Albert Varas, Executive Director, Latino Center of the Midlands
Bio: Albert has dedicated his life to supporting the advancement of underserved youth and families. For nearly 20 years, his professional career and service work has focused in the areas of education, nonprofits, business, and public health. Albert’s experience spans from working in the foster care system and teaching special needs children, to developing and managing academic and career educational programming in partnership with higher education and the business community. In addition to serving the community as the Executive Director of the Latino Center of the Midlands, Albert serves on a number of community boards and committees to include the Omaha Public Schools Foundation and The Interface Web School Boards, and is the immediate past president of City Sprouts. Albert enjoys innovating and helping to build strategic relationships that deliver value to all participating stakeholders.
Presentation topic: For many decades, the Latino Center of the Midlands(LCM) has been improving the lives of thousands in the community through adult basic education classes, school-based programs at metro schools, character development support groups for students and parents, and social service assistance. The organization currently serves over 2,500 of the metro area’s Latino population and has seen the issues affecting the community including how DACA laws are impacting future professionals, business owners, and heads of households. The new LCM Executive Director, Albert Varas, will share information on how LCM is improving lives in South Omaha for thousands of families.
Last week, Past President Susan Thomas presided the meeting. Martie Cordaro gave the Invocation, Rana Scarlett-Johnson and Bruce Cramer served as Greeters, while Ric Miller was Cashier. Dick Sturgeon introduced our newest Member Kari Hannan. Karin Lombard was Chair of the Day and she introduced our speaker Julie Shrader, CEO & President of Rejuvenating Women. Julie shared with us the human trafficking issue in Omaha.
L to R: Matt McKeever, Susan Thomas, Karin Lombard, Martie Cordaro, and Julie Shrader
We all thanked Dwyane and Amy Brown for the Rotary Fellowship held at Slate Architecture the night before. Matt shared the story of how he and Acting President Susan Thomas were the last ones to stumble out of the Fellowship. Matt gave an update on Kent Templien's situation. We welcomed Rotarians Larry Johansen and Don Swanson, both visiting from Downtown Rotary. Bob Kully introduced his guests Caren Woodruff, Carolyn Diamond, Jean McGill and Jess Page. Karin Lombard introduced her guests Allie Knouse and our speaker for the day, Julie Shrader. Red Badge members were recognized. A number of Rotarians had good news. Matt was fined for a Bitcoin article from Nizar Mamdani. Mike Morey was fined for an article about Raymond James Morey-Vorhees Financial Services. Matt fined anyone not wearing a Rotary pin, but any Rotarian who attended the Rotary Fellowship was off the hook. Matt told another joke from the bar in North Bend: "Beer: When the event is just too fine for champagne."
Wendy Wiseman: President & Chief Creative Officer, Zaiss & Company
Wendy is a third-generation Omahan who grew up in the broadcasting and advertising business. Her Grandfather, W.O. Wiseman, was assistant general manager of WOW radio where he gave Johnny Carson his first job out of college there. Her father, W.L. Wiseman (a frat brother of Carson’s) was with Mutual of Omaha for nearly 40 years. Among other things, he crafted the Marlin Perkins commercials that surrounded the popular show Wild Kingdom. Her passion for the ad business took her career to Bozell in Omaha, then to two global ad agencies in San Francisco, to Kansas City as Director of Advertising at Sprint, and the D.C. metro as Director of Marketing at MCI before returning to Omaha to raise her family. She and her husband Gary Gustafson, an Emergency Medicine physician, have three children, Leigh, Will and Jarett. Wendy has served on numerous local community boards and believes it’s important to give time and talent to keep our community strong.
Kristi Treu, Executive Director Vesper Concert Series
Kristi will accompany our singers during our Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 22nd.
