The Westward Ho June 19, 2018 (Jun 19, 2018)

Upcoming Club Event

American Muslim Institute (AMI) Tour, June 20, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM.

Rotarians and friends are invited to visit the American Muslim Institute, located at 132nd and Pacific, June 20th, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, followed by dinner catered by Mediterranean Bistro, in their social hall. Please dress modestly (no shorts, sleeveless blouses or skirts above the knee). Women should wear a scarf to cover their head when they go into the sanctuary. Although, some will be provided if you forget to bring one. Sandals are permitted, but once you enter the sanctuary you will be asked to remove your shoes.

Dinner from Mediterranean Bistro:
Chicken Kebab-
Marinated chicken breast pieces and fresh vegetables cooked over open flame, served with basmati rice
Cost $15 which includes a donation to AMI. You can pay Gail at the door.

If you do not want to stay for dinner, please come anyway and visit AMI. The AMI tour is free. Please sign up here or just show up. Please contact Gail if you have any questions at (402) 740-2178.

This Friday at Rotary

Presiding Officer: Nuzhat Mahmood

Secretary: Matt McKeever

Chair of the Day: Bonnie Gill

Invocator: JR Kammandel

Cashiers: Ric Miller

Sgt. at Arms: Gail Veitzer

Greeter: Tara Bowne & Matt Moletierre
Speaker: Susie Thorne

Susie Thorne

Founder of SONEX

Topic: Teambuilding Using Voice

Susie's presentation is about SONEX. SONEX is a Team Building experience using the voice as an instrument of communication, connection and creativity. This is an interactive workshop with full audience participation, combining improvisation, facilitated play and the collective voice to engage, connect and inspire.

Bio: Susie is Founder of SONEX, an innovative company using the voice as an instrument of communication, connection and creativity through facilitated improvisation.

Thorne, a mainstay of the Omaha jazz scene, is a workshop facilitator, and vocal jazz clinician and coach. She has recorded for Triple Seven and Effie Records and sung on film soundtracks. Her performance tours have taken her to Japan, China, France, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and throughout the United States. Local performance venues include The Holland Performing Arts Center, Jazz on the Green, Strauss Performing Arts Center, Durham Western Heritage Museum, Love’s Jazz & Art Center, and in Lincoln at the Sheldon Art Museum, Jazz in June and the Rococo Theatre.

Susie had the select opportunity to study advanced Improvisation with Rhiannon, famed educator and performer with Bobby McFerrin’s vocal ensemble, Voicestra. Thorne now makes Omaha her home, but has received acclaim on the national and international jazz scenes from her two jazz recordings. She was nominated for both a United Kingdom Indie Award and an Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance, a Certification in Somatic Voicework: The LoVetri Method, and is Co-founder of the Great Plains Vocal Jazz Camp.

Last Week at Rotary

Last week, President Nuzhat Mahmood presided the meeting. Lori Benton gave the Invocation. Brad Rohrig, Matt Molettiere, and two future Rotarians served as greeters. Gail Veitzer was Sgt. at Arms. Tim Neal was Cashier, while Mark Ellsworth processed credit card payments. Dwayne Brown was Chair of the Day. Dwayne introduced our speaker James Hanni from the Gettysburg Foundation. James spoke about Gettysburg and its Place in American Democracy.

L to R: Dwayne Brown, James Hanni, Matt McKeever, and President Nuzhat

Future Rotarians! The Molettiere kids served as greeters last week

Matt McKeever Secretary Report

Omaha West Rotary Club Secretary Report for June 15, 2018.

A number of guests joined us to hear our speaker present on Gettysburg and its role in American democracy. Guest Rotarian William Brough of the Litchfield Park Rotary Club traveled from Arizona to join us. Guests of Rotarians included Shirley Rohrig, introduced by her son, Brad Rohrig. Maryssa Brown, daughter of Dwayne Brown, joined us again. For the thirteenth time in the last fourteen meetings, Gail Veitzer introduced her husband, Irv Veitzer. Deb Neary reintroduced the club to our former Rotary exchange student, Claire Riviere, and her boyfriend, Maxime Renaud. Claire had been an exchange student through our club nine years ago and returned to pay a special visit to the club. Per Claire's request, the club members also made sure that Maxime "felt the acceptance". Thanks for seeing us again, Claire!

We recognized Red Badge Members. Suzan Rohrig, Rodge Bickerstaff, Steve Redler Gretchen Radler and Kim Kuhle all had good news to share. Dick Sturgeon followed up with his good news from last week and shared that he successfully cared for his grandchild with the four pages of instructions that he received from the parents.

At the risk of being fired as Secretary, Matt fined Club President Nuzhat Mahmood for an article announcing her appointment to the UNMC Advisory Board of Counselors. Matt fined himself for an article about Bitcoin submitted by Rodge Bickerstaff. Having warned the club last week that it was coming, Matt levied a fine on all club members not wearing their Rotary pins.

As the money came in for the Rotary pin fines, we started another round of "Know Your Rotarian". Larry McChesney identified Denny Duer from a few obscure clues. Suzan Rohrig correctly identified Gretchen Radler. Dan Lassek, who had not even received his Red Badge yet, identified Kim Kuhle from just a few clues before any other Rotarians in the club. The winners each earned a Boy Scout Coupon Card and the admiration of their fellow club members. Matt did not tell a joke and, not surprisingly, it was not missed.

L to R: Matt McKeever, Claire Riviere, Maxime Renaud, President Nuzhat, Deb Neary

Meet Newest Member Deb Sepich

Last week, Lori Benton introduced Debora K. Sepich, an Entrepreneur and an Educator. Deb is a developer - she has grown and sold businesses and grown many MBA programs across the US. Deb's first connection to Omaha was PHD from Creighton. Deb has served on many profit and non-profit boards, is a published author and speaker at national and international conferences. Her most recent position, Director of Graduate Programs for Doane University in Lincoln, brought her back to Omaha. She and her husband have two children, both married and living in the Midwest and northern Texas. She enjoys her time with her grandchildren, travelling, hiking and biking. Please be sure to introduce yourself and welcome Deb when you see her at our Friday meeting.

L to R: President Nuzhat, Deb Sepich, and Lori Benton

Meet New Member Dan Lassek

Last week, new member Dan Lassek finally received his new member packet and the official Red Badge. Due to "packet supply issue", Dan's Rotary literature was delayed. The Rotary office gave Dan a free lunch, in an effort to redeem itself. Dan spoke to us briefly and announced that he and his wife are expecting their third child the next day, June 16th. The announcement received a rousing round of applause from the assembly.

Dan Lassek and President Nuzhat

Bob Kully Received his Blue Badge

Last week, Bob Kully received his much- awaited Blue Badge after successfully completing the Red Badge requirements. President Nuzhat sponsored Bob to Rotary. Bob used to be a Kiwanian before he moved to the brighter side. He owns Kully Financial Services.

Bob Kully with President Nuzhat

Fun at Henry Doorly Zoo

Last Saturday, Rotarians and their families, a group of 29, had fun at the zoo on a blistering 98 degree day. The Henry Doorly Zoo, the number one rated zoo in the world, provided a tour guide that brought the group to the African safari, the giraffe den, the elephant yard, and culminated at the new Asian highlands. Thank you to Kim Kuhle for organizing the zoo outing.

Happy Birthday, June Celebrants!

June Birthdays
Matt Molettiere 03 Gene Klein 10 Russ Iwan 20
Jamie Summerfelt 22 Bev Karrer 27 Robert Runyon 28
Lori Benton 29 Tim Riewer 29