- Green was the color of the day
Comments? Rotary News? Send to: AspenRotaryNewsletter@gmail.com
Jeanette Darnauer, Editor-of-the-month
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Speaker:Alan Fletcher
President and CEO of the Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS)
This is Alan's 30th yr of speaking to Rotary Clubs around country.
Here are some highlights from his talk.
The total cost of the new campus and its 14 buildings will be $80 million. The first buildings will open Memorial Day and continue until all are completed. A large rehearsal hall will be "an acoustic marvel." Construction = 100,000 sq ft, built in 280 days with 200 workers/day, now working 7 days/week!
AMFS has ramped up its educational efforts in the Valley. 200 kids are in their classical music program. They offer beginning strings program, guitar, choir, free lessons, cheap rentals. One-half of the children receive scholarships.
This summer, students will come from 40 different countries. There will be 400 + events in 8 weeks. AMFS will partner with the LA Philharmonic in a national children’s orchestra. The Pittsburg Symphony will perform Aug 23, 24, 25, with Pincas Zuckerman as soloist. Renee Fleming will open the Sunday series on July 3, sing her first opera role at the Wheeler, and do master classes as artist in residence. Midori will be here for first time in many years.
The Science of Music will be offered again with Aspen Science Center. You'll see a new logo as part of their branding project. They wished to be seen as more progressive and international. AMFS is making direct contact with the great music schools in China where 50 million children are studying classical piano. AMFS also has relationships with music schools in Berlin, Moscow, Israel, UK.
GUESTS:
Ashley Opp of the Sky Hotel/Group Sales Manager (Meredith Maaske)
Norm Bacheldor (Maurice Emmer)
Barbara Pitchford (Steve Wickes)
Jill Winkler - mentee
Michael Miracle – a potential member (sponsor, David Clark)
Katie Stookesberry – associate of Alan Fletcher
St. Patrick's Day cookies greeted Rotarians Thursday, thanks to Lorraine!
1. Shining Stars
As organizer Susan Gomes thanked the Rotarians for their contributions to the Shining Stars dinner, she noted it was a huge success that was hailed as "the kids favorite meal of the week". The 200 people served was a record. Rotarians provided the grilling along with 30 salads and desserts. The kids talked the most about those salads. "I just love this event," exclaimed Susan!
2.Roger Nicholson announced a change in the Rotarians Deaf Camp work day clean up weekend from June to May 21 and May 22.
3. Guest Ashley Orr announced a Beer vs. Spirit benefit dinner, Wednesday, March 23 at the Sky Hotel at 6:30pm.Aspen Brewing and Woody Creek will be serving a beer and a cocktail on each course and try to get you to vote for their selection. The event will raise money for the O’Brien School for the Maasai in Sanya Station, Tanzania. Info and tickets through Ashley Opp, 429-7816 orashley.opp@theskyhotel.com.
4. John Keleher announced that March 17 would be the 130th annual St. Patrick's Day dinner!
(left) Long-term Rotarian Jack Reese greeted people at the entry to Thursday's St. Patrick's Day Dinner at St. Mary's Church.
5. This news from Robin Smith on Sunday: "Sadly, we had to cancel the Rotary Club's High School Speech contest Saturday due to the low response rate." Since the few kids who did sign up were pretty bummed, Robin is going to work with them to try to re-schedule if she can garner more support and participation from their peers. So Rotarians, if you know kids who might be interested, please let Robin know!
4/7 – Anne Marie – Letters to Ann: The Korean War (1950-1951s)
May 21-22 - Rotarians Deaf Camp work day clean up weekend
Happy Bucks!
Peter Waanders observed 10 elk Thursday AM in the new "Amy's (Amy Margerum's) Meadow" on the campus.
Kathy Klug thanked Steve Seyffert for chairing the scholarship committee. She also gave John Keleher a St Patrick's Day button in honor of her grandfather who used to defy the racial slur of his day by saying "Irish Need Apply."
Maurice Emmer expressed gratitude for our host families.
Steve Seyffert was happy for last week's powder days!
Rotary Scholarships Committee
Rotary Club of Aspen has been awarding three $12,000 high school scholarships per year for many years - two for Aspen and one for Basalt. The Scholarship Committee will be meeting frequently to interview applicants and select the winners. Kathy Klug (high school counselor) said Rotary's scholarships are among the most significant. Aspen High School is having its scholarship awards ceremony early on April 21 - because students have to declare their colleges by May 1st - so Chair Steve Seyffert requested some immediate support from committee members. Anyone interested in joining the committee should contact Steve.
Rotary Youth Exchange
The following endorsement of the program was sent to our RYE Committee by our outbound exchange student, Melanie Doyle.
“Participating in doing a year abroad with Rotary Youth Exchange is something that has changed my life forever. I decided to do a year abroad because I wanted to explore the world and see what else was out there. Experience a different culture, learn a new language, meet new people, and live a new life. Being here I've learned so much about myself, but also so much about the world. One of the amazing parts of Rotary Youth Exchange is the fact that I have had the chance to meet people and other exchange students from all over the world. There is something special that brings exchange students together, we all have the need for adventure and experience. It's not easy to get up and leave your life and everything you know to move to a country where you know nothing at all. There are many challenges, but every one of them is worth it. Doing a year abroad "isn't a year of your life, it's a life in a year."” – Melanie Doyle
Accepting his blue badge at Thursday's Rotary meeting, Mike Kosdrosky expressed his appreciation for the value of relationships as he thanked his sponsor, Head Duck Chris Bendon, who has already tapped Chris as Deputy Duck! "I'm excited to be part of the Club," he said. Mike hails from Ohio where he was involved in economic development with the state government, moving to Aspen 18 months ago from a Denver housing organization to become the Executive Director of the Aspen Pitkin Housing Authority. Welcome, Mike!
The Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Aspen.
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