As we wrap up a very full and meaningful year, please note that there will be no meetings this week and next week. This short pause gives everyone time to enjoy the holidays, rest, and spend time with family and friends.
Thank you for your energy, service, and fellowship throughout the year. We look forward to reconnecting, recharging, and continuing our work together when we reconvene in 2026.
Warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season and a bright New Year. We will see you in 2026!
Rotary recently celebrated a truly special milestone as Tom Gouttierre marked 50 years of service in Rotary. Past District Governor and currently Assistant Governor Roxy Orr, with President Gretchen Harvey, honored the occasion with a presentation recognizing Tom’s steadfast dedication and the remarkable consistency of his commitment to Rotary’s mission.
Over five decades, Tom has embodied the spirit of Service Above Self through his leadership, service, and loyal support of Rotary’s values. While Tom is retired, he remains a highly engaged Rotarian who actively shares the Rotary experience with colleagues, friends, and the wider circle of influence he has built over a lifetime of meaningful work. He is consistently supportive of Rotary causes, both here at home and around the world, and our club is grateful for the steady encouragement and goodwill he brings to everything we do.
Tom’s Rotary legacy also includes a pivotal chapter in our club’s story. Tom previously served as President of our club, and his leadership helped guide the transition that brought our Rotary meetings to the Field Club of Omaha, a lasting move that continues to shape our weekly fellowship and club culture today.
Tom’s Rotary legacy is matched by an extraordinary professional career. He is the retired Dean of International Studies and Programs and former Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Widely respected as a leading Afghanistan expert, Tom first lived in Afghanistan in the 1960s as a Peace Corps volunteer and Fulbright fellow, later returning for nearly a decade of work and service that included coaching the Afghan national basketball team and advancing educational and cultural understanding across borders. Over the years, his deep regional expertise and language skills made him a trusted voice on U.S Afghan relations and Central Asian affairs, including advisory work with U.S. presidents and ongoing media and public education efforts. Even after retiring from UNO in 2015, he has remained a prominent advocate for learning, global connection, and educational opportunity, especially for Afghan students and Afghan women.
Congratulations to Tom Gouttierre on 50 remarkable years of Rotary service, and thank you, Tom, for the example you continue to set through a life rooted in service, learning, and lasting impact.
Tom Gouttierre with his wife Marylou Gouttierre, PDG Roxy Orr, and President Gretchen Harvey
Operation Hippocrates, the Rotary Club of Omaha’s signature international project in Belize, took place December 3 through December 6. This trip focused on pediatric heart repair through catheterization procedures. It is a different phase of the mission than the February clinic visit, when Dr. Jeff Delaney examined 135 children. During this December visit, the team was scheduled to complete six heart catheterization procedures, providing life saving and life improving care and renewed hope for Belizean families whose children have correctable congenital heart disease.
Special thanks to Project Chair LeRoy Swedlund and to all donors to the Rotary Club of Omaha Service Fund whose generosity made this project possible. Your support directly funded this mission and continues to change and save lives through Operation Hippocrates. Below photos from the project in Belize.
Rotary proudly recognized Aileen Warren as a Paul Harris Fellow +6, honoring her continued generosity and dedication to The Rotary Foundation. The presentation was made by Heather Legge.
Aileen is a past Rotary president and has been a committed member of Rotary for 10 years, consistently demonstrating a passion for service and leadership. Achieving Paul Harris Fellow +6 status reflects her strong support of Rotary’s humanitarian work and her belief in making a lasting difference in communities near and far.
Congratulations to Aileen Warren on this well-deserved recognition!
Paul Harris Fellow +6 Aileen Warren with President Gretchen Harvey and The Rotary Foundation Chair Heather Legge
Each year, our Rotarians team up with the Boy Scouts and the City of Omaha to turn Christmas trees into something good for the environment. Once Christmas is over, those trees do not go to waste. Instead, they are collected and recycled, helping reduce landfill use and supporting a cleaner, greener community.
This year, the project will take place on the last weekend of December 2025 and the first weekend of January 2026, specifically on December 27 and 28 and January 3 and 4. Volunteer shifts are in two hour blocks from 10 AM to 4 PM at 156th and F Streets on the northeast corner.
Volunteers bundle up and brave true Nebraska winter conditions, sometimes even in below zero temperatures. The cold does not stop our Rotarians and Boy Scouts from showing up with warm smiles, strong hands, and generous hearts. The work is simple but meaningful. Greet neighbors, unload trees, keep the line moving, and enjoy the steady rhythm of service, conversation, and laughter.
To recognize your commitment, you will receive two attendance credits for each shift you serve. If the temperatures drop below zero, you will receive four attendance credits. More importantly, you will enjoy fun and fellowship while doing something that comes straight from the goodness of your heart.
Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Happy December! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family, friends, and community!! There are so many generous acts of kindness that happen at this time of year from serving meals for others, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, and donating coats, hats, and gloves so people can stay warm.
This past weekend, I was reminded of that kindness in my own Elkhorn neighborhood, when we had the first meaningful snow of the season. We all worked together to help make sure that everyone’s driveways and sidewalks were clear of snow. I am incredibly grateful for the spirit of community that looks out for those around us.
