LADIES OF THE MOUNTAINS
telluride women's network: the connecting point

The Telluride Women's Network (TWN) sings the praises of women and their innate need to form strong bonds. Women love being connected to one another. Women love to chat, share ideas and concerns. Just as Mother Nature breathes her life-forces into the wilderness and all that surrounds us, so too do women infuse vital riches and necessities into our complex society. We are the life-blood of the family circle. We are healers, caretakers, teachers, deal-makers and everything in between. Women dress the earth with much of its loveliness and TWN celebrates the loveliness of womanhood through persuading sisterly relations. TWN's format allows women to extract nourishment from ideas by being part of the network. This also allows the women to cultivate their souls and psyches with a matrix of friends and associates.

"TWN was developed to nurture a viable and diverse women's community dedicated to business, social and recreational, community volunteers and education interactions. By offering a variety of social functions throughout the year and sending out newsletters, TWN encourages members to stay in touch and learn about activities and interests that may be appealing," cites Greer Garner, president TWN, in TWN's January 2003 newsletter. "TWN was founded on the premise that women enjoy connecting and getting together in settings where they can share interests and skills," Garner says.

Shari Flatt says TWN was launched after a day in the mountains: "Tom and Susie Connor moved to Telluride from Grand Junction in '86. We were jeeping over Ophir Pass and Susie said to me, ' Shari we have been in Telluride for six months and so far you and Dave are our only close friends.' So, we organized a cocktail party for all the new women in Telluride. Seventy-five women showed up at Kathy Bowers' home. We were just blown away! It was an electric night filled with excitement and enthusiasm because we knew we were forming lasting bonds that would make our lives in Telluride more enriching. One women said, 'Up until tonight, if I would have dropped dead on main street, no one would have cared.' We found new best friends. So after that party, we called it the Telluride Women's Network—a way to network friends," says Shari Flatt. "Friendship—turns out to be the best part of Telluride," affirms Susie Connor.

"TWN started Campaign 1,000 , a highly successful philanthropic endeavor that raised money so we could beautify the streets of Telluride. For five years, we enhanced the attractiveness of Telluride by replacing the trees miners cut down before the turn-of-the-century; so they could build homes, stores, liveries, boardwalks and more. With the expertise of a Norwood nursery, TWN planted close to 3,000 trees at the library, baseball field, school and people's yards," states Joyce Allred, a founding member, in regards to the goodly deeds this foundation of women execute. TWN's focus could easily be equated with Oprah's TV talk show or her O Magazine in that it is geared for every women and its format seemingly encourages everyone to "live their best lives," by being active participants in community events, socials, book clubs, outdoor outings and more. TWN is instrumental in raising monies needed for many worthy causes throughout town and the region. You name it, just about any Telluride fund-raiser, has a woman or many women from TWN involved or even leading the charge. TWN's nonexclusive design provides something for everyone involved. Bringing the women—and many times their husbands, friends and families who are visiting — from Telluride's vast and varied neighborhoods under one roof several times a year, has proven to be one of the best avenues for social and professional networking. With clarity, nearly every member says that the number one thing TWN does is form the rich, fertile groundwork for sprouting new friends and keeping old ones growing.

Ostensibly, TWN links the ladies to happenings and the social climate of the community, and gives them impetus to lend helping hands, where and when helping hands are needed. Many of the women who are second homeowners tend to feel "disconnected" from Telluride after living away for a while. TWN's gatherings engage them right away, and make them feel part of the community again. Since most of the get-togethers are held in member's homes, the comfort level is always friendly and inviting. The parties also allow women to don their "classier, casual attire," see other's people's homes and experience fine hors d' oeuvres prepared by various Telluride chefs. Further, TWN holds forums for women entrepreneurs and business professionals.

Jeanne Knope organized this last January's forum/cocktail party in which bankers, realtors, property managers, massage therapists, lawyers, doctors, veterinarians, artists, contractors, interior designers, photographers, retail managers and many other professionals introduced themselves, spoke about their careers and commenced networking, sharing ideas and exchanging business cards. Judy Thompson, a coordinator for the TWN's Book Club, says, "Our

Book Club tied into TWN a few years back. Whomever hosts the meeting is the one who decides on the book. We've read some fascinating books this year: From Beirut to Jerusalem , A Year of Wonder and in May Hemingway's For Whom The Bells Toll. Thompson adds that TWN is a wonderful way to expand your horizons, meet other people and learn about many environments. Thompson has been living in Telluride for three years now. She is a transplant from Chicago, who has been visiting Telluride for over a decade.

From the TWN, hiking, walking, skiing and snowshoeing groups have emerged. Georgian Carroll's name crops up the most as the coordinator of the outdoor events, though there are roving coordinators for certain outings. Founder, Shari Flatt, started the I Hate To Hike Hiking Group two years back. This tongue-and-cheek hiking group is for those who don't like hiking per say, but force themselves out onto the trails to get a few strides in—just to say they did it. Shari says she started it because some of the ladies are very serious athletes and some are not so serious. She remembers Janet Schmitt going on one of Georgian's five-hour outings, and when she asked who all went, Janet responded, "How would I know, I only saw their rear ends." Humor is a good, natural medicine. It is also an axis for this league of 140+ women players that form TWN. They are out for a good time, to meet new friends, share experiences and challenge themselves physically and intellectually.

Ultimately, they merely want to make their lives livelier via connecting to others in the community. The TWN Board—President Greer Garner; Social Chairs Jill Roisman, Shari Flatt and Janet Schmitt; Secretary/Newsletter Beckie Glenn, Business Outreach Chair Jeanne Knope; Membership Chair Nancy Talmey; Finance Chair Nancy Connor; Historian Sandra Perkins— will most certainly tell you their involvement in Telluride Women's Network has enriched their lives; by being connected to a group of wonderful, sometimes zany high altitude women, makes mountain living all the more interesting. If you are interested in joining write, call or e-mail Shari Flatt @: P.O. Box 2067 , Telluride , CO 81435 , (970)728-3631 or srflatt@aol.com.