Kristi Treu serves as the Director of Music at Presbyterian Church of the Cross in Omaha, and the Executive Director of the Vesper Concerts Series. As Director of Music, Ms. Treu oversees and directs adult, youth, and children’s choirs, adult and youth bells, an in-house brass group, and a seasonal volunteer orchestra. She has recently developed an annual week-long summer youth choir festival for singers in the Omaha and surrounding communities. Ms. Treu received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, vocal performance, and music education from Jamestown College in Jamestown, ND. She later went on to earn her Master of Arts degree in vocal performance and choral conducting from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. As a (retired) military spouse, Kristi has been involved in music in many places and in various capacities across the U.S. She has spent her adult life participating in the choral arts as a singer, soloist, accompanist, and conductor. She began her career as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, CO, and served as an assistant music director in charge of the children’s music ministry at Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA. She has also served as an accompanist for high school choral programs in Colorado Springs, CO and Bellevue, NE.
Kari Hannan, Development Director at Ronald McDonald House Charities
As the Development Director for the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha, Kari Hannan is a nonprofit leader focused on connecting individuals and businesses who are interested in helping families who come to the Omaha area to seek medical treatment in one of our outstanding hospitals. She directs and oversees development activities including major gifts, corporate giving, and grants. Through her previous experience at Kiewit as well as a small business owner who taught ballet for 15 years, she brings with her a wide array of talent, leadership, and unwavering vision for how we can make this world a better place.
Kari's membership to Omaha West Rotary was proposed and sponsored by Rotarian Dick Sturgeon, Senior Vice President at Premier Bank. Dick introduced Kari to club members on Dec. 8th and she received a warm welcome from Omaha West Rotarians as she made one of the best decisions in her life by joining Rotary.
Dwayne and Amy Brown with Slate Architecture would like to thank the 54 Rotarians and friends including Past Dist. Gov. Bob Perrin for sharing Rotary moments with each other in the spirit of the Holidays. The Slate Architecture headquarters was looking very festive on Dec. 7th. Hors d'oeuvres was prepared by Table Grace Cafe. Slate Architecture "prepared" and provided beer, wine, and water.
Video clips from the party is available for viewing at your pleasure on our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/RotaryOmahaWest
Omaha West Rotary gives a shout out to Dwayne Brown for all the time and resources he spent for our Holiday Party!
Jim Meier and his group, complete with holiday props, raised $336 last week at Rotary for the Mitten Tree. We now have a running total of $554 for the Mitten Tree.
Holiday Luncheon is on Dec 22nd, 12 noon at Champions.
Kim Kuhle and her committee has been working hard and have put a lot of energy and thought to curating a fun and relaxing time for our club members and guests. You don't want to miss this once a year event. Please invite your spouse, significant other, family and friends. All are welcome!
John Morey will lead the singing of 6 festive songs and will me accompanied by pianist Kristi Treu.
Lunch price is the same as our regular meeting price at $16.00/person.
Included: Holiday Eggnog, Extra Special Main Course, Sweets, Centerpieces, Candles, Flowers, Bells, kids’ table, candy, mistletoe and ornaments.
Bev is bringing bells and holiday hats to share. An inclusive opening prayer will be read.
Gaudy Holiday Sweaters, ties and hats will be encouraged. Matt M., Suzan’s son-in-law, will lead a panel of 3 judges in deciding on the best winning sweater and the best ho,ho, ho person at the tables. A fine of 99 cents will be given for not wearing holiday attire. A prize will be given for the oldest attendee and the youngest. Matt’s team can award prizes.
Monica Sempek, a photographer, will take pictures of families and individual Rotarians from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. She will take pictures of families at the decorated “Elf Holiday Chair.” Digital family pictures will cost $10.00 each. I will encourage Rotarians to buy at least 15 family pictures because Monica is charging $150 for her sitting and processing fee. Rotarians can gather at the back wall for a group picture at 1:00 pm. Rotary will have to buy a picture to get the Rotary Holiday group shot. If we sell more than 15 pictures, we can turn the extra money over to Rotary.
Volunteer Helpers Needed – Meeting on Dec 15th at 11:30 am to plan and Dec. 22nd to set up before holiday party. Prizes are needed, if anyone wants to donate.