When I was growing up there was a song in 1971 that was extremely popular called “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony” by the group called the “The New Seekers”. It is a simple song and idealist, but the song’s message is an analogy for what we do as Rotarians in our communities and the world to create hope, build peace, and make an impact. When you combine the voices of Rotarians from all over the world, we do help “The World to Sing in Perfect Harmony!”
I wanted to give a big shout out to every Rotary Club in our District for everything you did in November to “Unite for Good” and serve your communities and the world! Thank you!!
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 its 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.
December 2, 2025 Rotarians at Stephen Center L to R: Hannah Patterson, Fletcher Reel, Heidi McGinness, Luke Drazic, Steve McCollister, and Yvonne Dooley
At our July 16 meeting, Outgoing President Heather Legge proudly recognized an extraordinary group of members, our Perfect Attendance Rotarians!
Achieving perfect Rotary attendance is no small feat. It reflects dedication, service, and an unwavering commitment to our club’s mission. Whether it's showing up at weekly meetings (in person or via Zoom), joining service projects, attending committee meetings, helping with club operations, gathering with fellow Rotarians (3 or more), visiting other clubs, participating in online makeups, or engaging in board activities, these Rotarians show up, step up, and make a difference! Let's give a big round of applause to these role models of Rotary engagement!
See the full list of honorees below.
July is the perfect month to start your own journey to becoming a Perfect Rotarian! Join us, stay involved, and let’s make service and fellowship a way of life.
Where three or more Rotarians gather, it's called a Rotary Social, and you earn attendance credits. Rotarians may come from different clubs. Connect with Rotarians and enjoy the power of Rotary fellowship. Below are our recent Rotary Socials.
Rotarians visiting John Marburger at Brookstone Village L to R: Bill Harvey, John Marburger, Okley Gibbs, and President Gretchen Harvey
Rotarians at the Downtown Omaha Inc Christmas Party L to R: Yolanda Hoffman, Mayor John Ewing, Dan Esch, First Lady Viv Ewing, David Greenberg (Suburban Rotary) and Lynn McCormack (Millard Rotary)
Christmas Party at the Chamber of Commerce L to R: James Mackiewicz, Candi Jacobs, and Zac Triemert
Rotarians at the Downtown Omaha Inc Christmas/Holiday Party
President Gretchen with special advisor Bill and Omaha West Rotarian Martie Cordero at Pinnacle Bank Christmas Party.
Pinnacle Bank Christmas Party L to R: Bill Harvey, President Gretchen Harvey, Omaha West Rotarian Rich Secor, and Cella Quinn
Rotarians at the CWS new scoreboard unveiling: Larry Guenther, John Sullivan, Paul Cohen, and LeRoy Swedlund
Rotarians having fun with the Ollie the Trolley Holiday Lights Tour: Yolanda Hoffman and family, President Gretchen Harvey, and Bill Harvey
Holiday party at Flemings L t R: Susan Koesters, Paul Cohen, and Sandy Lemke
Rotarian’s are the Mayor’s holiday party L to R: President Gretchen Harvey, Bill Harvey, Jill Slupe, First Lady Viv Ewing, Bob Keefer, Dakotah Smith, Lisa Tonjes Moritz, Mayor John Ewing, and Former Mayor Jim Suttle
Mid America Council of the Scouts Annual leadership luncheon L to R: Former Congressman Hal Daub, John Sullivan, Chris Mehaffey, Mayor John Ewing, Steve McCollister, and Rebecca Rens
Sandy Lempke visiting Omaha Night Rotary, pictured here with Omaha Night Rotarians
Another picture of the Mid America Council of the Scouts Annual leadership luncheon L to R Former Congressman Hal Daub, Colleen Brennan, Fletcher Reel, John Sullivan, Sean Kelly, Steve McCollister, and Rebecca Rens
The Rotary Club of Omaha is now recruiting more members! It's your opportunity to join the Rotary Club of Omaha, click here to complete the membership application form. For questions, please contact Membership Chair Franco Gentile at FGentile@sbgtv.com.
Aileen Warren
Adam Leong
Amy Tritsch
Aileen Warren
Bill Harvey
Gretchen Harvey
Bob Keefer
Brad Burklund
Camille Metoyer Moten
Brett Frevert
Charlie Peters
Colleen Brennan
Deb Skinner
Elkhorn Athletics
Josh Todd
Fletcher Reel
Gene DeBoer
Goodwill Industries
Heather Legge
Heidi McGinness
Huntrex.com
Jim Murphy
Jim Stewart
John Mock
Larry Guenther
Larry Johansen
LeRoy Swedlund
Lisa Tonjes Moritz
Michelle Trawick
Nash Mahupete
Okley Gibbs
Omaha Downtown Rotary Foundation
Omaha School of Massage Therapy
Paul Cohen
PDG Bob Perrin
PDG Roxy Orr
Ralston Schools Foundation
Randy Wieseler
Rick Waxman
Sarah Robak
Scott Buchholz
Steve Carper
Steve McCollister
Susan Koesters
Tobi Mathouser
Todd Chaney
Todd Murphy
Tom Gouttierre
Westside Foundation
Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Happy December! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family, friends, and community!! There are so many generous acts of kindness that happen at this time of year from serving meals for others, ringing bells for the Salvation Army, and donating coats, hats, and gloves so people can stay warm.
