Sgt at Arms: Okley Gibbs Digital Experience: Adam Leong
Invocation & Pledge: Pastor Heidi McGinness
Navigator: Sean Olson
Cashiers/Check-in: Brad Burklund & Need Volunteer
Admin Support: Need Volunteer
Greeters: Mark Gudgel & Uniikye Washington
New Member Host: Need Volunteer
Speaker Host: Hal Daub
Speaker: John Winkler
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
John has served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Papio Missouri River NRD since December 2006. Prior to becoming the District’s Chief Executive, he worked as the City Administrator for the City of Plattsmouth and as the Economic Development Director for Cass County for six years.
He completed his undergraduate coursework in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and holds a master’s degree in public administration. John has also served in several local and county elected offices and is a graduate of both the U.S. Air War College National Security Forum and the FBI Citizens Academy.
In addition, John is the Vice President of the Offutt Advisory Council Board, where he serves in three roles: Civilian Co-Commander of the 38th Reconnaissance Squadron, Deputy Co-Commander of the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, and representative to the Air Combat Command’s Commanders Group.
Christmas Tree Recycling 2025 to 2026 By Yolanda Hoffman, Omaha Nebraska Jan. 5, 2026
Service Above Self in sub zero conditions
Our annual Christmas Tree Recycling project once again demonstrated Rotary at its very best. Over the last weekend of December 2025 and the first weekend of January 2026, Rotarians and community partners came together to divert thousands of Christmas trees from landfills while serving the City of Omaha in some of the coldest conditions of the season.
December 28 was particularly challenging, with sub zero temperatures and severe wind chill. Despite the brutal weather, volunteers showed up, stayed engaged, and worked continuously to keep the operation running safely and efficiently. We are especially grateful to Units Omaha for providing a warming station, which allowed volunteers to rotate, warm up, and continue serving throughout the day.
This annual environmental project is made possible through strong partnerships with the City of Omaha and the Boy Scouts of America, whose Scouts worked alongside Rotarians hauling, stacking, and managing the steady flow of recycled trees.
The project opened with a full staff shift on December 27 led by Project Chair John Mock, joined by Jim Cavanaugh, Tom Gouttierre, and Larry Guenther, whose leadership ensured a strong and organized start. The concluding shift on January 4 was a memorable one, led by our two mayors - Mayor John Ewing Jr. and Mayor Hal Daub, alongside John Sullivan and Lisa Schiele, bringing this year’s effort to a meaningful close.
We extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers who gave their time, energy, and good humor in extreme winter conditions. Our gratitude goes to Jeremy Bouman, Colleen Brennan, Jim Cavanaugh, Todd Chaney, Hal Daub, Justin Dougherty, John Ewing Jr., Brett Frevert, Tom Gouttierre, Mark Gudgel, Larry Guenther, Bill Harvey, Scott Kinnaird, Liesel Kittlitz, Bodey Koesters, Susan Koesters, Ryan Lemmon, James Mackiewicz, John Mock, Duncan Murphy, Charlie Peters Jr., Christopher Rath, Sarah Robak, Richard Sampson, Lisa Schiele, Dakotah Smith, Jim Stewart, John Sullivan, Elizabeth Swedlund, Josh Todd, and Russell Vaughn.
Thank you for showing up, braving the cold, and once again proving that Rotary service makes a lasting difference in our community.
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
Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Happy January 2026!! I hope everyone was able to ring in the New Year with family, friends and community and say “Auld Lang Syne” to 2025. It is so special that the ball has dropped in Times Square in New York and everyone is celebrating the New Year, but here in the Midwest we get an extra hour to enjoy 2025!!
I found a great phrase from a Facebook group called, “English Literature” that may help bring meaning to the New Year! Listed under the heading, New year is coming, it says:
“From winter’s hush a promise breathes, Soft as dawn through bare-limbed trees. The future hums in unseen-ways, A newborn light in unspent days.”
What a terrific way to think about the New Year! Rotarians are eternal optimists. We look to the New Year with the hopes and dreams that are just waiting for us to realize. While caught in winter’s grip it may seem that we are unable to move forward, but the truth is winter gives us the space for introspection and reflection.
Every day going forward is a little longer and the light grows stronger. We are resilient and know that spring is right around the corner and our pace quickens. We are People of Action!
I wanted to give a big shout out to every Rotary Club in our District for everything you did in December 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
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
John Winkler
Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Happy January 2026!! I hope everyone was able to ring in the New Year with family, friends and community and say “Auld Lang Syne” to 2025. It is so special that the ball has dropped in Times Square in New York and everyone is celebrating the New Year, but here in the Midwest we get an extra hour to enjoy 2025!!
