If you haven't considered a stint as "Editor-of-the-Month" of your Aspen Rotary Club newsletter, I urge you to immediately begin consideration. Aside from the fact that you'll be less productive at work for 30 days, spend countless hours on YouTube and Google researching stuff you heard at a meeting, and obsessively check "open" rates to make sure people are reading the good stuff you write, it's a lot of fun and quite educational. In just two short weeks, I've had reason to research Three Kings Day, the origin of The Four-Way Test, luxury living barges, singing Rotary Clubs, German automotive companies and Navy football facts. The benefits are really too many to name here.
In this Issue:
- The History of the Four-Way Test, plus bonus videos of Japanese Sumo Wrestlers.
- What would you do with $239? If you're in debt for not manning The Salvation Army kettle, you could pay that off, plus have pocket change.
- Naughty & Nice List. Who opens the Rotary newsletter? And who doesn't give a rats.
Speaker: Craig Melville, Professor of the Four-Way Test, Comedian, Fire Captain, Lodge Owner and Master Magician (he can pull a presentation out of his hat that engages Rotarians in a Deepak Chopra-like discussion about accountability and self worth) wowed the crowd with his diverse and cultural discussion about the Four-Way Test. We watched Japanese Sumo Wrestlers sing the Four-Way Test (at least that's what Craig said they were singing - here's the link as proof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDZ9t4X31Tc), high school students relate the Four-Way Test to applying for college, and John F. Kennedy's speech announcing the death of Martin Luther King (here's a link to the YouTube video if you haven't seen that speech, or just want to listen again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoKzCff8Zbs). But the real crux of the 4-Way Test lesson was about who invented the test and how it came about.
In the early 1930s, Herbert J. Taylor set out to save the Club Aluminum Products Company from bankruptcy. His recovery plan started with changing the ethical climate of the company. In his own words: "I searched through many books for the answer to our need, but the right phrases eluded me, so I did what I often do when I have a problem I can't answer myself: I turn to the ONE who has all the answers (which Peter Waanders incorrectly guessed was his wife). I leaned over my desk, rested my head in my hands and prayed. After a few moments, I looked up and reached for a white paper card. Then I wrote down the twenty four words that had come to me:
1. Is it the truth? 2. Is if fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? I called it The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do."
In the 1940s, when Taylor was an International Director of Rotary, he offered the Four-Way Test to the organization. It was adopted and has never been changed. Also, he saved the aluminum company.
Announcements:Jeanette Darnauer thanked Steve Wickes for championing the newsletter project and Roger Nicholson for being the first editor-of-the-month. Jeanette plugged the PR Committee and reminded everyone that there are plenty of jobs for people interested in contributing to the marketing and publication relations of the club.
Guests: Rick Check, a guest of Mike Kosdrosky, is relocating from Philly to Aspen after a successful business career. Mike pointed out that Rick's passions are his dogs and his horses. Rick made sure to add his wife to the list. Frank McGuire visited from the Bahamas where he is a member of the South-East Nassau Club (they have a very active Facebook Page, by the way. See, more things you know when you become editor-of-the-month).
1.28.16 - Debra Breen, President and CEO, Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.
2.4.16 -Todd Musselman. Entrepreneur, motivational speaker, leader and mentor. Todd combines his background as a business owner, sales representative, and professional musician to produce strong, measurable results in the fields of organizational training, motivational speaking and executive/life coaching. To learn more about Todd before he arrives in Aspen, visit http://www.toddmusselman.net.
2/11/16: Gena Buhler, Executive Director, Wheeler Opera House.
You may not realize that the Aspen Rotary Club President Elect position is also, by default, the Speaker Chair. As you can imagine, this leaves a lot to do for the man or woman in this role. So, if you have any amazing speaker ideas, contact Speaker Chair/President Elect Craig Melville at craig@themelvilles.com.
2.12.16 - Board Meeting. Join President John and the rest of the board for what is always a fun and informative meeting. The meeting will take place at 7:30 a.m. in the Sister Cities room in City Hall.
UPDATE: June 10 & 11. Aspen Camp Clean-up Weekend.
