About Us
Map of the counties included in the Southwest Colorado LOC region.
Our Mission
The mission of America 250 – Colorado 150 is to celebrate the nation's founding in 1776 and Colorado’s statehood in 1876 by acknowledging our shared history, honoring that which makes our state and region unique, and striving toward a shared future.
Who We Are
We are the Southwest Colorado 250-150 Local Organizing Committee (LOC), in the Mountains and Mesas region, one of eight 250-150 regions around Colorado. Our LOC is made up of volunteers - your friends and neighbors - with an interest in the history and heritage of our region as well as that of Colorado and the United States of America. We know we live in challenging times. Yet, our focus is on celebrating the future, together, while looking to and learning from our past, with the benefit of today’s hindsight.
Our LOC structure includes a core team of volunteers and county leads from each of the 8 counties in our region. The counties in the region are, in alphabetical order: Archuleta, Dolores, Hinsdale, Montezuma, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel. We also have connections with the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribes, which are sovereign nations, within our LOC region. We honor the diverse and complex blend of peoples who have called our region home, dating back to ancestral Puebloan days to today.
We are part of the statewide project of the America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission, which was created by state legislation (SB 22-011 and SB 23-297) and signed into law by Governor Jared Polis. The Commission is housed and managed within History Colorado.
Meet the Team
The Southwest Colorado Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is guided by a core team of volunteers committed to making events in our area successful and unforgettable.
Core Team Members
Ellen Babers, Co-Chair
Ellen Roberts, Co-Chair
Richard Ballantine
Angie Beach
Karen Cheser
Paul DeBell
Al Harper
Susan Jones
Bill LeMaire
Kylie Miller
Johnny Valdez
County Leads
Mary Jo Coulehan & Sandy Douthey, Archuleta
Steve Garchar, Dolores
Mette Flynt & Grant Houston, Hinsdale
Ann McCoy Harold, Sharon Craig & Kim Oyler, La Plata
Barbara Stagg & Liz Quinn MacMillan, Montezuma
Carolyn Snowbarger & Ed Bovy, Ouray
Beverly Rich & DeAnne Gallegos, San Juan
Kiernan Lannon, San Miguel
Our Sponsors
These generous organizations make our celebration possible at various levels of funding.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Copper Sponsors
Zinc Sponsors
In-Kind Sponsors
Community Foundation serving SW Colorado Is Our Fiscal Sponsor
The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado (CFSSW) is our fiscal sponsor. As such, CFSSW will receive funds from donations, grants, and sponsorships, disburse money, prepare tax forms, carry liability coverage, and perform other administrative tasks related to our funds. CFSSW, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, currently manages more than $10 million, ensuring our initiatives' financial stability and transparency, giving you confidence in your support. Your donations to the America 250-Colorado 150 SW Colorado LOC through CFSSW are fully tax deductible to the extent allowable by IRS regulations. The Community Foundation's EIN Federal Tax ID is 84-1474900."
