Speaker:  Brandon Johnson, Director of Programs, Bridges to Prosperity. Founded in 2001 by Rotarian Ken Frantz, B2P has since constructed more than 170 projects on 4 continents.  Using locally-contributed labor and materials, most bridges are built inexpensively. Their longest suspension bridge yet, at 430 feet, will soon be built in Arenales, Nicaragua. The Rotary Club of Aspen has made a significant contribution towards the construction of this bridge, according to World Community Service Committee Co-Chair Bill Small.

 

Guests: Ali Phillips, Ruth Carver, Lou Cardiff (guests of the speaker); John Wilcox, Lesa Thomas, Annie Henderson (guests of the Club from Aspen Camp);  David Grimes, Rick Coulter (visiting Rotarians),  Donna Phillips, (Maurice Emmer); Jessica Garrow (Chris Bendon); Shaun Hathaway, (Ashton Hewitt).
 

 

Mike Wilcox, Chairman of the Board of Aspen Camp thanked Rotarians for their service - past and present. 

 

President Craig is already "plus three" on his membership count. New members include: Jennifer Allen (Theatre Aspen), Mike Connolly (East Coast Asset Management), Jason Taets (Timberline Bank).

 

Margot Ulrich, our 2015-16 Exchange student is safely? back in France. Maurice learned how to pronounce her name correctly at the departure gate (ul-Reesh).

 

Emily Burr gave her "Emily's picks" for upcoming AMF concerts. Many of these have already occurred; bring a pen to the next meeting.

 

 

Thursday, July 21: A fascinating speaker from the Aspen Institute. Name TBA.

 

 

Lot's of "Deaf Camp Happy Bucks" this week; here are a few: John Moore recently celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary.  Steve Stunda's presciently-named Boomerang Hotel has been approved for re-construction. Maurice Emmer is hosting his high school reunion this week;  in addition to fellow students, his Latin teacher is hic etiam.

 

Two Rotarians are celebrating 2 years and 4 years of cancer-freedom respectively. Bennett Bramson's daughter is in Brazil. He is sending bug spray. Robin Smith  thanked Emily Burr for helping Robin's aunt and uncle attend the best concerts of the week. 

 

Happily, David Grimes recently celebrated his 80th birthday.  Sadly, David also announced that he is now ending his multi-year, much appreciated "smart-ass comments." Craig Melville, Heidi Hoffmann, and Jeanette Darnauer participated in the Carbondale Rotary's Aspen-to-Glenwood bike ride last weekend. Craig reported "it's not all downhill!"

 

 

A brand new (or revived?) committee is being formed: The Speaker Committee. Chaired by President-Elect Scott Russell, this committee is looking for additional members to find the best possible speakers each week. Please see Scott to join!

 

 

Jason Taets is a Roaring Fork Valley native and Basalt High School graduate. After attending Colorado State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, he was drawn back to the Aspen area. Upon his return, Jason put his finance degree to work beginning in 2006 as a loan assistant with Timberline Bank, Aspen. He continues to work for the family business as a commercial lending officer and in August 2016, he will celebrate his 10 year anniversary with the company. When Jason is not at the bank, you can find him charging the steeps of Ajax and Highlands, on the golf course, or simply enjoying the Aspen lifestyle with his wife, family, and friends.