Members of Family of Rotary Committee: Dwayne Brown, Bev Karrer, Rod Anderson, Jeff Ziemba, John Philo, Kendall Scheer, Gretchen Radler and Gail Veitzer, Kim Kuhle 402-502-6072. Please call with ideas or donations. 402-639-8855 cell. Red Badge Members Wanted.
Mission: Host social events that involve Rotarian and family members
The Ecology Committee is looking for volunteers for our annual Christmas Tree Recycling project on Dec. 30th & Jan 7th. Volunteers will help unload Christmas tree from people's vehicles and stack them for recycling. Please sign up during our Friday meeting on Dec 8th and 15th, or visit our website www.omahawestrotary.org and sign up via the website calendar. This service project will be documented and you will be on our YouTube Channel caught in action doing Service Above Self. Hurry, the spots will go fast!
The 2018 Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Seminar will be held April 6-8, 2018 at Camp Kitaki near Louisville NE. High school juniors are eligible to apply. RYLA camp is an intensive 3-day training program for High School Juniors that helps participants think critically about important issues and share ideas with talented peers, earn how to coordinate and lead community service projects, discuss the importance of good governance and civil society to the world, and finally, learn to think globally and explore issues that transcend national borders.
The camp, in its 6th year, focuses on youth leadership development. Students learn about how to make a positive impact as emerging leaders in their communities as well as internationally. One of the running themes of the camp is the “Country Challenge”. This unique group activity allows teams of students to conceive and develop model global humanitarian initiatives. The teams discuss how to work cross culturally to develop sustainable projects. They do research on assigned countries to determine needs and then design projects collaboratively with an international partner.
Our RYLA Committee will be releasing more details soon to help facilitate in nominating high school juniors for RYLA.
Omaha West Rotarians and five future Rotarians enjoyed bell ringing at the Family Fare Supermarket on Dec. 2nd. Rotarians that rang bells are: Michelle Kaufmann, John Morey, Manny Paz, Nick Rosenberry, Bill Sutton, Mike Shrier, Bonnie Gill, Kim Kuhle, Bob Lovgren, Mark Ellworth, Bev Karrer, and Suzan Rohrig. Bev and Suzan recruited the 5 future Rotarians who did not just ring bells but also sang Christmas carols to the delight of shoppers. They raised a lot of money.
We are now offering 10 punch lunch tickets ($160) and 10 punch meeting-only tickets ($70) for sale at the meetings. Get one and don't worry about having cash or getting out your credit card! For sale at check-in.
MONDAY BELLEVUE 12:00 PM (DJ's Dugout, 10308 S. 23rd St.) NORTH 12:00 PM (Omaha Eppley Airport Conference Room) MILLARD 12:00 PM (German American Society, 3717 South 120th Street) - NO MEETING on Oct 9
TUESDAY MORNING 7:00 AM (Happy Hollow Country Club, 1701 S. 105th St.)
NORTHWEST 12:00 PM ( Effective August 15th Northwest Rotary will meet Tuesday's at noon at Jerico's, 11732 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68154.)
SOUTHWEST NIGHT 5:15 PM (DJ's Dugout at 17666 Welch Plaza, northeast corner of 180th & Q streets)
WEDNESDAY COUNCIL BLUFFS CENTENNIAL 1st Wed 7:00 AM; 3rd Wed floating event; no meeting other weeks (Hy-Vee in Mall of the Bluffs, I-80 Exit 5) DOWNTOWN 12:00 PM (Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave.)
THURSDAY COUNCIL BLUFFS NOON 12:00 PM (The Center, 714 S. Main St.)
SUBURBAN 12:00 PM (Anthony's, 7220 F St.)
WESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY 7:00 AM (Elkhorn Common Ground Community Center, 1701 Veteran's Drive)
FRIDAY WEST 12:00 PM (Champions Run, 13800 Eagle Run Drive)