The Westward Ho 9/30/22 (Sep 21, 2022)

Coming up 9/30/22

John Schwartz

New Superintendent

Millard Public Schools

Chair of the Day: Deb Neary

Invocator: Spencer Head

Cashier: Bonnie Gill

Greeter: Andrew Galardi

Sgt. At Arms: Stephanie Olson

Welcome Molly Delaney

Last week Mark Ellsworth introduced us to new member Molly Delaney. Molly recently joined Nebraska Public Media as the Chief Strategy Officer. She is an Illinois native and graduate of the University of Illinois. She holds an EdM in Education.

Molly has had a 20-year career in education mingled with 12 years in public media and has been a member of 3 different Rotary clubs.

Molly Delaney’s Bio Bullet Points. She is the mother of 3 adult daughters, Ellie (27, grad student at Notre Dame), Nora (25, animation student at Kansas City Art Institute), Kate (21, senior at Knox College)

In her free time, Molly can make a pie crust in less than 3 minutes and enjoys traveling the state of Nebraska for work and fun. She plans to visit all 93 counties in the next 3 years.

Welcome, Molly!

100%er

Congratulations to Kathy Wawers who was recognized by Engagement Chair, John Mlnarik, last week for 1 year of perfect attendance.

Last Chance for the 2022 Golf Fundraiser!

The 15th annual golf scramble is coming up and we need your help!

The annual Omaha West Rotary golf scramble is being held September 29, 2022 at Pacific Springs.

Here are the details:

-11am Sign In

-12pm Shotgun Start

-Lunch

-Dinner

-Prizes

The link to sign up is now active!

https://www.chronogolf.ca/club/9676/events/570172

All the proceeds will go to support the Omaha West Rotary Foundation.

Here is where we need your support:

-Sign up a team

-Sign up for a sponsorship - plenty of opportunities (I already covered the "Keg Sponsor" which means FREE BEER to start the event.)

-Sign up to donate a raffle prize

-Sign up to volunteer - I need 6 volunteers. Please contact me via email at ampearson10@gmail.com

Last year we had our most successful golf outing yet and we look to continue that momentum this year! We even had a $10,000 hole-in-one last year! Thanks to Joe Finnegan, they are no longer offering that has a package haha. That was pretty special though. Our goal is 128 players (32 foursomes).

The Fundraising Committee is looking forward to your help in making this a success!

Thank you! Alex Pearson

Rotary Readers

Calling all Rotarians with an hour to spare each week. Rotary Readers is starting up again after a two-year hiatus with COVID. It will be sometime in October before we can start because of matching volunteers with the students' schedule. You spend a half hour with one or two students each week at Skinner School.

This is a worthwhile and rewarding project we have done for years with Skinner School on 28th & Ames near North High. You don't have to be an instructor, simply willing to sit with a 1st or second grade student while they read to you for half an hour. The primary purpose of this program is to give the child consistency and encouragement with a weekly meeting. Of course if you have vacation or the school is closed for weather or inservice, you are excused. The main thing is to keep the teacher abreast of any absences. Please contact Susan Thomas, Bonnie Gill or Jennifer if you are interested in volunteering for the program.

Ride to End Polio

37 years ago Rotary International started the Polio Plus program, whose goal was to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth. We’re down to two endemic countries, but as the recent case in New York reminds us, the battle is not over until it’s completely won.

One of the biggest problems we’re facing right now is “Polio fatigue.” Rotarians have been hearing about Polio Plus for decades and currently only 1 Rotarian in 10 is donating to Polio Plus. This is creating a funding shortfall at the most critical moment in the battle. This last little bit is the hardest part of the fight.

Gary Bren wants to remind us all how important our engagement in this fight is. He’s going to be riding 102.6 miles in the Ride to End Polio on November 19^th. His goal is to raise $30,000 for Polio Plus…but the fundraising doesn’t stop there. Our Rotary District will match dollar for dollar up to the first $20,000. The funds are then matched two for one by The Gates Foundation. That means that if you donate to support this ride, your funds will be matched as much as three for one. If you help Gary meet his goal of $30,000, through matches that will be $150,000 towards Polio Plus.

