HCCA to host Annual Meeting featuring John Fielder on Nov. 18

November 18 Annual Meeting with guest John Fielder

High Country Citizens’ Alliance will be holding its Annual Meeting on November 18, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. The annual meeting offers a chance to provide updates to the community and members on the organization’s recent work and elect new board members. This year HCCA is proud to feature John Fielder, Colorado’s renowned landscape photographer as a guest speaker. John will be presenting his collection of photos from the Gunnison River Valley, and will have books available to purchase.

It is also time for our Board of Directors election. Members in good standing will elect three board members as well as a President. Nominations may be made with a petition signed by ten HCCA members of at least six months. Nominations for the three board seats will be accepted until Wednesday, October 13, 2010. The HCCA Board of Directors also may make nominations. Ballots will be mailed to members current as of October 18, 2010, and will be accepted until the annual meeting begins on November 18. Results will be announced at the meeting.

There will be opportunities at the meeting to renew your membership or join HCCA. You can also purchase Red Lady Prayer Flags and HCCA merchandise Red Lady Prayer Flags and HCCA merchandise. Pizza and beverages will be served at 6:00 p.m. for a suggested donation of $5.00. This is a community event, so please invite others to join us! We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, November 18th.

Please mail nominations to: HCCA, P.O. Box 1066, Crested Butte, CO 81224. For more information, please call Susan Williams at 970-349-7104 ext. 5 or email susan@hccaonline.org.

HCCA Announces Annual Meeting & Guest Speaker

October 7, 2010

High Country Citizens’ Alliance is pleased to announce that our Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, November 18, 2010, at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts in Crested Butte beginning at 6:00 p.m. We will report on the past year’s happenings, present the 2010 Volunteer of the Year Award, and hear from guest speaker, John Fielder, Colorado’s renowned landscape photographer.

It is also time for our Board of Directors election. Members in good standing will elect three board members as well as a President. Nominations may be made with a petition signed by ten HCCA members of at least six months.

Nominations for the three board seats will be accepted until Wednesday, October 13, 2010. The HCCA Board of Directors also may make nominations.

Ballots will be mailed to members current as of October 18, 2010, and will be accepted until the annual meeting begins on November 18. Results will be announced at the meeting. Please mail nominations to: HCCA, P.O. Box 1066, Crested Butte, CO 81224. For more information, please call Susan Williams at 970-349-7104 ext. 5 or email susan@hccaonline.org.

Administrator & Outreach Coordinator position opening

Vacancy Announcement: Administrator & Outreach Coordinator position opening

JOB DESCRIPTION: Administrator and Outreach Coordinator

OVERVIEW: The Administrator and Outreach Coordinator is responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of the High Country Citizens’ Alliance office. The coordinator will perform all bookkeeping functions, be responsible for all of the organization’s financial and operational reporting, manage operations of the office, support program staff, coordinate outreach including events, recruit and manage volunteers, and maintain HCCA’s membership and donor database.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
# Manage daily office operations including, but not limited to, all aspects of bookkeeping, office supplies, receptionist duties, and meeting and greeting clients and visitors
# Manage monthly and annual office operations including, but not limited to, insurance renewals (Workers Comp, General Liability, employee benefits, etc.), service and/or rental
contracts, supply inventory, database management
# Perform general clerical duties and support program staff administrative needs
# Operate and maintain critical office systems including phones, computers, copiers, fax machines and computer network
# Maintain HCCA’s electronic and paper filing system of relevant administrative information
# Perform all payroll functions including monthly payroll & grant spending, quarterly and yearly tax reporting to the Internal Revenue Service & the State of Colorado
# Complete yearly tax reporting and generation of tax documents for HCCA’s accountant.
# Prepare quarterly sales tax and raffle license reports, annual Federal non-profit reports, monthly financial reports
# Assist the Executive Director with implementation and management of annual budget
# Manage sales of HCCA goods and process online store sales
# Produce membership renewal letters and fundraising appeals with the Executive Director and/or Fundraising Committee
# Process new and renewing memberships and donations in Quickbooks and the membership database; produce appropriate thank you letters
# Manage and update membership and donor database for use in direct mailing campaigns, electronic mailings, fundraising drives, and to solicit attendance at outreach and fundraising events
# Assist with the publishing and distribution of HCCA’s semi-annual newsletter
# Coordinate monthly program update emails and action alerts about upcoming issues and events
# Coordinate outreach and fundraising events with the Executive Director and other staff members
# Organize HCCA events including supplies, volunteers, venues and presentation materials
# Coordinate accurate and timely updates to the HCCA website, Facebook, Twitter and blogsite with program staff

