about southwest colorado humanities roundtable
The Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable (SWCOHRT) is a volunteer cooperative, with 15 member organizations.
The Roundtable’s mission is to:
- advance the members’ shared goal to produce humanities-related community programming;
- preserve scarce financial resources to increase each organization’s ability to reach and influence a greater number of people through programs that are calendar-coordinated; and,
- share marketing of events and programs.
The Roundtable began with six partners and has grown to 15 members. We welcome new partners and encourage interested organizations to contact us. Jointly, we produce a month-long series of programs each September known as History Live! to engage Southwest Colorado communities in high-quality, engaging humanities content on topics of interest to our Anglo, Latino, Native, and rural audiences.
our board
Florence Mason, President
Florence Mason is the President of Southwest Humanities Roundtable. Through her company, F. Mason and Associates, she provided consultant services to public, academic, special libraries, government organizations and corporations in 40 states. She founded Music in the Mountains in Durango, and created the organizational plan for Durango Public Library.
Darcy Poletti, Vice President
Darcy Poletti is the Assistant Director of Pine River Library in Bayfield. Her love of reading blossomed during her childhood in Alaska and Montana. When she’s not at the library, she spends her free time running, cooking, and roaming the mountains.
Shelley Walchak, Secretary
Shelley Walchak retired as Director of the Pine River Library. Retirement has her involved in several non-profits, and her passions include fly-fishing, travel, reading, and the arts.
Jeff Susor, Treasurer
Jeff Susor brings a background in fundraising and nonprofit management to his role as a Board member of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable. Jeff currently serves as the Executive Director of The Powerhouse, Durango’s science center.
Susan Cimburek, Board Member
Susan Cimburek is the Director of the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum and has worked in humanities and related fields throughout her 30-year career. She is a dedicated historian and educator who loves traveling the world to explore new peoples, places, cultures, and times.
Henry Gonner burning old records at the Durango Steam Generating Plant, May 6, 1948. Photo courtesy of the Center of Southwest Studies, Fort Lewis College.
our board
Florence Mason, President
Florence Mason is the President of Southwest Humanities Roundtable. Through her company, F. Mason and Associates, she provided consultant services to public, academic, special libraries, government organizations and corporations in 40 states. She founded Music in the Mountains in Durango, and created the organizational plan for Durango Public Library.
Darcy Poletti, Vice President
Darcy Poletti is the Assistant Director of Pine River Library in Bayfield. Her love of reading blossomed during her childhood in Alaska and Montana. When she’s not at the library, she spends her free time running, cooking, and roaming the mountains.
Shelley Walchak, Secretary
Shelley Walchak retired as Director of the Pine River Library. Retirement has her involved in several non-profits, and her passions include fly-fishing, travel, reading, and the arts.
Jeff Susor, Treasurer
Jeff Susor brings a background in fundraising and nonprofit management to his role as a Board member of the Southwest Colorado Humanities Roundtable. Jeff currently serves as the Executive Director of The Powerhouse, Durango’s science center.
Susan Cimburek, Board Member
Susan Cimburek is the Director of the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum and has worked in humanities and related fields throughout her 30-year career. She is a dedicated historian and educator who loves traveling the world to explore new peoples, places, cultures, and times.
