Mt. Evans – the Jewell of Clear Creek County
Early (2012??) stories tell of an association of veterans who came together to do some good for veterans and the community. Their motivation was that membership in local veterans’ organizations was dwindling and that combining forces would bring more membership. The group was composed of non-veterans as well as veterans but began work under the motto, Veterans Helping Veterans. George Clark, USAF Brigadier General (Ret.), was the ad-hoc leader of the association, and became the first official Chairman in January of 2013. The Mission is stated clearly in the By-Laws of April 3, 2014:
The mission of the Coalition is to ensure Clear Creek County Veterans and their families are aware of, and can obtain, the benefits and resources to which they are entitled. As the central planning agency for local Veterans’ activities and events, the Coalition will strive to enhance patriotism, promote professional activities, and seek community support for Veterans.
VetCoalitionBy-laws20140403Ver2.0.pdf
A document of Strategic Goals and Objectives for 2013-2014 set some expansive goals for finance, growth, partnerships, and missions.
List the 2014 Board Contributors
- George Clark, Chair
- Troy Erickson, Vice-Chair
- Joni Albers, Secretary
- Rick Albers, Treasurer
- Loren “Biff” Eckles
- Rick Winfrey, VSO
- Pastor Bill Robertson
- Cindy Dicken
- Rick Scott
- Gene Eddy
- Phil North
- Wendy Trogden
- Gary Rawson
In 2015 Clear Creek County Veterans Coalition became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity and established financial controls with elected officers at Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. That helped provide stature and visibility in the community.
CCCVC became an all-volunteer nonprofit civic organization founded to help veterans in need in the county and adjacent counties; to promote military history and patriotism; to support annual patriotic ceremonies; and maintain historical markers. Then, partly due to 9/11, the Coalition saw great value in honoring our First Responders and Active-Duty Military and adding that to the mission. For many years it has been a great benefit to have a Chairman of the Veterans Coalition who is also the County Veterans Service Officer. Synergy with the county VSO enables CCCVC to assist the VSO with his mission to aid the 600+ veterans in the county.
List the Clear Creek County VSO through the years 2013 to Present:
- 2013-2014: Rick Winfrey
- 2015-2024: Troy Erickson
In 2020 with COVID-19 we expanded our mission to help deliver food and supplies to those in need who were impacted by the COVID reaction disruption. Partly at the request of Clear Creek County we organized a new project: Food Distribution Network. Due to the extreme need within our communities as a direct result of COVID-19, we voted to expand our mission. Clear Creek County is 396 square miles and home to over 9,500 people. Our county is comprised of a vast majority of people that were employed in the service industry. These industries range from ski areas, casinos, restaurants, and bars to gift shops, all which had been shuttered in our communities. The County’s concern was employees will find themselves with little savings in the immediate future, which will impact their ability to provide for the basic necessities. CCCVC collected donations and grants to start this project, found inexpensive sources of food and supplies, and setup six food pantries across the county, staffed with volunteers from many organizations.
And now, 2021-2024, as a result of finding inexpensive sources (Salvation Army, Food Bank of the Rockies, Bimbo Bakeries, etc.) we still deliver food weekly to organizations in need such as: youth, elderly, schools, local food banks, as well as veterans, first responders, and Colorado National Guard. In addition to that our volunteers still are busy with the original mission.
During recent years CCCVC realized that they were becoming more community oriented, always welcomed volunteer help from non-veterans, served veterans and non-veterans in the community, and so hatched a new motto: Duty, Honor, Community.
List the Chairmanship of CCCVC through the years 2013 to Present:
- 2013-2014: George Clark
- 2015-2016: Wendy Trogdon
- 2016-2018: Troy Erickson
- 2017-2020: Troy Erickson
- 2021-2024: Troy Erickson