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
# Commitment to the mission, vision and values of High Country Citizens’ Alliance
# Degree in relevant area or equivalent experience
# Knowledge of non-profit administration
# Excellent organizational skills
# Excellent written and verbal communication skills
# Strong computer and software skills
# Bookkeeping skills, including proficiency with QuickBooks
# Event organizing and volunteer management
# Ability to work a full time, 40-hour week, and occasional weekends and nights

HOW TO APPLY
Please submit cover letter, resume and 3 references via email, subject heading “Administrator” to dan@hccaonline.org.

Volunteer Board Member Openings

High Country Citizens' Alliance (HCCA) has opportunities for volunteers interested in joining its Board of Directors. HCCA is a Crested Butte, Colorado based non-profit conservation organization whose mission is to champion the protection, conservation and preservation of the natural ecosystems within the Upper Gunnison River Basin. HCCA engages in a variety of local and regional conservation issues including the effort to prevent a mine on Mt. Emmons, protecting the area’s public lands, conserving water resources and transitioning to renewable energy sources. We’d like candidates who have interest and experience in some or all of the following areas: non-profit governance and finance, legal expertise, environmental advocacy or science background and volunteer coordination. We seek individuals willing to actively participate in oversight of the organization’s activities and assist with shaping policy and goals. Familiarity with the Gunnison Basin, local residency and year-round availability are desirable. Please contact Gwen Pettit, Board President at gpspiral@crestedbutte.net if you’d like to join us.

4th of July Parade

It’s time to put on your wildest red - tutus, tuxes, sequins and more.

High Country Citizens’ Alliance invites all children - young and old - locals and visitors alike, to express your support for protecting Red Lady (Mount Emmons) by donning your flashiest red and marching in the 4th of July Parade. Younger children are invited to wear their animal costumes as a reminder of the wildlife we are committed to protecting.

Please help decorate the float by bringing your creativity to the Depot (716 Elk Ave.) on Friday July 2, from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun.

To be in the parade simply join us at the Depot, decked out in your best Red, (716 Elk Ave.) on July 4th from 9:00 to 10:45 am. The parade begins at 11:00am.

For more details or to offer your brilliant ideas please contact Susan at 349-7104 or susan@hccaonline.org.
Save Red Lady!

HCCA Invites You to Attend the 2010 Red Lady Forum on June 23

High Country Citizens’ Alliance will host the 2010 Red Lady Forum on Wednesday, June 23 at the Crested Butte Town Hall from 6:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. This is a chance for community members to learn about current developments on the Red Lady mining proposal, as well as HCCA’s work to prevent the mine on Mt. Emmons. The forum will feature presentations from the HCCA staff and one of HCCA’s attorneys working on the Mount Emmons issue. There will also be an opportunity for individuals to ask any questions they might have concerning Mount Emmons and the mine proposal. For further information click here, or call 349 – 7104 extension 5.

Tri-State public meetings - RSVP by Apr. 9, agenda now available

From Tri-State Generation and Transmission

Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. is developing its 2010 resource plans to meet the electricity needs of its 44 member electric cooperatives. The planning process involves projecting future needs, assessing the existing assets available to meet those needs and identifying any resource gap so that Tri-State can continue to provide reliable and affordable electricity.

Planning for resources involves developing and assessing alternative scenarios that are based on a range of growth rates, resource costs, capital costs, types of generation resources, energy efficiency programs, levels of emissions, water usage and other considerations. The various alternative resource plans are compared on the basis of cost, environmental characteristics and other factors.

