NOTICE: For the health of our Members and Guests Omaha Rotary has suspended in person meetings indefinitely. Meetings are currently being held virtually.

For meeting log-in information click the speaker for the date you plan to attend.

The Rotary Club of Established Leaders, Emerging Leaders, Developing Leaders

Are you an established professional who wants to make positive changes in your community and the world? Our club members are dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group who share your drive to give back.

Our meetings are Wednesdays, from noon to 1 PM. They are usually held at the
Field Club of Omaha, 3615 Woolworth Street, Omaha, Nebraska

Check out the calendar for upcoming programs and possible changes in location.

In Person Rotary Meetings Suspended

Please join us for a weekly virtual Zoom meeting. Stay tuned for any changes or updates. Thank you.

President's Pen

The president of Rotary International Holger Knaack shared the following observations at Suburban Rotary on August 6, 2020. There were 180 participants on the zoom meeting.

Holger and his wife left Evanston IL (Rotary International headquarters) for home in Germany on March 18 of this year and traveled again just two weeks ago by car to Zurich where Rotary has maintained an office for 95 years.

He noted that Berlin has app. 30 clubs, plus Rotoractors. His message: THERE IS NO WRONG AGE TO BE A ROTARIAN! Rotary needs to appeal to young professionals in the U.S. and Germany and elsewhere. The average age of a Rotarian in the U.K. is 75-years-old. A more modern Rotary will include new models of membership. I’m excited to be working with Phil Taylor and his team on this presently for our club.

Interestingly, Holger reported that Rotary developed a comprehensive statement on diversity, equity and inclusion in 2018 – two years ago.

On the service side, we have re-started vaccinations for polio in world hotspots – Pakistan and Africa. And on August 25^th, a worldwide announcement featuring the president of the World Health Organization, Bill Gates and Holger will announce that Africa has become Polio Free.

I asked Holger about the sentiment on the street in Germany regarding the pullback of U.S. troops. I appreciated his response, which we see little of publicly from official sources. He said that Germany can thank the United States for the last 70 years, as can other free countries throughout the world such as the Philippines. He said America continues to teach Germany how to be a democracy. How refreshing.

Holger Knaack, we thank you as Rotary Opens Opportunities for children free from polio and so much more around the globe. There is more on Holger in a recent Rotary magazine.

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Also, thanks this week to Martie Cordaro, immediate past-president of West Rotary and President of the Omaha Stormchasers and Union Omaha, for maintaining a 52-year-streak of appearances by the AAA club at Downtown Rotary - “Holy Cow!” to borrow a baseball phrase.

Finally, last call to golf in the Millard Rotary Memorial Event on September 22^nd at Tiburon with fellow Rotarians Donny Suh M.D.(recently honored by Suburban Rotary as “Omahan of the Year,”) Chair of our International Committee Brad Burkland, Secretary Nash Mahupete and yours truly.

We have a couple friends of Rotary joining us. We have room for two more Rotarians. Contact me at jsullivan@sullivangroup.ventures or mobile: 402-206-8081 by Monday, August 10^th.

See you on August 12^th to hear just how Lloyd Meyer and team designed the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary in Des Moines featured in the July 2020 Smithsonian Magazine.

~ John Sullivan

Condolences

The Rotary Club of Omaha sends sincere condolences to our membe Brad Burklund for the loss of his Father, Fred Burklund, on Augsut 6th.

We will be thinking of you as your family navigates this difficult time.

Zoom Make-Ups

If you attend another club's virtual meeting please email Leigh for attendance credit.

The other clubs are not all reporting make-up credits for Zoom attendance at this time.

Thank you!

Weekly Meeting Recap

What do you get when you combine the STEM, peer-to-peer mentorship, the development of communication skills and global citizenship, collaboration and teamwork, and some really cool autonomous robots? VEX robot competitions!

Our guest speaker this week was Carrie Rice, math teacher at Brownell Talbot and coach for the internationally recognized VEX robotics team. Rice has coached the team for the past 14 years and BT has won numerous awards at the state, national, and regional level.

VEX robotics competitions were originally designed to help address the shortage of engineers by getting middle and high school aged children interested in STEM. Student teams design and build their own robots that are programmed to perform specific tasks. These robots then compete with other robotics teams from all over the city, state, nation, and even the world.

Ms. Rice showed us a few clips of the competitions as well as a quick tour of the lab where students work. She highlighted the ways that robotics helps develop communication skills, teamwork, sportsmanship, and in the case of international competition, the importance of global citizenship. Any BT student is welcome to join the robotics team and most costs are covered by BT, allowing for access to all students interested.

Downtown Rotary thanks Ms. Rice for her dedication and leadership in the development of young minds.

~Adam Leong
Guest Journalist

Membership Application

We have received a membership application from Dr. Jim Hauschildt, President of Clarkson College.

Dr. Hauschildt is sponsored by Phil Taylor.

Any comments should be sent to Leigh Sittenauer at director@omaharotary.org.

WE ARE AN AWARD WINNING CLUB

Rotary Club of Omaha was recognized at the Rotary District 5650 Virtual Conference.

We are one of the Top Ten Clubs in the District Ranking as #6.
We won a Large Club Award for Community Service for our service to the Omaha Winter Night Watch.
The team patrols Omaha’s streets during the coldest months of the year, making multiple stops in areas where the homeless congregate to offer hot meals and winter outwear to anyone in need. One night the temperature was below zero and it was evident the service was truly appreciated
Outstanding District Chair - our own Bill Harvey won this award for his work as the Rotary International District Chair

None of this would be possible without our AMAZING members. THANK YOU ALL!

You can see a list of all the awards given at the District Conference HERE.

Good News August 5th

From Dr. Donny Suh:
I have a son, Alex, who is going to be working for First Tee in New Orleans starting next week.
First Tee: youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people.

From Chris Tointon:
1. In partnership with Omaha Public Schools, the YMCA of Greater Omaha distributed nearly 430,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to more than 17,000 families this summer!

2. The YMCA is going to be providing a special school age day program for families who need to be at work during the OPS learn from home days.

From Camille Metoyer Moten:
My good news is I have a gig!

August 23rd at the Jewell Jazz Club in the Capitol District 6:30 pm show. Physical distancing and minimum seating will be in place.

Come on out! Wear a mask cuz I won’t. Unless anyone wants to hear muffled jazz songs. Or maybe that could be a new trend!

From Sean Connolly:
I have some bittersweet good news. After spending the last seven years at Kutak Rock, I’ve decided to start my own firm! As of August 1st, I am the owner of Connolly IP, PC, LLO. I’m focusing on technology transactions, data security and privacy, and intellectual property counseling. My website is connolly ip.com, and my work email address is connolly@connollyip.com.

Good News July 22

From Sean Olson:
My son Zach was selected to play in the Metro High School Basketball All-Star Game this past weekend. Showing a picture of him and some of his former AAU teammates and friends.

From Adam Leong:
I competed in the Omaha Triathlon on Sunday. It was my first open water triathlon so I was a bit nervous until I heard the race announcer's voice. It was none other than fellow Rotarian and fellow WashU alum Hal Daub! Thanks to Hal for his enthusiasm in announcing, and for getting up so early. Go Bears!

August Birthdays