The Ride to End Polio is part of the Tour De Tucson, which is celebrating it’s 39^th year on November 19^th. Rotary got involved in 2009 and since then Rotarians have raised over $18,000,000—$53,000,000 when the Gates Match is added in—for Polio Plus.

The course for 102 mile ride covers a good portion of the Tucson Metro area, with scenery varying from Downtown to the aircraft boneyard to desert and Saguaro cactus. Gary will be live streaming his ride, so you’ll be able to virtually come along with him and see the sights. He finished the ride in 6 hours and 30 minutes last year and his goal is to finish under six hours this year.

You can make a donation to support Gary at his Raise For Rotary page. Donations made through Raise for Rotary will be credited to your Foundation giving and added to your club’s total donations.

37 years ago Rotary made a promise to the children of the world. In those 37 years we have:

Reduced cases from 400,000 to 25
Eradicated polio from 123 endemic countries
Helped vaccinate 3.5 billion children
Prevented 18 million cases of paralysis and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

Please consider supporting this ride to help Rotary make good on it’s promise to finish this battle.

Get to Know Your Fellow Rotarian

Each week we will feature a different member so you can get to know him/her better! Please complete a form (see Jennifer if you need one) to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. *(now with photos!)

This week's Rotarian is Rich Secor

Occupation: Commercial Real Estate Broker

Membership: 24 years

Why you joined Rotary: Opportunity for Service and Business Networking

What do you get out of Rotary? Ability to serve the community in a variety of ways

Spouse Name: Sharon

Children: Spencer and Nicholas

Grandchildren: Shepard (4) and Jack (2)

Hobbies: exercise, golf, and cooking

Beach or Mountains? Mountains

Favorite Vacation spot: Estes Park, CO and New Orleans, LA

Favorite Ice Cream: Mint Chocolate Chip

Movie: Shawshank Redemption

Bucket List: Visiting the Holy Land

If you were not in your current occupation, what would be your dream job? 60 minutes reporter

Something you wouldn't know about me: One leg is is 1" longer than the other.

Family of Rotary

Thanks to Suzan Rohrig for hosting a fantastic Family of Rotary event last week. You can see more photos on Facebook soon.

Fall Membership Day

Mark your calendar for GUEST DAY

Our next Rotary Guest Day is scheduled for Friday, October 7th. Now is the time to begin thinking about who you will invite to share your “Rotary Experience.” More details about the day’s agenda will be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.

Please note our off-site location for this day: Core Bank Community Room at 17807 Burke Street.

Ecology Committee Project

Members of the Ecology Committee have been cleaning up the gardens at Project Harmony. If you'd like to help, please reach out to Charles Shapiro. Thanks to those who helped last weekend!

Monthly Meeting Sponsor

Thank you to Tim Neal/Omaha Christian Academy

for sponsoring our September meetings.

Visit Other Clubs

Keep engaged and entertained while attending Rotary Club meetings from around the Metro/District online or in-person.

Monday: Millard at Noon - in person, no reservations required at the German American Society

Tuesday: Omaha Morning at 7:00 at Happy Hollow- hybrid meetings. Click here to register.

NW Rotary at noon- at Garden Cafe in Rockbrook

Wednesday: Omaha Downtown at Noon resuming hybrid meetings.

Council Bluffs Centennial 7am at HyVee on Madison upstairs

Thursday: Omaha Suburban at noon: in person, German American Society also hybrid

Council Bluffs at noon- Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center

In Lincoln:

Lincoln #14 Rotary Club - Tuesdays Noon - Embassy Suites 1040 P Street
Lincoln Giving Spirits Evening Rotary Club - Every-other Tuesday 6:00 PM) - JCMF Children's Charities 8445 Executive Woods Dr Ste B Lincoln
Lincoln East Rotary Club - Wednesdays at 11:45 AM - The Garage
Lincoln South Rotary Club - Fridays noon - The Venue Private Dining Rooms - 4111 Pioneer Woods Dr