A component of the development of Tri-State's resource plan is public input. Tri-State will hold a series of public resource planning meetings in 2010. The first two meetings are intended to inform the public about Tri-State's resource requirements and guidelines and will discuss the planning process and modeling alternatives.

For more details, visit http://www.tristate.coop/ResourcePlanning/

Tri-State Public Meeting

Friday, April 16
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
View meeting agenda >>

Location: Tri-State Headquarters
1100 W. 116th Avenue
Westminster, Colorado 80234

> Please register online by April 9 >>
The meeting will be available by Webcast. Registration now available >>

The meeting will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.
We recommend you arrive early to check in at security.
You must have a photo ID.
Light refreshments will be served.

Tri-State is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, owned and governed by the members its serves. Tri-State generates and transmits electricity safely and reliably to its 44 member systems throughout a 250,000 square-mile service territory across Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Copyright, Tri-State 2010

HCCA Press Release: Interior decision would allow unlimited use of public land for toxic mine waste dumping

From: 2010 Press Releases

No Fooling: Obama's gifts to extractive industries continue with defense of Bush mining policy

Interior decision would allow unlimited use of public land for toxic mine waste dumping

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 1st, 2010 -- In addition to opening up vast areas of our coastline to offshore oil drilling, the Obama administration yesterday elected to defend a Bush-era policy that allows unlimited amounts of our nation's treasured public lands to be used as toxic waste dumps for the multinational hardrock mining industry. This decision -- in the form of a response to federal litigation filed by a coalition of conservation and Native American groups -- is completely inconsistent with earlier remarks by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on the importance of updating our federal mineral policies to protect public lands.

"Increased oil and gas drilling off our coasts, and now unlimited toxic waste dumping on our public lands send the message that profits are more important than water, wildlife and communities," said Lauren Pagel, Policy Director for EARTHWORKS, one of the plaintiffs in the case against the regulations. She continued, "With this move the Obama administration, like the Bush administration before it, is abandoning clean water and communities in favor of gifts to extractive industries."

The Bush-era policies allow multinational mining companies unlimited amounts of public land to dump toxic mine waste and tailings from large-scale industrial mining operations. The challenged regulation, first issued in 2003, reinterpreted what is known as the "millsite provision" of the 1872 Mining Law. The 1872 Mining Law currently allows mining companies to take valuable minerals like gold, copper and uranium from public lands for free.

"The Obama administration's unfortunate decision to defend the Bush-era mining regulations means that Crested Butte and other communities across the west would continue to face severe threats from mines and mine pollution", said Dan Morse, Executive Director of High Country Citizens' Alliance, another plaintiff in the case. He continued, "allowing mines to use unlimited amounts of public land for mine waste and mine facilities is a severe disservice to the American people. Allowing these companies to pollute public lands essentially for free is unfair and unjust. We will strongly oppose these poorly considered policies."

Another challenged regulation, issued in the waning days of the Bush Administration in December, 2008, reversed a legal ruling that required the payment of "fair market value" for the use of public lands not specifically protected by valid mining and millsite claims. Here, the new regulation ignored a ruling from the federal court in Washington in 2003, which ordered the Interior Department to issue regulations so that mining companies would have to compensate the public for the use of public lands. Instead, the new regulation eliminates the mining industry's obligations to pay fair market value.

"The administration has claimed support for reforming one of the most outdated laws on the books -- the 1872 Mining Law -- yet they choose to perpetuate the gross giveaways to an already subsidized industry without regard for other valuable uses of the public's land," said Pagel. She continued, "It's time for the Obama administration to walk their talk when it comes to our shorelines and our public lands, and responsibly balance resource extraction with protections for communities and taxpayers," said Pagel.

The groups that filed the lawsuit are EARTHWORKS (based in Washington, D.C.), High Country Citizens' Alliance (in Crested Butte, Colorado), Great Basin Resource Watch (in Reno, Nevada), Save the Scenic Santa Ritas (in Tucson, Arizona), and the Western Shoshone Defense Project (in Nevada). The Defendants are the U.S. Interior - the agency that issued the regulations, as well as the Agriculture Department, which along with Interior, oversees mining operations on western public lands.

