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Volume III, Issue 37, September 22, 2017

In this Issue:
 
- Aspen Rotary Exchange Experiences
- Jeep Tour Highlights 
- Announcements and Happy Bucks
 
Comments? Rotary News? Send to:  AspenRotaryNewsletter@gmail.com
Shaun Hathaway, Editor-of-the-month 
 
Thursday, September 21, 2017
 
The 2017-18 Aspen Rotary exchange student from Copenhagen, Denmark is 16 year old Nickoline Byrial Hansen.  She has been in Aspen for a month, and has already amassed a list of memorable experiences.  Currently living with the Fox family, she has felt included in everything. 
 
On Hansen’s first day, her host mother organized a birthday brunch.  Since then she has hiked and biked, started school and quickly made friends, attended the 80-50 something blowout Skiers football game, went to the punch bowl, and watched one her favorite bands (Maroon 5) at Jazz Aspen. 
 
Nicko has also visited Durango during her exchange student orientation, and travelled to Washington DC for the Ex Ed.  During her Aspen Rotary exchange experience, she hopes to strengthen her independence, a characteristic that reflects her country’s character.  
 
Annabelle Ward is back in Aspen after serving an amazing exchange student experience living in Buenos Aries province, Argentina.  Reflecting on her experience, the two things that stood out to her were how much Argentinians value family and friends, and how they are religious for soccer.  One of her most exhilarating experiences was attending a professional game in the capital city. 
 
Annabelle lived in the beautiful Olavarria with two families.  She spent 4.5 months with her first family, and the remainder of her six-month experience with her second family.   Friends were the highlight of her trip.  She explained how Argentinians are very friendly, and that she developed very close bonds through everyday contact.   
 
Traveling throughout Argentina allowed Annabelle to take full advantage of the Aspen Rotary exchange experience.  Her highlights were trips to the glaciers, cave of the hands, Necochea (surfing beach), slat flats, Iguazu Water Falls,  Cordoba, Berra Loche, Villa Gesell, and Buenos Aries (went 8 times).  Explaining how she matured and met important people, she described the overall experience as the best year of her life. 
 
Speakers:  
  • Nickoline Byrial Hansen
  • Annabelle Ward
 
Guests: 
  • Elizabeth Cockrill, mother of Annabelle Ward
  • Alinio Azevedo, guest of Scott Russell
 
Visiting Rotarians:
  • Christopher Blumel - Rotary Bombay, India
Quote of the Morning: “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little" -- Edmund Burke
 
Scott Russell, President's Report
Happy Bucks benefits the hut system
 
In honor of the hut system, Scott offered several trivia facts on the subject.
 
The Jeep Tour is this Saturday.  Meet at the senior center at 9:30am for coffee and donuts.  Mountain Chalet is plan B for inclement weather.
 
Other Announcements:
 
Shaun:
The 17th Annual AJH Stirling Cup is this weekend.  Raising money to fund its scholarship program, AJH organizes an NHL Alumni game.  This year the Chicago Blackhawks face off against the Dallas Stars.  There are complimentary tickets for all Rotarians at the check in table.  
 
Steve:
Good showing at Snowmass Wine Festival.  
 
Ernie:
I am unable to take the lead the Salvation Army Bell and Kettle program.  We need help this year with a lead organizer to spearhead this rewarding program.  Proceeds raised helps a variety of causes, including the homeless, hurricane relief, and more.
 
 
Upcoming Speakers
 
September 28: Kathy Klug,  Co-Creator and Co-Director of Colorado Western Slope College & Career Outreach
For Your Calendar
  • The Aspen Rotary Holiday party is December 14 at the Cooking School

 
 
Member News
Aspen Rotary Club’s Annual Fall Colors Senior Jeep Tour  
 
History Note: The Fall Colors Senior Jeep Tour is the Rotary Club of Aspen’s oldest event. It was started in the late 1970s by former Rotarian, the late George Madsen. In 1999, the Club added a Rotarian Work Day to provide additional fellowship for Rotarians. For the past 17 years, Rotarians have volunteered their time to help prepare the Lindley Hut for the winter by splitting and stacking wood prior to the seniors arriving at the hut.
 
The Rotary Club of Aspen entertained 36 seniors from the Roaring Fork Valley Saturday as part of the Club’s oldest event – the annual Fall Colors Senior Jeep Tour, which started in the late 1970s.  Fourteen drivers drove the guests up the Castle Creek Valley to Ashcroft and Toklat for a close up look at the changing colors.  A couple vehicles continued their leaf peeping by driving partway up the four-wheel-drive Pearl Pass road.
 
It was the first time in 18 years that the Fall Colors Senior Jeep Tour didn’t end up at the Lindley Hut for a barbecue and singing. Due to inclement weather, the lunch was moved to the Mountain Chalet, thanks to the generosity of owner and immediate past Rotary president, Craig Melville.
 
Photo Caption:
Back from left: Trudy Milcan and Mimi Baldwin
Front from left: Irmi Strassberger and Karin White
Three of these ladies are from Glenwood Springs; Irma is from Snowmass Village and Chicago.  She plans her time in the Valley around the Jeep Tour.  Trudy says, “I look forward to this event all year!”
 
Thursday Happy Bucks:
  • Norm: happy to hike over Crested Butte
 
  • Steve: happy that Ernie bought Aspen Daily News.
 
  • Shaun: Happy for the start of hockey session, Aspen Junior Hockey's 45th year (1972-2017).
 
Newsletter Sponsors
Russell Hampton
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The Weekly Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Aspen.
Comments? Rotary News? send to AspenRotaryNewsletter@gmail.com