The West End has been a destination for lawmakers this year with visits from Senators John Hickenenlooper and Michael Bennet occurring the last few months. Now Club 20 will be having its summer legislative meeting in Nucla July 25-26. Local community leader and Just Transition Advisory Committee member Aimee Tooker told the Forum it’s a “big deal for this little town.”
The Club 20 Summer Policy Meeting is set with two full days of meetings with various speakers at the newly renovated Nucla Community Center. There is also an open house with a reception at the Vestal House, specifically Amy’s Place, on July 25 with a dinner and afterward a visit to the Rimrocker Historical Society’s museum for dessert and a tour.
According to its website, Club 20 is “a coalition of individuals, businesses, tribes and local governments in Colorado's 22 western counties” existing for the “purpose of speaking with a single, unified voice on issues of mutual concern.” The organization works by marketing, advertising, educating the public, as well as holding meetings and events with regard to political action.
In this week’s meetings, Adam Frisch, Congressional candidate for Colorado’s District 3, will be present, as will Wendell Koontz, a Delta County Commissioner. Tooker said many policymakers will be in attendance.
The agenda for the event is online and includes federal updates and sessions on energy, business, water and agriculture. Doug Vilsack, representative of the BLM, will be speaking.
The public is welcome to attend the Summer Policy Meeting, and anyone who wishes to register should visit https://club20.org/events/2024-summer-policy-meetings-week-2/ online. There are fees associated with the registration, if attendants plan on attending the lunches. A Zoom option does exist for remote participation.
Tooker has experiencing in presenting with Club 20. This past spring, she participated in a type of debate with Scott Braden, of the Colorado Wildlands Project. Tooker has been speaking out in opposition to a proposed national monument along the Dolores River area, while Braden and other advocates have supported it.
Tooker told the Forum Club 20 did submit a letter of opposition to the proposed national monument.
After her April 13 debate, she became an individual member of Club 20. She said the organization is made up of an “awesome group of people,” and she personally wants to soak up all the knowledge they can provide regarding the Western Slope and what’s happening.
She said for the organization to have their meeting in Nucla is fortuitous. Usually, Club 20 holds their Summer Policy Meeting in Gunnison. Due to the bridge failing there recently and the reconstruction that has followed, the summer session will now come to the West End. Tooker said it was Norwood Mayor Candy Meehan who reached out to Commissioner Koontz in Delta with the idea of using Nucla as an alternate location.
To read more about Club 20, the public may visit https://club20.org/.
Lodging for the Summer Policy Meeting is available at Camp V and also the Rimrock Hotel in Naturita.
