With sadness and genuine appreciation and friendship the club honored the passing of Charter Aspen Rotarian and Aspen legend Ralph Melville this week. Most of this week's meeting was spent remembering stories about Ralph and what a wonderful person he was.
In this Issue:
-Members remember Ralph
-Executive Director of R. F. Leadership discusses your Emotional Intelligence
Rotarians lost a good friend, and our 45 year-old Rotary Club lost a charter member last week. Ralph had been diagnosed with leukemia 10 years ago, and saw the disease grow more aggressive in the last two years. And yet, as recently as two years ago, Ralph could be seen riding his bicycle with its large front basket to Rotary meetings.
Craig Melville, Ralph's son and president-elect of our club was quoted in the Aspen Daily News, "There is no need to send flowers or gifts in Ralph's memory, if you would like to honor him, please do something kind and loving for someone else. Ralph spent his life being a good man instead of a great one. Some of his personal interests, if you would like to donate in his honor, are Gideons International, Crossroads Church, and Rotary International. Better yet, however, help out some individual who needs it."
A memorial will be held at Crossroads Church of Aspen on March 6 at 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Speaker: Andrea Palm-Porter, Director, Roaring Fork Center for Community Leadership. Andrea spoke about the class her group offers to our community. Key to the class is learning about your Emotional Intelligence and how your emotions are involved in your day to day decisions. The 9 month program stresses your Civic Responsibility and your Civic Engagement. Your Emotional Intelligence is a set of skills that challenges you to engage in dialog and empathize with others. It helps your self awareness and self regulation and common sense social skills. The end result is people who are not so self centered and mindful of others. Graduates are more likely to succeed, can work in changing circumstances and achieve their goals through diplomacy. Since 1988, when it was known as Leadership Aspen, they have helped 718 people, including many current Rotarians. As I listened to her presentation I couldn't help wonder that the world is in such a mess world-wide when here in Aspen we have a program helping so many to "walk a mile in each others' moccasins."
Happy Bucks: John Sarpa remembered Ralph and how he lived the Four-Way Test and how easy it was to work with Ralph when they were first building Snowmass and how Ralph helped him with his comments for his Sky Hotel. Blair Flickinger was happy to hear from Piper Foster in Alaska, Maurice Emmer was happy to know Ralph and all the Melvilles, Craton Burkholder was happy for Kurt Bresnitz's 98th birthday, Roger Nicholson was happy for Steve Wickes' help at the Deaf Camp, Justin Barrow was happy for Ralph's help on the many senior jeep tours, Steve Wickes recounted a story of how Ralph modeled the Four-Way Test as he welcomed the first guests at the Snowmass Mt. Chalet and asked them to share bathrooms. John Keleher was happy to be a part of the upcoming Rotary Guatemala trip, Skip Behrhorst was happy for Ralph and working with him on the new Snowmass ski area, Deborah Breen was happy to be the Susan Lucci of speakers and Craig Melville was very happy for all of the nice stories about his dad Ralph.
Announcements: Kurt Adam honored new Paul Harris Fellows Jon Kelly and Jim DeFrancia and Clarence Blackwell, P. H. Fellow times 7.
President John Ward announced that the March 3rd meeting will be canceled and be replaced by a joint meeting with the Snowmass Rotary Club at the Elk Camp Restaurant on the 2nd. He also announced that Rob Ittner has been nominated to be club president following the term of incoming president Craig Melville.
Guests: Jill Winkler and Shaylee Sullivan
2/25 – Todd Shaver – Bull Market Report
3/3 – No Meeting – Replaced by joint meeting with Snowmass Rotary on Wednesday March 2
3/10 - Deborah Breen – Hospital Update
3/17 – Alan Fletcher – AMFS Update
The meeting on March 3rd is canceled and the club will meet with the Snowmass Rotary Club on March 2 at the Elk Camp Restaurant at 7:00. Foot traffic will get a free pass for the meeting but skiers and riders will need a ticket.
Rotary Club Board Meeting was held on Friday, February 19. A brief summary of the discussions:
-Ducky Derby: The books are being finalized for 2105, and the 2016 Derby is underway.
-Membership: Our membership count, year-to-date, is even. Rotary International's goal is +1; President Ward's goal is +4. Who do you know...?
-Aspen (Deaf) Camp update: Thanks to financial assistance and volunteered expertise from several Rotarians, the Camp is making progress but still faces some critical challenges.
-Alternative Spring Break: Students from local high schools are being invited to spend 5 days at the Aspen Camp during spring break (March 28-April 1). The students will work (painting, clean-up, etc.) and they explore deaf culture and learn American Sign Language. This service learning project is modeled after a very successful "alternative spring break" sponsored by Deborah Breen's former Rotary club in New York. This event is coming up soon and we need the help of Aspen Rotarians to publicize it.
The Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Aspen.
