Mic'd Up

^{Collaboration is the only way forward for small nonprofits}

“Telluride in the ‘70s was as close to a classless society as it would ever be. If you had an idea or wanted
to start an organization or an event, you just did it. There were always some others who were also
interested and would help you. The many commissions, rules and regulations which now govern the
town had not yet been invented. Money was not the highest priority to most people in town at that
time. Everything was new. Opportunities abounded.”

Mavis Bennett

This is an excerpt from Bennett’s book “Romancing the Radio” that documents the first 15 years of
KOTO’s existence. I refer to it as “The KOTO Bible” because, let’s be real, memories from those years are
a bit… hazy.

Bennett’s words are also on one of the first wall panels you read as you navigated the Telluride
Historical Museum’s annual exhibit — “A Rare Medium, Well Done: 50 Years of KOTO.”

The exhibit opened in June 2025 and closed this April. So… hopefully you navigated it?

Curated by Molly Daniel, the collection was an extraordinary tour through time, illustrating the evolution
of KOTO as well as the community it has served since 1975. Amid the framed concert posters, KOTO
Beer Booth T-shirts and old newspaper clippings are digitized news stories and discussions from
broadcasts past.

As I circled the exhibit one more time before it closed, I took note of a theme that’s been at the forefront of my mind lately — the “lift-all-boats” ethos. It’s something we talk about a lot at KOTO; how collective success benefits everyone. Granted, we just lost a bunch of money so collaboration is really the only way forward for us.

And you know what? We’re better for it.

In 1983, when KOTO upgraded from the Miners Union to a converted garage at 207 N. Pine Street,
volunteers pitched in with their time, skills and materials to transform the humble building into a
thriving community hub. KOTO has always been the little radio station that could, and Telluride has
always been the community making sure it would.

It can sometimes feel like it’s everyone for themselves, yet there are so many examples that prove
otherwise.

The museum (literally) archiving 50 years of KOTO history is one. They shined the brightest light on the
unique story of this organization — one that’s a testament to the power of collaboration.

“There were always some others who were also interested and would help you.”

There still are. Thank you to the Telluride Historical Museum for reminding us.