Celebrating our members in 2019!

Celebrating our members in 2019!

Clockwise from upper right: Beatrix Dougherty carries her Alliance tote bag with panache; our members enjoying some of the fine food at the Barn Dance potluck buffet; Carol Keeney and Marv Ballantyne of Uncompahgre Valley Alliance serenade the Solstice Social in Montrose; attendees at the Mesa County bash enjoy some good old-fashioned barn dancing; members of Uncompahgre Valley Alliance enjoying companionship and presentations at the Solstice Social; members of Grand Valley Citizens Alliance and Battlement Mesa Concerned Citizens celebrated with potluck and Pictionary.

We want to give a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who became a new or renewing member during our membership drive in May and June. As part of our first membership drive in five years, Alliance members and staff called lapsed members, tabled at public events and promoted membership with videos, social media posts, letters, and emails. We also gave everyone who joined or renewed during the drive a reusable cotton Alliance tote bag for all their toting needs. Thanks to our collective efforts, we had over 60 people and households become new or renewed members, surpassing our goal of 50 memberships.

Our members make our work and our accomplishments possible and, to celebrate everyone’s hard work and dedication, we capped off the membership drive with fun social events in Parachute, Grand Junction, and Montrose. In Parachute, Grand Valley Citizens Alliance hosted a potluck luncheon and game day. Congratulations to Dave Devanney, the reigning Pictionary champion! Uncompahgre Valley Alliance in Montrose hosted a Solstice Celebration at the Ute Indian Museum. In addition to sharing good food with good people, Uncompahgre Valley Alliance members discussed the organizing work they’re currently engaged in, including plans to meet with over 200 people to identify their next campaign issue. In Grand Junction, Western Colorado Alliance of Mesa County hosted a barn dance and pie auction. Guests had a blast dancing to the music of local contra band Fifth Reel, feasting on a bountiful potluck, and bidding on delicious pies donated by members and supporters. We are so grateful to everyone who made our membership drive and celebratory events a success.

Thank you to all of our members and supporters who work hard every day to realize our vision of healthy, just, self-reliant West Slope communities. When we join together and organize around the issues that matter, we can make lasting change!

About the author

Arn's career includes more than 35 years of experience in broadcast media, online advertising and branding in both Western Colorado and New York City. He is a four-time Colorado Broadcast Award winner and has also won multiple Colorado Press Association Awards. Arn also teaches Film Expression at the college level. He lives with a dramatic pit bull and a grandiose cat and enjoys painting, animating, and exploring cinema in his spare time.

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