Secretary: James Mackiewicz Sgt at Arms: Okley Gibbs Digital Experience: Adam Leong
Invocation & Pledge: Bob Keefer
Navigator: Need Volunteer
Cashiers/Check-in: Aileen Warren & Lisa Tonjes Moritz
Admin Support: Kevin Baitey
Greeters: John Mock & Pastor Heidi McGinness
Speaker Host: Camille Metoyer Moten
Speaker: Rebecca Noble
Buffet Lunch is $18 for members and $20 for visiting Rotarians and guests. Lunch ticket is back. Please collect your lunch ticket after check-in and put it in the jar at the beginning of the buffet line
Rebecca Noble, a long-time Omaha performer, educator, and arts leader, is the Executive Director of the Omaha Community Playhouse (OCP). Previously serving as the visual and performing arts curriculum specialist for Omaha South High School for 13 years and as the Executive Director for the Dundee Dinner Theatre, Noble’s extensive experience in the arts culminated in her 2020 Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in Arts Education. Appointed as OCP's permanent Executive Director in August 2023, she is guiding the Playhouse through its 100th season (2024-2025), committed to maintaining OCP as a vibrant community creative space and ensuring its legacy for future generations of artists and patrons.
Happy Spring from our vibrant and growing club! This past meeting our featured speaker was Dr. Jeff Delaney with Children’s, who shared some of the achievements by the team who have been traveling to Belize as a part of Operation Hippocrates, one of our club’s signature projects. Dr. Delaney and the whole medical team, as well as the Belize Rotary club, and the Rotary Club of Omaha extend our gratitude to Rotarian LeRoy Swedlund for 30 years of hard work and dedication to this “Gift of Life” project. Thank you LeRoy for all you’ve done to make this a success!! Another signature club project is coming up May 14: our 98th annual Eighth Grade Honor Roll. Thank you sincerely to all who have made contributions to this worthy cause which recognizes leadership characteristics in nominated 8th graders from schools all over Omaha. We are still accepting donations for this year’s event.
As a result of the meeting preferences survey, the Rotary Club of Omaha Board voted to keep important traditions in our club while also addressing a level of dissatisfaction in our membership: 1. We will continue with our meeting invocation at every meeting, with a reminder to follow Rotary International guidelines (keep it short, simple, and non-denominational, respecting all religious beliefs, and focusing on fellowship, service, and the Four-Way Test), and a request to limit it to 1 minute. These guidelines and helpful tips are being shared weekly with our Invocator. 2. We will continue singing “God Bless America” at our club meetings, celebrating this tradition during the first meeting each month (instead of weekly). This schedule has been designated on the club calendar. Thank you for your support of the Board’s thoughtful and conscientious decision!
Our next club meeting on Wed March 26th features Rebecca Noble with the Omaha Community Playhouse, and our club social will follow immediately after. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday for lunch at the Field Club. Bring a guest!
March 12, 2025, Omaha NE Yolanda Hoffman. The Rotary Club recently bid a heartfelt farewell to Board Director and Membership Chair Franco Gentile, as he embarks on his next career adventure in Cincinnati. During his time with the club, Franco’s leadership left a lasting impact, especially in the area of membership recruitment.
At a recent Rotary meeting, President Heather Legge presented Franco with a Rotary plaque in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the club. In her remarks, President Legge highlighted Franco’s remarkable work as Membership Chair, noting that his efforts led to a net positive membership growth in July 2024. “Franco’s dedication has truly strengthened our club,” President Legge shared, expressing deep gratitude for his service.
Franco’s leadership extended beyond membership recruitment. His commitment and hard work also shone through during his time on the Rotary Board of Directors, where he helped guide the club to new heights. The club expressed sincere thanks for his tireless service and the positive change he helped bring about.
In addition to the recognition from the club, The Rotary Foundation’s Regional Chair, Bill Harvey, took the opportunity to honor Franco with a Paul Harris Fellow +2 gold pin. This prestigious award was presented in recognition of Franco’s unwavering commitment to Rotary International’s global initiatives, particularly his support of the ongoing fight to eradicate polio.
As Franco moves forward with his career, the Rotary Club expresses its deep appreciation for his exceptional leadership and the lasting impact he has made. He will surely be missed, but his legacy within the club will remain strong.
President Heather Legge presented Franco Gentile with a Plaque of Appreciation for his service as member of the Board of Directors and Membership Chair
On behalf of the Board of Trustees of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), TRF Regional Officer Bill Harvey presented Franco Gentile with his Paul Harris Fellow +1 and +2 gold pins
We're looking for a few Rotarians to join our newly formed Finance Committee, which will assist our Treasurer with managing the club's finances. This is a great opportunity to get more involved with the club, learn about its financial operations, and share your expertise to help guide us moving forward.
