Giving Voice to Southern Colorado. ACTION 22 AREA 35% of State’s land; 20% of population Geographic Regions: San Luis Valley: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla,

Giving Voice to Southern Colorado

ACTION 22 AREA

35% of State’s land; 20% of population Geographic Regions:

San Luis Valley: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache

Upper Arkansas Valley: Chaffee, Fremont, Custer and Pueblo

North Front Range: El Paso, Park & Teller South Front Range: Crowley, Huerfano, Las

Animas, Otero Lower Arkansas Valley: Baca, Bent, Cheyenne,

Kiowa, Prowers

ACTION 22 AREA

MISSION

Giving Voice to Southern Colorado.

Action 22 is the only regional advocacy organization in Southern Colorado working on common issues affecting 22 citizens in the 22 county geographic area.

HISTORY

Too often, southern Colorado was forgotten.

Businesses, cities, organizations, counties, and individuals in coalition.

Patterned after Club 20 in Western Slope

Charter Convention held January 1999 Full-time office June 2000

ORGANIZATION

Non-partisan organization Open to individuals, cities, counties,

businesses and organizations. Tax-deductible membership

investment (dues) Revenue only dues & meetings. Not

beholden to outside interests.

ORGANIZATION

ACTION 22 MEMBERS

COUNTY CAUCUSES

POLICY COMMITTEES

PROPOSED POLICIES

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT/CEO

ADOPTED POLICIES

ACTION 22 members are in the driver’s seat of the organization and are responsible for two direct leadership functions:participating in the issue committees of their choice, andelecting their county representative to the Board of Directors.

Through the committees, the members recommend proposed policies defining how ACTION 22 addresses issues.

The Board of Directors has two primary leadership functions:adopting the policies that provide the sideboards within which ACTION 22 lobbies

and electing the organization’s officers

The President/CEO is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization in accordance with ACTION 22 policies and oversight by the Executive Committee.

Through their biennial County Caucus, the members elect up to 3 delegates to represent their county on ACTION 22 Board of Directors

The Executive Committee is comprised of 5 officers, 4 Chairman’s appointees; and 5 Regional vice Chairs. The Committee is responsible for hiring Action 22’s President and monitoring the affairs of the organization between Board meetings.

MEMBERSHIP

Invest in the Future of Southern Colorado.

Provide input into public policy development.

Tax-deductible as a business expense, not a charitable contribution.

COUNTY CAUCUS

Meetings called by Board delegates Held to keep members informed on

Action 22 issues and obtain input Members keep Board delegates

informed on issues and concerns Members in each county elect up to

three (3) delegates to Board of Directors to represent county area.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Each 22 county geographic area has an equal voice on the Board

1 vote per county, no matter size 3 delegates, elected by members in

each county area, may submit 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 vote

Up to 66 members on Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

No limit to terms – up to membership in each county

Balance between continuity of leadership and new people with fresh ideas

Officers: Chair, Chair-elect, Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate Past Chair

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In addition, five (5) regional vice chairs elected by region’s counties’ delegates

Supermajority vote required to take positions

BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES

Represent the MAJORITY opinion of their geographic area, leaving personal opinions out of discussion

Should be active in community Attend 2 Board meetings per year Communicate with Board delegates

in region to find common issues and concerns

ISSUE PROCESS1. When an issue emerges that demands ACTION 22’s response….

2a.If A22 has clear policy* on the issue

3a.Then the President/CEO may immediately respond to the issue on behalf of A22 in a manner that is consistent with the policy

2b.If A22 has broad policy* on the issue

3b.Then the President/CEO will forward the policy and information on the issue to the appropriate committee for input and a recommendation.

4b.The President/CEO will then forward the recommendation to the Board of Directors with her own recommendation and request direction.

5b.Upon receiving direction, the President/CEO will respond to the issue on behalf of A22 in a manner that is consistent with the Board’s direction

2c.If A22 has NO policy* on the issue

3c.Action 22 CANNOT take a position on the issue.

4c.The President/CEO may send the issue to the appropriate committee to consider. The committee discusses the issue and determines whether or not to submit a policy recommendation to the Board of Directors.

5c.The Action 22 Board of Directors will then review the policy recommendation and must act on all such matters before they become official Action 22 policy.

