Recently, Deb Skinner gave her Vocational Talk at Rotary. She shared her career background. We learned that she has extensive experience in managing and organizing big events, which is why she is our Honor Roll Chair. Deb shared that her recent endeavor is about an 18th century play featuring an authentic wild west experience. While Deb was giving her vocational talk, suddenly fully-armed cowboys appeared at Rotary! By bringing the cowboys in, Deb raised the bar for giving vocational talk. As a result no one volunteered to give their vocational talk on May 10. But Jim McKernan bravely told the Whirl Editor that he will give his vocational talk on May 17th. We will see what a TV executive will bring to Rotary on May 17th. Below are some photos from Deb's vocational talk. More information about the 18th century wild west play, click here.

 

 

April 26, 2023, was our 96th Honor Roll Program. We honored 437 brilliant 8th graders from 58 Middle Schools in the Metro Omaha area. The program was mainly virtual with live feed from Field Club to participating schools. Our special thanks to Honor Roll Chair Deb Skinner, Scholarship Committee Chair President Sean Connolly, Tech Chair Adam Leong, Bill Harvey for serving as Master of Ceremonies, Invocator Fr, Lloyd Gnirk, Keynote Speaker John Ewing, Scholarship representative Alessandra Kakish of Creighton University, and Honor Roll Representative Aidan McMahon of Grandview Middle School. Big thanks to our Honor Roll Sponsors and Donors. Our attendance at Field Club were Rotarians, Grandview Middle School Honor Roll students, their Guidance Counselor and Principal, and Grandview Parents. Here some photos from the 96th Honor Roll Program.
 

 

Big THANK YOU to Honor Roll Sponsors and Donors!

Sponsors: Centris- Dawn Gonzales, EHPV Management Group-Bill Harvey, DA Davidson-Susan Koesters, Hal Daub, John & Viv Ewing, and CFO Systems - Brett Frevert.

 

Donors: Aileen Warren, Sean Connolly, Dianne Desler, Gretchen Harvey, Steve McCollister, Jim Stewart, Dee Haj, Okley Gibbs, Paul Cohen, Bob Keefer, Jim Cavanaugh, John Marburger, Jim Scott-Miller, Mike Schlickbernd, Jim Murphy, Camille Metoyer-Moten, Gene DeBoer, Lloyd Meyer, Michelle Trawick, Larry Guenther, and Yolanda Hoffman.

Your Service Fund in Action! Recently, Omaha Downtown Rotary participated in a multi-club grant project of purchasing and packaging nutritious meals for the food insecure in our immediate community. Omaha Downtown Rotary, Omaha West Rotary, and Millard Rotary, with Rotarians, family, and friends, packaged 25,000 meals in partnership with Kids Against Hunger. Here's a video recap.

Rotarians are making a difference at Stephen Center. CLICK HERE to sign up. 
 

Stephen Center partners with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction and poverty. Stephen Center has served the homeless and low-income in Omaha since 1984 through their three programs: Emergency Shelter, HERO Program and Transitional Living Program.

 

The Omaha Downtown Rotary partners with Stephens Center in serving hot meals to its residents. 

 

 

Pictured here are hard working Rotarians L to R: Matt Boulay, Project Chair Steve McCollister, Franco Gentile, Scott Kinnaird, and Heidi McGinness                                       

 

Connecting with fellow Rotarians is made easy with club service. Plus, you get attendance credit. It's a great deal! If you are a new Rotarian, it counts toward your Red Badge requirements. You may sign up as Greeter, Virtual Greeter, Check-in/Registration, Navigator, and Invocator. Click here to sign up.

 

Pictured here are recent greeters Treasurer Jim Stewart and Mike Schlickbernd of Dreamvesting greeting Spencer Secor of Lund Company.

 

 

Here's a sneak peek of a weekly meeting at Omaha Downtown Rotary. It starts with a live concert with Jim Scott-Miller on the piano with certified singers, the Omaha Downtown Rotarians! Watch this video. You can feel the energy!