Greeters: Michael Morey, Jamie Summerfelt, and Rebecca Miller
Speaker: Jeremy Bouman
Jeremy Bouman
Executive Director, Defy Ventures
Presentation Topic: Redemptive Entrepreneurship, Serving Nebraskans with Criminal Histories
Defy Ventures is an entrepreneurship, employment, and character development training program for currently and formerly incarcerated men, women, and youth. Defy "transforms the hustle" of our Entrepreneurs-in-Training (EITs) by offering intensive leadership development, Shark Tank-style business plan competitions, executive mentoring, financial investment, and startup incubation.
Here is a 2 minute video that shows our program in action:
Jeremy Bouman currently serves as the Executive Director of Defy Ventures in Nebraska. Prior to joining Defy, he served for 7 years as Associate Vice President of Development at Creighton University. Jeremy is a New York City native and has lived in Omaha for the past 10 years. He earned a BA in Communications from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania and a master of science in leadership from Creighton University.
Last week, President Nuzhat Mahmood presided the meeting. Tim Neal gave the Invocation. Brad Rohrig and Jim Otis served as Greeters, while Ric Miller was Cashier. Bev Karrer was Sgt. At Arms. Deb Neary was Chair of the Day. Deb introduced our speaker Jay Dunlap, President at Madonna School. Jay impressed West Rotarians with his school's accomplishments of transforming the lives of many students and adults with challenges. Madonna's mission is to serve students and adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities to become as independent as possible.
L to R: PP Rich Secor, Deb Neary, Jay Dunlap, Nuz Mahmood, and Matt McKeever
Guest Rotarians joining us today included Larry Johansen from Downtown Rotary and Laura Thomas from the E-Club of the Carolinas. We also had a number of guests are former Rotarians. Andrew Shim recently moved to West Omaha. He is a former Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow from Vermillion Rotary and a Professor/Program Director for the Kinesiology & Exercise Science program at St. Mary’s College. Terry Zobel returned to Omaha West Rotary having joined us in 2006 and has previously been a Rotarian in Kearney. He is with ZDI, Inc. in the field of medical equipment and supply.
We celebrated the Rotarians with February birthdays and John Morey led us in singing “Happy Birthday”. Brett Wawers and Jim Glaser had good news. Susan Thomas shared that she has a new grandchild. Visiting Rotarian Laura Thomas shared good news and contributed a two-dollar bill that was near to her heart. Martie Cordero was fined for the article telling us that for a while ESPN thought the Stormchasers were a Major League team in the AL East.
Rich “Ed” Secor introduced the Great McCarnac the Magnificent. McCarnac forsaw the answers to a number of questions regarding Ron Niederhaus’s luau Facebook post on the coldest Nebraska day of the Century, JR Kammadel’s need for new carpeting in light of his recent adoption of a puppy and what Nuzhat Mahmood was thinking when she asked Matt to be her Club Secretary.
Rich “Ed” Secor with the Great McCarnac the Magnificent
Volunteers of all ages are invited to help package meals for the hungry in Omaha with Omaha Against Hunger (formerly Kids Against Hunger) on Saturday, February 17th. Young children can have step stools and folks who need to sit can also do that.
There is a great opportunity for our members to support Kent Templien following his serious injury. You are doubtless aware of his recent accident in Lincoln while unloading an ATV from his truck.
I had a delightful dinner with Kent at his rehab clinic last Saturday. He was smiling warmly, but flat on his back, and unable to move except for slight motions of his right hand and legs. Two orderlies wrapped him in a sling and then lifted him with a floor mounted crane into a motorized chair. I followed Kent down a short hallway where we were served a light dinner. Ken was spoon-fed by a kind and very attentive young staff member.
Kent expressed repeated gratitude that his injury was not worse than it was. He was resilient and in good spirits, vowing to be walking again in one month. He is especially proud of the daily attention offered by the expert spinal injury physician attached to his case. His wife is managing to continue his private business responsibilities and to keep the operation running.
I believe Kent would welcome Rotarian visitors at Quality Life Inc. (QLI), 6404 N 70th Plaza. House 6, Room 7. I suggest you call in advance because he has extensive therapy appointments on Tuesday and Thursday. QLI phone is 402-573-3700.
Wendy volunteered at the Tree Recycling. Her job was to watch for left ornaments on trees. After all cars departed, she noticed a Christmas bulb left on a tree. It was a personalized ornament with a photo and personal signature on the back. Wendy was sad that the family would be missing this special ornament, so she decided to put it on Facebook and see if anyone might know the family and sure enough the owner was found after FB friends shared her post. The Dad of 7 came to pick up the ornament. The ornament was 12 years old.
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.
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)
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