Welcome to COSA!

The Colorado Open Space Alliance is a statewide organization of publicly funded local and regional open space programs, working cooperatively to share information, create public awareness and foster partnerships needed to protect and preserve the special places of Colorado.

Hold the Date for the 2008 COSA Conference

The 2008 Conference will be held September 15 - 17 in Estes Park at the Holiday Inn.

Do you want your presentation to be considered for the COSA conference? Fill out our Request For Proposals [pdf] before 5/15.

Conference keynote speakers are: Sam Ham, Author and Professor at the University of Idaho, and Shelli Bischoff-Turner, co-founder and President of Conservation Impact!

COSA Blue Grama Award nominations [pdf] are now being accepted and are due 8/1/08.

Sponsorships: Thanks to Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting LLC as our first 2008 COSA Conference sponsor. See the Sponsor Flyer [pdf]

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

Gold

Tax Credit Connection    The Nature Conservancy   

Silver

The National Association for Interpretation

Bronze

Faegre & Benson        Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting
Biohabitats    Loris and Associates   
ERO Resources    Environmental Management and Planning Solutions, Inc.    Ken Ransford, Attorney, CPA
Design Concepts    Shapins Belt Collins    AMEC Earth & Environmental
Colorado Wildlife Science    Western Land Group    The Trust for Public Lands
ECOS Communications   

Legislative Updates

Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts - Updates at www.cclt.org on legislation regarding the use of conservation easements in Colorado.

Lottery Securitization - John Swartout, Director of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, reported that proposals to privatize the lottery were pulled from the bills being reviewed by the Colorado Legislature. The issue is not dead with interest in convening a group of stakeholders to discuss the pros and cons of the proposal yet this year. GOCO will join with the Colorado Municipal League to provide a forum for interested groups.

Six new GOCO Board Members were also announced.

Accreditation/Standards and Practices

CCLT and members of the COSA Steering Committee are reviewing proposals to provide for a "best practices" document for open space organizations in Colorado. The goal of this project is to develop a peer reviewed document that provides guidance to local governments on the acceptance and stewardship of conservation easements. For additional information contact Janis Whisman, Land Stewardship Officer for Boulder County's Parks and Open Space Department.

The Land Trust Alliance is moving forward with an accreditation program supported by recent Colorado Legislation. There have been cases of fraud in the use of conservation easements in Colorado and efforts to provide best practices are believed to be important in retaining the tax benefits available in Colorado.

RECOGNITION AND AWARDS

Blue Gramas - The new Blue Grama Awards will recognize outstanding management and programs offered by Colorado open space organizations.

Colorado Lottery Starburst Conservation Awards - For excellence in the use of Lottery funds honoring Community and Conservation projects. This program is open to any government entity that receives Lottery funds, and all entities eligible to apply for funding from the State Trails program. The deadline for submissions is June 20, 2008. As in the past, these honors will be presented at the Colorado Open Space Alliance Conferences in September. For more information, please call Matt Robbins (303) 759-6830 or email matt.robbins@lottery.state.co.us.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Growing the Next Generation of Open Space Leaders

The program goal is to offer a leadership experience within the conservation community that will give participants a broader understanding of issues facing local government open space programs and the candidate's ability to be a future leader within those organizations. To learn more about the program - review the following documents. Please contact us if you are interested in being a candidate or mentor for the 2008 program. Contact Linda Strand at LJeanStrand@comcast.net.

Join Our Mailing List

To subscribe simply send a blank e-mail to: listserv@listserv.co.boulder.co.us with "subscribe cosa" in the body of the message.

To send a message to the COSA list, simply send an e-mail to: COSA@LISTSERV.CO.BOULDER.CO.US

Archives of the list will be available at: http://listserv.co.boulder.co.us/archives/cosa.html