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August 10, 2021
Editor: Samantha Johnston - sjohnston@aspentimes.com
A man called me yesterday to tell me that "The Aspen Times is the WORST newspaper he has ever read. In his entire life." Please help me do better with our newsletter. Your input is welcomed and encouraged.
Thank you to Andrea Gurule who suggested last week that I add a "member profile" to each newsletter to help us all know each other better. Great idea. Coming soon ....
 
Correction: In last week's edition of Aspen Rotary Connection, I failed to appropriately copy edit the description of the photo of our Rotarians doing trail work and our dear friend Susan's last name was misspelled. But while I'm making the correction, I'll also highlight how her name is pronounced for those who don't know. It sounds like Gomez with a "z", but is spelled Gomes with an "s."
 
In this issue...
  • Derby days are just ahead
  • Saying goodbye to Bill Lund
  • Once again Bennett schooled us on the Pledge of Allegiance
Upcoming Speakers
 
This Week - Thursday, Aug. 12
 

 

 

No Morning Meeting. It's the Inflation & Stickering Party followed by a BBQ. 5 p.m. at Highlands Alehouse. 

The actual "work" is expected to take about an hour followed by burgers/hotdogs, salads and beverages.

You MUST RSVP to Lorraine no later than Tues., Aug. 10 (that's today) so she can plan accordingly for food. If you don't RSVP and you just show up, you may not get a hot dog and that would be a shame.

 

RSVP to Lorraine at http://LO@core-svc.com
 
 
 
 
 
August 19: Nathalie Crick and Genevieve Smith: Pitkin County Library.
August 26: Drs. Bob Porter and Dan Pearlman, Malaria Project.
September 2: Michaela Idhammer, Aspen Youth Center.
 
 
Pandora's Project
 
Thursday, August 5, 2021
 
Speaker: Michael Miracle, Director of Community Engagement and Rich Burkley, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Business Development presented Pandora's Project. Aspen is a ski town, some say the best in the world, and we want it to stay that way. So when the team at Aspen Skiing Company explored improvements to Aspen Mountain, it was natural to include terrain and lift additions in Pandora's. Doing so will create a bigger, broader, better ski experience and further Aspen's competitive edge as a resort mountain economy. Pandora's proposal was part of the 2017 Aspen Mountain Master Plan, but it was split from the plan for additional BOCC consideration. The balance of the plan, approved by the BOCC in 2019, is a comprehensive, skier-first roadmap for the practical evolution of Aspen's marquee mountain over the coming years. Approving the Pandora's proposal is the first step in ensuring the full potential of the 2017 master plan.
For more information, visit: https://www.friendsofpandoras.com
 
 
And don't forget that if you missed the meeting and would like make-up credit, simply watch the video (yes, the whole thing just like you were at a meeting) and email Lorraine at LO@core-svc.com
 
 
Teenage Volunteers Needed for Derby Day
Who knows a willing and able ... well, able is really the only requirement ... teenager who can help keep the balls rollin' down Limelight at Aspen Highlands?
 
Details: Arrive at Highlands by noon on Saturday. On the hill by 1:30 p.m. Race starts at 2:21 p.m. Race ends at 2:22 p.m. Lunch and a t-shirt will be provided.
 
Interested volunteers can sign up here: https://bit.ly/37walNh. The form is short and simple (minus reading the waiver about all of the ways in which careening bouncy balls can injure you).
 
 
Thank You from the Aspen Hope Center
β€œIn 2020, the Aspen Hope Center assisted 922 new people during a time of crisis. During the early stages of COVID, we supported more than one hundred of our first responders, school staff, as well as City and County employees. We dedicated sixteen hours per week to being in the Incident Command Post with the team that lead the charge during the pandemic.
Your gift of $116 on June 30, 2021 from Happy Bucks collected was immediately put to use for our crisis program. You allow us to provide free services to individuals in need. YOU have made a difference.”
 
– Michelle Muething, Executive Director, Aspen Hope Center
 
 
The Derby Silent Auction is Live
 
If you're anything like me, you do your best silent auction bidding and buying after a glass of wine. Great news, the silent auction is LIVE and you can bid any time you want between now and Saturday morning without any judgement for what time of day you drink wine.
 