We're seeking 2 or 3 members to serve on the committee. If you have a background in finance, or just want to be part of an important initiative for the club, we'd love to hear from you!
If you're interested, or want more information, please reach out to one of the following:
Jim Stewart, Current Treasurer: jstew1489@yahoo.com
Gretchen Harvey, 25/26 Club President: Nebraskamayflower@gmail.com
Yolanda Hoffman, Club Executive Director: director@omaharotary.org
We look forward to hearing from you and appreciate your willingness to volunteer your time and expertise!
Bring on Spring! We are all very thankful for the warm weather this week. Let's hope this cycle stays with us until Spring. It is so refreshing to drive by a lake and see the ripple of waves instead of a solid sheet of ice. It reminds me of Rotary's focus during the month of March on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Through water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program, Rotary's people of action mobilize resources, form partnerships and invest in infrastructure and training that yields long term change. The Rotary Foundation, with your support, is changing the world by providing grants for projects and activities around the world and in your own backyard. Since 2013, the Rotary Foundation has invested more than $130 million in over 2, ooo WASH projects worldwide. Through this investment, our volunteers of action have improved access to safely managed and basic WASH services to communities, schools and healthcare facilities, while protecting and conserving water resources.
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.
January 7, 2025 Volunteers L to R:Steve McCollister, Colleen Brennan, Scott Kinnaird, Fletcher Reel, Heidi McGinness, future Rotarian Paige Mathouser, and Tobi Mathouser
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.
Rotarian meet-up with a buffalo! L to R: Jill Slupe, Shelly Ruwe, and James Mackiewicz
Rotarians meet-up at German-American Society L to R: Hal Daub, Fletcher Reel, Brett Frevert, and Colleen Brennan
Rotary Connection Circle meeting L to R: Yolanda Hoffman, Chris Mehaffey, Circle Leader Cella Quinn, Fletcher Reel, and Colleen Brennan
Rotary Connection Circle meeting L to R:Scott Kinnaird, Circle Leader Michelle Trawick, and Chris Tooker
Merger Think-Tank L to R: President Heather Legge, Steve McCollister, Gretchen Harvey, and Tobi Mathouser
Mayoral event at the Press Club L to R: Russell Vaughn, Zac Triemert, Dakotah Smith, Steve McCollister, Fletcher Reel, Colleen Brennan, Viv Ewing, and mayoral candidate Rotary Past President John Ewing
Rotarians at the Scottish Rite breakfast meeting hosted by the Downtown Omaha Inc. L to R: Dan Esch, John Maxell (Suburban), Yolanda Hoffman, Micah Evans (Northwest), and John Sullivan
Rotarians at the Dream Bigger Summit L to R: Amie Konwinski, Lisa Tonjes Moritz, Shelly Ruwe
Rotarians at the Metro Omaha Women’s Business Gala L to R Shayne Fili, Viv Ewing amd John Ewing
Rotarians at the multi-club Rotary After Hours L to R: Kevin Baitey, Larry Guenther, James Mackiewicz, Chris Rath, Todd Chaney, Shelley Ruwe, Jill Slupe, Brad Burklund, Lisa Tonjes Moritz, and Josh Todd
June 26, 2024. Outgoing President Larry Guenther recognized our members who achieved perfect attendance. Perfect Rotary attendance(aka Perfect Rotarians) is attained through consistent participation in weekly meetings, service projects, committee work, weekly club service, Rotary socials, visiting other clubs, Rotary online makeups, Zoom attendance, attendance at club board meetings, and attendance at club foundation board meetings. Below is the list of our perfect attendance Rotarians.
July is the perfect time to start your journey towards becoming a Perfect Rotarian!
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.
Chase Bank
UNO College of Business
Centris
Ollie The Trolley
Carlson West Povondra Architects
DA Davidson
Elkhorn Athletics Association
Omaha Massage Therapy
Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
Kevin Baitey
Brad Burklund
Paul Cohen Hal Daub
Gene DeBoer Dianne Desler
John Ewing
Viv Ewing
Brett Frevert
Dawn Gonzales
Okley Gibbs
Fr. Lloyd Gnirk
Tom Gouttierre
Larry Guenther Bill Harvey
Gretchen Harvey
Barbara Hayman
Yolanda Hoffman
Larry Johansen
Bob Keefer
Susan Koesters
Heather Legge
Sandy Lemke
Adam Leong
John Marburger
Steve McCollister
Heidi McGinness
Camille Metoyer-Moten
Lloyd Meyer
John Mock
Jim Murphy
Roxy Orr
Fletcher Reel
Jim Scott-Miller
Deb Skinner
Jim Stewart
Jim Suttle
LeRoy Swedlund
Lisa Tonjes Moritz
Michelle Trawick
Jennifer Trebill
Kathryn Weitz
President's Pen
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