Promoting Community Service and Philanthropy in Ouray County since 1897.
Uncommon Women, Uncommon Lives
This series, created by the Club;s former VP Barb Morss, was a unique program which ran for seven years and featured guest speakers who are . . . “uncommon women” and who lead . . . “uncommon lives.”
Marian Austin, Firefighter. Log Hill, Ouray County, Colo.
Jane Bennett, Storyteller. Western Colorado, Australia.
Alice Billings, Artist, Author, Equine educator. Ridgway, Colo. ThunderHeartHaven.com
Jen Brock, Beekeeper. Texas and Ouray Colo.
Joan Chismire, Board President, Ouray County Ranch History Museum. Colo.
Melissa Conner, forensic investigator, Colo. Mesa Univ.
Lorraine Coyle, Evergreen Crystal. Montrose, Colo.
Jan Einboden, Jan’s Auto. Montrose, Colo. Presentation.
Joanne Fagan, Public Works Director. Ridgway Colo.
Beth Goralski, International ice climber. Ouray, Colo.
Susan Hale & Ann Mellick, Avalanche forecasters. Silverton and Ouray, Colo.
Penny Henshaw, Retired Geologist, Ouray, Colo.
Tracy Hill, National High School Hall of Fame. Nucla, Colo. Presentation.
Sue Hirshman, Ouray Box Canyon Black Swift, historian. Montrose Colo.
Colleen Hollenbeck, Coroner. Ouray County, Colo.
Connie Hunt, County Administrator. Ouray County, Colo.
Melanie Kline, internationally acclaimed silversmith,
Founder Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans. Montrose Colo.
Tamara Knutsen, Building Inspector Ouray and San Miguel Counties, Colo.
Rosemary Litz, All About Lavender. Grand Junction, Colo.
Susan Long, (retired) Fairgrounds and Event Center Manager, Ouray County, Colo.
Brenda Miller, Roubideau Rim Wildlife Rescue. Grand Junction, Colo.
Sharon Neville, (retired) Broadcast Executive Producer. Ouray, Colo.
Maureen O’Driscoll, Director, Ouray Public Library, Ouray, Colo.
Gia Porter, Ironman Triathlete. Montrose Colo.
Yvonne Reed. ‘Babies of the Bush’ African art conservation. Arizona and Colorado.
Liana Schmidt, architect. Ridgway, Colorado.
Kathy See, Native Plant Coordinator, western Colorado. Montrose, Colo.
Francie Smiles, Resource Coordinator, San Juan Cancer Center. Montrose, Colo.
Erin Stadelman, Mgr, Ouray County Fairgrounds, President, Western Colo Rodeo Assc.
Manette Steele, Minateure. Ridgway, CO
Katie Sickles, City Administrator, Ouray, Colo.
Ruth Stewart, Director EMS and Mountain Rescue, Ouray County, Colo.
Tammy Stroup, Marshall, Ouray County, Colo.
Wini Tappan, author, Montrose and Olathe, Colo.
UVV Derby Girls, Montrose Roller Derby Team. Montrose, Colo.
Julia Vann, Quantitative Public Health and Biomath, Ouray, Colo.
Darcy Weimer, San Miguel Power Line’wo’man, Redvale, Colo.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Marian Austin, Log Hill firefighter. Ouray County. January 20 2015
After retiring from the Army and moving to Log Hill, both Marian and her husband, Tom, became volunteer firefighters.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Jane Bennett, Storyteller, author. (Formerly) Ouray CO. 2012
Now living in Australia, where she continues her career as a storyteller, entertainer, and musician, Jane’s focus is western history. She is the author of (Tales of the Bachelor Mine and is currently working on a new book contrasting Australian and Colorado mining.
Video • Website • Book Review – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Alice Billings, the Horse Lady, artist, author, horse trainer. Ridgway, CO. 2012
Combining her life-long interest in art and horses, Alice offers both at her Thunder Heart Haven, with retreats, workshops, art classes, and more.
Alice is the author of Hooey, featuring her colorful horse portraits. Both Hooey and her artwork are available on per personal website, or through her publisher, San Juan Publishing.
Websites: HorseLady, Thunder Heart Haven • Video. (Have patience – video takes a minute to load.) • Book: Hooey,
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Jen Brock, Beekeeper, Ouray CO. January 16, 2018.
Hobbyist Bee Keeper, Jen Brock, currently resides in Ouray, Colo. and keeps two hives in her home state of Texas. She shares stories about honey bees, their habits, industry. history and importance to us as producers of the worlds most stable food.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Lorraine Coyle, Evergreen Crystal, Montrose. November 18, 2014. She designs for clients like Dole Pineapple, Exon, Cabellas, Sea World, and even the Senate and the White House. Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Joan Chismire, Board President, Ouray County Ranch History Museum. November 18, 2014.
Chismire discusses the new location for OCRHM, how it came to be and what it offers.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Jan Einboden, owner Jan’s Auto. Montrose, CO. April 16, 2013
Jan is the owner/operator of Jan’s Auto in Montrose, an unusual occupation for a woman. Her business includes used car auto sales and a complete service and repair facility.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Public Works Director, Ridgway CO. March 18, 2014
Joanne oversees Ridgway’s public works department which includes water treatment and distribution and waste water collection and treatment, streets, storm drains and irrigation systems.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Beth Goralski Ice climber. Ouray, CO. October 19, 2015
Beth competes in Ouray Icefest, climbed in Iceland with U.S. alpinist for Patagonia, and competed in World Cup at Bozeman Ice Festival, Montana.