Or Here (by scanning the QR code):
 
 
Don't know how to scan a QR code? No problem. 
Simply open the camera application on your phone (assuming your phone is 2017 or newer) and position the QR code in the center of the screen. You will get a notification to open the link in a web browser and you're there.
 
 
 
 
 
Special thanks to Craton for delivering on the preponderance of auction items.
 
Everything You Need to Know About Derby Day
 
 
Time to Arrive: Depending upon your job assignment (Lorraine will send an email today), you will arrive by 8:30 a.m. for set-up or by 10 a.m. for all other tasks. Don't have an assignment? No problem. Show up by 10 a.m. and you'll be assigned a job.
 
Where to Park: If you aren't arriving at the crack of dawn, we have a special Park & Ride set up at Aspen Middle School. Aspen Skiing Company has generously provided shuttles and drivers that will run continuously from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. RFTA to Highlands is another great options. Masks are required on RFTA and the shuttles.
 
You know when and how to get there. All the rest are just details. Questions? Allison allisonratajczak@gmail.com and Lorraine  lo@core-svc.com have all of the answers.
 
 
The Pledge of Allegiance: We're Doing It Wrong
 
If you know Bennett Bramson, you know that in addition to selling a bazillion ducks every summer (except this summer when he is the slayer of "suggested donations"), he tirelessly reminds us that we put a comma in the Pledge of Allegiance that doesn't exist. Despite his great frustration with us for not getting it right, he powers on in trying to teach us.
 
Because I dove down the Pledge rabbit hole, I'll channel my inner Scott Russell to give you some facts that might come in handy sometime when you're playing trivia at Rotary or elsewhere in the world.
 
 
The Pledge of Allegiance was written in August 1892 by the socialist minister Francis Bellamy (1855-1931). It was originally published in The Youth's Companion on September 8, 1892. Bellamy had hoped the pledge would be used by citizens in any country.

In its original form it read:

"I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

In 1923 the words "the Flag of the United States of America," were added."

In 1954, in response to the Communist threat of the times, President Eisenhower encouraged Congress to add the words "under God," creating the 31-word pledge we say today.

 
Reader's Digest version of what we're getting wrong: There is no pause between "one nation" and "under God." It is read as "One nation under God."
 
 
 
 
 
Upcoming Events

Friday, August 13
August Board Meeting
In Person at the Mountain Chalet & via Zoom
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85347450051
7:30am - 9am

Saturday, August 14
Ducky Derby 2021 at Aspen Highlands

August 27th - 29
2nd Annual Rifle Rotary Club & Rotary District 5470

Sporting Clay Shoot Invitational

Your $500 registration fee includes: 4 Team Members, 100 clays for each shooter, awards, Western BBQ Dinner (including beer or wine) and dancing, trophies and recognition for the winning teams.

Register by email at julievanhoek@gmail.com, or contact Julie at 970-361-1931.

Saturday, December 11
50th Anniversary Golden Gala
The Hotel Jerome
Black Tie Invited – 6:00 p.m.
$150/person

 
Member News
Saying Goodbye to Bill Lund
Former Aspen Rotarian, Bill Lund, passed away July 20 from complications of acute myeloid leukemia. He was 79 years old. Bill was a commissioned into the Army Artillery as a forward observer and assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division, an airmobile division using helicopter mobility and tactics. He served in Vietnam and saw much action in the Ia Drang Valley battle. Bill was mentioned in the book, "We Were Soldiers Once and Young." He also owned a sporting goods store on the Snowmass Mall for a number of years. 
 
Bill was President of the Rotary Club of Aspen from 1994-1995.
 
Resident Rotary historian, John Keleher shared with me a personal story about Bill. Bill was President-Elect when John was President. John led a group study exchange (GSE) to Spain in April/May of 1994 and Bill was kind enough to take over the weekly duties for six weeks while John was "vacationing" in Spain. John remembers Bill with great appreciation for stepping in.
 
Family of Rotary champion, Susan Gomes, will bring a card to our next morning meeting that she will send to Bill's wife of 58 years, Kathie.
 
 
 
 
If you know of  a major event in the lives of our Rotarians (births, deaths, professional accomplishments, personal accomplishments ... anything you think we should acknowledge in our Family of Rotary), please contact Susan Gomes, susangomes78@gmail.com, Samantha Johnston, sjohnston@aspentimes.com or Andrea Gurule, andrea.gurule.yf41@statefarm.com.
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