Secretary: James Mackiewicz Sgt at Arms: Okley Gibbs Digital Experience: Adam Leong
Invocation & Pledge: Heidi McGinness
Navigator: Christopher Nwafor
Cashiers/Check-in: Steve McCollister & Need Volunteer
Admin Support: Mitch Hunt
Greeters: Larry Guenther & Need Volunteer
Speaker Host: Hal Daub
Speaker: Bill and Evonne Williams
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
Bill and Evonne Williams, through their non-profit Patriotic Productions, have made a profound impact on veterans and their families. They organized 14 Nebraska Honor Flights, bringing over 3,500 veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit their memorials and pay tribute to their service.
They are also the creators of the Remembering Our Fallen memorials—powerful tributes featuring photos of the brave men and women who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. These moving memorials, including two national exhibits, travel across the country, honoring 5,500 fallen heroes from the War on Terror.
Over the years, their speaker series has hosted notable figures, including members of the Band of Brothers, Marines from the iconic flag-raising on Iwo Jima, the famous kissing couple from Times Square on VJ Day 1945, Medal of Honor recipients, the doctor who saved President Reagan after the assassination attempt, Lee Greenwood, and, most recently, former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines.
Next Memorial Day weekend will mark their 5th Annual Patriotic Parade in downtown Omaha, which draws an impressive 10,000 attendees. Their mission is to honor Gold Star families and veterans, inspire patriotism, and remind the public of the true meaning of Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day.
Recently, President Heather Legge led the club in honoring and thanking longtime Rotarian John Marburger for his remarkable generosity in donating $100,000 to the Omaha Downtown Rotary Foundation. John, a Rotarian for over 30 years—including 12 years with the Rotary Club of Omaha—is deeply moved by the Foundation’s commitment to supporting veterans, assisting seniors, and uplifting young people within our community.
John was inspired to make this donation in memory of his beloved wife, Karla Marburger, sharing his blessings to continue her legacy of compassion and service. His heartfelt remarks at Rotary are included below.
"It is a profound honor to stand before you today as I make this donation of $100,000 to the Omaha Downtown Rotary Foundation in memory of my beloved wife, Karla. Her memory inspires me every day, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to support the projects and causes that our club and foundation have championed throughout the years. I am especially proud that our local foundation places a strong focus on supporting veterans and young people, helping to uplift and empower those who serve our country and the next generation.
As a Rotarian for over 30 years, I have witnessed the extraordinary dedication and commitment that each of you brings to our mission to serve others. Together, we have made meaningful strides in areas like disease prevention, maternal and child health, and access to clean water. And our collective work toward the eradication of polio is a legacy we all share with immense pride. It has been my privilege to see you all each week and to work alongside you on projects that truly make a difference.
To my fellow Omaha Rotarians, I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of your company and your partnership in our shared mission. Your commitment to “Service Above Self” has transformed lives both here and around the world in ways words cannot fully capture. I am fortunate to be part of such an inspiring group of individuals.
Looking ahead, I remain committed to supporting our causes, confident that together we can continue pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve. Our efforts today will help create a brighter tomorrow for many.
Thank you, each and every one of you, for your dedication and for being a Rotarian. The impact of your service reaches further than you may ever know."
Rotarian John Marburger giving his remarks at The Rotary Club of Omaha
WOW, what a fun meeting that was! We had some truly great Halloween costumes in our midst (congrats to the winners!). The silliness was juxtaposed with the last of this season's political speakers: Don Bacon, who shared some achievements, some of his mission (secure, strong, and safe), illustrated why he is popular with many Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, he also introduced Representative Tony Gonzalez, visiting from TX. Hal Daub and John Ewing called on Rotarians and friends to support our community's annual 8th grade Honor Roll celebration on May 14, 2025. Connect with Deb Skinner, Hal or John for some great sponsorship options. As a highlight of the meeting with TWO standing ovations, we honored John Marburger for his notable generosity to The Rotary Club of Omaha Foundation. John, thank you sincerely! It's an honor to serve in Rotary with you! Thank you also to our Business Sponsor of the month, Michelle Trawick, Dean of the College of Business Administration, UNO. Thank you Molly for visiting and filling in for Michelle! Members, please let Michelle Trawick know if you are interested in sponsoring a month. Coming right up is an incredible Veterans Day Program with a surprise Past President presiding (guess who?). Please join us at the Field Club this Wednesday for lunch; bring a guest!
President Heather Legge The Rotary Club of Omaha
President Heather's weekly video: https://youtu.be/NeZztmIuLi8
Recently, Past President Tom Gouttierre introduced our newest member Allen Shepherd. Allen is a dedicated Rotarian with 25 years of membership in the Rotary Club of Chadron. He is a Paul Harris Fellow and has been an active participant in numerous Rotary International conventions over the years, visiting Rotary clubs both across the United States and around the world. Allen's commitment to Rotary extends to his family, as his daughter was a Rotary Youth Exchange student to Australia, and he and his wife have had the privilege of hosting several Rotary Youth Exchange students from Hungary, Finland, and France. Welcome to your new Rotary home, Allen!
The Rotary Club of Omaha was recently honored with the Rotary International Citation Award for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year at the District Conference, under the leadership of President Larry Guenther. This prestigious award acknowledges the dedication and hard work of clubs throughout the year. By striving to meet the citation goals, clubs enhance member engagement, maintain relevance in their communities, and operate more effectively. A welcoming and engaging environment truly embodies Rotary’s core values.
