Jon Kelly opened our meeting with a few comments about the Olympics as they started this week. According to historical documents, the games can be traced back to 776 BC. "They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 A.D. that all such "pagan cults" be banned."
It is the 80th anniversary of Jesse Owens' victory in the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany.
As of last week, the US had won 2189 medals, with the addition of the 12 won so far, we are up to 2201**as of press time
Speaker: Head Duck Chris Bendon went over some details on selling ducks, offering up some Bennett-isms "To heck with the Kentucky Derby, this is the Ducky Derby", "If you win, I will personally fly your prize out to you" among other quick-witted ways to engage your potential duck buyer. Always go for the packs, most people will opt for the middle of the road option.
Maurice reminded the room that online sales are a good way to extend your reach for duck sales. He resent his email with directions for set up.
Guests: Mark Geller, visiting Rotarian from Plano, TX, Donna Genet is back with us from Miami-Dade Pinecrest, Shaun Hathaway (Ashton Hewitt)
Race Day: August 13, 2016 - Title Sponsor: Clark's Market
Please check your email for Susan's note with your Ducky Derby day of assignment. Please respond to her and your chair with any issues or comments. Duck sales are strong, but we are behind last year due to the shorter window at the tent in town, however the online sales are up. The youth groups are really doing a great job with sales.
This year, AYPA will partner with us to supply some volunteers for the beer tent/trash pick up. It will be great to have that extra help and we are looking forward to engaging these young professionals and graduating them to future members of our club. We will have beer from Aspen Brewing Company, DJ Dylan will be playing music. We will also be sharing the park with the over 500 runners from the Aspen Backcountry Marathon and Half Marathon. They will finish their race in the park between 10:30am and 2pm at the latest, this is a pretty brutal race. This should liven up the joint a bit in terms of numbers!
Thursday, August 11 there will be NO breakfast meeting as we will have the annual stickering party for the Ducky Derby. Please meet at the Sanitation District (565 N Mill St, Aspen, CO 81611). It is down past Clark's on a little road to the left, past the stop sign. Once you turn onto the road, you will see the sign for the location. Make sure to bring a chair and a knife or another tool with which to remove the stickers from the ducks. Come one, come all, bring friends! If you have not replied to Susan, please do so so she can organize the proper amount of food. Please make sure to clean up after yourself so that the folks that work at the Sanitation District do not show up to a mess on Friday morning.
Saturday, August 13, Ducky Derby: All Rotarians report to Rio Grande Park by 9am. (Some committees need to show up earlier.)
Sunday, August 14: Welcome our new exchange student Adriana at the Aspen airport, she arrives at 10:44am
Thursday, September 8: Rotary breakfast. Both of our "rebounding" exchange students will attend at present.
Blair Flickinger had her baby! Meet the newest member of our Rotary family, Josey Rae Flickinger. Blair and her husband Eric welcomed their bundle of joy on August 3 at 3:07pm weighing in at 10lbs and 7 oz. Everyone is healthy and happy.
John Moore won the raffle with the King of Hearts, soooo close
Happy Bucks:Emily Burr is thankful for Peter Waanders and his silent auction donation of an Aspen Leaf Membership Society Membership (within the Society of Fellows)
Heidi Hoffmann is happy because 25 years ago we held the first Ducky Derby on August 3. Also, Tom and Heidi got married, 25 years ago. Now that is something to applaud, congratulations!
Maurice Emmer was very happy Norm Bacheldor remembered the $5 he had lent him so he could use that money for his happy bucks. He is happy for his son Jackson and his band Hot Eagle, they are playing at 9pm every Wed & Sun evening at Justice Snow's.
John Moore is happy for the new Ducky Derby shirts, shout out to Robin Smith on her tireless work on the merchandise and the new look.
Mike Taets is happy for his son Jason, but sad for the loss of George Madsen as he passed last week.
Pat Marquis is just happy.
Deb Breen is happy for the Aspen Valley Hospital fundraiser on 8/14 at the Aspen Polo Club at 11am and 1pm in honor of AVH's 125th anniversary.
Donna Genet said, "I don’t know what I'm donating to, but I am donating!". That's the spirit!
This month's meeting will be held this Friday, August 12 at 7:30am at the Mountain Chalet, breakfast is included. New members are encouraged to attend.
Membership chair Justin Barrow gave Jason Taets his red badge and Norm Bacheldor received his blue badge.
Scholarship chair Steve Seyffert brought a letter of appreciation from Isabel Wolfer. While she is an outstanding and simply amazing young lady, her one flaw is that her hand-writing is hard to read. For the record mine is so bad, I had no issue reading it. Here is an excerpt,"Through working 75+ hours each week both this summer and last, I fully understand the value of the scholarship you gave me and the breadth of its impact on my life. I will never be able to communicate how much I appreciate your generosity, and what your gift means to me." Lorraine could read it as well and typed it out for us. Reach out to her if you would like to read it in its entirety.
We also received a thank you for the Aspen Camp (Deaf Camp) for the happy bucks donation and one from a parent expressing her gratitude for the camp and the difference it has made in the life of her child and her family.
The Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Aspen.
