Read the 5-part series on NPR

Congrats to you all – for your hard work in helping pass HB 1188 River Outfitters Viability Act  out of the Colorado State House of Representatives on Tuesday Feb 16 with a 40-25 vote margin!  1188 now heads over to the Colorado State Senate.

Legislative process still to go:

HB 1188 heads over the Senate chamber where it will be assigned to a Senate committee  and if it passes through committee, we then go to Senate floor for debate and 2nd reading vote and then 3rd & final vote.  It’ll then be assigned to a conference committee if there’s differing amendments between the House and Senate. reconfirmed in both Chambers and then it will head downstairs to the Governor’s office for his signature to adopt it as law.

We still have a ways to go …. but we’re making progress.. please keep the calls and emails going.

Please take a moment and make some quick phone calls to the key Senators.

Ask them to vote YES on HB 1188.   Some new Senators  to contact are listed below.

Please  distribute this request for action to your *lists*  & databases- staff, customers, friends and family. Consider adding your own personal message to them… about your involvement, why you care and your need for their help and action right now.

Join our facebook group and ask your customers and friends to join too!  fun !  and a great way to get out the info:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=271683806236&ref=ts

Our future to run Colorado rivers hang in a balance.

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HELP KEEP COLORADO RIVER’S OPEN FOR BUSINESS & FUN,   YES on House Bill 1188, River Outfitters Viability Act

Please Call/contact these key Senators below in support of HB 1188 !

( even if you are not in their district it’s OK to contact them… we need to leave them lots of messages! )

Please ASK them to vote YES on HB 1188 :  (phone calls into legislators is the  #1 priority)  [ if you have additional time send them a quick follow-up email ]

Key Senators:

Senator Ken Kester                   303-866-4877         electkenkester@hotmail.com               ( Baca, Bent, Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas Otero, Pueblo counties)

Senator Greg Brophy       303-866-6360                 greg@gregbrophy.net        ( Cheyenne,Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips Prowers,Sedgwick, Washington, Yuma counties)

Senator Mark.Scheffel    303-866-4869        mark.scheffel.senate@state.co.us       (Douglas,El Paso, Lake, Park,Teller Counties)

Senator Shawn Mitchell       303-866-4876    shawnmitch@aol.com     (Adams, Broomfield, Weld counties)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sample Phone script (and email)  to legislator/s:

HI this is ____________ .   (identify yourself, private boater, business owner, or that you’re employed by ____ business, river enthusiast)

I would like to ask you to vote  Yes  on House Bill 1188 the Colorado River Outfitters Viability Act.

THIS legislation is crucial to keeping  Colorado’s Rivers open for business and fun.  I hope we can count on your vote for the future of river recreation in Colorado. River running is an important sector of the tourism and outdoor recreation industry.

(Add a personal note about your perspective, business and why this is good for Colorado’s economic future and or your local community)

Thank you _____ (leave ur name and #)

——

Background: Commercial river running contributed $142 million to Colorado’s economy last year and more than 500,000 people enjoyed our scenic rivers. Yet, the ability to provide commercial river running is under threat because out-of-state developers want to prohibit licensed river outfitters from providing trips on historically rafted rivers. The 2010 River Outfitters Viability Act protects Colorado’s tourism industry by clarifying the rights of commercial guides to operate on Colorado’s historically run rivers.

HB 1188 passed 40-25 out of the  Colorado State House of  Representatives on Tuesday Feb 16, It now heads over to the Colorado State Senate,

Call today!

We need your help to keep Colorado’s river’s open for business

for more information and background please visit:

www.croa.org under membership

Additional action info at

http://www.adventureoffice.com/Bill1188.aspx

–

Monica Piergrossi

Western Voices Public Affairs & Media

monica.westernvoices@gmail.com

970-417-8007

Also, give a quick call to Rep Curry  303 866 2945 and Senator Hodge 303-866-4855 to thank them for sponsoring this bill and all of their continued work on this.

Please call your representatives and let them know you support HB 1188.

More about the bill on the Facebook Group page.

More about the bill on the action site.

Find your representatives.

Also, these are key legislators that are still on the fence. Please contact them in addition to your own reps.

( even if you are not in their district it’s OK to contact them… we need to leave them lots of messages! )

Please ASK them to vote YES on HB 1188 :  (phone calls into legislators is the  #1 priority)  [ if you have additional time send them a quick followup email ]

Key Legislators:

Rep. Ellen Roberts, 303-866-2914,      ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us            ( Archuleta, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan counties)

Rep. BJ Nikkel 303-866-2907                 rep.nikkel@gmail.com,     (Ft Collins. Larimer)

Rep. Jim Riesberg  303-866-2929          jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us     ( Weld county)

Rep. Cheri Gerou   303-866-2582      cheri.gerou@gmail.com    (jeffco)

Rep. Frank McNulty   303-866-2936     frank@frankmcnulty.com    (Douglas county)

Rep. Scott Tipton 303-866-2955            cohd58@yahoo.com   (Delta,Dolores,Montezuma,Montrose,Ouray,San Miguel counties)

Dear Outfitters & Friends:   (2/10/10)

Quick Update and request for action:   House Bill 1188 the River Outfitters Viability Act,  to keep Colorado’s rivers open for business NOW heads to the full Colorado State House of Representatives for a Vote, potentially in the next couple days.

