Introducing Lana Balka
Prior to her retirement in 2019, Lana worked as a Medical Social Worker for Home Health and Hospice in Sidney, Nebraska. Her professional career, which began by obtaining a BA Degree at Valparaiso University and a MSW at the University of Nebraska, took her on an incredible journey that included executive and management positions as a nursing home administrator, low-income housing administrator and Community Action executive.
Lana joined Rotary when she moved back to her hometown of Chappell, Nebraska in 2009. During her 10-year tenure with the club, she served as President-Elect and President, participated on the committee to interview RYLA candidates, was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow, volunteered one summer as a senior RYLA camp counselor, and made and sold numerous burritos at ball games to raise funds for scholarships.
Since moving to Topeka in 2019, Lana has enjoyed spending time with her son who is a Battalion Chief with the Topeka Fire Department, and with grandchildren and a great grandchild. She has also enjoyed re-connecting with the League of Women Voters and the local music fraternity of Sigma Alpha Iota Alumnae.
Music has been Lana's lifetime hobby, as a patron, teacher and performer. Prior to the pandemic, she played with the Topeka Prairie Winds Flute Choir and plans to do so again soon. She also loves to sing!
Her early professional experience working with the Lincoln Action Program and the "War on Poverty Programs" in Lincoln, Nebraska, is responsible for informing Lana of the importance of mobilizing efforts to address critical needs of our fellow human beings, especially in the areas of housing, health and accessible services. Projects and efforts to improve the human condition and the camaraderie of working with others to do so, are why Lana takes pride in being a Rotarian.