Roger Nicholson was happy to meet visiting Rotarian Frank McGuire because it turns out they have a mutual friend in the Carolinas (I missed whether it was North or South because Tom Clark was talking). Craig Melville reported that 25 ladies from the Aspen Camp descended on Mountain Chalet when their previously scheduled meeting place fell through. Ever the gracious host, he bartended for them and reported he had a fabulous time despite not speaking the language and having no idea what transpired. Grayson Waanders reported through her assistant, Peter Waanders, that it was Share Day at School. Peter Waanders also shared a fantastic story of Rotary in Action. He received a late-night call last week from someone in need of a bed for a home reorganization taking place for a man who was having difficulty walking. Peter reported that with three phone calls to Rotarians, it took 19 minutes for Craig Melville to offer a bed from Mountain Chalet and for arrangements for delivery to be made the following morning. Maurice Emmer reported that he was happy to hear the "snow plow guy" at 5:30 a.m. Ruth Kruger is happy to be home after her travels took her to Dubai earlier this month. Jeanette Darnauer thanked the community for its support of her "dream 29 years ago," which turned into the Hall of Fame Awards. The celebration honors the people who have helped to create who we are. Mike Taets is happy he's not the only local Rotarian going to Guatemala. He'll be joined by Tom Clark, John Keleher, Christina King and others. Steve Wickes said that the best thing the club can do to thank the editors-of-the-month is to open the newsletter. He also reminded the club that big brother is watching. He knows who opens the newsletter and who doesn't. He suggested Rotarians get on the "nice" list instead of the "naughty" one.
On January 13, 2016, Rotary International announced $35 million in grants to support the global efforts to end polio.
In 2015, only two countries - Afghanistan and Pakistan - report a single strain of the wild poliovirus.
2015 Polio Milestones
Nigeria - the last polio-endemic country in Africa - was removed from the World Health Organization's list of endemic countries in September, following one year without a new case of the wild virus. The last wild polio case anywhere on the African continent was in August 2014.
In September 2015, one of three strains of the wild poliovirus - Type 2 - was certified as eradicated, with no cases since 1999. Type 3 has not been seen anywhere in the world since November 2012.
Pakistan, which continues to report the majority of the world's polio cases, reduced its caseload by 82 percent in 2015 over the previous year.
Funds Needed
Experts estimate that $1.5 billion is needed to sustain the polio eradication progress. Without full funding and political commitment, the disease could return to previously polio-free countries.
Rotary's current funds will support efforts to end polio in Pakistan ($11.4 million) and Afghanistan ($6 million).
Public Relations Committee: The PR Committee will meet in early February to discuss changes to the Aspen Rotary Club website, upcoming editor-of-the-month assignments, social media and a host of other marketing and communication topics. Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting and anyone can get involved. There are lots of jobs to be done. For more information about the meeting, stay tuned to your newsletter, or contact Jeanette Darnauer at jeanette@darnauer.com.
Todd Brewer - Director of Operations, Vail Resorts
Todd and his wife, Jill, moved to the valley last year when Todd became the Director of Operations for Vail Resorts Retail Group on Aspen and Telluride. Todd and Jill sold their Minneapolis-based business to Vail Resorts in 2013. The Brewers have four "mostly" grown kids - Sara, 25, lives in Atlanta; Stephanie, 24, lives in Denver; Paul, 23, lives in Bozeman, MT and Nick, 21, lives in Minneapolis. Jill works for Obermeyer sports as the Midwest Sales Representative, which allows her to travel back to the Midwest to visit friends and family.
Todd's first exposure to Rotary was in 1978 when a family friend introduced him to Olli Puikkonen, a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Finland who is a good friend of Todd's to this day. Todd joined the St. Louis Park Sunrise Rotary Club in 2007 and served on the board from 2009-2014. He also chaired the volunteer committee, speaker committee and served as President from 2010-2011.
Todd and Jill are avid skiers and outdoors lovers who are enjoying life in the RFV. Todd was very involved in their community in Minneapolis, running a family business that was established in 1895. He served on the board of a regional Chamber of Commerce and served on local nonprofits that served kids in need. He also worked on local trails, with bike advocacy groups and on Nordic ski trail expansions. Todd and Jill both loved - and miss - coaching Special Olympics skiing.
Todd grew up in southeastern Minnesota, went to college at Montana State University and skied on the MSU Nordic Ski Team. After college, he taught English and studied in Kunamoto, Japan. He has lived in Seattle, Winchester, VA and Minneapolis working in sales and marketing in the building materials industry before going to work for Jill's family business, Hoigaard's, in 2002.
The Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Aspen.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
