"If you want people to work harder and achieve more, give them a voice in setting their own goals."

This is a quote from a little book titled "No Chairs Make for Short Meetings, and Other Business Maxims From Dad," by Richard Rybolt. This saying seemed appropriate after listening to the first presidential press conference with President Barack Obama.

Republicans are complaining they have no say in the newest stimulus plan, but quite the opposite is true. The president has tried to include them in every step. In fact, at his news conference last week, in answer to a reporter's question, he said the Republicans were very happy with the stimulus plan in the beginning.

After that, it must be that some of the die hard conservatives suddenly realized they were saying good things about a Democratic proposal, so had to immediately back off and find nothing but fault with the plan. Hence, much partisanship ensued putting the passing of the bill in doubt.

It passed the Senate on Feb. 9, but now goes back to the house with $100 billion removed. It still faces a tough fight, but maybe the two sides can bend and try to put Americans first.

The president did listen to the other party and tried to let them set their goal. They could hardly expect to win the war, but they could have won some battles, which actually they did with the reduction that the Senate took out. By the time this is printed, the fight should be over.

Over and over, the president has said that he wants a cooperative spirit in the House and the Senate. This has been part of his campaign for the last two years, but somehow the message isn't clear to people with the Rs after their names.

It is hard to know how this is received by the Republicans back home, especially if their are ones that are really struggling to hang on to their house, or have lost their job. Will they support their “electee” or think their representative is helping them, or that they should have gone along with the original plan? Next election cycle should give the answer.

Feb. 7 was evidently a popular day to schedule something. It is so hard to go to four or five things in one day, so one has to pick and choose. Some of this is timing. For instance, I got my Audubon seed sale letter in December. Then the Colorado Trail Foundation's board of directors meeting was scheduled way last year in the spring. Other activities came along one after another.

Then it was time for the Douglas County Central Committee meeting with its biannual elections. Then we got notice at the last minute that Gov. Bill Ritter, Sen. Bennet and a third person, I can't remember, were going to be there. Certainly, I wanted to go, but my time was already reserved for the board of directors meeting and picking up my bird seed. Maybe cloning doesn't sound so undesirable after all.

At the trail foundation board meeting, I realized people that go up to work on a Colorado Trail crew really have no idea how much effort goes into setting up that crew. Keeping the foundation going takes a enormous amount of energy, time and dedication. The Colorado Trail Foundation is run by all volunteers except for two office managers.

The board of directors is all volunteer as well as the trail crews, crew leaders, organizers, and coordinators. At the board meeting we discuss finances, office management, goals and are they being met, contributions from "Friends" (not called members because of a legal technicality), legal issues, the news letter, the web site, how to reach more people, condition of the trail, reroutes, the crew schedule for the year, food for the crews, classes at the cabin in Lake City, the adopters for trail sections and their needs, relations with the U.S. Forest Service and the Continental Divide Trail people, how are the new Trek guides doing (it is going great, very popular), setting the calendar for the year, and the list goes on. Yes, it is a long work list for all the people involved. The day is long with the conversations going on during the breaks and lunch. Then there will be a retreat for the board of directors in April to discuss especially sticky items or things that just need further consideration.

Summer is coming soon so people are already setting their time to be up in the mountains, helping keeping the trail in good condition for the day hikers, the backpackers, the thru-hikers, the equestrians and the mountain bikers. It is 500 miles from Denver to Durango, with great views, great exercise, and great, very dedicated volunteers that keep it in great shape.

If you would like to know more about it, there will be a program at the REI store in Park Meadows at 7 p.m. April 14. You can also go to the Web site www.ColoradoTrail.org, or e-mail ctf@coloradotrail.org or call 303-384-3729. This is a Colorado treasure. See you on The Trail.

Tune in next week for the new Douglas County Democratic Party officers.

Pat Nagorka is a 35-year resident of Douglas County and a longtime Democrat.