Around Telluride

Razz-a-ma-tazz: Saving the world one tub at a time

by Art Goodtimes

(a more-or-less monthly on-line column for TIO)

The International Herald Tribune/New York Times took a swipe at Telluride March 25th, with Bernstein’s “True Environmentalist, or Mountains of Vanity?” calling out “hot tub environmentalists” for driving the town’s finances into the ancient glacial rockbottom of today’s Valley Floor – the pristine gateway to a postcard box canyon, draped with wisps of waterfalls and backdropped by the snowy alpine peaks of the San Juans.

Hokay, you caught me. I live in the vicinity of Telluride. Claim it as county seat. I contributed to the Campaign to Save the Valley Floor. Save the Gunnison Sage Grouse. Save the Preble’s Mouse.

I’m a tree-hugger, media-mugger, and all-around Ned Ludd monkeywrench enviro of the greenest persuasion. But I’ve learned to tame my wild inner self.

TNCC: making a difference (continued)

by Kris Holstrom

(Editor's note: Tellurider/director/coordinator Kris Holstrom and The New Community Coaltion (TNCC), the change-agent charged with the greening of the Telluride region, are doing more than talking. TNCC is walking its talk, making a difference, only the changes it is affecting are not flashy and often get lost in the many meetings required to sort out details.

To set the record straight, this is the second in a series of posts to explain what the TNCC has accomplished to date.)

Since its founding in 2007, The New Community Coalition has emphasized energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.

 TNCC's Green Fund (2007): Collects donations/funds for local projects, including a 1900 watt solar array on the High/Middle School installed by local solar providers, funded by donations and a $15000 carbon offset payment from the Mountain Village. An educational component includes a remote readout to  monitor power output and hands-on renewable energy kits for the students.

 Partnerships: Governor's Energy Office (GEO), San Miguel Power Association (SMPA), EnCana, and the Colorado chapter of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) have worked with TNCC to provide rebates for homes and businesses to install solar photovoltaic and hot water systems, and to make energy-efficient home improvements.

RSVP preached resilience in the face of change to Riley and the Pols

(Part of "Telluride Inside...and Out's" ongoing support of The New Community Coalition and related change agents, such as the Regional Sustainability Visioning Project, is to keep the post-meeting dialogue going. County commissioner/poet Art Goodtimes writes "Razz-a-ma-tazz: a more-or-less monthly on-line column for TIO."
Below he comments on the March 18 RSVP meeting.)

by Art Goodtimes

Myles Rademan -- with his future planner’s bag of tricks & treats, funny New Yorker cartoons and retro-Crested Butte memorabilia snaps -- played hotshot scattergun foil to JoDee Powers' focus on drum empowerments and deep insights, touching mind and body. Two good speakers, both motivational and funny. And they played to a room full of local government leaders and the CEO of the ski company, all wrestling with RSVP’s paradoxical message – “Many things will have to change for the town to stay the same.” Hearing about resilience and the entrepreneurial spirit, not mere sustainability and the status quo.

“Don’t believe everything you believe,” suggested Radical Man, quoting a culling slide show wisdom from diverse sources (mostly men) – Loudon Wainright, Tom Friedman, Henry Ford. “Familiarity breeds invisibility.”