Dear COSA Community,
Due to our concern for your health and safety amid the pandemic, the COSA Steering Committee has made the difficult decision to reschedule the fall 2020 conference to 2021. Mark your calendars for October 11-13, 2021 at the beautiful Grand Hyatt in Vail.
In place of the conference this fall, we’re hard at work planning a fantastic, FREE, online session in October. Keynote speaker Nina Simon will share her wisdom on "Revisioning Relevance" speaking to how our organizations can be of greatest value to our communities during a time of upheaval and change. Nina is CEO of OF/BY/FOR ALL, a global nonprofit that creates digital tools to help civic and cultural organizations become more inclusive, relevant, and sustainable. Stay tuned for more details on the COSA website and via this listserv in the near future.
Meanwhile, thank you for your work to provide safe recreational options during the pandemic, and stay safe!
Cheers,
Tina
From: Nielsen, Tina – via list <cosa@emaildodo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2020 11:39 AM
To: Nielsen, Tina <tnielsen@bouldercounty.org>
Subject: [COSA] COSA Conference RFP deadline extended
Hello COSA Community,
All of us on the COSA Steering Committee hope this message finds you physically and mentally healthy as we navigate our way through these unprecedented times.
Given the current uncertainty around when large group gatherings will be considered safe again, the COSA Steering Committee is looking at several options regarding the 2020 conference scheduled for Sept. 21-23 in Vail.
For starters, the RFP session deadline is extended two months to June 19. As we move through the COVID19 situation and gain more clarity about what the future holds, we will be back in touch with more information.
Meanwhile, feel free to reach out to any member of the Steering Committee or the entire list to share your thoughts and ideas about how COSA can support you.
Sending best wishes,
Tina
Tina Nielsen | Special Projects Manager
Boulder County Parks and Open Space
(303) 678-6279 | tnielsen
From: Rob Burdine – via list <cosa>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2020 4:14 PM
To: Nielsen, Tina <tnielsen>
Subject: [COSA] COSA Conference Session Proposal’s are now being accepted
COSA Community,
Do you have open space, natural resource management, or conservation expertise you’d like to share? We are seeking presentations for the 2020 COSA conference, themed “Community Conservation: Keeping it Relevant.” This year’s conference will be heldSeptember 21-23, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1300 Westhaven Dr. in Vail, Colorado. We are proud to present 2020 keynote speakers, Nina Simon, Of/By/For All, and Lori Weigel, New Bridge Strategies. Nina will speak to the challenges and opportunities we all face as we work to make our open spaces welcome to diverse audiences. Lori will share recent research results on strategies for communicating about climate change and local environmental issues.
The deadline to submit your proposal is Friday, April 10, 2020.
In keeping with this year’s theme, we strongly encourage topics of relevance in 2020. How are we practicing community conservation and empowerment at the local, regional and state level? What innovative programs and conservation projects are keeping us relevant and shaping our future?
In addition, the following ideas for session topics were requested by attendees following last year’s conference. (The COSA Steering Committee wants to encourage you to submit all session topics you feel will be engaging and expand our collective knowledge):
- Inclusion trends on how people are utilizing public lands
- Carbon sequestration on public lands
- Urban open space and small program challenges and accomplishments
- Stewardship, restoration and trail projects
- Wildlife and natural resource management
- Leave no trace stewardship initiatives and how they can benefit your community
- Hot button issues for your programs
Think creatively! What are you and your partners doing that will inspire others? Workshops are 60-75 minutes. Expect roughly 20-40 people in attendance per session (overall conference attendance is expected to include around 300 people). Preference will be given to interactive presentations that invite dialogue, discussion, and constructive debate.
Please use the following link to submit session proposals: ColoradoOpenSpace.org/rfp
All proposals are due by close of business on Friday, April 17, 2020.
Sincerely,
COSA Steering Committee