-- ENDS --
For More Information

Background:

* Backgrounder on the millsite issue
* Secretary Salazar's remarks in support of mining law reform
* Interior Department legal defense of Bush policy

Contact:

* Lauren Pagel, EARTHWORKS, 202-887-1872x207
* Gayle Hartmann, Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, 520-325-6974
* Dan Morse, High Country Citizens' Alliance, 970-349-7104
* Jeff Parsons, Western Mining Action Project, 303-823-5738

Take Action: People's Petition to Cap Carbon Dioxide Pollution at 350 Parts Per Million

Join half a million people in calling on the EPA to scientifically establish national safe limits for CO2 and other greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. The legal petition is a bold step that President Obama can use to rein in climate change. Click the link below to sign the petition!

Take Action for the Center for Biological Diversity

Jeremy Jones: Saving winter - Why the snow sports community should ask senate to approve climate change legislation

Last week, The Crested Butte News published a letter submitted by famed big-mountain snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones. Other newspapers form the northeast to the northwest have also published the opinion piece. While Jeremy's amazing snowboard-mountaineering feats have electrified both skiers and snowboarders worldwide for the past decade, he has witnessed the impacts of climate change on mountain communities firsthand. Please read his informed perspective below.

Why the snow sports community should ask senate to approve climate change legislation, by Jeremy Jones

The impacts of climate change are often highlighted with far-off and dramatic examples: the loss of the polar icecap, rising sea levels and unpredictable seasonality. But for those of us living and working in mountain communities throughout the United States, the effects can be felt and seen much closer to home — in the form of shortened winter seasons resulting in lost tourism revenue, incomes and jobs.

Climate change and the boom or busts of winter are realities that mountain communities now live with each season. What might come as a surprise though, is the scale of importance winter recreation plays in the national and local economies. In a 2006 Southwick Associates study, snow-based recreation in the United States was estimated to contribute an estimated $66 billion annually to the U.S. economy and support approximately 556,000 jobs.

More than just an abbreviated ski and snowboard season, continued loss of snow will exact a significant economic toll on the mountain communities that have developed alongside U.S. ski resorts. From Maine to California, hotels, restaurants, hotels, shops and thousands of other small businesses all rely on the draw and the economic inputs of snow sports to maintain their vibrancy and welfare. The prime ski conditions of the Rockies attract about 35 percent of all U.S. skiers every season. Snow sports recreation contributes 11 billion to the regional economy, annually and support over 100,000 jobs. If conditions decline due to warmer temperatures, the region would loose a major source of revenue. A relatively “normal” winter climate is a necessary ingredient for many local commodities beyond the ski hill, including maple syrup in the North East, trout fishing in Montana, and agricultural irrigation in California.

I founded the non-profit, Protect Our Winters to unite the snow sport's community and industry in a fight to curb climate change. A few weeks ago, I joined a snow sports coalition on Capitol Hill to share our perspective on the importance of protecting winter from the effects of climate change, in order to maintain the economic vitality and culture of our mountain communities.

While we met with a great response and connected with many allies, it became clear that the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which passed through the House last year, is in danger of being held up in the Senate.

The bill aims to cut America's production of greenhouse gases by 17 percent by 2020, and 83 percent by 2050. It will create millions of new jobs and move the U.S. towards a new, clean energy economy, while protecting the winter season that fuels our passions.

It's an amazing step forward, but now this landmark legislation is currently in the Senate's hands — and for a bill that could be decided by one or two votes, holdouts will make all the difference.

The general opinion is that any new climate change legislation needs to be passed by the Senate within the next 60 days or we run the risk of losing any momentum gained, and witnessing a very different future.

So now is the time to collectively reach out to our senators, and ask that they approve climate change legislation, starting us down the road to a proper regulation of the emissions that are warming our planet, shortening our winters, and threatening our local economies. My hope and goal in writing this is that all of us who live in mountain communities around the U.S. will recognize the unique stake and voice we have in making sure this legislation is passed and take action. We have a lot at stake and a powerful voice, which needs to be heard.

