Speaker: Michelle Kinder, Executive Director, Momentous Institute. Momentous Institute is a large Texas-based nonprofit with a 90 year history of building and repairing social emotional health with children and their families. 7,000 people are served directly each year through comprehensive therapeutic services as well as through a state-of-the-art laboratory school for children growing up in poverty.
Sobering statistics: 4,000 kids are arrested every day in the U.S. Five children commit suicide every day. The two key levers for lifting youth are, according to Michelle, safe relationships and self-regulation.
Michelle was in Aspen as the keynote speaker for the "Changing Minds, Changing Lives Symposium" hosted by Christina King's Aspen Strong Foundation.
Guest: Liz Simon, mother of Bill Simon.
Your Rotary Board Meeting was held on Friday, October 14. (see below)
President Craig Melville reminded Rotarians that one of his goals this year is to increase our donations to the Rotary Foundation by $10,000.
Have you ever considered attending the Rotary Youth Exchange Student interviews? Maurice Emmer and Peter Waanders both gave first-hand reports of how inspiring this weekend meeting is. RYE interviews are December 2,3,4 this year. Contact Maurice if you would like to attend all or part.
Maurice Emmer complimented Michelle Kinder for being "one of the best speakers in recent memory" at our Rotary meetings. In addition, her PowerPoint and videos displayed without a hitch - another rarity!
October and November are bring-a-guest-for-free months at Rotary!
October 20: Lee Bycel, highly acclaimed moderator at the Aspen Institute. An American Reform rabbi, rabbinic educator and social activist. Former Executive Director of the Robert Redford Institute.
October 27: Lindsay Lofaro, Executive Director, The Buddy Program
November 3: Patti Cummings, Executive Director, Court Apppointed Special Advocates
November 10: Kathy Hegberg, Founder of FocusedKids
Mike Taets won the raffle - for the second week in a row. Mike did not win the jackpot - for the second week in a row. Llywd Ecclestone is just back from Florida; he brought us a Rotary banner from the Rotary Club of West Palm Beach.
Jon Kelly and Steve Wickes echoed each other that our Club can be proud of the assistance we gave to the Deaf Camp last year. First we gave them financial support and free labor, which they needed. Now we have hit the "pause button" with our support, showing them the "tough love" in hopes that they will get their financial affairs in order.
Another first: an emotion-packed poetry reading by Todd Shaver! (Actually Todd recited the lyrics to Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" in honor of the artist's recent Nobel prize in Literature.)
"Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
..."
The Rotary Club Board of Directors met Friday, October 14 at the Mt. Chalet.
Sadly, three resignations were accepted: Steve Stunda is moving out of state for family reasons; Jennifer Allen is moving to Dallas; Don Westerlind has already moved to Grand Junction.
Discussion highlights: A committee was formed to look into possible alternative locations for breakfast meetings. Discussion on a holiday party for December; the party is tentatively planned for the second week of December. A discussion about another Rotary-sponsored "Alternative Spring Break." Last year this high school program was held at the Deaf Camp.
The Board also discussed where to direct "Happy Bucks;" nothing decided at this time. Any suggestions?
The Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Aspen.
