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Coming Up 3/25/22
Eric Ewing 
Great Plains Black History Museum
 
 
 This meeting will be back at Embassy
 
Chair of the Day: Mike Morey 
Greeter: Gretchen Radler 
Cashier: Bonnie Gill 
Sgt. At Arms: Elizabeth Hallgren 
Invocator: Leigh Gudeman 
 
Welcome Patricia Cantu! 
Last week Jill Slupe introduced us to new member Patricia Cantu.  Patricia was born and raised in Taos, New Mexico from ancestors who have lived in Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado since before the Mexican-American war which brought the Southwest into the United States.   She counts as an ancestor, Padre Jose Antonio Martinez, who was villainized by Willa Cather in her novel, Death Comes for the Archbishop but  whom the Hispano natives think was a pretty good guy. 
 
After attending the University of New Mexico, she left New Mexico to attend Harvard Law School and later settled in Los Angeles.  For much of her career Patricia was in-house legal counsel at various banks, most recently at Bank of the West.  She and her family moved from Los Angeles to Omaha in 2006 when Bank of the West acquired Commercial Federal.  Patricia was very active in California banking and received both the Alman McCallum Award for bank in-house attorneys and the Compliance Professional of the Year award from the California Bankers Association.  In Nebraska she was recognized as a Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellow.  At Bank of the West, Patricia was Managing Senior Counsel and Senior Vice President.  She left banking in January. 
Patricia is working with her husband, Kerry McLaughlin, in his private personal training business located at 177th and Center.  The business is now known as Next Step Fitness but was formerly Fitness Together.  Having begun in the personal training business as clients, Kerry and Patricia recognize the need for and benefits of regular exercise.   “Working out at Fitness Together changed my life,” Patricia often says.
 
Patricia and Kerry have three adult sons and three (soon to be five) grandchildren.   She counts her children as her highest achievements.
Her hobby/passion is reading and studying the Bible.    Welcome, Patricia!
 
 
Welcome Lisa Peterson! 
Last week Mark Ellsworth introduced us to new member Lisa Peterson.   Lisa has been in the commercial furniture industry for  years. In 2021, she joined the dynamic team at AOI Corporation, a company of 37 years in Omaha. AOI has recently become women-owned. AOI is a turn-key company that provides Construction, powered, floor to ceiling, Movable Walls and of course, furniture. AOI is involved with Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, and several other organizations
 
One of the simplest and most fulfilling things Lisa enjoys is to dedicate her time to special causes. Community service offers numerous opportunities for her to utilize her God-given talents to aid those in need. In the past she have been a Foster Mom through LFS and have done yard Spring clean-up through Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.  Lisa has a special place in her heart for the inclusion of special-needs children. They are all “special” and Lisa feels that our society can learn an awful lot from their pure hearts. She is currently initiating a program of events for special-needs children through her church community and beyond.  Welcome, Lisa!
 
Paul Harris Recognition 
Congratulations and thank you to Charles Shapiro (Paul Harris), Bev Karrer (Paul Harris+1) and Matt McKeever (Paul Harris + 2) who received their recognition from Martie Cordaro last week. The Intl. Rotary Foundation supports projects around the world (and here locally) to eradicate disease, promote literacy, peace, and economic security.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rotarians at RMD House 
Thanks to funds from a Omaha West Rotary Foundation club grant and some wonderful volunteers Omaha West Rotarians prepared a meal for the 16 families in residence at the Ronald McDonald House on March 14.
Omaha West Rotarians who formed the team of cooks and kitchen help were Kari Ketcham, Nick Rosenberry, Julie Sanford and Bob Fell.
The Omaha West team with "Rotary" cookies prepared by The Cookie Company owned by David Fell.  Thank you everyone! 
 
 
Family of Rotary-TOMORROW-JOIN US! 

Save the date for this event- Wednesday, March 23rd. 

 

Family of Rotary- Join us and bring a guest!

 

Burnett Wilson 17525 Arbor St
Blood Drive 
West Rotary is participating in a Red Cross Blood Drive. You can sign up by CLICKING HERE. 
 
New Member Proposal
Name:  Gary Bren 
Classification: IT Services 
Company: Turner Technology
Proposer: Mark Ellsworth
 
 Any objection to this proposal must be in writing to the Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@omahawestrotary.org within one week. 
Save the Date! 
for our annual Senior Recognition Event which will be back in person this year!  At Champions Club on Friday, May 6th featuring UNO Chancellor Joanne Li.
 
Bloody Mary Fest 
 
Tickets and Sponsorships are on sale now- please share with friends, family, and business connections.   CLICK HERE. 
 
 
   Also-           The Bloody Mary Fest Raffle Committee will be meeting at 11:30a on Friday before our March 25th meeting.  To all club members- please bring any donated items to the meeting. 
Needed items include:
         Wine or Liquor
         Airline Miles
         Time shares
         Tickets- games, plays, concerts
         Gift cards
         Sports memorabilia
         Baskets, ribbon, etc. for the baskets
 
 
Thank you!
Warm regards,
Jill Slupe- Raffle Chair 
Monthly Meeting Sponsor 
Thank to our March meeting sponsor Dr. Jim Gerner/Montclair Dental!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 If you would like to sponsor a month and be featured on our website, newsletter, and at weekly meetings, please contact Jennifer.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 - Currently Rotating - see website
  • Lincoln South Rotary Club - Fridays noon - The Venue Private Dining Rooms - 4111 Pioneer Woods Dr
 
 
 
Speakers
Mar 25, 2022 12:00 PM
Great Plains Black History Museum
Apr 08, 2022 12:00 PM
Chippy's
Jun 03, 2022 12:00 PM
Alliance for Smiles
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Family of Rotary at Burnett Wilson Law
Burnett Wilson Law
Mar 23, 2022
4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Family of Rotary at Big Canvas
Apr 09, 2022
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
22-23 Committee Chair Orientation
Marriott Regency
Apr 20, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
Trustee Meeting
May 20, 2022
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
 
View entire list
Sponsors
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
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Birthdays
Member Birthdays
Bill Swanson
March 3
 
Dennis McClintock
March 7
 
Nick Rosenberry
March 9
 
Warren Whitted III
March 11
 
Dennis Duer
March 12
 
Tarina Cox-Jones
March 16
 
Maryssa Brown
March 21
 
John Kugler
March 24
 
John Philo
March 28
 
Ben Douglass
March 29
 
Deb Sepich
March 30