Sgt at Arms: Chris Rath Digital Experience: Adam Leong
Invocation & Pledge: Pastor Heidi McGinness
Navigator: Sean Olson
Cashiers/Check-in: Need Volunteers
Admin Support: Kevin Baitey
Greeters: Bob Keefer & Need Volunteer
New Member Host: Need Volunteer
Speaker Host: Tobi Mathouser
Speaker: ODRF Grant Recipients
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
We extend our sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of Omaha members for their generous donation to the Omaha Downtown Rotary Club Foundation.
Because of your support, we were able to award a total of $40,000 to the following community organizations:
• At Ease USA • Elkhorn Athletic Association • Hillcrest Foundation for Enhancing Lives • ICAN • Identity Preparatory Academy • NE Council on Economic Education • New Visions Homeless Services • Omaha Community Playhouse • Omaha Sister Cities Association • RESPECT • Honor Roll Scholarships • Rotary Youth Exchange • Stephen Center • Team Red, White & Blue • The Dreamweaver Foundation • University of Nebraska Foundation – Whole Blood Initiative
Today, we are honored to hear from the following grant recipients:
• Hillcrest Foundation – Sandy Lemke, Executive Director • New Visions Homeless Services – Brandy Wallar, President & CEO • Dreamweaver Foundation – Julie Glover, Executive Director • Stephen Center – Elizabeth Robbins, Chief Experience Officer • NE Council on Economic Education – Jennifer Davidson, PhD, President
Thank you again for your continued commitment to strengthening our community.
Hal France is honored to join the Rotary Club of Omaha.
During a distinguished forty-year conducting career, Hal’s extensive travels across the United States and abroad led him to Opera Omaha in 1985. He later served as Artistic Director from 1995 to 2005, where he developed a deep appreciation for Omaha as a community where collaboration truly thrives.
Since making Nebraska his full-time home in 2005, Hal has been actively involved with numerous arts, education, and human services organizations throughout the city. Following his retirement from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2024, he launched a consulting business focused on fostering partnerships among businesses, individuals, nonprofits, and schools.
Hal shares his life with his partner of 15 years, Judi gaiashkibos, who has served as Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs since 1995.
He applauds the many positive developments as Omaha continues to grow and looks forward to contributing through his service with the Rotary Club of Omaha.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Hal France to the Rotary Club of Omaha. We are excited to have him as part of our Rotary family and look forward to the leadership, insight, and collaborative spirit he brings. His passion for community and partnership will undoubtedly strengthen our mission of service above self.
Hal France with his Rotary sponsor, Tom Gouttierre, and President Gretchen Harvey
99 Years Strong: Celebrating Omaha’s Young Leaders
For nearly a century, the Rotary Club of Omaha has honored the very best of our youth through the 8th Grade Honor Roll. Now in its 99th year, this tradition recognizes students who exemplify leadership, character, scholarship, and presence.
This is more than an award. It is a launchpad. Many honorees return as graduating seniors to receive scholarships, proving a powerful truth: when a community believes in its young people, they rise and give back.
Event Details
99th Rotary Honor Roll Celebration Date: Monday, April 27, 2026 Time: 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM Location: CHI Health Center, Omaha
The Rotary Club of Omaha is proud to continue a long-standing tradition of service and partnership with Scouting America. For generations, Rotarians have worked side by side with Scouts, helping build facilities, mentoring young leaders, and supporting programs that shape character, leadership, and lifelong skills.
On May 2, we invite all members, families, and friends to join us for our annual Rotary Work Day at Camp Cedars, a hands-on day of impact, fellowship, and purpose.
Why This Matters
Our partnership with Scouting runs deep. From constructing Scout pavilions to supporting troop initiatives, Rotary has played a meaningful role in strengthening a program that helps young people grow into capable, service-minded leaders. Rotary Work Day is one of the most visible and impactful ways we continue that mission.
What We’ll Be Doing
This year’s projects are focused on preparing Camp Cedars for a busy summer season serving more than 1,500 youth. Volunteers will be organized into teams working on a variety of projects, including:
Securing and installing tent frames across campsites
Repairing and replacing weathered wood structures
Deep cleaning shower houses and camp facilities
Clearing debris and improving campgrounds
Assisting with construction and maintenance projects
There are opportunities for all skill levels, whether you are experienced or simply ready to help.
A Great Fit for Everyone
If you are a Rotarian with high school students who need service hours, this is a perfect opportunity for them to participate in meaningful, structured service alongside community leaders.
If you are a new Rotarian looking for a place to get involved and make an immediate impact, this is it. This is Rotary in action.
