tagged w/ Breckenridge
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SOS Outreach, a youth non-profit organization in Colorado, will give about 500 kids a chance to ride at six resorts in Colorado this weekend, including Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge and Arapahoe Basin. The program is designed to introduce kids to snow sports who may never have had a chance to get involved:
More Than 500 Kids Will Hit the Mountains This Weekend
December 10, 2009 (DENVER, CO) — The nation’s largest youth winter sports nonprofit entered its 16th season of service in Colorado. This weekend, more than 500 students in Colorado will hit the slopes at half a dozen ski resorts courtesy of SOS Outreach.
The students will pick up tips from professional instructors to enhance their on-hill experience, but SOS Outreach founder and executive director Arn Menconi said participants will become involved in much more.
“Our aim is to give an experience of a lifetime to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity,” he said. “At the same time, we use the ‘cool’ factor of snowboarding and skiing as a hook for a multi-year core value curriculum that inspires the students to become more involved in the community by giving back.”
SOS Outreach Global Program Director Jon Garrou said public service was a primary emphasis of the organization for not only the staff and student participants, but the broader community.
“Something happens when people see kids doing something to improve their community, and they want to support that,” he said, adding that last year about 750 adults pitched in with on-hill programs as well as service projects initiated by multi-year students. “Snowboarding may have been what brought everyone together, but it’s become something much larger and more meaningful.”
In all, SOS Outreach partners with 39 mountain resorts across nine states, Canada and New Zealand. Menconi said without the steady support of Vail Resorts, the organization would not have been able to expand.
Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said the company was more than happy to partner with SOS Outreach.
“Working with SOS Outreach, we are able to give the experience of a lifetime to kids who may not have the opportunity,” Katz said. “SOS has taken the time to understand the best way to reach kids, and with the excitement of their first chair lift ride or their first turn, each of the SOS kids is an inspiration to every one of our employees who work with them. We hope the experience makes as big a positive impact on their lives as it has on ours.”
This year, 3,000 youth will enroll in winter sports programs with SOS Outreach, half of whom live in the Denver area. SOS Outreach will serve another 1,200 students in outdoor sports programs during the summer months, for a total of 20,000 participant days across its programs.
To learn more... contact Information
Arn Menconi, Executive Director: 970.390.4844
Jon Garrou, Global Programs Director: 303.332.7347
Nathan Rodriguez, Community Relations Manager: 303.548.4746
http://business.transworld.net/news/sos-outreach-gives-500-kids-chance-to-ride/
http://www.sosoutreach.orgSOS Outreach, a youth non-profit organization in Colorado, will give about 500 kids a... more
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he skiing town of Breckenridge voted Tuesday night by a margin of nearly 3 to 1 to legalize the adult possession of marijuana.
Breckenridge voters passed Measure 2F, which removes criminal penalties from the town code for the private possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by adults 21 and older. The ordinance also removes criminal penalties for the possession of bongs, pipes and other drug paraphernalia.
It passed 73 percent to 27 percent.
"This votes demonstrates that Breckenridge citizens overwhelmingly believe that adults should not be punished for making the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol," said Sean McAllister, a Breckenridge attorney who proposed the ordinance.
The measure's victory is considered symbolic because it conflicts with state and federal laws. However, supporters of the measure say it inches the whole state closer to full legalization.
Other cities around the country have taken similar action in recent years, including a measure in Denver that decriminalized possession of marijuana up to one ounce.
Advocates say the Breckenridge proposal goes further than others because it allows paraphernalia as well. Drug paraphernalia possession in Colorado is considered a petty offense. Though "head shops" selling bongs and pipes are common in Colorado, the wares are ostensibly for smoking tobacco.
Paraphernalia charges are usually only filed along with possession charges. Both are misdemeanors punishable by a $100 fine and court fees.
The penalties aren't serious, but about 100 people a year in Breckenridge are cited for possession of either marijuana or paraphernalia, often both. Supporters of the effort say it's not right to leave small-time pot smokers with a criminal record.
The Breckenridge campaign, which had no formal opposition, received endorsements from Breckenridge Town Councilman Jeffrey Bergeron, Fmr. Colorado State Rep. and Breckenridge resident, Gary Lindstrom, and the Summit Daily News.
Measure 2F was placed on the ballot when more than 1,400 people signed a petition supporting it. It only needed 495 signatures to get on the ballot. The ordinance change will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
Several Breckenridge residents heartily backed the local marijuana effort.
"People think it's a waste of time for the police to be prosecuting these people," said Elisabeth Lawrence, 30. Smoking pot, she said, is "not the worst thing in the world to be doing."
Nancy Skaj, a clerk at a Breckenridge grocery store, said the measure could be a boon for ski tourists who don't have clearance for medical marijuana. "With all the injuries people get skiing up here, instead of popping pills, they should just be doing this. It's a lot more natural," she said.
Breckenridge has roughly 3,300 voters.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21515178/detail.htmlhe skiing town of Breckenridge voted Tuesday night by a margin of nearly 3 to 1 to... more
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Voters in this Rocky Mountain resort town will decide next week whether to legalize pot for all adults at a time when the movement to allow medical marijuana is gaining steam around the country.
A measure before Breckenridge voters in Tuesday's municipal election would legalize possession of up to 1 ounce of marijuana along with bongs, pipes and other pot paraphernalia. Supporters of the measure say it would inch the whole state closer to full legalization.
Other cities around the country have taken similar action in recent years, including a measure in Denver that decriminalized possession.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/30/breckenridge-pushes-to-le_n_340634.htmlVoters in this Rocky Mountain resort town will decide next week whether to legalize... more
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