Speaker(s): David Perry, Chief Operating Officer, Aspen Skiing Co. and Rotarian Steve Sewell, Snowmass Mountain Manager. This week Aspen Rotarians enjoyed a free, early-morning gondola ride for a  combination meeting and ski day with Snowmass Rotarians starting at the Elk Camp Restaurant. 

 

You should've been there! Aspen Rotarians almost outnumbered Snowmass Rotarians. An unaudited headcount put the score at Snowmass 26, Aspen 25. Snowmass Rotary President Trent Palmer pointed out that two Aspen Rotarians skied uphill to the meeting (Christina King and Meredith Maaske). So in our opinion, the Aspen Club won in terms of youth and vitality!

 

Speaking with a brief but vigorous spring snowstorm as a backdrop, David Perry talked about this year's business levels and the future of the Aspen Airport.

 

Perry described the Ski Company's revenue as "flat" so far this season, the primary factor being that Australians and Brazilians are facing a 40% increase in their respective exchange rates. Meanwhile, the Pitkin County Airport has experienced one of its busiest winters ever. On several days there were 34 flights! Perry reiterated what we heard from Airport manager John Kinney a few months ago: Pitkin County Airport must widen its runway to accommodate the next generation of regional jets. 

 

Perry also described an impressive list of upcoming investments at the Snowmass Ski Area. This summer will see a $5 million renovation of Gywn's High Alpine Restaurant. During the summer of 2017, watch for 10 or more mountain bike trails, a zipline tour, a giant climbing wall and an Alpine coaster!

 

Announcements: Conspicuous by his absence, President John Ward made no announcements. Also conspicuous by its absence was "Happy Bucks." It just doesn't seem like a perfect Rotary meeting without "Happy Bucks." Let's double up this week.

 

Guests: We were all guests of the Rotary Club of Snowmass, the Aspen Skiing Company and the Elk Camp Restaurant. We thank them for an excellent breakfast and great fellowship with our "offspring" club.  Thanks to multiple rehearsals by Blair Flickinger, our members did well as we were asked to recite Four-Way Test out loud.

 

 

3/10 - Deborah Breen,  President and CEO, Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation 

3/17 – Alan Fletcher, President and CEO, the Aspen Music Festival and School 

 

3/24 - Guatemala Literacy Project (see below)

 

 

 

Red Badge members are encouraged to attend.  (It's on your check list!)

 

 

Salad and desserts should arrive by 4:30 and servers by 5 p.m.  If you are bringing food and serving, you can show up at 5:00 p.m. Dinner is served at 5:30 PM.  Please remember that there are children with severe peanut allergies, so please do not use peanuts in salads or desserts. 

 

On February 23rd, nine members of Aspen Rotary took part in the Guatemala Literacy Program.  The GLP is an initiative between Rotary International and Cooperative for Education (CoEd) that provides textbooks, computer labs, scholarships, literacy and training programs to underprivileged children and schools. Aspen Rotary is one of 470 clubs that have taken part in this amazing program. Craig Melville, Mike Taets, Christina King, Tom Clark and daughter Ellie, John Keleher and grandson Patrick, and Skip Behrhorst and grandson Mack spent their week traveling from one village in need to the next, bringing books and building relationships with these children and schools. We enjoyed reading with the children, partaking in games, playing soccer and laughing in pure joy because that is what happens when you give a piece of yourself to someone or something in need! We look forward to sharing our journey with you at Rotary breakfast March 24th! -reported by Christina King.

 

 

Former Aspen Rotarian Lee Lyon passed away on February 25, 2016. Lee and his wife, Joanne, were both members of the Rotary Club of Aspen for many years. Joanne, you may remember, often wore her Forest Service uniform to our meetings on those days when she was volunteering. Lee died due to complications after a fall. Lee moved to Kansas City in 2013, following the death of Joanne that year. Read Lee's full obituary here.

 

 

 

 

A lot of the "heavy lifting" in our club happens at the committee level. Here is a list of our standing committees and their respective chairpersons. Please note: this list may need updates. Let us know!

 

Aspen Camp Support - Roger Nicholson 

Aspen Rotary Club Foundation - Justin Barrow

Community Grant-Making - John Moore

Ducky Derby 2016 - Chris Bendon

Ducky Derby Sponsorship - Position Available?

History - Jeanette Darnauer

Membership - Justin Barrow

Public Relations - Jeanette Darnauer

Scholarship - Steve Seyffert

Speakers - Craig Melville

World Community Service - Heidi Hoffmann and Bill Small

Youth Exchange - Maurice Emmer