Last week we enjoyed our second virtual meeting with over 50 attendees. Now is the perfect time to invite a guest to Rotary and introduce him/her to how we serve the community and enjoy the friendship and support of other Rotarians. Be sure to email Jennifer with the name of your guest so she knows to let him/her into the meeting on Zoom (they can also watch on Facebook live).
Kent Templien gave the invocation. We had two new member introductions and Lori Benton introduced Bill Tobin who told us about Shelterbox and how they are helping people around the world. We saw some great photos of Rotarians with April birthdays and heard about their quarantining "silver linings" (send in your photo if you haven't already)
Bill wanted to share some links with you. If you want a PDF of his presentation slides from last week, please ask Jennifer.
Please plan to join us this Friday at noon for our regular meeting. Please make sure your name is on your Zoom profile so we can let you in the meeting. There are 3 ways to participate:
1.) You can join via our Zoom meeting by clicking on this link or pasting it into your browser. https://zoom.us/j/416472402
This will allow us to see your face on camera (if you want- this is always an option to turn it off-everyone will be off once the speaker starts). Download Zoom to your phone or computer now so you are ready.
You will need a Facebook account to watch on Facebook and we won't see you on camera. Again, if you need help setting up a Facebook account, please reach out.
3.) Lastly, you can participate via your phone (landline or cell phone) by calling in at any of these phone #s:
+1 346 248 7799 US +1 408 638 0968 US +1 312 626 6799 US +1 646 876 9923 US and entering Meeting ID: 416 472 402
Last week Deb Sepich introduced us to new member Gordon Sepich. Gordon was born in Portland, Oregon and lived in Cedar Mills for the first 18 years of his life. He was a member of Cedar Mills Bible Church where, when he became a teenager, worked at church camps leading backpack expeditions into Oregon Wilderness areas. Gordon was also a part of the choir. Gordon graduated from Sunset High School and got a job at the American Red Cross in Portland, running the printing machines and delivered blood to the local hospitals.
Gordon joined the US Navy in 1971-75 where he was a radioman at Pearl Harbor. While in Hawaii he made it his second home and still today, enjoys visiting frequently. Gordon spent a lot of his free time swimming, surfing and making friends he is still in contact with.
Gordon came back after his time in the service and took a job at Tektronix where he repaired what is known as bonding equipment. Gordon received his real estate license, a limited energy electrical license, a commercial pilot license and a journeyman system repair technician from the State of Oregon. Gordon worked at Tektronix for 18 years when his division was sold to Maxim Integrated Products. Gordon worked at Maxim Semiconductor for 26 years as an Equipment specialist until he retired September 2016. Gordon still does contract work for Maxim from time to time.
In 1991, Gordon was instrumental in the establish Dolphin Software, installing computer systems and getting the company set up for a 15 year run prior to Deb and Gordon selling the company in 2008.
Along the way Gordon married Deb Sepich, in 1985. They have two children, a son Cory Sepich, a principal here at K-8 Catholic School and a daughter Jena Lynn Shultz, a Physical Therapist at Cook's Children's Hospital in Dallas/Fort Worth. They are both married and Gordon is the proud grandfather of Frannie (5), Bennett (19 months) and Henry (10 months).
Gordon also has been a volunteer basketball coach for his kid’s teams for a total of 12 years. While coaching he had several championships and first team all stars on his team. Today Gordon still teaches, he has just moved to being a ski instructor at Mt. Crescent in his retirement years. For fun Gordon still loves to hunt in Oregon, ski, watch basketball (rooting for Oregon, Creighton and Baylor women and men’s teams) and travel. Welcome, Gordon!
Last week Yolanda Hoffman introduced new member Adriana Ulrich. Adriana is originally from The Woodlands, TX. She has been living in Omaha for the last four years with husband and four children. Adriana owns Valley Construction with her husband, utilizing her background in Accounting. In her spare time, Adriana is an avid reader, college football fan and focused on opening her second company within the coming months.
As you are most likely aware, there is a significant blood shortage in the United States. Responses to limit the exposure to the novel coronavirus and the risk of contracting COVID-19 have resulted in the cancellation of some 13,000 Red Cross blood drives. The Red Cross, which provides about 40% of the US blood supply, depends on blood drives to get enough blood donations to meet demand. Permanent sites can’t fill the need on their own.
Just because life has changed for all of us in different ways, the need for blood hasn’t. Many cancer patients need transfusions, accidents still occur where blood can be life-saving and many individuals with sickle cell disease need transfusions, just to name a few.
For these reasons, West Rotary of Omaha is cosponsoring the following blood drives:
Mon, Apr 13, 12:00-6:00, Westwood Church, 13056 Atwood Ave (southeast of 132nd and West Center), Omaha
Tue, Apr 21, 10:00-4:00, DJ’s Dugout, 777 N 114th St (Miracle Hills Square), Omaha
Fri, Apr 24, 10:00-4:00, Charlie’s on the Lake, 4150 S 144th St, Omaha
We’re so thankful these organizations are willing to help.
As everyone knows restaurants and workers are suffering in this crisis. We encourage you to patronize Champions Club if you will be eating out. They have carryout and delivery available. This is offered to Club members and also to Rotarians. Say you are with Rotary if you call. Also, tip generously!
Matt McKeever is presenting on the “The History of Omaha West Rotary” at our April 17, 2020 meeting and needs your help.
Matt is creating a timeline of the club’s history and is looking for any old programs, personal stories, information, documents or photographs about Omaha West Rotary.
Any help you can provide is appreciated. Please contact Matt at mckeever@carlsonburnett.com or call (402) 980-0313.
Thank you to Kent Templien/X-eqt, LLC for sponsoring our virtual meetings for the month of April. If you would like to sponsor a month and be featured on our website, newsletter, and at weekly meetings, please contact Jennifer.
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