , Department of Regulatory Agencies
Betsy Markey , Office of Economic Development and Trade
Michael Conway , Division of Insurance
Angie Paccione , Department of Higher Education
Rick M. Garcia , MPA, Department of Local Affairs
Shoshana Lew , Colorado Department of Transportation
Kim Bimestefer , Health Care Policy & Financing
Dean Williams , Department of Corrections
Joe Barela , Department of Labor
Kate Greenberg , Department of Agriculture
Will Toor , Colorado Energy Office
In the News......
News from Around the Western Slope
Colorado Counties, Inc. (CCI) Welcomes
John Swartout as New Executive Director
The Board of Directors of Colorado Counties, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of John Swartout, as the new Executive Director, effective January 7, 2018. Swartout most recently served as Senior Policy Advisor, Rural Policy and Outreach Director for Governor John Hickenlooper. 

“We are fortunate to have someone of John’s caliber and experience step up to lead at CCI,” said CCI President and Delta County Commissioner Mark Roeber.

Swartout said, “Local governments are the backbone of Colorado and the key to enhancing its future.”  
Is K12 Financing Fair to Anyone?
By Senator Bob Rankin

Amendment 73 failed at the ballot in November despite a massive effort by administrators, teachers, and their supporters to increase school funding. I’ve consistently supported more K12 funding and specifically higher teacher pay through the state budget, but I opposed the tax structure proposed in amendment 73 that would have unfairly focused higher taxes on business and would have further exacerbated the impact of the Gallagher amendment on property tax adjustments.

There have been past efforts to increase public school K12 funding through ballot initiatives. There is also intense lobbying focused on the “negative factor” (now officially the “budget stabilization” or “BS” factor) to increase funding year over year through the state budget.
What is accountability?
By Joyce Rankin

At the November board meeting, the State Board of Education considered the consequences of the failed performance of Adams 14 school district and two Pueblo middle schools. By law, the Board is required to intervene after five years on the “accountability clock.” In 2018 the district and two middle schools entered year eight of continued low scores on the state’s Performance Frameworks.

District and School Performance Frameworks are measurements used for accountability purposes. The legislature holds schools and districts accountable for performance on a consistent set of indicators and measures used throughout the state. The frameworks are also used to select specific support for the lowest performing schools and districts.
Upcoming Water Expo &
White River Conservation District Annual Meeting
The White River Conservation District, Colorado Ag Water Alliance, & Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District are hosting a meeting on Jan. 17th in Meeker, CO where approaches concerning water management & rights will be discussed.
USDA Launches New Program to Create High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity in Rural America
The United States Department of Agriculture is offering up to $600 million in loans and grants to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives & utilities, internet service providers and municipalities may apply for funding through USDA’s new ReConnect Program to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service.

Applications for grants are due to USDA by April 29th.
2018 Farm Bill Evolution
In the Dec. issue of the CTIA newsletter, Ben Wudtke highlights the evolution of the Farm Bill process as it was championed in the House & the Senate before reaching the President's desk for final signature (p. 5). Moreover Wudtke provides commentary on the perspective surrounding forest health principles.

As highlighted elsewhere in the newsletter, these issues matter as almost half of Colorado's population resides in areas at risk to
wildland fire.
Upcoming Club 20 Events:
Save the Date!
***Upcoming Time-Sensitive Deadlines***
"Voices of Rural Colorado"
Joint Legislative Trip
January 24-25, 2019
Denver, CO

Club 20 Members will have the opportunity to represent Western Slope at the state capitol together with a strategic agenda which enables advocacy on timely issues with state legislators.

Capitol Tour : Wed. Jan. 23rd from 1:30-2:30 pm.

This year's Evening Reception will take place at History Colorado Center in downtown Denver.

