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Coming Up 3/17/23
Ankush Kumar Bahl
Omaha Symphony
 
 

 
 
Chair of the Day: Bonnie Gill 
Cashier: Glenn Greet
Invocator: Tony Denman 
Greeter: Andrew Galardi 
Sgt. at Arms: Spencer Head
 
 
 
Welcome Svetlana Hutfles! 
Last week Lindsey Vande Hoef introduced us to new member Svetlana Huftles.  Svetlana Hutfles is a recent Omaha transplant.  She served as the Executive Director years at the Kansas Association of Community Foundations (KACF) for 13 years  and has dedicated 24 years of her career to community philanthropy nationally and internationally.
 
She holds Bachelor's Degree from the International Academy of Business and Banking in Russia, post-graduate studies at Miami University, USA, and Master's Degree from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. 
 
Svetlana, a native of Togliatti, Russia, was actively involved in developing community foundations worldwide. She helped establish the very first community foundation in Russia.
 
Svetlana was a Chevening Award scholar, a participant of the Community Foundation Fellowship of US German Marshall Fund, Charles Steward Mott and the King Baudouin Foundations, and an alumna of the Young Leadership Fellows for Public Service Program of USAID. S
 
Nationally, Svetlana’s recent work is mostly known for the Online Express Training for community foundations, and the Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations.  Her work was featured in the 2018 September publication of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. Welcome, Svetlana!
 
 
 
 
 
Welcome Chad Allen! 
Last week Gary Bren introduced us to new member Chad Allen.  Chad is Rotary transplant from the Cedar Valley Chapter in Cedar Falls, IA where he was treasurer and president-elect.

He began his role as Managing Director at Film Streams on December 1, 2022. He is happy to say that he lives in the greatest Omaha neighborhood, Dundee.  He is a colorblind, tea-addicted fourth generation ceramist, muralist, curator, photog, painter, haphazard humorist and Frank Lloyd Wright aficionado. 
 
With a creative writing and studio art degree from the University of Northern Iowa, he segued into hospital administration - as one does. After nearly a decade in academic medical center leadership roles, he shifted to non-profit arts organizations. It is through the arts and service groups, like Rotary, that he has dedicated time to strengthening arts ecosystems and connecting creative communities.  
 
Welcome, Chad! 

 

Welcome Bob Gerseny! 
Last week Gary Bren introduced us to new member Bob Gerseny.  Bob grew up in Cleveland and went to schools in Ohio.  He started his career in banking as a tax lawyer and went on to manage trust departments.  A job opportunity took him and his family, Patrice, and daughters Laura and Helen, to New Hampshire where they lived for 18 years. 
 
Laura’s husband, John Fraser, grew up in Omaha so they decided to settle there. In 2019 Bob and Patrice moved to Omaha to be close to Laura and the grandchildren.  However, just then, Bob picked up a consulting project in Milwaukee.  That job finished this past summer so he’s just now starting to settle into Omaha and quasi retirement.  He’s looking forward to being active in the Club.  Welcome, Bob!
 
West Rotary Foundation Giving 
Congratulations and thank you to Warren Whitted III, Bonnie Gill, and Mark Manhart who were inducted into the West Omaha Rotary Foundation last week by Trustee Rich Secor!
 
 
The West Omaha Rotary Foundation Trustees announced its Planned Giving Program to the Club as a means of significantly growing the endowment balance so that more grants may be provided to the community.  Club members providing or pledging at least $1,000 are eligible to become members of the West Omaha Rotary Foundation Society.
 
 
There are many ways you may make current and/or future gifts.  For more information, please view the flyer below and/or contact Rich Secor, 402.616.5022; richard.secor@lundco.com
 
Why I Ride for Polio
If you missed Gary Bren's Rotary story, be sure to see his blog featured by Rotary International by CLICKING HERE. 
 
