

Estes Park League of Women Voters
Annual Meeting
May 24 10 - 11:30 AM
American Legion Post 119
Part 1: A Presentation from the
Community Recycling Committee
Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, You Can Make a Difference
This session is about HOPE. Many people are deeply concerned about climate change and the environment but feel overwhelmed and powerless. CRC members will show you specific things you can do to support the environment and make a difference.
We will have five stations, each with specific actionable tips. We invite you to rotate through our five stations and find things that you will bring back into your life!
The Five Stations:
Earth-friendly Alternatives
Where can I Recycle This?
You have JUNK Mail:
Legislative Action – EASY Ways to Make a Difference
Food Waste: Stop Throwing Your Money in the Landfill
Part 2: Annual Business Meeting
Estes Park League of Women Voters Members Will vote on the Following:
Proposed Bylaws Language Changes
Annual Budget
Slate of Officers & Directors
Active Members Please Register & Attend So We Can Ensure There is a Quorum To Vote
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Something to Think About

Where We Stand
Nonpartisan Outreach and Advocacy
Our League proudly serves the community as a nonpartisan education and advocacy organization, neither supporting nor opposing individual candidates or political parties at any level of government.
We advocate League policies on issues of vital concern to our members and the Estes Valley. We also support the Colorado and U.S. LWV policy positions.
Every eligible citizen should have access to the vote and to the information needed to exercise that right in an informed manner.
Government should operate transparently.
The environment should be protected for future generations.
Women should be able to make decisions about their reproductive health.
Healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Estes Park League
Policy Positions
Education and Youth Development
Education
The LWV of Estes Park believes that a strong, well-financed K-12 public education system is critical for the social, economic and democratic well-being of our community and nation, and therefore, we are committed to excellence and equity in education for all children in the Park R-3 School District. Therefore the LWV of Estes Park will:
- Support the efforts of the local School Board, the Superintendent, principals, teachers and staff to achieve proficiency or above for all children in math, reading, and writing and the positive growth and development of each child.
- Support access to broad curriculum offerings and experience that include the arts, music, physical education, social studies and the sciences.
- Support the use of appropriate assessments to improve instruction and increase proficiency of students. Tests should not be the sole determinant of a student’s progress.
- Support compensating teachers, administrators and support staff so that they may live in the community and be adequately rewarded for the important responsibilities we ask of them.
- Support efforts in increase parental and community involvement in the schools and to provide a positive, respectful, trusting and supportive learning environment where all children can achieve an excellent education and learn to think independently.
- Support continued efforts to provide high-quality education services to second language and special needs students and to increase their participation in all aspects of schooling.
- Support graduation requirements that ensure that students are adequately prepared for postsecondary education, careers and citizenship.
- Support the development of annual budgets that present information about revenues and expenditures in a format that is clear, understandable, reflects instructional goals and is aligned with the school accountability report.
- Support full funding by state and federal governments for any mandated programs and services.
- Support raising additional revenue locally should federal, state, and existing local funding fall short of the amount needed to maintain the financial health of the system and high-quality education.
- Support efforts that attract and retain families with school age children.
Adopted May 21, 2003; amended February 24, 2016
Community Development and the Economy
Sustainable Community
Proposed New: Support actions that are consistent with the following definition of a Sustainable Community: a community that balances social, economic and environmental values without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the same goal and includes the following:
- Recognition of a healthy tourist industry and the permanent resident population as equally important components of Estes Park’s life and economy. Support the development of quality services that balance the needs of permanent residents with those of the tourist industry.
- Support of tourism that emphasizes the natural assets of the area.
- Preservation of the mountain environment, including the indigenous flora and fauna, and recognition that environmental protection and economic development can be complementary.
- Recognition of the relationship of Estes Park to Rocky Mountain National Park, and endorsement of Estes Park’s efforts to be a model national park partner and neighbor.
- Honoring the diversity of the citizenry and supporting community leadership that is representative and inclusive of diverse interests.
- Recognition of the importance of communication among various constituencies within the community.
- Support of basic public services affecting the quality of life: attainable housing, good education, health care, environmentally responsible waste removal systems and adequate transportation for all of its citizens.
- Fostering the development of cultural arts.
- Supporting the values, traditions and history of the community.
- Encourage the use of alternative solutions in energy, waste removal systems and packaging in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and redirect waste from the landfill.
Adopted May 24, 2000; rewritten/adopted Jan 10, 2007; rewritten 2010; amended February 24, 2016
Environment and Natural Resources
Land Use
Support the enforcement of the Estes Valley Development Code. Encourage establishing open space priorities and support the protection and purchase of open space and conservation easements. Support educating the community on current land use polices and any proposed changes. Support more community involvement in any updates to Estes Valley Comprehensive Plan to encourage development in harmony with the character of our mountain setting.
Adopted May 24, 2000; amended February 24, 2016
Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)
Support strategies consistent with protecting the natural and scenic values of RMNP and the surrounding area. This includes policies to reduce congestion on Park roads and encourage alternative transportation modes and linkages with areas outside the Park. We continue to support the Fee Demonstration Program. We support policies that diminish human-caused interference with nature and natural sounds, including air traffic noise from commercial or private sources, in Rocky Mountain National Park and in other National Parks & Monuments.
Adopted May 11, 1993, amended May 17, 1995; and May 15, 1996; and reaffirmed May 14, 1997; May 13, 1998; and April 28, 1999; rewritten/adopted May 24, 2000; rewritten April 9, 2003, rewritten/adopted Jan 10, 2007; rewritten 2010; amended February 24, 2016; amended May 18, 2016
Water Protection
Support efforts to inform and educate our residents and visitors on appropriate water use. We have a responsibility to conserve the quantity and protect the quality of water for our residents, visitors, and downstream users.
Rewritten/adopted Jan 10, 2007; rewritten 2010; amended February 24, 2016
Recycling
Support improving the recycling /reusing opportunities for residents and businesses in the Estes Valley. The opportunities shall include a safe and clean local recycling area.
Adopted 2010; amended February 24, 2016
Elections and Voting Rights
Voting Rights in the Estes Valley
Communicate the findings of the voting rights study conducted in 2015 on our website, in local newspapers , etc. to better educate the public on voting rights within the Estes Valley
Support a more pragmatic and less formal approach toward incorporating input from “valley residents” into Town decisions is to increase representation of residents of the unincorporated Estes Valley on Town advisory boards. This is, in fact, already being done, but could be quantified or formalized.
Consider a study of Home Rule vs. Statutory Rule or alternative annexation to include impacts on voting rights within the Estes Valley
Adopted Feb 24, 2016
Colorado League
Positions
U.S. League
Positions