Meeting Date - 3/24/2016 (Mar 28, 2016)

Volume II, Issue 13, March 29, 2016

In this Issue:

- A Central American Adventure for Rotarians

- Feedback needed on a New Ducky Derby Logo

- 11 Announcements; 9 Happy Bucks

Comments? Rotary News? Send to: AspenRotaryNewsletter@gmail.com
Jeanette Darnauer, Editor-of-the-month

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Quote of the week:

Once you learn to read, you will be forever free. –Frederick Douglas

Guests:

- Ann Harris, Carbondale Rotary and District Foundation Chair

- Chris Peterson, Mt. Sopris Rotary, Assistant Governor

- Ken Robinson, Glenwood Springs Rotary

- Jeff Patterson (Pat Marquis)

- Marion Melville (Craig Melville)

- Jill Winkler (mentee)

- Katie Stookesberry (from March 17 meeting) – associate of speaker Alan Fletcher

(mistakenly omitted from last week's newsletter)

Rotary's Commitment to the Guatemala Literacy Project

Speakers: John Keleher, Skip Behrhorst, Mike Taets, Tom Clark, Craig Melville, Christina King

Six Aspen Rotarians recently spent a life-changing, eye-opening week in Guatemala as part of the Cooperative for Education's (CO-ED) Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP). This is an initiative between Rotary International and CO-ED, whose motto - to end the cycle of poverty - is possible through the help of multiple organizations. GLP is supported by 470 Rotary Clubs who have provided textbooks, computer labs, scholarships and literacy and training programs for two decades.

Some Stats:

3_.5 - the average years of education a child receives
O - how many books a school has (without our help)
$4_.9K- the per capita GDP (US is $45K)
23 - the number of distinct Mayan languages spoken - none recognizable by the other
90% - the number of malnourished children
95% - the amount of surface water that's polluted

Ways Aspen Rotary has helped:

- 25,000 students are using the textbooks in 184 schools

- $16,000 has been leveraged to $70,000 with other Clubs since 2008.

- 350 clean stoves now provide smokeless cooking

- $6,200 bought chlorinators for six villages, allowing for potable water

- The programs teach the teachers how to teach using a textbook.

Women have to endure thick smoke and serious respiratory illnesses with the normal cooking stoves.

Stay tuned next week for information on the history of the Aspen Rotary Club's World Community Service programs. Plus...opportunities available for Aspen Rotarians to help solve the problems in Guatemala!

1. Chris Bendon announced that Clark's Market has stepped up to be the $20,000 title sponsor of the Ducky Derby this August 13! Tom Clark said it's a "privilege and an honor" to do so as his company is undergoing a total "re-imagining of the store." Thank you, thank you, Tom!!

2. Frieda Wallison has stepped in again to chair the Ducky Derby sponsorship committee. Thanks, Frieda!!

3. Christina King said on April 16, Pathfinders and Aspen Strong will be hosting the Forever Love event to help with loss and the grieving process. Information on the Pathfinders website.

4. Christina also said the first National Alcohol Awareness Screening Day will be April 7. Resources available at Aspen Strong's website to see if any issues relate to you.

5. Chris unveiled a draft of a new Ducky Derby logo for the 25th anniversary of DD! He asked for feedback on the new identity.

6. John Engels said the CU Opera program wants to return and is looking at performance venues.

7. Chris Peterson, an assistant District Governor from Glenwood Springs, announced the global district grant management training, April 30 in Grand Junction.

8. March 30th is the last day for our club to commit to send a student to RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Assistance program) on June 10. Call President John to recommend a deserving high school student.

9. The Rotary Roundup is a great opportunity to meet Rotarians from 57 other clubs. It will be June 17-19 in Grand Junction.

10. Ken Robinson from Glenwood and an assistant governor, announced the Million Dollar Dinner, May 21 at the Aspen Meadows in Aspen, to honor all Rotarians willing to pledge $10,000 to The Rotary Foundation in cash or as part of their estate planning. To pledge and to RSVP, contact District Governor Clyde Church <church@ekiva.net> or Sean Allen <sean.allen@rotary.org>. Here is the link to more information on the May 21 Aspen dinner and on TRF's program:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1ct4o3jhivsvg7a/AACTKMdcqDLo8FXUxiOF2W9Sa?dl=0.

11. Roger Nicholson reported that the Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's "Alternative Spring Break" will be March 21-25. BREAKING NEWS UPDATE from Roger: "We have considerable Rotary help this week and things seem to be running along smoothly."

3/31 – Ken Adelman – Politics in America
4/7 – Anne Marie – Letters to Ann: The Korean War 1950-1951

March 21-25: Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing's Alternative Spring Break
April 16: Pathfinders & Aspen Strong Foundation's Forever Love annual grief & loss event
April 7: Aspen Strong's National Alcohol Awareness Screening Day
April 30: Rotary district grant management training meetings in Grand Junction
March 30: Deadline for Aspen Rotary's selection of a student for the June 10 RYLA camp
June 17-19: Rotary Roundup in Grand Junction
May 21: Rotary's Million Dollar Dinner, Aspen Meadows

Justin Barrow took his son Jacob's kindergarten class cross country skiing.
Roger Nicholson would like us to start learning a sign of the week to show support for our alliance with the Aspen Camp of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Roger returned his raffle winnings. (The Queen of Hearts is still in the deck!).
Christina King celebrated her birthday by going to Denver to watch her beloved Philadelphia Flyers play the Avalanche.
Ruth Kruger's whirlwind travels are complete. She spent time in Monaco, France, Italy and Bulgaria as part of her role with the International Board of Realtors.
Blair Flickinger is sure she's going to give birth to an Olympic gymnast!
John Ward is volunteering to coach his son's lacrosse team of 42 eight and nine-year-olds.
Pat Marquis took her grand daughter to the Disney store and the aquarium.
John Keleher helped to serve 820 meals at the St. Patrick's Day dinner at St. Mary's!