The Westward Ho 11/4/22 (Nov 01, 2022)

Coming Up 11/4/22

Past DG Mick McKinley

The Rotary Foundation

It's Rotary Foundation Month!

Chair of the Day: Dwayne Brown

Sgt. at Arms: Lindsey Vande Hoef

Cashier: Glenn Greet

Greeter: Tony Veland

Invocator: Andrew Galardi

Welcome Jody-Ann Coore!

A couple of weeks ago we welcomed Jody-Ann Coore who has been hired as our new audio/visual technician for Rotary meetings. A special thank you to Yolanda Hoffman and several volunteers who have helped us over the last year and a half.

Jody-Ann has spent the last 18 months running the a/v for Suburban Rotary. She is pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Psychology and has a heart for vulnerable populations, especially children. She is a "Jill of all trades, Master of Some". Jody-Ann is a UNO graduate and a native of Jamaica. Please welcome her when you get a chance.

100%ers

Congratulations to our 100%ers who were recognized over the last few weeks:

Tim Neal- 1 year, Mark Ellsworth- 4 years, and Martie Cordaro- 5 years.

Do you want to be a 100%er? It's actually not that difficult- you just need a make-up for every Rotary meeting you miss. These are easy and can be service projects, social events, other club meetings, participating on Zoom. Ask Jennifer or John Mlnarik for more information.

Golf Fundraiser!

Thank you to all those who participated and donated! A special thank you to Alex Pearson for organizing. Proceeds from the golf event were $7400 that will be used toward club projects and community support. Thank to all our sponsors and golfers!

Event Sponsors:

Butch Ethington ***** Don Otis****** Suzan Rohrig*****

Raffle Prize Sponsors:

Omaha West Rotary Happy Hours

A couple of our new members have gotten to gather to organize monthly Happy Hours to give everyone a change to mingle in an informal setting. With so many new members, this is a great way to get to know each other better. Make plans to attend the next one (yes, you get attendance credit too!)

Mark your calendar for Thursday November 10th, 4:30-7 or later, at Brazen Head on 319 North 78th Street. All Omaha West Rotarians and their guests welcome!

Skutt FBLA

Thanks to Kathy and Brett Wawers for hosting members of the Skutt Catholic FBLA last week (Future Business Leaders of America)

Community Service Opportunities

Nov. 3: Rotarians are making and serving dinner at Ronald McDonald House

Nov. 26: Rotarians are ringing bells for Salvation Army at the Walmart on 168th and Maple from 11:00am-5:00pm. SIGN UP HERE (new spots just added).

Dec. 10: Rotarians are needed to usher at the Omaha Christmas Concert organized by Laura and Glenn Greet at Millard West. Ushers are needed from 5:45-6:30 and are welcome to stay for the concert (6:30-8:30) Kathy Wawers is the contact or sign up online by clicking on the date on the calendar on our website.

Thanks to all the Rotarians who helped clean up the Project Harmony Garden and stock the Little Libraries a couple of weekends ago!

Get to Know Your Fellow Rotarian

Each week we will feature a different member so you can get to know him/her better! Please complete a form (see Jennifer if you need one) to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. *(now with photos!)

This week's Rotarian is Bev Karrer

Occupation: Retired

Membership: since 2016

Why you joined Rotary: Fellowship with a purpose.

What do you get out of Rotary? Learn and Grow

Spouse Name: Bill

Children: Fritz and Suzan

Grandchildren: Courtney

Hobbies: Sculpture, puzzles

Beach or Mountains? Both

Favorite Vacation spot: Whipoorwill Farm

Favorite Ice Cream: Pralines and Cream

Movie: Sound of Music

Bucket List: See Egypt and the Holy Land

If you were not in your current occupation, what would be your dream job? Teaching

Something you wouldn't know about me: My motto is B.S.D. "Brighten Somebody's Day"

Ride to End Polio

37 years ago Rotary International started the Polio Plus program, whose goal was to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth. We’re down to two endemic countries, but as the recent case in New York reminds us, the battle is not over until it’s completely won.

One of the biggest problems we’re facing right now is “Polio fatigue.” Rotarians have been hearing about Polio Plus for decades and currently only 1 Rotarian in 10 is donating to Polio Plus. This is creating a funding shortfall at the most critical moment in the battle. This last little bit is the hardest part of the fight.

Gary Bren wants to remind us all how important our engagement in this fight is. He’s going to be riding 102.6 miles in the Ride to End Polio on November 19^th. His goal is to raise $30,000 for Polio Plus…but the fundraising doesn’t stop there. Our Rotary District will match dollar for dollar up to the first $20,000. The funds are then matched two for one by The Gates Foundation. That means that if you donate to support this ride, your funds will be matched as much as three for one. If you help Gary meet his goal of $30,000, through matches that will be $150,000 towards Polio Plus.

The Ride to End Polio is part of the Tour De Tucson, which is celebrating it’s 39^th year on November 19^th. Rotary got involved in 2009 and since then Rotarians have raised over $18,000,000—$53,000,000 when the Gates Match is added in—for Polio Plus.

The course for 102 mile ride covers a good portion of the Tucson Metro area, with scenery varying from Downtown to the aircraft boneyard to desert and Saguaro cactus. Gary will be live streaming his ride, so you’ll be able to virtually come along with him and see the sights. He finished the ride in 6 hours and 30 minutes last year and his goal is to finish under six hours this year.

You can make a donation to support Gary at his Raise For Rotary page. Donations made through Raise for Rotary will be credited to your Foundation giving and added to your club’s total donations.

37 years ago Rotary made a promise to the children of the world. In those 37 years we have:

Reduced cases from 400,000 to 25
Eradicated polio from 123 endemic countries
Helped vaccinate 3.5 billion children
Prevented 18 million cases of paralysis and hundreds of thousands of deaths.

Please consider supporting this ride to help Rotary make good on it’s promise to finish this battle.

Rotary Summit

Our Rotary District is planning a fall educational event called ONE SUMMIT. This is an event that can help energize and boost your club’s growth, service, and public interaction. Rotarians are Leaders!! Engage fresh new thinking and take away tools to strengthen membership, public image, and involvement in Rotary Foundation programs. This is for all Rotarians.

Sunday, November 13

Program begins at 1:00 and will be finished before 3:30.

There is NO COST for this event.

Please register here:

https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=c69969e2-8af3-4c91-8ba4-cde06ede861c

Monthly Meeting Sponsor

Thank you to Warren Whitted III/Mutual of Omaha

for sponsoring our November meetings.

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

Bellevue Papillion Rotary Club meets at DJ’s Dugout in Bellevue on Mondays at noon. No prior registration is required.

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 - The Garage
Lincoln South Rotary Club - Fridays noon - The Venue Private Dining Rooms - 4111 Pioneer Woods Dr