Meeting Date - 3/10/2016 (Mar 14, 2016)

Volume II, Issue 11, March 14, 2016

In this Issue:

- A $107 million economic impact

- "Drive-through" surgeries

- Why Dan Bonk really left

Comments? Rotary News? Send to: AspenRotaryNewsletter@gmail.com
Jeanette Darnauer, Editor-of-the-month

Thursday, March 10, 2016

Quote of the week:

“Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished.” Og Mandino from The Greatest Salesman in the World….a philosophy of success with tips for a life of abundance.

Guests: Norm Bacheldor (Maurice Emmer); Jodie Surfas (David Clark);

Jill Winkler (mentee)

Speaker: Deborah Breen

Explaining the paradigm shift in patient care at Aspen Valley Hospital, Rotarian and Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation President Deborah Breen exclaimed that the outpatient needs (now 80%) are so great, "It's like a drive-through for surgeries!" She offered an overview of the hospital services, expansion status, and fund-raising successes.

Here are a few highlights:

- AVH has over 25 different specialty areas of care.

- In 2015, there were 75,000 visits to AVH; 8,000 of those were for the ER; less than 2% were transferred to other hospitals.

- Next year, a new electronic health care records systems will be in place.

- AVH is an economic anchor of the community -- its 424 employees put $107 million into the local economy.

- Philanthropy has always played a big part in AVH; Miners in the 1800s donated a day's pay to start the hospital.

- Construction is half complete.

- Total cost? $172 million, which includes the parking garage and employee housing.

Minimum $60 million will be from philanthropy.

- Deborah has raised $36 million of that goal in the 36 months she's been here.

A mil/a month - not bad!!

- Operating margin at AVH was over 10% last year vs 2-3% at most hospitals.

- CEO Dan Bonk left because his family wasn't happy here. Rotarians encouraged AVH to assure a 100% commitment before hiring the next CEO.

1. Aspen Rotary will sponsor the second annual high school speech contest, Saturday, March 19. Compelling questions are needed from Rotarians, said chair Robin Smith. If you want to be a judge, or if you know a high school student who likes expressing themselves, let her know. Cash prizes of $1000 to $250 will be awarded. Contact robin[at sign]meridianjewelers.com

2. Head Duck Chris Bendon is looking for a chair or co-chairs for the sponsorship committee.

3. Susan Gomes said that Aspen Rotary has been helping the Shining Stars event for 25 years. The Club's involvement began with the late Rotarian, Bob George. The week brings together kids ill with cancer and allows them to share some fun with others in similar situations.

4. President John welcomed Frieda Wallison back after a lengthy recovery.

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

3/24 - Guatemala Literacy Project (Keleher, Berhorst, Taets, King, Melville)

3/31 – Ken Adelman – Politics in America

4/7 – Anne Marie – Letters to Ann: The Korean War 1950-1951s)

Sat, March 19 - Rotary-sponsored High School Speech Contest.

To contribute questions or to help, contact Robin Smith, robin[at sign]meridianjewelers.com.

Watch for the date of upcoming Rotary meetings this spring at Rob Ittner's new Cooking School of Aspen!

Fri, March 18, 7pm, Aspen Chapel - Aspen Choral Society performance of John Rutter's Magnificat & Poulenc's Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings (your editor this month is in the performance)

HAPPINESS ON STEROIDS THURSDAY!

The raffle pot is now $353! 21 cards are left in the deck, and Lorraine reports that the Queen of Hearts IS in there!

Maurice Emmer is happy because his son is engaged.

Chris Bendon is happy that his protégé, Jessica Garrow, was selected to replace him as Community Development Director.

Christina King, John Keleher and Mike Taets said their Rotary experience in Guatemala was amazing! John's grandson quoted Spiderman during one of the group's presentations, "With great power comes great responsibility!"

Kathy Klug was said to steal the show in the High School musical. Our exchange student Margo was in it too and probably agreed!

John Moore's shoulder recovery is going well.

Mike Tunte enjoyed visiting the Idaho Falls Rotary Club, but said he's glad we're not a singing club!

Frieda Wallison is thankful for all of the well wishes during her recovery. They were encouraging during her hospital stay, she said.

Rick Newton has been playing golf in southern California. He loved staying connected to Rotary through the newsletter.

Our Rotary club's financial support of the Aspen Camp School for the Deaf was a topic of discussion. (We're paying for the development director position.) The board will request a progress report on the organization's fundraising efforts. Board member Deborah Breen said, we need to know the status of "shots on goal."
Membership Report - Michael Miracle is in the five-day waiting period.
Mentorship - Aspen Rotary donated $10,000 to the City's new mentorship program. The board had questions about the status of the program, especially since a recent guest of Rotary, Jill Winkler, has been awaiting a mentor for several weeks and a Rotarian is awaiting assignment for his mentee. The board will request a status report from director Mike Jahns.
CU Opera would like to return this fall for another Rotary concert. The board discussed ways the Aspen Rotary can create fundraising opportunities around the $10,000 event, for which we're not allowed to sell tickets. One board member suggested we solicit involvement from the Glenwood Rotary Club who could put on a second concert down valley.

John Keleher, George Baker, Tony Scheer, Llywd Ecclestone, and Ashton Hewitt present their gloved hands for inspection before serving 200 guests at the Shining Stars dinner Sunday evening.