For information on which senators support climate change legislation, who is still undecided, and who is in opposition, and to send an e-mail urging our respective senators to vote yes on strong climate change legislation, please visit http://www.60daysto.org/

-Jeremy Jones is founder of Protect Our Winters

Denver 7 News: Avatar Based On Colorado Town's History?

Recently, Denver based channel 7 News ran a story on a possible connection between the popular movie Avatar and Crested Butte's history of natural resource protection.

Both a transcript of the story and the Channel 7 VIDEO (includes interviews with CB locals) are available at the following link: Avatar Based On Colorado Town's History?

Here's a leading snippet from the 7 News website:

"CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. -- "Avatar" is shattering box office records, scoring nine Oscar nominations and setting a new standard for visual effects.
But could the story that's making history actually be the veiled tale of a Colorado town?
It's an isolated land where locals live in harmony with nature and on top of a mineral a mining company is determined to get.
Sound familiar?
Well, it's not the plot of James Cameron's blockbuster hit "Avatar."
It's the history of Colorado's Crested Butte."

You can read the full story and see the video HERE.

HCCA's Climate and Energy News Roundup for February 2010 available online now!

Our monthly Climate and Energy News Roundup is geared towards individuals with interest in local, regional and national electricity issues - particularly those relating to Tri-State and its member cooperatives. The goal of this monthly service is to provide links to a selection of the most relevant electricity news over the past month. Each edition includes sections on Tri-State, Cooperative and Regional Energy News, Colorado Energy News, National/International Energy News and Policy, Climate/Climate Change News and Energy Technology News.

Click HERE to view the February 2010 Climate and Energy News Roundup

SMPA to Leave Colorado Rural Electric Association

SMPA to Leave Colorado Rural Electric Association

The following is an exerpt from the Telluride Watch Article at:
http://watchnewspapers.com/view/full_story/6449513/article-SMPA-and-DMEA-to-Investigate-a-Merger?

"Just over two weeks after the Delta-Montrose Electric Association announced that it was resigning its membership from the Colorado Rural Electric Association, the San Miguel Power Association announced this week that it was doing the same.

SMPA’s Board of Directors, according to an announcement released last Monday, voted to withdraw from the CREA at its regular meeting on Feb. 18. The decision to leave the statewide association is due in part to philosophical differences.

“The Board has recognized for some time that there are philosophical differences,” SMPA Board President Wes Perrin said. “We are always kind of outside the vote on CREA and it is a different type of organization. We did a survey in 2008 that indicated what the most important issues are for our members and that is reliability, cost, information on conservation, and renewable energy. We took that information seriously and we redirected our strategic planning. We are a progressive organization and we are seeing that it may be best for our members to start lobbying in a different fashion so we decided to separate from the legislative arm of CREA.”

SMPA expresses sincere appreciation for the past work CREA has accomplished on behalf of all Colorado electric cooperatives, the announcement stated. However, in order to assure that the values of SMPA’s members are reflected in our legislative lobbying efforts, SMPA finds it necessary to end participation in CREA’s legislative division."

ENERGY: Coal-Fired Power on the Way Out? - IPS ipsnews.net

ENERGY: Coal-Fired Power on the Way Out? - IPS ipsnews.net

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HCCA's January 2010 Program Update available online!

Each month HCCA compiles an email Program Update on a significant issue from each program area: Save Red Lady, Public Lands, Water and Climate and Clean Energy. Reviewing our Program Updates is the best way to read the latest news from each of these program areas.

To view the January 2010 Program Update, simply click here.

HCCA's Climate and Energy News Roundup for January 2010 available online now!

Our monthly Climate and Energy News Roundup is geared towards individuals with interest in local, regional and national electricity issues - particularly those relating to Tri-State and its member cooperatives. The goal of this monthly service is to provide links to a selection of the most relevant electricity news over the past month. Each edition includes sections on Tri-State, Cooperative and Regional Energy News, Colorado Energy News, National/International Energy News and Policy, Climate/Climate Change News and Energy Technology News.

Click HERE to view the January 2010 Climate and Energy News Roundup