Please take a moment and make some quick phone calls to the key Legislators who will be voting on the House Floor later this week.

Ask them to vote YES on HB 1188.

Please  distribute this request for action to your *lists*  – staff, customers, friends and family.

Consider adding your own personal message to them… about your involvement, why you care and your need for their help and action right now.

All of our futures to run Colorado rivers hangs in a balance.

Who to Call right now to Ask for their YES vote on HB 1188  is listed below!

Please contact me for additional information, Monica   970-417-8007, monica.westernvoices@gmail.com

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HELP KEEP COLORADO RIVER’S OPEN FOR BUSINESS & FUN,   YES on House Bill 1188, River Outfitters Viability Act

Please Call/contact these key Legislators below in support of HB 1188 Right Now!

( even if you are not in their district it’s OK to contact them… we need to leave them lots of messages! )

Please ASK them to vote YES on HB 1188 :  (phone calls into legislators is the  #1 priority)  [ if you have additional time send them a quick followup email ]

Key Legislators:

Rep. Ellen Roberts, 303-866-2914,  ellen.roberts.house@state.co.us  (Archuleta, La Plata, Montezuma, San Juan counties)

Rep. BJ Nikkel 303-866-2907        rep.nikkel@gmail.com,     (Ft Collins. Larimer)

Rep. Jim Riesberg  303-866-2929       jim.riesberg.house@state.co.us     ( Weld county)

Rep. Cheri Gerou   303-866-2582      cheri.gerou@gmail.com    (jeffco)

Rep. Frank McNulty   303-866-2936     frank@frankmcnulty.com    (Douglas county)

Rep. Scott Tipton 303-866-2955            cohd58@yahoo.com   (Delta,Dolores,Montezuma,Montrose,Ouray,San Miguel counties)

Sample Phone script (and email)  to legislator/s:

HI this is ____________ .   (identify yourself, private boater, business owner, or that you’re employed by ____ business, river enthusiast)

I would like to ask you to vote  Yes  on House Bill 1188 the Colorado River Outfitters Viability Act  on the House Floor.

THIS legislation is crucial to keeping  Colorado’s Rivers open for business and fun.  I hope we can count on your vote for the future of river recreation in Colorado. This river running is an important sector of the tourism and outdoor recreation industry.

(Add a personal note about your perspective, business and why this is good for Colorado’s economic future and or you local community)

Thank you _____ (leave ur name and #)

——

Background: Commercial river running contributed $142 million to Colorado’s economy last year and more than 500,000 people enjoyed our scenic rivers. Yet, the ability to provide commercial river running is under threat because out-of-state developers want to prohibit licensed river outfitters from providing trips on historically rafted rivers. The 2010 River Outfitters Viability Act protects Colorado’s tourism industry by clarifying the rights of commercial guides to operate on Colorado’s historically run rivers.

HB 1188 passed 7-3 out of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday 2/8/10  now it heads to the full Colorado House of Representatives for a vote. Call today!

We need your help to keep Colorado’s river’s open for business for more information and background please visit:

www.croa.org  under membership

Additional action info at

http://www.adventureoffice.com/Bill1188.aspx

–

Monica Piergrossi

Western Voices Public Affairs & Media

monica.westernvoices@gmail.com

970-417-8007

WHAT: Raft in / news conference to support HB 1188, River Outfitters Viability Act.

WHEN: Monday FEB 8, 12:00 PM

WHERE: East Steps of the Colorado State Capitol . 200 E Colfax, Denver, Co 80203

WHO: Owners of Colorado’s rafting companies will hold a press event at the state capitol to show support for a HB1188, a bill being run by Representative Kathleen Curry and State Senator Mary Hodge to protect their right to run Colorado rivers.

VISUALS: 30+ inflatated river rafts on the East lawn of the state capitol. Please bring any river-related props as well as signs.

SPEAKERS & TALKING POINTS

Bob Hamel, Chair of the Colorado River Outfitters Association

Welcome, Brief overview of CROA and the River Outfitters Industry, Revenues & Number of Employees, Introduction of Mark Schumacher

Mark Schumacher, Owner of Three Rivers Resort, a Gunnison Area Rafting Co.

History of working and rafting on the Taylor River

Brief overview of Lewis Shaw’s activity, Asking Rep. Curry for help, Introduction of Kathleen Curry

Representative Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, Bill Sponsor

Overview of the bill, Discussion of the issue as a Gunnison Resident and a friend of Mark Schumacher

Legislative Info:

The Committee hearing is with the State House of Representatives Judiciary Committee at 1:30pm , we encourage you stick around for the hearing on our Legislation. Please know that our bill may not be first up on the agenda and may not be heard to a little later in the afternoon..

You can read it here as a webpage .

Please make sure to read about House Bill 1188: the River Outfitters Viability Act (you can read in previous blog posts about it too). The issue is really heating up and we need your support!

Go to the CROA website. Enter site, then click Membership
Denver Post article 1/31/10
Pueblo Chieftan Article 1/30/10
Aspen Daily news article 1/26/10

Join our Facebook Group in support of this bill!

MOST IMPORTANTLY, write your representatives and tell them you support commercial rafting in the state and the River Outfitters Viability Act. Find your representatives and contact them HERE.