At the beginning of the Rotary year, President Guenther established annual goals aligned with Rotary International's mission. By year-end, we were evaluated on our progress in key areas, including increasing member engagement, expanding Rotary's impact through community-focused projects, and fostering growth within the club. Remarkably, for the first time in decades, we have halted the decline in our membership during the 2023-2024 Rotary Year, bucking the trend seen across North America. This award also underscores our adaptability and the generosity of our members towards The Rotary Foundation.
Congratulations, Rotarians! Your commitment and efforts have truly made a difference!
By Rotary International Source: https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-commits-funds-polio-outbreak-response-gaza
The recent detection of variant poliovirus type-2 isolates in environmental samples and the confirmation of a 10-month-old child who has contracted polio in Gaza is a stark reminder that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere.
The ongoing crisis in Gaza has contributed to reduced routine immunization rates and an increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio. The crisis also poses a significant challenge to fully implementing disease surveillance and vaccination campaigns.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers there to be a high risk for the spread of this polio strain within Gaza and internationally, particularly given the current situation's impact on public health services.
A humanitarian pause allowed a two-round polio vaccination campaign to begin in Gaza. The first round was successfully implemented from 1-12 September 2024 and vaccinated 559,161 children, or an estimated 95% of eligible children at the governorate level, according to independently conducted post-campaign monitoring.
The second round of the emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza began on 14 October. The campaign started in Central Gaza, vaccinating children under ten years old with nOPV2, where children aged between 2-9 years old were also offered Vitamin A.
Rotary committed US$500,000 to bolster the initiative, channeling these funds through a dedicated Polio Outbreak Response Fund. This contribution represents Rotary's sustained support to the WHO in combating polio globally.
Rotary will continue to work with its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative and other agencies as vaccination efforts unfold.
Financial contributions to the PolioPlus fund will help Rotary and its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners achieve a world in which no child is paralyzed by polio again.
By Rotary International Source: https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-foundation-receives-highest-rating-charity-navigator-16th-consecutive-year
For the 16th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.
The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
“We are delighted to provide the Rotary Foundation with third-party accreditation that validates their operational excellence,” said Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator. “The Four-Star Rating is the highest possible rating an organization can achieve. We are eager to see the good work that the Rotary Foundation is able to accomplish in the years ahead.”
Charity Navigator analyzes nonprofit performance based on four key indicators, referred to as beacons. Currently, nonprofits can earn scores for the impact and results, accountability and finance, culture and communities, and leadership and adaptability.
Charity Navigator is the largest and most utilized independent charity evaluator in the U.S. Since 2001, the organization has been an unbiased and trusted source of information for more than 11 million donors annually.
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.
Pictured here are the October 2024 volunteers L to R:Scott Kinnaird, Heidi McGinness, Fletcher Reel, Steve McCollister, and Shayne Fili
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.
2024 Halloween at Stephen Center L to R: The Identity Thief, Steve McCollister, and Rebecca Rens - indeed there were three including the thief :)
Several Rotarians have been eating bacon lately at the Bacon National Security event. Pictured here are L to R: James Mackiewicz, Heidi McGinness, Steve McCollister, Fletcher Reel, and Doug Pedersen
Rotarians at the 2024 NorthStar Climb Higher Education. L to R: Colleen Brennan, Sandy Lemke, and Paul Cohen
John Sullivan hosted one of the well-attended "Rotary Social" recently. Rotarians showed up at John's event to support his non-partisan candidacy for Metro Transit Board. Pictured here from L to R: Todd Murphy, Heidi McGinness, Hal Daub, Bill Harvey, PDG Roxy Orr, Franco Gentile, Christopher Nwafor, John Sullivan, Fletcher Reel, Steve McCollister, Deb Skinner, Michelle Trawick, Mayor Jean Stothert (Rotarian from Millard Rotary), and Gretchen Harvey
At the Omaha Press Club, L to R: Chris Tooker, Hal Daub, and Fletcher Reel. Not in photo is Doug Pedersen
At the BBB Torch Awards where Tobi Mathouser was honored, Steve McCollister, Jill Slupe, and Dawn Gonzales showed up to support Tobi
Tobi Mathouser, BBB Torch Awardee
It looks like the mayoral candidacy of Rotary Past President John Ewing is in full swing. Pictured here are left to right: John Ewing, Lisa Tonjes Moritz, and Viv Ewing
Recently, Rotarians celebrated Brett Freverts' company, CFO Systems' 20 Years in business. Congratulations, Brett! Photos below:
L to R: Sandy Lemke, Steve McCollister, Zac Triemert & Brett Frevert
The Rotaract Club of Belize City is renovating a rural school and a Rotary club-sponsored park as part of its youth-focused agenda. In April, club members met at the Hattieville Government Preschool to paint restrooms and complete other beautification work. A later phase will include new toilets. “We’ve been able to replace chalkboards in 10 classrooms with whiteboards and to donate a printer and other school and hygiene materials,” says Kristoff Nicholson, immediate past president. The club partnered with a telecom provider and raffled off smartphones to help pay for the project. It also received a District 4250 grant of $1,000. In March, club members replaced basketball and goal nets and painted benches and a playset at Love Park in Balama, another element of the project, Nicholson says.
Colombia
In January, the Rotary Club of Cúcuta-Ciudad de Arboles purchased about $600 of school supplies and delivered 100 sets of notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, and more to students in the city. It’s about 350 miles northeast of Bogotá. Club members also visited with students in the neighborhood of Las Delicias, says Dora Patricia Lobo, a past president of the club. “The hustle and bustle and joy of these students when they receive their school package warms our souls and encourages us to continue,” Lobo says. More than 1,400 students have benefited since the project began.
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
Belize
Colombia
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