The Westward Ho 4/21/23 (Apr 18, 2023)

Coming Up 4/21/23

Abbie Kretz

Omaha Institute of NonProfit Journalism

and John Heaston- Publisher of The Omaha Reader

"The Changing Landscape of Local Media"

Chair of the Day: Deb Neary

Invocator: Candi Jacobs

Cashier: Jody DuRee

Greeter: John Morey

Sgt. At Arms: Candy Specht

West Rotary Foundation Giving

Congratulations and thank you to Charles Shapiro who was 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

Click HERE to register for our annual Senior Recognition Event which will be at the Marriott at Regency this year. Friday, April 28th featuring Astronaut Clayton Anderson as the keynote speaker.

Social Events

Save the date for our Quatro de Mayo party hosted by Michelle Schrage!

Tree Planting Opportunities

If you attend one of these tree-planting events, please wear your Rotarian at Work t-shirt (Jennifer has them for $15 if you need one) and let her know you did so for attendance credit.

We have an opportunity to help plant trees this spring with The Big Garden whom we've partnered with in the past on Saturday, April 22nd. CLICK HERE to sign up.

We also have an opportunity to plant trees on April 29th

Volunteers needed for Douglas Sarpy UNL Extension Office – Tree Planting
Saturday the 29th of April starting at 9 am in Lincoln Place Park in Gretna.
The park is on the left going west on Lincoln Rd. Take Hwy 31/6 and go west on Lincoln Rd. Leo Royal Park is on the left and you go past this park and Lincoln Place is also on the left just past a group of evergreen trees. The park doesn’t have a sign but you can see the baseball field on the left side of the road.
Jim Keepers, cell number is 402-618-8837.

Pitch Contest

On June 8th we are sponsoring the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition at the 3rd annual Minority Small Business Summit hosted by the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and Omaha Chamber of Commerce REACH Program. For the second year our club has committed $18,000 in prize money to help these existing businesses level up and grow.

We are looking for volunteers to serve in a variety of roles including application evaluators, practice judges at a pitch practice session, volunteers at the summit and competition, and hosts for the business owners visiting our club.

You can sign up to volunteer here. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023pitchcompetitionvolunteersurvey

Recycling Event

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.

New Member Proposals

Name: Drew Gay

Classification: Architecture/Engineering

Company: Leo A Daly

Proposer: Jill Thomas

Name: John McConnell

Classification: Moving

Company: Monster Tote

Proposer: Mark Ellsworth

Name: Kaleb Duncan

Classification: Photo/Video

Company: Kaleb Duncan Photography

Proposer: Candi Jacobs

Any objection to these proposals must be in writing to the Board of Directors within one week.

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 Frank Phillips

Occupation: National Account Executive for Aradius Group

Membership: since 2017

Why did you join? To serve and give back to the community

What do you get out of Rotary? Community service, networking, leadership development, intl. service, personal fulfillment, and professional development

Spouse: Ashlee E. Phillips

Kids: Frank (4), Milo (2)

Would you rather spend a week on the beach or in the mountains? Beach

Favorite Vacation spot: Florida

Hobbies: Coaching high school football at Westside, Sailing at Lake Manawa, Golf, and hanging out with my boys and wife

Favorite Movie: Goodfellas

Favorite Ice Cream: Spumoni

One thing on your bucket list: Travel to San Giuseppe, Italy where my grandparents were born

Dream Job: College Football Coach or Sailor

One thing that no one knows about you: I have take cold showers since covid

Monthly Meeting Sponsor

Thank you to our April 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