{"id":2451115,"date":"2019-11-14T10:35:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T17:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/?p=315926"},"modified":"2019-11-14T10:35:00","modified_gmt":"2019-11-14T17:35:00","slug":"evolving-connections-longtime-service-clubs-in-aspen-look-to-tradition-and-digital-networking-for-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/evolving-connections-longtime-service-clubs-in-aspen-look-to-tradition-and-digital-networking-for-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Evolving Connections: Longtime service clubs in Aspen look to tradition and digital networking for the future"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.9346264367816\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-315926-719\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-1024x715.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | The Colorado Eagles State Worthy Board toasts before an initiation of new members at the Eagles Club 184 in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>The Colorado Eagles State Worthy Board toasts before an initiation of new members at the Eagles Club 184 in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-1024x715.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Colorado Eagles State Worthy Board toasts before an initiation of new members at the Eagles Club 184 in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-1-1024x723.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rotarians enjoy their breakfast and conversation before the meeting officially begins in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Rotarians enjoy their breakfast and conversation before the meeting officially begins in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-1-1024x723.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rotarians enjoy their breakfast and conversation before the meeting officially begins in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-2-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-3-683x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A flag hangs in the Aspen Elks Lodge on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A flag hangs in the Aspen Elks Lodge on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-3-683x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A flag hangs in the Aspen Elks Lodge on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-4-1024x732.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Aspen Rotarians say the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of their meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Aspen Rotarians say the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of their meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-4-1024x732.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen Rotarians say the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of their meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-5-1024x692.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Name tags of rotarians hang on a board in their given spaces in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. The Aspen Rotary Club has over 100 members to date. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Name tags of rotarians hang on a board in their given spaces in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. The Aspen Rotary Club has over 100 members to date. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-5-1024x692.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Name tags of rotarians hang on a board in their given spaces in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. The Aspen Rotary Club has over 100 members to date. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-6-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | The Veterans Services Committee meet in the Elks Lodge in Aspen on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>The Veterans Services Committee meet in the Elks Lodge in Aspen on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-6-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Veterans Services Committee meet in the Elks Lodge in Aspen on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-7-683x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A man enters the Elks Lodge on the third floor of the building in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A man enters the Elks Lodge on the third floor of the building in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-7-683x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A man enters the Elks Lodge on the third floor of the building in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-8-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-8-1024x711.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Aspen Historical Society | The Aspen Elks building photograhed in 1963.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-2\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"7\">\n<p><strong>The Aspen Elks building photograhed in 1963.<\/strong><br \/>Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-8-1024x711.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Aspen Elks building photograhed in 1963.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-9-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-9-1024x710.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Aspen Historical Society | Hannibal Brown bartending at the Aspen Elks Lodge, circa 1910.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Hannibal Brown bartending at the Aspen Elks Lodge, circa 1910.<\/strong><br \/>Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-9-1024x710.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Hannibal Brown bartending at the Aspen Elks Lodge, circa 1910.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-10-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-10-1024x653.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Aspen Historical Society | The Elks float in a parade held during the Elks Convention in Aspen, August 1932.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>The Elks float in a parade held during the Elks Convention in Aspen, August 1932.<\/strong><br \/>Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-10-1024x653.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Elks float in a parade held during the Elks Convention in Aspen, August 1932.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-11-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-11-1024x788.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Aspen Historical Society | Aspen Elks Club members including Charles Wagner, Charles Dailey, Tom Flynn, Judge Thomas Rucker and the others undientified in the early 1900s.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Aspen Elks Club members including Charles Wagner, Charles Dailey, Tom Flynn, Judge Thomas Rucker and the others undientified in the early 1900s.<\/strong><br \/>Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-11-1024x788.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Aspen Elks Club members including Charles Wagner, Charles Dailey, Tom Flynn, Judge Thomas Rucker and the others undientified in the early 1900s.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-12-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-12-1024x736.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Aspen Historical Society | The Elks Band photographed in front of the Elks Building in Aspen, circa 1925.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>The Elks Band photographed in front of the Elks Building in Aspen, circa 1925.<\/strong><br \/>Aspen Historical Society<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-12-1024x736.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"The Elks Band photographed in front of the Elks Building in Aspen, circa 1925.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-13-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-13-683x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | A flag hangs in the Aspen Elks Lodge on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A flag hangs in the Aspen Elks Lodge on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-13-683x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"A flag hangs in the Aspen Elks Lodge on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-14-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-14-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-14-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-15-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-15-1024x682.