Click for story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Penny Henshaw. Retired Geologist and Multi-talented Renaissance Woman, Ouray, CO. February 19, 2013
Penny was the fourth presenter of our “Uncommon Women, Uncommon” Lives series.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Susan Hale & Ann Mellick, CAIC Avalanche Forecasters
Silverton & Ouray CO. ‘Living and Working in Avalanche Country’ November 15, 2013
These women work the Highway 550 and 145 corridors in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) to keep the highways safe for winter travelers.
Click for Story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Tracy Hill, 2012 National High School Hall of Fame, Nucla, CO. October 16, 2012
Tracy Hill made Colorado basketball history while playing for Ridgway High School. She was top scorer between 1980 and 1983, setting the record for career points scored She set 21 state marks; 17 still stand. Hill was one of 12 honorees named in 2012.
Presentation
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Sue Hirshman, Black Swift Lady of Box Canyon. Ouray CO. March 17, 2015
Nationally acclaimed birder, Sue Hirshman, has observed and photographed the elusive Black Swift in Box Canyon for nearly 20 years. These amazing birds migrate annually nearly 4300 miles to Brazil, then return to breed in Ouray.
Click for story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Colleen Hollenbeck, Ouray County Coroner. March 15, 2016
Now in her second term, Colleen Hollenbeck needs compassion, curiosity and courage to manage her job as Ouray County Coroner.
Click for story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Connie Hunt, Ouray County Administrator, Ouray CO. April 21, 2015
Connie Hunt wears many hats. She handles finance, budgeting, grant writing, policy administration, long-range planning, and supervision of nine different departments.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Melanie Kline, Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans, Montrose CO. February 18, 2014
Melanie is the founder of this organization and the Warrior Resource Center, helping local area veterans.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Tamara Knutsen, Ouray County Building Inspector, Ridgway CO. November 18, 2012
Ouray’s female building inspector has a background in construction and building. She owned her own company, Knutson Log Homes and later served as a licensed appraiser.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rosemary Litz, ‘All About Lavender,’ Grand Junction CO. May 19, 2015
Charter member of the Lavender Association of Western Colorado, Litz is a grower and entrepreneur creating and selling hand-crafted lavender products.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Susan Long, Ouray County Fairgrounds and Event Center Manager, Ridgway CO. October 15, 2014
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Brenda Miller, Roubideau Rim Wildlife Rescue, Grand Junction CO. Januray 21,2014
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Sharon Neville, From chimps to celebrities—a lotta fun on adventurous road, Ouray CO. February 21,2017
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Maureen O’Driscoll Ouray Public Library, New technologies. January 19, 2016
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Gia Porter, Ironman Triathlete. Montrose CO. April 19, 2016
Porter compete in numerous ‘fun’ competitions, like the Warrior Dash, as well as the famous Ironman, in which she participates with her brother, who has done over 16 Ironman Events. During her presentation, Porter will display her gear, including a ‘tri-ike.’
Click for Story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Yvonne C. Reed, ‘Babies of the Bush’Conserving African wildlife through art. Colorado/Arizona/South Africa. May 20, 2014
Website. (Be sure to turn on your sound!)
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Linda Schmidt, architect. “Building for Success’ Ridgway CO. April 15, 2014.
Liana is an architect with a unique sense of design for high mountain country.
Click for Story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Katie Sickles, Ouray City Administrator’ Ouray CO. March 20, 2018.
Ouray’s new City Administrator is a perfect fit for the job!
Click for Story
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Francie Smiles, San Juan Cancer Center Resource Coordinator for the San Juan Cancer Center. Montrose CO. March 19, 2013
President of Bosom Buddies and a motivational speaker and fundraiser for “Boobs to Bellylafs.”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Erin Stadelman, Asst, Mgr, Ouray County Fairgrounds, Ouray CO. March 21, 2017
Erin went from a California beach kid to living in the mountains and married to a cowboy on Ralph Lauren’s famous Double RL Ranch. “Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for!” Click for story. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Kathy Stickles, Ouray City Administrator, Ouray CO. March 20, 2018
She’s a perfect fit! Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Manette Steele, Minateure. Ridgway, CO. February 20, 2018
Mighty Miniature Horse Therapy Program (MMHTP) is the brain child of Manette Steele.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Ruth Stewart, Ouray County EMS and Mountain Rescue. Ridgway, CO. October 21, 2014
She is a Paramedic with Ouray County Emergency Medical Services and a member of the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team. Whatever you call her, whenever you call her, Ruth Stewart is definitely the woman you want when you have an emergency.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Tammy Stroup, Ridgway Marshall. November 15, 2017
Respect and compassion. Those are this marshall’s watchwords. Tammy is a compassionate woman—which makes her particularly effective in law enforcement.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Winifred Tappan, author. May 17, 2016
A late-bloomer, Wini earned her bachelor’s degree at 50, Master’s Degree at 55, and began authoring books at 87. Written at age 89, ‘A Pilot’s View of World War II’ is her third book. Montrose CO.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Julia Vann, Young ‘Uncommon Woman.’ Ouray CO, January 17, 2017
Headed for a career in math and Quantitative Public Health and Biomath after graduating from Ouray H.S. with over a million dollars in scholarshps. Ouray CO.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
U Valley Vixens, Montrose Roller Derby Team. Montrose CO, February 17, 2015
Founded April 2014, the UVV consists of 20 women. Roller Derby is an international contact sport dominated by all-female amateur teams. Worldwide, there are 301 leagues. Montrose CO.
Click for story.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Darcy Weimer. San Miguel Power Line’wo’man, May 21, 2013
Darcy is the first – and only – female lineman for San Miguel Power. Established in 1938 as a rural cooperative, the association provides power to all or parts of seven counties in southwestern Colorado including Ouray.