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Speaker: Ross King, Bestselling Historian Author. TIME Magazine said, "King has made a career of elucidating crucial episodes in the history of art and architecture." King specializes in Italian, French and Canadian art and history, but his work includes two novels, a biography of Niccolò Machiavelli and a collection of Leonardo da Vinci's fables, jokes and riddles.

As a biographer, King fancies himself the type of writer who tells the story of a person - the details of their life so that readers have hope of finding a kindred spirit and another being to use as a human yardstick by which their life can be measured. "If there is one thing that all of my biographies have in common, it is the almost insuperable difficulties every person has overcome," King said. 

As a side note, King referenced Michelangelo by his nickname, "Il Divino." Tom Clark said that he, too, is often referred to as "Il Divino."

So how does a bestselling author with a PhD in 18th Century English Literature practice his craft? In an 8 x 10 shed in the garden behind the home he shares with his wife, Melanie, in Woodstock, England.

 

Visiting Rotarians: Gordon Kennedy (former District Governor), Madera/Sunrise Club, CA; Carol Kennedy, Madera/Sunrise Club, CA; Bruce Goldon (District Governor), Austin, TX; David Grimes, North Carolina; Rick Carlson, Carbondale; Ed Queenan - Carbondale; Donna Genet - Miami Dadeland Pinecrest, FL; Susan O'Neal - Phoenix and D.C.

 

Guests: Joe Amato (Stefan Reveal); Adriana Martinez (exchange student); Mark Uhlfelder (host father); Julie Morris (speaker Laura Roosevelt's guest).

 

Maurice Emmer acknowledged Mark and Anne Uhlfelder for being the first host family for Adriana who arrived two weeks ago from Madrid, Spain.

 

Mike Taets updated the club that Cooperative for Education will be the program for the Sept. 15 meeting. There will also be a reception for CoEd, all valley Rotarians and major donors from 5 - 7  p.m. on the 15th at Mountain Chalet. Drinks will be served (nobody actually said that, but it seems like a good way to get people to show up). CoEd is the organization partnered with Rotary clubs worldwide to promote literacy in Guatemala through the Guatemala Literacy Project.

 

 

 

9/1 - Teresa Anson, Rotary District Governor.

9/8 - Aspen Youth Exchange Students.

9/15 - Representatives from Cooperative for Education will speak about the Guatemala Literacy Project (see "For Your Calendar" for information about a reception on this evening, too).

9/22 - Jeff Cheney. This was the only information in the upcoming speaker email. So, I took it upon myself to Google and Facebook stalk Jeff Cheney's. I found a Jeff Cheney who owns The Cheney Group in North Texas and occupies seven of the top eight Google search spots (so he is clearly a savvy Search Engine Optimization marketer), but I settled on the Jeff Cheney who owns the eighth spot on Google and is running for 9th Judicial District Attorney this fall. That seems political and not who would be a normal speaker, so maybe he's talking about fly fishing or something. Or maybe it's not even him. In any event, the speaker is one Jeff Cheney. You'll find out more when you come to the meeting.

 

Tues., Aug. 30 - Ducky Derby Debriefing (Triple D). 4:30 p.m. at Mountain Chalet. Everyone who has thoughts, ideas, comments or criticisms of this year's event should plan to attend. Drinks will be served (nobody said that, but your editor finds that meeting attendance increases with such promises).

 

Thurs., Sept. 15 - CoEd Reception. 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Mountain Chalet. All Rotarians are invited. 

 

Aspen Camp Happy Bucks were plentiful. Bennett Bramson said that Ducky Derby time is his happiest time of the year. He was happy that it was successful and offered congratulations to Chris and Tom and everyone he got to work with on the mall. Bennett also shared his gratitude about living in a place as beautiful as Aspen. He and his daughter, Dara, spent time working at a relief distribution center in Louisiana helping the tens of thousands of victims of the recent flooding who were all lined up waiting for help with basic essentials. He reminded all of us to be happy for what we have here in paradise.

A visitor from Austin, TX said he was happy to be here where "it's not hot as hell."

Mike Taets was happy that he won the raffle. 

Maurice Emmer is happy that his son Jackson and Olivia are finally getting married on Monday.

Craig Melville had $10 happy bucks to buy his way out of saying something political. He is happy for politicians who stay away from disaster zones.

Todd Brewer: Five happy bucks for snow on the mountains yesterday.

Dan Johns: Gave kudos to the team that installed (and removed) the Duck ramp on the No Problem Bridge.

Peter Waanders: Didn't have any money for his comments, so they are being hijacked until he contributes to the Aspen Camp.

 

Updates from President Craig Melville following the August Board Meeting:

 

Ruth Kruger and Rob Ittner have requested leaves of absence, so be sure to check in on them here and there until we see them regularly at Rotary again.