Winter Social 2020

You won’t want to miss our Winter Social!

It’s happening Sunday, January 26, 5-6:30 PM, at Monroe’s Lounge at the Best Western at I-25 and 34 in Loveland.

This is an enjoyable and informal local opportunity to meet people interested in promoting women in leadership, as well as candidates, and elected officials. 
The event is free with a cash bar. Donations furthering the work of Colorado 50-50 are encouraged and will be happily accepted.

Our special guests include:

  • State Senator Joann Ginal
  • State Senator Vicki Marble
  • State Representative Jeni Arndt
  • Larimer County Treasurer Irene Josey
  • Windsor Mayor and candidate for Weld County Commissioner Kristie Melendez
  • Fort Collins City Councilwoman Julie Pignataro
  • Estes Park Town Councilwoman Carlie Bangs
  • Loveland City Councilwoman Kathi Wright
  • Evans Town Councilwoman Ally Johnson
  • Thompson School Board Director Lori Hvizda Ward
  • Candidate for U.S. Senate Lorena Garcia
  • Candidate for State Representative Holly Herson
  • Candidate for State Representative Yara Zokaie
  • Candidate for Larimer County Commission Kim Akeley-Charron
  • Candidate for Larimer County Commission Jody Shadduck-McNally

By the way, if you are an elected official, former elected official, or candidate, we would love to include you in this event! We will be updating this list here and on social media. Please let us know if you are attending.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday, January 26!

Save the date for our Fall Social

Want to meet other fabulous people who are interested in promoting women in leadership? Mark your calendars for our fall social! Have fun discussing politics and policy. Meet women elected officials and candidates. Bring your checkbook in case you meet some you would like to support financially. Get connected with people working on campaigns, hear what campaigns are like and discover volunteer opportunities.

Suggested $5 donation to support the work of Colorado 50-50. We chose the Best Western at I-25 and Highway 34 in Loveland, because it is conveniently located. We hope people will come from near and far to join us. Cash bar and dining – Monroe’s Lounge serves appetizers and dinner.  An RSVP on our Facebook page event would be greatly appreciated. Come hang out with us!

Sage Advice, Fresh Faces at November 15 Winning With Women

Colorado 50-50 organizers were pleased to see an entirely different audience at Winning With Women on November 15, 2017. This was the second time the group has put on the event and the first time it was in Loveland.

Many women attending expressed an interest in running for office, such as Julie Pignataro.

“Attending the Winning With Women event was a truly inspiring and valuable experience,” she said. “I have known that I plan on running for political office in the next couple of years, but what I did not know was what a talented and supportive group of individuals are available to help me through the process and support me as I pursue my goals!”

Another participant, Patricia Miller, found the information stations were helpful in providing details about elected positions, terms, and district boundaries. “I got a lot out of the workshop. The process for running for office was clarified and explained,” she said. “The speakers were highly qualified, informative, warm and accessible. They presented their experiences in a relatable and inspiring way.”

The panel discussion was a rich conversation with Kristie Melendez, current mayor of Windsor, Kathy Gilliland, former mayor of Loveland, and Marty Tharp, former Fort Collins city council member. The women shared their journeys to elected office, including the highs and lows. In answering audience questions, they offered many wonderful insights.

“It was great fun for me!” said Gilliland afterward. “I loved the enthusiasm and interest from the participants and am hopeful some will step up for leadership roles.”

Colorado 50-50 Moderator Erin Hottenstein encouraged the audience to get on a path to leadership and to consider applying to boards and commissions.

“We benefit from women’s experiences and we need to hear their voices,” she said. “There are so many ways that women make a difference in public life.”

The event was made possible through generous donations from Public Speaking for the Professional, the Larimer County League of Women Voters, and Electing Women. Colorado 50-50 also thanks all the volunteers who worked so hard to create a successful event.

“In the future, I hope to see women supporting each other and running for office,” said Miller. “I know now that I can be a part of it all.”

One Week Until Winning With Women!

All our volunteers are hard at work preparing for another wonderful Winning With Women next Wednesday, November 15. We’re talking to our friends about running for office, getting on boards and supporting women candidates. We hope you are too!

We are happy to announce two panelists. Kristie Melendez is the Mayor of Windsor.

Melendez

Kristie Melendez

Kathy Gilliland is a current Transportation Commissioner for the state of Colorado and a former mayor of Loveland.

Kathy Gilliland

We know the panel discussion will be a rich conversation about their experiences, what led them to run for office, what campaigning was like and how it is/was to be an elected official. Bring your questions!

Following the panel discussion will be an intentional, speed networking session. Our vision is to connect candidates and potential candidates with supporters and mentors. Bring your business cards!

We invite you to arrive right at 6 p.m. to take advantage of the many table displays. We will have maps and lots of information about elected offices, boards and commissions.

Sound good? Now’s the time to buy your tickets – $15 general admission and $7.50 for students. Scholarships are available. Childcare is available with an RSVP by Sunday, November 12 to erin@colorado5050.org.

One Won’t Cut It – Invite your friends to the next Winning With Women

Only one.

 

Eight city or town councils in Northern Colorado have only one woman on council. That corresponds to 14% female representation. Not 50-50, but 86-14. Colorado 50-50 analyzed the membership of 15 city and town councils across our region. Even with women making up half our population, these councils have only one woman each.

 

Overall, we found 98 elected council members, but only 23 of them were women. Crunch the numbers and you find that means women make up 23% of all elected council officials in our area. It’s a good thing Eaton, Evans and Milliken are leading the way with three female members each, or these numbers would look much worse. Johnstown had an all-male council until very recently.

 

At Colorado 50-50, we believe this must change. We are advocating for gender parity in politics. Research has shown the many benefits of women becoming elected officials. They collaborate. They reach across the aisle. They solve problems.

 

We believe the best place to start changing is right here – by talking to our women friends and encouraging them to get on a path to leadership. Supporting them to apply to boards and commissions. Urging them to run for office.

 

That’s why we’re happy to announce our second #WinningWithWomen, happening Wednesday, November 15, at All Saints Church in Loveland.

 

We are going to demystify the process of running for office through a panel discussion of elected women officials along with a networking session. In the panel discussion, we will hear how women decided to run and what their experiences were both on the campaign trail and in office. After the panel discussion, we will move into a speed networking session. Bring a stack of business cards!

 

Tickets are available for $15. Childcare is available for a fee with an advance RSVP. Seating is limited, so get tickets today!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/winning-with-women-tickets-38849375528