RMFU Leadership Retreats: Stronger Together

This year, RMFU took a fresh approach to our leadership retreats — and it made all the difference. Instead of one statewide event, we hosted four regional retreats: one each for Eastern Colorado, Western Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. This new model helped us connect with more chapter leaders than ever before and gave people a chance to build stronger ties with leaders in their areas.

The retreats weren’t just about business (though we covered plenty of that too). We focused on leadership skills, community building, grassroots organizing skills, and — maybe most importantly — self-care. Through workbooks, discussions, and a few much-needed laughs, we spent time talking about how to take care of ourselves and our communities. After all, great leadership starts with showing up whole, not burned out.

Each retreat had its flavor. In Western Colorado, leaders enjoyed exploring the Roaring Fork Valley with a chapter social, hot springs visit, and local farm tours.  In Wyoming, leaders stayed together in a big Airbnb, shared home-cooked meals, and even made time to soak in the famous hot springs of Thermopolis. In New Mexico, members gathered at the Synergia retreat center in Santa Fe and attended a soil erosion control workshop. Across all four retreats, the common thread was simple: people showed up, supported each other, and left stronger than they arrived.

This year’s leadership retreats reminded us what’s possible when we invest in ourselves and each other — and the future of RMFU is looking stronger than ever.