Bob and Cherie Erler are the 2022 recipients of the Keeper of the Keys of the Forest, awarded annually by We Are Black Forest. The award began in 1960 to honor community members for service work performed for Black Forest and its citizens.There are seven keys the community deems important to Black Forest: ï Storms and blue skies ï The changing beauty of the trees and meadows ï The storehouse of wildflowers ï Birdsongs and music of the waters ï Squirrel nests and small animal homes ï Deer trails and antelope playgrounds ï The spirit of neighborlinessThe Erlers encompass the spirit of neighborliness. Service to the community has been a longstanding passion for them. They are both active in their church and serve on the boards of the Black Forest Community Club, the Black Forest Community Foundation and Black Forest Together, an organization that worked on recovery from the 2013 Black Forest fire. ìThe labor involved in mitigation and cleanup from the fire was heavy work,î Cherie Erler said. ìWe had teams who did heavy equipment, tree diggers, reforestation and cleanup. It has dissolved as weíve met our mission.îThe Erlers married in Black Forest in 1990 and have raised three children in the area. Bob Erler settled in Black Forest after serving as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. After he retired from the Air Force, he ran his own law practice, served as an El Paso County magistrate and retired from civilian life in 2022. Cherie Erler was born and raised on a ranch southeast of Colorado Springs. She has owned her own tax service for the past 20 years.Erler said her work as a 4-H leader for 10 years was the most meaningful to her. She describes herself as an advocate of 4-H because it teaches children about responsibility, leadership and community service. ìThey learn a lot about reliance on each other,î she said. ìItís a child-focused organization Ö . Itís not just about responsibility but another living creature relies on them, and they are responsible for the performance of that creature.îBob Erler was a scoutmaster for two Boy Scout troops over 18 years. He continues to act as a liaison between the Black Forest Community Club and Boy Scout Troop 70. He uses his legal expertise to help organizations obtain nonprofit status as well as assist with any legal work needed. ìWorking with these organizations has been a nice job,î he said. ìYou get to know the people in the community in different capacities.îA sense of community is important to the Erlers. ìItís connection ó church and scouts and the community club,î Bob Erler said. ìI have a responsibility and through the different organizations I hook all these organizations together to help the community out.î Cherie Erler said, ìThatís why it was so wonderful raising our children here. For them, to be in the Scouts and in 4-H and in the community club, they got to know the adults in the community. Theyíve learned respect. And it wasnít just mom and dad they were exposed to; it was all adults of all different ages, and they learned a lot from them.îBob and Cherie Erler said they feel honored to receive the award, adding that the community is strong because it is multi-faceted. ìI think the Keeper of the Keys concept brings that to light,î Cherie Erler said. ìItís not just one thing. A lot of people overlook that we have these things that are for the preservation of the community, which is not just the people. Community includes vegetation and wildlife. That is Black Forest.îNomination process for Keeper of the KeysA Black Forest resident can nominate another resident who has lived in Black Forest for at least 10 years for the Keeper of the Keys award. Nominations must be done in writing and include a short biography, photo and a demonstration of volunteer service in areas involving community, lifestyle, environment or education. A committee of prior Keepers of the Keys recipients reviews the nominees and selects six finalists. Residents of Black Forest vote from the six finalists. Visit†https://weareblackforest.com/keeper-of-the-keys-2022/ for more information.
