Class of 2009

Class of 2009 Team Projects 

As part of the RFL annual program, participants are grouped into teams at the first session and are asked to complete a civic project during the course of the year.  The teams select an area of interest and design their projects themselves.  Below is the list of projects and the corresponding community benefits that immersed

o       Hospice for the valley – this team worked with the Aspen Valley Hospital who had recently created an organization to start a hospice service for the valley.  The team created a website, marketing and awareness building campaign, and pulled together the infrastructure that was needed to get the organization going.  By the end of the project in June, 2009, over 40 individuals were using the service.

o       Mental Health Awareness Directory – another group took on the issue of Mental Health by creating an on-line directory (website) that outlines all the providers available in this area.  This entailed contacting all the providers with detailed questionnaires to get the ‘right’ information synthesized into a directory that can provide direction for someone in need of service.  They also then established an awareness building campaign which included the development of a tagline – ‘clutter to clarity’ – and ‘got the word out’ through social media, print and radio.

o       Energy alternatives and savings communicated to Latino Population – this team prepared a grant proposal and received $2,000 from Schendler Affairs to increase awareness amongst the Latino population on energy saving opportunities and alternatives.  Their campaign consisted of Spanish radio broadcasts that included an opportunity to receive a free energy audit.  Listeners were instructed to send a ‘text message’ for more information which automatically registered them in the drawing for the audit.  They conducted the audit in June for a family in Rifle. 

o       Creating a ‘Craig’s List’ like service for the valley – this team thought the valley needed a  ‘free’ comprehensive source of jobs, housing, services, and for sale listings.  They partnered with an individual in the valley and created ‘Aspen Shuffle’.  They launched the site in January, and in February they had 1,500 visits.  The challenge they face is getting items posted because people don’t know about it.  RFL helped them by sending out an email blast to our alumni population.  They continue to look for opportunities to get the word out.

o       Greening RFL - The goal of this project was to work towards RFL being a zero waste program. Since RFL members are leaders of the community, the impact of the project would have a ripple effect on the rest of the community by teaching all the participants how to implement this process in other groups throughout the community.  The team acquired a grant from CORE and for the class of 2010, we have purchased reusable dishes, utensils and serving bowls.  The are getting cups and canvas bags (to carry the dishes) donated.  The plan is to charge a $5 deposit to each participant in the upcoming class and have them bring this ‘usable dish’ set to each program day.  We are also instituting a more rigorous carpool plan for future classes.