Speaker: Aspen Rotarian Todd Shaver spoke to the club. He publishes the Bull Market Report, an investment newsletter.  He started at Bucknell where he tried to lose his New York accent. His first job was at Merrill Lynch where he suffered the consequences of Nixon's wage and price controls. The market lost 41% as a result. Then he went to Wang Laboratories and saw the company grow from $60 million to $ 3.2 billion over 11 years. He then was a partner in the Dulles Group, a real estate developer. The 90's were tough, with stints at Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. As a self proclaimed maverick (not a rogue?) he did not fit in with the brokerage companies of the day. In 1998 he started the Bull Market Report while still working at Morgan Stanley. In 1999 he paid $35,000 for his domain name  (the previous owner had paid $35). He then moved to Aspen and sold the newsletter to some "young bucks," which he would later (in 2014) buy back. His newsletter has a feature on 20 stocks for success,  a feature called Special Opportunities, and a feature on High Yields. While the banks pay about .2%, his stock picks do much better. Todd also manages the Aspen Business Luncheon.

 

Announcements: 

President Ward reminded Rotarians (let's see how this works) that Next Thursday's meeting is canceled and we will have a joint meeting with Snowmass Rotary next Wednesday, March 2. (See timing and parking info below.)

 

Susan Gomes passed around a sign-up sheet for the Shining Stars dinner on March 13 at the Inn at Aspen. Aspen Rotarians will prepare and serve dinner.

 

Steve Wickes attempted to cut into Todd Shaver's allotted speaker time with a lengthy announcement about an upcoming event at the Deaf Camp.  During Aspen High School's spring break (March 28 - April 1) fifteen local high school students will participate in a service-learning project at the Deaf Camp. Wickes described this Rotary-sponsored event as a "win-win-win;" it will provide a memorable (life-altering?) experience for youth, it helps the Deaf Camp get prepared for the summer, and it gives the Deaf Camp added exposure to our local community. At this point the awareness and registration of the "Alternative Spring Break" is light, so please talk it up with any high-schoolers or youth groups you know!

 

Chris Bendon announced we are looking for a Ducky Derby Sponsorship Chairman. How about you?

 

Guests and Visiting Rotarians: Lisa McGuire, Pamela Hall, Geoff Hall, Jill Winkler, Leigh Hudson, David Grimes

 

 

3/3 – No Meeting – Replaced by joint meeting with Snowmass Rotary on Wednesday March 2
3/10 - Deborah Breen – Hospital Update
3/17 – Alan Fletcher – AMFS Update

 

 

March 2: Join the Snowmass Rotary Club at the beautiful new Elk Camp Restaurant*

March 3: No Thursday Rotary Meeting!

March 4-6: Go see our own Margot Ulrich in the high school play, Legally Blonde. Ticket info in "Committee News" below.

March 13: Rotarians will provide dinner for the "Shining Stars" at the Inn at Aspen.

March 28-April 1: "Alternative Spring Break" at the Aspen Camp for the Deaf

 

*Timing and Parking: Gondola will operate for Rotarians and guests from 7:00 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. Skiers must have a lift ticket to ski. Foot traffic is free and also must download on the Gondola after breakfast.  Upper Elk Camp lift to be open to Rotarians immediately following the meeting presentation before being open to the public. Parking: Park in the Base Village parking garage. First hour for free, additional hourly charge at normal rate.

 

Learned during Happy Bucks: Roger Nicholson was happy to be alive, Leigh Hudson, a visiting Rotarian from Maryland, was happy to have helped raise $4500 for Alzheimers research. David Grimes  was happy to be back among friends, John Ward was happy to be having a boys' week while his wife was away. Kathy Klug was happy to help promote the "Alternative Spring Break" through her Service Learning Club at A.H.S. Phil Salet was happy to be among his friends at Rotary. Dan Johns was happy to be editing his final newsletter and especially happy to have Executive Editor Steve Wickes' help.  Rob Ittner was happy to have been nominated to be President-Elect for our club (2017-18). If elected, he will follow the term of incoming President Craig Melville (2016-17). Also Rob was happy to announce the March 9 opening of his new cooking school in the former Steak Pit space below Rustique.

 

 

Youth Exchange: Our club is sponsoring two "outbound" students and one "inbound" student this year. We heard from all three this week! 

 

Melanie Doyle (AHS  student living in France) wrote and included pictures. "I was just on a two week break from school which was nice to relax for a bit! I was lucky to be able to go on a one week bus trip from Paris- Barcelona with Rotary during the vacation! We were 45 exchange students from all over the world! These pictures were taken during the bus trip in Paris, then the Chateau du Chenonceau et le Chateau du Chambord, The Sagrada Familia, the Olympic Stadium on Barcelona, the FCBarcelona stadium and a beautiful view overlooking Barcelona. The trip was so amazing!! I'm so sad it’s over."

 

During this week's meeting, we Skyped with Maggie McGuire (AHS student living in Poland). Maggie was all smiles as she told us how she has overcome the language barrier and really is enjoying her year abroad. While she is sorry to be leaving her current host family, she is looking forward to some new opportunities with her next host family.

 

Our "inbound" youth exchange student from France, Margo Uhlrich, will appear in Aspen High School’s production of Legally Blonde on March 4-6, 2016.  All Rotarians are encouraged to attend a performance and cheer for Margo.  Also, Margo has asked that thanks be conveyed to all Aspen Rotarians for reimbursing the participation fee so that Margo can participate.  The entire club congratulates Margo on her involvement in so many activities at Aspen High School while maintaining an excellent academic performance.  Margo, you go girl! -submitted by Maurice Emmer. Buy your tickets to Legally Blonde at BrownPaperTickets.com.

 

 

Meredith Maaske: I moved to the Roaring Fork Valley from Blaine, Minnesota 11 years ago after graduating from Westfield State College.  My first job in the valley was at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in the admissions office.  I got a part-time job at the Aspen Mountain Lodge for a ski pass in the winter, which later became a full-time job and started my career in hospitality.  Six years ago I accepted a position at The Gant in reservations, now I book all our groups and conference center functions.   My favorite part of working in hospitality in Aspen is the people I get to work with and meet on a daily basis.  The Gant is like family to me and many of the guests I get to interact with have become close friends through the years.  Also, The Gant and Aspen is not really a tough sell!  In my free time I run, hike, play basketball, cook occasionally, eat out a lot, ski, shop and just enjoy life in a world class destination!