* NOTEIt is important to note that the basis for all Action 22 actions are issue policies recommended by policy committees and adopted by the Board of Directors. These provide the sideboards within which ACTION 22 may lobby. The Board of Directors adopts and amends policy.

COMMITTEES

Backbone of Action 22 Research and study of issues done

at committees (meetings, conference calls, e-mail)

Recommend positions to Board of Directors

Members encouraged to become involved on committees

COMMITTEES

Agriculture, Public Lands & Natural Resources

Business Affairs Education & Workforce Energy Fiscal Policy Health Issues Tourism Transportation Water

AD HOC AND TASK FORCES

Appointed by the Board as needed

COMMITTEE PROCESS

A2Two weeks prior to meeting: Member or organization provides Action 22 an electronic fact sheet/background on the issue including pros and cons, if possible. In addition, recommended position. Draft resolution welcome but not required.

A3At meeting: Member or organization provides short presentation on the issue and formally requests support or opposition to the issue.

B4At meeting: Study group provides short presentation on the issue and formally requests support or opposition to the issue.

B3Two weeks prior to next committee meeting: Study group provides Action 22 an electronic fact sheet/background on the issue including pros and cons, if possible. In addition, recommended position. Draft resolution welcome but not required.

B2Then the Chairman of the Committee appoints a study group to research the issue.

If approved: Resolution is drafted (revised as needed based on committee input) and forwarded for BOARD ACTION

BOARD ACTION: Approve, send back for more information or not approve recommendation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Chair asks study group to obtain information requested, committee revises and returns recommendation to the board.

NOT APPROVED: Chair and Committee discusses whether or not to continue to pursue issue. Once decided, Chair may go through B2-B4 steps with direction from Committee.

1. Issues may be brought up by members and/or organizations …

ROLE OF COMMITTEES

Anticipate issues affecting the Action 22 area and formulate recommended positions/policies to the Action 22 board of directors.

Communicate positions/policies including influencing decision/policy makers.

Become knowledgeable on issues of concern including the ability of testifying before Colorado General Assembly Committees on adopted positions/policies.

Annually review positions and update, replace or eliminate as needed.

ROLE OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Attend committee meetings and participate in e-mail discussions.

Keep informed on activities in your industry, town, city, community and county.

Build relationships with local officials, legislators and those on State boards and commissions.

ROLE OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Provide information at committee meetings on current issues, potential issues anticipating what may be occurring in the future.

Be an Ambassador for Action 22

Attend caucus meetings

Communicate with Board delegates – they are YOUR representatives

BENEFITS

Access to Action 22’s In-House Lobbyist Committee Summits

2 times a year in person. Conference Call Committee Meetings in-between Summits

Special Meetings Regional, Caucus and as scheduled

Annual Conference 4th Weekend in September

BENEFITS

Legislative Day at the Capitol (January-February timeframe)

Legislative Updates and Alerts during legislative session

Monday Morning Updates Website: www.action22.org Tourism Website:

www.coloradosfrontier.com

BENEFITS

Networking With Federal and State elected officials &

Department heads Businesses, individuals, organizations, city and

county officials in 22 counties Opportunity to build coalitions ACROSS county

lines and statewide Discuss best practices with others in your

industry Providing your ideas and suggestions

toward building public policy for the future of Southern Colorado.

SAMPLING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Support changing Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve to National Park

Involved in leadership role to create Water, Transportation Principles, Health Principles and Telecommunications Principles.

SAMPLING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Major steps completed toward Hwy. 50 Expansion

Growth in membership Statewide collaboration on issues Continued work on “Ports to Plains”

Corridor Enhanced influence and statewide

presence

SAMPLING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Built southern Colorado as Tourist Destination site resulting in collaborative work: Partnerships built. 6 counties in San Luis

Valley; 6 counties in SE Colorado and soon, 5 counties along I-25 corridor

Next step: National advertising on search engines for www.coloradosfrontier.com

SAMPLING OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Enhancing alternative energy possibilities

Started regional discussion on economic development issues & opportunities

Established Action 22 Foundation to build community capacity

PO Box 697

Pueblo, CO 81002719-560-9897 * 1-888-799-1799

Fax: 719-546-1558www.action22.org

INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF SOUTHERN COLORADO – JOIN TODAY!