Coach and Club Director Mike Picard has been an Omaha school and club coach for several years. A Navy and NATO Special Operations Intelligence veteran and triathlete, Mike has always enjoyed the healthy challenge of athletic competition but playing volleyball has always been his passion. After Mike and his family returned to the U.S. after 13 years overseas, he was excited to be in Nebraska, where volleyball is such a popular sport. His daughter Kathryn began playing in 4th grade and as a volunteer parent-coach, he quickly renewed his love for the game, sharing his knowledge with future generations. Continually learning, pursuing new coaching methods, and following the lessons of those who have developed successful programs over their careers, Mike believes that having a diverse skill set is essential for coaches and players alike. And while teams certainly benefit from guidance and strategy, coaches should also focus on the individual players who all have different needs, specifically prioritizing self-confidence over win/loss records. After leading two teams to regional championships in 2021, he was awarded the USA Volleyball National Youth Coach of the Year in 2022. He continues to be a volunteer coach for several local teams, and with support from community leaders, he decided to start ENVY Volleyball Club, a non-profit athletic organization that offers scholarships to underprivileged youth in the Omaha area.
A great Rotary meeting starts the moment our members and guests walk through the door. You can help create that welcoming environment! We have open slots on our signup sheet for three essential weekly roles:
Greeters: Welcome members and visiting Rotarians.
Invocators: Inspire us with an opening reflection.
Cashiers: Keep our check-in and lunch lines moving.
Service Above Self: Join Our New Meals on Wheels Partnership!
Omaha West Rotary is excited to launch our first-ever volunteer partnership with Meals on Wheels! Our kickoff event is scheduled for Monday, September 21st. Following the launch, our club will cover a route on the third Monday of every month for the remainder of 2026.
To start out, we are handling one route each month, which requires two Rotarians to team up and serve. If we see high demand from our members, we can easily add more routes in the future! This is a meaningful, hands-on way to support local seniors right here in Omaha. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
More Ways to Give Back: Serving at the Hope Lodge on Sept 10th
In addition to our new Meals on Wheels initiative, Omaha West Rotary is heading to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge on Thursday, September 10th! The Hope Lodge provides a wonderful, free "home away from home" for cancer patients and their caregivers while they travel to Omaha for treatment.
Our club will be pitching in to support their guests, ease their stress, and bring a bit of comfort during a challenging time. It is a fantastic hands-on project that directly impacts families staying right here in our community. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
Time is running out to sign up for our upcoming "Ride to End Polio" this Saturday, August 29th, in Omaha! This is an incredible opportunity to engage our members, families, and the general public in supporting Rotary’s most significant international project, PolioPlus.
The event is open to everyone and truly offers something for all skill levels:
Family-Friendly Routes: Scenic 10-mile and 25-mile rides entirely on local trails.
A Fun Challenge: A 44-mile route with some street riding for more experienced cyclists.
Perks & Fun: Bike clinics hosted by the Bellevue Bicycle Club, delicious food trucks, a quality event t-shirt, and entry into a raffle for a $500 local bike shop gift certificate!
Best of all, your registration fee directly includes a donation to PolioPlus to help us eradicate polio worldwide.
All riders must register in advance. Please visit www.rotaryrides.org right now to secure your spot and help us make a massive global impact!
We’re Just $72.96 Away From Doubling Our Impact!
Omaha West Rotary has absolutely crushed our initial goals for the August Box Fan Drive, raising over $1,000 so far to help local families beat the heat! Thanks to your amazing generosity and a special discount from Menards, we have easily secured our first full commercial pallet of 36 brand-new box fans.
In fact, we are now just $72.96 away from being able to purchase a SECOND full pallet!
Let’s give it one final push before the end of the month to cross that finish line and deliver 72 total fans to our neighbors at the Open Door Mission. Here is how you can help us close the gap:
Donate Funds: Pitch in financially today to help us secure that second bulk pallet.
Bring a Fan: Drop off a new box fan (or any type of home fan) at our next club meeting.
Tony Denman is handling all the logistics, storage, and final coordination for our big delivery at the end of August. Let's finish summer strong and double our impact for Omaha families!
Duration: One single grid entry is good for all 17 Monday Night Football games of the regular season.
How it Works: Once all 100 squares are filled, players claim their permanent square on the grid.
Weekly Number Redraw: To keep things fair and dynamic, the numbers (0-9) for both the top and side axes will be randomly redrawn and assigned every single week. Your square location stays the same, but your numbers change for every game.
Winning Numbers: Winners are determined by the final score of each week's Monday Night Football game.
Weekly Payout: The winner of each week's game receives a cash payout of $70.00.
Family Friendly ride – all on trails - climbs are just going under bridges. None of the climbs coming back up from under the bridges are more than 15 to 18 feet. The ride goes from Twin Creek to Q Street on the Keystone Trail and comes back through Seymour Smith Park. There will be rest stops at Harrison and Q Street
You can find the detailed map of the route at this link
25 Mile Ride
Family Friendly. Only climbing is due to underpasses for highways two minor climbs. The middle 8 miles of the ride is completely flat. There will be a rest stop at Haworth Park, which is the halfway point.
You can find the detailed map of the route at this link
44 Mile Ride
The route has two legs: Outbound for a lap around Walnut Creek Lake, then out to Haworth Park. The majority of this rides 800 feet of climbs happens in route to Walnut Creek (about 600 feet of the total).
You can find the detailed map of the route at this link
Ancho & Agave
The ride will be held on August 29, 2026. The ride will start at the Marcus Twin Creek north parking lot and feature 10, 25, and 44 mile rides. 
Where: Will start at the Twin Creeks Cinema Parking lot. The 10, 25, and 44 mile rides will be all on trails. 
10 mile ride
25 Mile Ride
44 Mile Ride
