Gretchen Bren’s life has been profoundly impacted by her Rotary journey. Through her experiences she has seen how much power each of us has through Rotary to impact our world.
She joined The Rotary Club of Omaha (aka Omaha Downtown) in 2007 and served as Executive Director there for 10 years. In 2019, she joined Omaha Night Rotary Club and is a past club president (2020-2022). At the District level, she has been the End Polio Now chair and an Assistant Governor. Gretchen has been a past District Trainer and is a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute and for RI Club Visioning. Outside the District, Gretchen is the secretary for the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship.
Gretchen is a Paul Harris Fellow+8, a Level 1 Bequest Society member and Major Donor Level 2 and spearheaded the Polio Plus Society in District 5650. Her spouse—Gary Bren—is a former District Governor for District 5650 (2016-17) and is also a facilitator for Rotary Leadership Institute and Visioning, and took over as the End Polio Now chair for District 5650.
Gretchen received the Citation for Meritorious Service from the Rotary Foundation and the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World. In 2019, Gretchen was honored with the District 5650 Cadwallader Award – the District’s highest honor for someone who has made monumental contribution in one or more areas of service with Rotary.
Outside of Rotary, Gretchen has worked in the computer industry doing training, programing and web design. She is a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Master Instructor and Microsoft Certified Professional. Since 2016, she has been at Turner Technology as the Director of Special Projects. Gretchen has been married to Gary since 1989, and is the proud mom of two cats, Artemis and Shadow. In her free time, she loves to read, drink fine wines and travel, and recently started stand up paddleboarding.
Rotary Club Changing of the Guard: A Celebration of Leadership and Community
What a wonderful evening it was as our Rotary club gathered to celebrate the annual Changing of the Guard, graciously hosted by Alvine and Mike Benck. Their hospitality set the perfect tone for an evening filled with reflection, gratitude, and excitement for the year ahead.
It was truly special to see so many familiar faces come together — community leaders, cherished friends, and family members all sharing in the celebration. Also joining us were representatives from several of the community partners our club has been proud to support through our donations this past year. Having them there was a meaningful reminder of why we do this work: to make a real difference in the lives of those around us.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Aaron Tomita for his outstanding leadership this past year as president. Under his guidance, our club continued to grow, serve, and strengthen its ties to the community, and his dedication did not go unnoticed. Aaron, we are so grateful for your service and everything you poured into this club.
As we look ahead, we are thrilled to welcome Lisa Hatterman as our incoming president. Lisa's passion for service and her vision for the club have already generated so much excitement, and we can't wait to see what this next year holds under her leadership. Here's to new ideas, continued community impact, and another year of Service Above Self.
Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate — and a special thanks again to Alvine and Mike Benck for opening their doors and hearts to make this transition such a memorable one.
We are sharing the Chair of the Day schedule for our weekly Omaha Morning Rotary meetings. This role includes welcoming the speaker, making introductions, and helping the meeting flow smoothly. Please review the schedule and note your assigned date. If you are not able to serve on your date, please arrange a swap with another member and notify the Program Committee.
Thank you for helping us keep our meetings organized, engaging, and a reflection of the strong fellowship in our club.
We are proud to recognize our dedicated Rotarians who have achieved perfect attendance for the 2024–2025 year! Your commitment to showing up, participating, and contributing strengthens the vibrancy of our Rotary community.
Perfect attendance reflects not just consistency, but also dedication to the values and mission of Rotary — service, fellowship, and making a positive impact in our community and beyond.
👏 Let’s give a big round of applause to all our members who reached this milestone — your reliability and engagement are truly inspiring!
Good morning, and welcome to the Omaha Morning Rotary Club.
We are a community of professionals united by one simple belief — that we can do more together than apart. Each week we gather not just to share a meal, but to share ideas, build friendships, and take action on behalf of our community here in Omaha.
Service is at the core of everything we do. Whether through local projects or global initiatives, our members show up ready to make a difference. But just as important is the fellowship — the relationships built here last a lifetime.
If you're considering joining us, we'd love to have you at our table.
