COSA and RMRA After Party 2023
It was a watershed year for the Association at the Colorado Open Space Alliance (COSA) conference in Snowmass Oct 2-4. In addition to successfully staffing a booth and supporting the ranger session track, RMRA hosted its second After Party event. This year, however, RMRA opened the After Party to the wider COSA Community, creating the must-attend social event of the conference!
Association board members staffed the RMRA booth for all three days of the conference, providing a valuable opportunity them to meet and talk with members face-to-face. For some COSA conference goers, the RMRA booth was their first exposure to the Association and chance to discuss future collaborations.
The Association was proud to partner with three sessions at the COSA conference:
Rangers’ Evolving Response to Bears, presented by Ranger Naturalist Lindsay Young (City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks)
Ranger Safety and Situational Awareness, presented by Senior Ranger Travis Bernstein (Larimer County Dept. of Natural Resources)
Motivating Behavioral Change: Creating a Lasting Impact through Ranger Contacts, presented by Rangers Kevin Blackwell and Marcus Schoen (Jefferson County Open Space).
Association members were also excited to attend Denver Park Rangers and WellPower Program, presented by Park Ranger Supervisors Caronia DiStefano and Nathan Adams. The second night of the conference featured the much-anticipated (and sold out!) RMRA After Party at the Snowmass Lanes and Lounge. With COSA no longer hosting a social dinner on the second night of the conference, RMRA answered the call to bring its members and COSA attendees something special.
More than 100 Association members, their colleagues, and interested conference goers enjoyed bowling, drinks, and delicious pizza, wings, sliders, and salads in a casual, fun atmosphere. The party really got going when Lt. Zach Cook with Larimer County Department of Natural Resources broke out his bagpipes, which have become a staple at social occasions in the wider ranger community of Northern Colorado.
On the final morning of the conference, RMRA Awards Committee Chair Billy Hall presented the third annual RMRA Ranger Awards. The Association recognized three outstanding rangers for their accomplishments and contributions to the profession over the past year. Awardees included:
Distinguished Service Award – KJ Glover (Jefferson County Open Space)
Distinguished Service Award – Nathan Adams (City and County of Denver)
Life Saving Award – Tabitha Minsky (City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks)
If you want to celebrate excellence on your ranger staff, please submit a nomination! The Awards Committee is already accepting nominations for 2024.
With another COSA conference behind them, RMRA members headed back to their agencies from Snowmass with new memories, new connections, and excitement for the 2024 conference, which will be in Grand Junction. If you would like to be part of planning RMRA events or presenting sessions for the next COSA conference, reach out to your board members today! We need bright, talented rangers like you to keep the proverbial lights on and bring bigger and better opportunities to our membership!