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times | Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-15-1024x682.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt=\"Rotary members go around the room giving \u201chappy bucks\u201d during the morning meeting in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. Members donate money and share a positive thing with the group. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-16-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-16-1024x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | \" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-16-1024x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-17-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-17.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | \" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-17.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-18-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-18-1024x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | \" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-18-1024x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-19-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-19-1024x1024.jpg\" data-sub-html=\" | \" class=\"h-100\">\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/cover-atw-111419-9-19-1024x1024.jpg\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" alt><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/evolving-connections-longtime-service-clubs-in-aspen-look-to-tradition-and-digital-networking-for-the-future\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/evolving-connections-longtime-service-clubs-in-aspen-look-to-tradition-and-digital-networking-for-the-future\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">In a small office space on the second floor of the Aspen Eagles Club, treasurer Susan Saghatoleslami read from a cardstock history book of sorts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">On each page, stories from the local service club dating from 1899 to 1985 were detailed, including rowdy initiation ceremonies that had something to do with riding a goat and trips to the Aspen hospital to help give haircuts to the patients.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Saghatoleslami, an Aspen native who has been an Eagles member for over 10 years, has been working her way through the book in hopes of better understanding the club\u2019s roots and preserving its past for future generations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cWhen you read through this, you can see the longtime Aspen local names whose great-grandkids and relatives still live in this valley today,\u201d Saghatoleslami said. \u201cIt\u2019s really cool to see,\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote p402_hide\" readability=\"3.5\">\n<blockquote readability=\"10\">\n<p>Our priority isn\u2019t to have higher membership numbers, but to appeal to higher quality, service-oriented members who can help us be more effective as a lodge in supporting the community\u201dmichael faas, aspen elks<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Organizations like the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Order of Elks have been an integral thread of America\u2019s social fabric since the 1800s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">For decades, members of these social, civic and charitable groups have gathered across the country. But in the mid- to late-1900s, sociologists and political scientists found membership across the nation to be in decline for a multitude of reasons, including greater suburbanization, movement of women into the workforce, the civil rights revolution and the rise of television and other technologies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Over the past several decades, social and civic activities like attending club meetings have declined by over 50% according to Robert Putnam, a political scientist and author of \u201cBowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community.\u201d He sees this disconnect trend as detrimental to our health, physical and mental, and to our democracy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">However, as technology continues to advance and reshape the way Americans interact with each other on a day-to-day basis, these longtime participation-based organizations are seeing some membership comeback by connecting with more people through savvier websites and stronger social media presences. Yet, at the same, they are competing with more and more avenues for people to get involved in their communities, whether digitally or face to face.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">In Aspen, many of the staple social and civic groups acknowledge this digital crux and the increasing average age of their memberships, but they don\u2019t seem stressed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">For many local group leaders, the future of their organizations depends on the same mantras they\u2019ve embodied all along: staying rooted in tradition, connecting with the larger community and giving back to those in need.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cOur social media is being social,\u201d Saghatoleslami said. \u201cOur motto is \u2018people helping people,\u2019 and I think we will always hold a place in the community because of our charitable contributions and volunteerism, and because we\u2019re a strong community ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">MEMBERSHIP IN ASPEN<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Like the local Eagles club, the Aspen Elks Lodge also has a long local history. Established in 1891, the lodge moved a few times before securing its current location on the corner of East Hyman Avenue and South Galena Street in 1904.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">And like Saghatoleslami, many members are focused on using the lodge\u2019s traditions as selling points for new inductees.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cOur priority isn\u2019t to have higher membership numbers, but to appeal to higher quality, service-oriented members who can help us be more effective as a lodge in supporting the community,\u201d said Michael Faas, an Aspen Elk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Since its inception over 150 years ago, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has aimed to give back to individual communities and society as a whole, especially by supporting children and veterans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Faas said he is working with other Aspen Elks members to redevelop the lodge\u2019s website so it includes more information on the organization\u2019s key charitable missions and events by adding things like member bios and its paper newsletters online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">The lodge also is working with a public relations agency to get more information out to the media and community stakeholders about what Aspen Elks does to give back.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cThe idea is to use the new website to help bring more people together in person, not for it to replace any part of the lodge,\u201d Faas said. \u201cWe just want to get better information to people more accurately and quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Unlike other lodges across the U.S., Faas said the Aspen Elks hasn\u2019t taken any major membership hits. The local lodge boasts over 900 members and relies on those members to recruit more high-quality people to join by simply being out in the community.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Faas said the average age of the Aspen Elks members is higher than the lodge would like \u2014 evident on a recent night at the lodge where he seemed to be one of just a few people younger than 50 \u2014 but feels that the in-person volunteerism offers something to younger generations that the internet alone can\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cYou can\u2019t really help people online, you need to be there for them in person,\u201d Faas said. \u201cWe\u2019re a real community that\u2019s bonded together to improve the larger community. \u2026 This is a place where anytime you come here good things happen.