Soles for Souls
Donate lightly used shoes to the  Soles 4 Souls shoe drive in the month of March.  More information is available at https://Soles4Souls.org about the organization. Please consider going through your closet and finding some shoes that you are no longer using that you would be willing to donate. A member of the Ecology committee will collect them each week. We are partnering with Suburban Rotary, which is the lead organization, and will package and send the shoes to the appropriate place. They will also take donations, but our main intent is to recycle the shoes.  Thank you for your consideration of this request. Charles Shapiro, chair, Ecology Committee.
 
 
Register for the District Conference! 
You can register by CLICKING HERE 
 
About Us 
 
Matt Ross has been transferred to Madonna Room 143 to continue with rehab.  He appreciates calls, texts, visits, and cards from Rotarians. Please call/text ahead before you visit. Continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. 
 
 
(If you have information for the About Us section, please let Jennifer know.) 
Bloody Mary Fest
Mark your calendars and share with your friends.  CLICK HERE to buy tickets. 
We are looking for event sponsors. Click here to see sponsorship levels.  Please contact Dan Lassek for more information.
 
Get to Know your Fellow Rotarian 
Each week we will feature a different member so you can get to know him/her better!  We are getting low on volunteers- please click HERE to complete a form and send it/give it to Jennifer if you haven't yet been featured. 
 
 
 
 
 
This week's Rotarian is Ray Kurowski
 
Occupation: Retired Dentist 
 
Membership: 5+ years
 
Why did you join? to meet people 
 
What do you get out of Rotary? social interaction 
 
Spouse: Kathy
 
Kids: Courtney and Natalie
 
Grandkids: Ellaina 4, Abigale 5, Brayden 7, Ben 8
 
Would you rather spend a week on the beach or in the mountains? Mountains
 
Favorite Vacation spot: Europe 
 
Hobbies: reading/traveling 
 
Favorite Ice Cream: Mint chip 
 
Favorite Movie: Three Musketeers
 
One thing on your bucket list: Visit all the baseball parks and all the states 
 
Dream Job: Physician
 
 
 
Monthly Meeting Sponsor 
Thank you to our March Meeting Sponsor!
Patricia Cantu and Next Step Fitness 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 -  at the German American Society 
                 Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club meets at DJ’s Dugout in Bellevue on Mondays at noon.  
 
 
Tuesday: 
Omaha Morning Rotary and Northwest Rotary are holding joint meetings at a new location - the First Responders Foundation, 10605 Burt Circle, Omaha, NE 68114.
 
Update on Weekly Rotary Meeting:
As a result of the recent Club Assembly, Omaha Morning and Omaha Northwest will continue to merge meetings and will be alternating the meeting time on a monthly basis as follows:

February 2023 - Morning
March 2023 - Lunch
April 2023 - Morning
May 2023 - Lunch
June 2023 - Morning
 
Unless requested by the speaker, Omaha Morning will continue the meeting in hybrid format. This means Morning meetings will be available both in person and in zoom.
 
Wednesday: Omaha Downtown at Noon at the Field Club
                       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
 
 
 
Speakers
Mar 17, 2023 12:00 PM
Omaha Symphony
Mar 24, 2023 12:00 PM
Economic Outlook
Mar 31, 2023 12:00 PM
Children's Hospital
Apr 07, 2023 12:00 PM
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Board Meeting
Biaggi's
Apr 12, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 
Happy Hour
Apr 13, 2023
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Happy Hour
May 11, 2023
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
Biaggi's
May 17, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 
Bloody Mary Fest
Werner Park
Jun 04, 2023
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
 
Happy Hour
Jun 08, 2023
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Board Meeting
Biaggi's
Jun 14, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 
View entire list
Sponsors

Set Me Free Project

Set Me Free Project

Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
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Birthdays
Member Birthdays
Bill Swanson
March 3
 
Nick Rosenberry
March 9
 
Tony Veland
March 11
 
Warren Whitted III
March 11
 
Dennis Duer
March 12
 
Tarina Cox-Jones
March 16
 
John Kugler
March 24
 
John Philo
March 28
 
Ben Douglass
March 29