Conservative Republican Jim Pillen grew up on a farm in Platte County, Nebraska and raised pigs with his father, Dale. Jim graduated from Lakeview High School.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from UNL, and married Suzanne Shreve. He then earned a doctor of veterinary medicine from Kansas State. In 1983, Jim returned to Nebraska and opened a small animal practice and swine consulting practice. Jim and his father, Dale, partnered together, raising 60 sows and 1,200 market hogs on a dirt lot on their home farm. In 1993, Jim started Pillen Family Farms. In 2003, he added DNA Genetics. 2012 brought the addition of Jim’s two oldest children, Sarah and Brock, into the business. Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics are now a multigenerational family-run business, composed of over 1,100 team members. The family business operates by some basic core beliefs—do what is right, do the best you can, and treat others the way you want to be treated.
Jim and wife, Suzanne, have four children, Sarah, Brock, Polly and Izic, and seven grandchildren, William, Halle, Eloise, Henry, Harrison, Ava, and Thomas.
Last week at Rotary, we had great interest in the Flatwater Free Press presentation as evidenced by the presence of several guests and Rotarians' high attendance. Todd Murphy introduced our speakers. We celebrated our October birthday celebrants and we had to endure singing God Bless America on acapella since our resident pianist Jim Scott-Miller was convalescing from COVID. The Editor's best part of the meeting was hearing all the good news from John Mock, Camille Metoyer Moten, Steve McCollister, and Jim Suttle. John turned 79 and feeling blessed with his existence donated $79 to Polio Plus. He challenged all October birthday celebrants to do the same. Camille happily announced she is now cancer-free! She recalled how nine years ago she lost her hair and fellow Rotarians remembered that time. Steve, fresh from his French vacation, shared that he met several Frenchmen who share American's concern for jobs, family, and country. Jim gladly announced that he survived his 6oth high school reunion driving his Jaguar to 1,800 miles without getting a speeding ticket. Jim mentioned that he noticed at his high school reunion that his high school classmates have finally "matured."
Captured by the Rotary paparazzi, pictured here are John Mock, Camille Metoyer Moten, Steve McCollister, and Jim Suttle
Todd Murphy introducing Matthew Hansen and Matt Wynn from Flatwater Free Press
Rotary International President Jennifer Jones appeared on the main stage at the star-studded Global Citizen Festival on 24 September to highlight Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio and announce an additional US$150 million pledge toward that end.
Jones, who spoke in front of 60,000 people in New York City and tens of thousands more online and on TV, noted the state of emergency that the governor of New York state recently declared to combat a resurgence of polio in the region.
Jones stressed that polio is preventable through vaccines and that wild poliovirus is endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although female vaccinators are critical to building relationships with mothers and reaching children in these areas, they sometimes can face harassment or even attacks.
In Pakistan, "frontline female health workers put themselves at risk every day," Jones said. "They are committed, even with obstacles, to reaching every last child with polio vaccines." The vaccination program works with the local police and government to ensure the safety of these health workers. Read more, click here.
This article is a reprint from rotary.org article.
Connecting with fellow Rotarians is made easy with club service. Plus you get attendance credit. It's a great deal! and 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 Brett Frevert, Franco Gentile, and Fr. Lloyd Gnirk
The recent detection of the vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 case in New York, USA, and isolates in several environmental samples collected in London are stark reminders that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. It also highlights the importance of vaccination as the only form of protection against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases and the work that needs to be done in our communities to encourage the uptake of vaccines. Also, as the world gets closer to zero wild poliovirus cases, it is increasingly important to track all forms of the virus wherever they may appear, including in polio-free regions.
The U.S. is still considered low risk for paralytic outbreaks of polio due to the high level of vaccine coverage across the population. If a child has received the entire course of vaccines, the risk of becoming paralyzed by polio is negligible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 92.6% of children aged 24 months are fully vaccinated against polio, slightly below the 95% World Health Organization target. Read more, click here.
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.
Hardworking Rotarians at Stephen Center L to R: Franco Gentile, Jim Stewart, James Mackiewicz, Heidi McGinness, and Vince Miscia
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!
JIM PILLEN
By Ryan Hyland
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