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Saghatoleslami also is working on beefing up the Aspen Eagles\u2019 online presence. She\u2019s taking digital marketing and website design courses through Colorado Mountain College, and hopes to get an online platform for members to make donations to charities live soon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">But like Faas, Saghatoleslami said the local club hasn\u2019t had trouble with its membership. As of November, it claimed over 300 members of all ages and hosts multiple events at its East Bleeker Street location nearly every night of the week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cThere are always things to do and people love to come just to play games,\u201d Saghatoleslami said, noting that the club has a shuffleboard, ping pong table, foosball, darts and the oldest pool table in the state. \u201cIt\u2019s a fun crowd with really good camaraderie.\u201d<\/p>\n<h4>LOOKING TO THE FUTURE<\/h4>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">While there are circles where Aspen\u2019s older generations gather to do good, there also are similar circles for its younger generations, like the Aspen Young Professionals Association.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">A 15-year-old nonprofit dedicated to supporting Aspen\u2019s burgeoning leaders through networking, career development and promoting community involvement, AYPA is more of a social business group than a charitable one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">But according to Reilly Thimons, AYPA president, the organization is pushing to get its members more involved in giving back to the community, and often collaborates with groups like the Elks and Rotary Club of Aspen to do so.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">As a result, the small group can serve as a sort of springboard to the more established Aspen membership organizations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cA lot of our members self-select out of AYPA and find other avenues to stay involved in the community,\u201d Thimons said. \u201cThey spend time with us, grow their leadership skills and connections, then continue to evolve into different roles elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Take Thimons\u2019 boss, Chris Bendon, for example. He was a member of AYPA until he said he \u201c40-ed\u201d out and joined the Rotary Club of Aspen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Bendon said young professionals join AYPA for any number of reasons, and that he was drawn to the group as a way to meet like-minded people close to his age.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">After growing his connections and presenting at the Rotary Club of Aspen\u2019s weekly meetings, he recognized a lot of the city\u2019s longstanding leaders and was inspired to become a member.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cI had been on the (AYPA) board for a number of years and felt like I needed to make room for other folks to move up in leadership,\u201d Bendon said. \u201cAYPA was an avenue to create a foundation here (in Aspen), grow connections and leadership capacity to become a more vested member of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Similar to the Elks or Eagles, Rotary International clubs are centered on service above self and have encouraged members to do more for others for more than 110 years, which has a pull for younger people like Thimons.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">When asked about how digital networking has affected younger generations\u2019 desire to join groups like Rotary, Thimons said she feels that in some ways its made it harder for people to commit to one organization with so many options and opportunities available, but also cropped up as a tool for good.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt\u2019s a very interesting crux,\u201d Thimons said. \u201cI can see how it can be uncomfortable to get into that (digital networking) space, but it can be so effective in reaching people and doesn\u2019t take a lot of effort.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Deb Breen, an Aspen Rotarian on the membership engagement committee, expressed similar thoughts, noting that the level of commitment to a group like Rotary is much different than being a part of a group on Facebook.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIt\u2019s easy to log in and check a few things, but this is a deeper commitment,\u201d Breen said of Rotary. \u201cYou have to show up and if you\u2019re not there people will notice and will miss you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">Breen joined Rotary in her 20s and said while she didn\u2019t have as many digital networking options to be a part of, she feels the online communities today won\u2019t replace in-person organizations but instead serve in tandem with them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">That\u2019s why, with Breen\u2019s help, Rotary Club of Aspen has made a push to improve their digital presence, like many of the other area organizations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cWe\u2019ve definitely looked at how we can be more transparent about what we do and how becoming a member works,\u201d Breen said, noting that many people don\u2019t fully understand what service clubs like Rotary do.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cRotary helps you not just be in the community but to be a part of it and to make a difference. There\u2019s a personal touch you can\u2019t get on LinkedIn or Facebook.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">At the most recent Rotary of Aspen morning meeting at the Mountain Chalet, that personal touch was evident. Nearly a dozen members put money into a \u201chappy bucks\u201d jar and shared positive things that happened to them or within the community that week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">After about 15 minutes, the jar was bursting with bills slated to support the Aspen Homeless Shelter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">At the Aspen Elks on a recent evening, this personal touch also was evident as veteran services committee members discussed the logistics of sending more than 50 care packages to Colorado military officers serving in Afghanistan in one room, then moved to another to share dinner and drinks; at the Aspen Eagles, it was evident after one step inside of the front door, as the club celebrated the initiation of over 30 new members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">In all three Aspen service circles, those personal moments seemed to be what kept members coming back, regardless of age.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Body_Serif\">\u201cIn Aspen there\u2019s a lot of talk about building a closer-knit community, which is right here,\u201d said Alyssa Barclay, a recently sworn-in Aspen Eagle. \u201cI see places like this as a refuge and a chance to build more local connections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Special Sections-ATW-ATW_Shirttail\"><a href=\"mailto:mvincent@aspentimes.com\">mvincent@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/magazines\/aspen-times-weekly\/evolving-connections-longtime-service-clubs-in-aspen-look-to-tradition-and-digital-networking-for-the-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Colorado Eagles State Worthy Board toasts before an initiation of new members at the Eagles Club 184 in Aspen on Saturday, November 9, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times)Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen Times Rotarians enjoy their breakfast and conversation before the meeting officially begins in the Mountain Chalet on Thursday, November 7, 2019. (Kelsey Brunner\/The Aspen [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2451115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-19 06:29:03","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2451115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451115\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2451115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2451115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2451115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}