Hi everyone,
We’ve been doing some work on the attached, updated, 2020 planning document that will be the focus of our meeting next Monday.
We want to spend a little time talking about the HOW of following and influencing legislation implementation. It’s clear from our last meeting where we spent an hour on the PTC implementation, for example, that this is an important thing for us to do. (and that presentation is attached, by the way).
And, we’ll talk more on new things CSL might choose to become very active i - including taking the lead on. To that end, I have also attached our diagram of the legislative process - as a reminder.
After attending various advocacy coalition meetings, it’s clear to me - regarding proposing new legislation anyway - that we as CSL can be a supporting player for many activities, and need to pick our other projects - where we take the lead - very carefully, and with true senior focus. With few exceptions, all the other advocacy groups we interact with are manned by people who have real jobs, and for many, advocacy is their job.
Very few organizations operate as we do, exclusively with volunteers. There is only one other advocacy organization - AARP - focused on the issues of older adults; and CSL is the ONLY one focused on these issues exclusively for Colorado. What you are doing is important; never doubt it.
We have limited resources, although they are gradually growing (thank you), and so we must be selective about which projects we choose to do a deep dive into - and spend a lot of time on - and that we really nurture the various coalitions we connect to so that we are a part of them, but not typically the driving force. For those projects we do not lead (most projects), our presence continues to be key. We provide the reminder to all the decision makers of the need to include the issues of our older population and to articulate that point of view.
We’ll spend some time on Monday getting ever more focused - and let’s plan on leaving that meeting with action items, small teams with leaders, and commitment.
Thank you for your involvement and continued participation.
CSL is not a huge organization, but we represent the interests of hundreds of thousands of Coloradans.
See you Monday.
Cheers, Bob
President - Colorado Senior Lobby
303 832 4535
303 862 8711