Leading by Example
This is more than a workday. It is a chance to show our young people what leadership looks like. Rotarians do not just talk about service, we live it. We show up, we work, and we lead the way.
Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Welcome to April! “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. April is a promise that May is bound to keep, and we know it.” Having grown up on a farm and ranch, I think this quote by Hal Borland, writer, journalist, and naturalist, born May 14th, 1900, in Sterling, Nebraska, speaks to the seasonal transition that spring represents for hope and renewal as we move toward May.
We definitely need the promise of moisture and calm weather. March was a difficult month for our region with droughts and wildfires. In western Nebraska so many people are looking for better days ahead, where the wildfires have caused so much damage. Fortunately, like our own devastating tornados that ripped across Nebraska and Iowa, from two years ago, April 26th, 2024, the wildfires have also brought people together to help those in need including Rotarians to “Unite for Good.”
I wanted to highlight the successful volunteer efforts of our fellow Rotarians located in Rotary District 5630 located to the west of our District 5650. Hot Meals USA, a nonprofit, started by a Rotarian in the Kearney Rotary Club, has been serving free meals to firefighting crews from across the area nonstop with help from Rotary volunteers in Ogallala and North Platte. Rotary District 5630.
Past District Governor 2024-25, Lorena Beckius, has worked nonstop to help organize volunteers and donations for Hot Meals USA volunteer feeding locations in Ogallala and North Platte. The Rotary and community volunteers have staffed three shifts 7 days a week for the past few weeks helping to gather supplies and to prepare and serve meals.
Hot Meals USA is the same group that came to our help a couple of years ago when we faced our own disaster after the April 26th, 2024 tornados. I am including their website in case you would like to help or donate. https://www.hotmealsusa.org/. You can also follow Hot Meals USA on their Facebook page and please find a signup link with current volunteer opportunities.
Within hours of deadly floods and landslides that struck Mexico in October, Rotary members were responding. In hard-hit Poza Rica, Rotary and Rotaract members brought residents to safety, plowed mud-laden streets, and moved house to house to clean properties. The effort was supported by clubs throughout District 4185 and by neighboring districts and others abroad. The Rotary Club of Poza Rica joined the nonprofit Planet Water Foundation to install four water towers and a water block in the neediest area and deliver purified water elsewhere. The club also coordinated with World Central Kitchen to provide hot meals. Still, “we desperately need help to get back on our feet and return to our normal lives,” says club member Pepe Badillo. “The houses were a total loss. Everything was destroyed, from a single plate to the bedrooms on the second floor.”
India
The city of Thane, northeast of Mumbai, is recognized for its arts and culture scene. It’s home to drama troupes, an art expo, international film festivals, and comedy venues. What it was lacking, says Atul Bhide, of the Rotary Club of Thane Hills, was a large showcase for aficionados of the written word. To amend that, the club (which also sponsors a book-reading initiative for youth) launched the Thane Literature Festival. Over two days in November, bibliophiles toasted 22 authors and poets who read from their work and participated in panel discussions. The event honored journalist and writing coach Bachi Karkaria with the Thane Literature Festival lifetime achievement award, and judges critiqued entries in a short-story contest. “Encouraging reading habits and love for literature for Gen-Next is also our motive behind this literature festival,” says Bhide.
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.
March 3, 2026 volunteers at Stephen Center L to R: Nonoka Kamada, Steve Gerdes, Steve McCollister, Pastor Heidi McGinness, Uniikye Washington, Fletcher Reel, & Matt Boulay.
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.
Three Rotarians at the B2B Networking Event (From left to right): Deb Skinner, Ryan Lemmon, and Sandy Lemke.
Rotarians at LeadHERship L to R: Cella Quinn, Jill Slupe, Shayne Fili, Ami Konwinski, Susan Koesters, and Sarah Robak
Pachyderm Luncheon Group. From L to R: Steve McCollister, Hal Daub & Charlie Peters
Rotarians at the Annual Callistus Myelona Foundation Gala. L to R: Former Congressman & Mayor Hal Daub, First Lady Viv Ewing, and Mayor John Ewing
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 Sarah Robak at sarah.robakcfa@gmail.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
Hal France is honored to join the Rotary Club of Omaha.
Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Welcome to April! “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. April is a promise that May is bound to keep, and we know it.” Having grown up on a farm and ranch, I think this quote by Hal Borland, writer, journalist, and naturalist, born May 14th, 1900, in Sterling, Nebraska, speaks to the seasonal transition that spring represents for hope and renewal as we move toward May.
Mexico