Legislative Panel Topics:
Access to Broadband in Rural Colorado

Mental Health & the Opioid Epidemic

Rural Education & Workforce Development

Current Water Challenges and the Future

Club 20 Room Block Expires Today!!
Hotel Reservation Deadline: 1/4/19
Event Registration Deadline: 1/18/19
Winter Policy
Committee Meetings
Week 1: Feb. 28th & March 1st
Week 2: March 14th & 15th
Ute Water Conservancy
2190 H 1/4 Rd
Grand Junction, CO 81505

Policy Committee Chairs & Club 20 Members will have the opportunity to meet in a decision-making setting to address possible new Club 20 policy resolutions, and whether to renew, amend, or delete Club 20 resolutions which are up for review. Club 20 Policy Committee Meetings also include presentations from subject matter experts & industry leaders.

Policy Committee Schedule:
Week 1
Feb. 28th:
Telecom, Health Care, Business Affairs
(Education is now under Business Affairs)
March 1st:
Transportation, Tourism

Week 2
March 14th:
Agriculture and Water
March 15th:
Public Lands & Natural Resources, Energy

Stay tuned for more details to come!

Hotel Reservation Deadline: 2/21/19

Room Block: Holiday Inn
2751 Crossroads Blvd
Grand Junction, CO 81506
(970) 424-5888
Mention Club 20 at Booking


RSVP & Order Lunch ($10) with Club 20 by:
2/14/19 

Spring Conference
April 12th & 13th
DoubleTree Hotel
743 Horizon Dr
Grand Junction, CO 81506
SAVE THE DATE

Club 20 facilitates two days of event-filled agenda items which include:

  • Executive Committee meetings where Club 20 leadership delivers annual reports
  • Presentations regarding legislative session work
  • Presentations from area industry leaders on matters which impact the Club 20 region
  • Reports from Policy Committee Chairs
  • Club 20 Annual Awards Banquet


Stay tuned for more details to come!
Washington DC Fly-In
May 21-23, 2018
Lodging: Hyatt Place
33 New York Avenue, NE
Washington DC, 20002

SAVE THE DATE
Every other year Club 20 members have the opportunity to travel to Washington DC together in force on a strategic venture to represent the interests of Western Colorado.

In addition to meeting with national leaders to advocate together for Western Colorado interests, participants have the opportunity to enjoy a Club 20 tradition: the dinner and cruise on the Potomac!

To get a better idea of what the Washington DC trip entails, you can visit the agenda from the 2017 trip by clicking here .

***If you are considering attending the 2019 trip, please contact Club 20 staff ASAP to share your information for a potential White House tour. We must submit all participant's contact info no later than 3 months in advance. ***

Stay tuned for more details to come!
***Dates Subject to Change***
2019 Sponsorship Opportunities
The success of Club 20 Events are largely due to the generous sponsorship from those members who believe in the organization's mission of bringing together interested citizens, community leaders, and subject matter experts to discuss relevant matters which impact Western Colorado.

Please take a look at all available sponsorship opportunities for 2019 and consider helping us to make your Club 20 events AMAZING in 2019!


Club 20 Blast from the Past
An article in the Glenwood Post on March 8, 1993 is one of four articles in this issue which mention Club 20. This article provides an overview of an annual Club 20 meeting where approximately 250 individuals gathered on the organization's 40th anniversary.

U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (D) and CO Senator Hank Brown (R) presented on the question of disproportion between new taxes and federal budget cuts in the Clinton Plan.

Criticism of an energy tax was aired by both legislators in light of challenges to become less dependent on foreign oil & the risk of jobs lost.

As the First Regular Session of the Seventy-second General Assembly convenes on Jan. 4th with newly elected & appointed officials joining returning legislative leadership, it is interesting to look back on how predecessors collaborated in bi-partisan settings on issues of import to the livelihood of Colorado residents.

See the entire article in pdf format by clicking the button below.
2019 Platinum Corporate Member Spotlight:
To us, workers’ compensation isn’t a part of a “package” or “bundle” — it’s our only focus. Since the day we opened our doors over 100 years ago, we’ve made it our mission to put our fellow Colorado companies first. We do it with competitive prices, excellent service and expertise you simply won’t find with any other workers’ comp carrier.

Why? Because we love your work.
And you’ll love the way we work to cover you.
Club 20 | 970-242-3264 | Fax: 970-245-8300 | [email protected] | www.club20.org