Julie Shrader, CEO & President of Rejuvenating Women
Julie Shrader founded a non-profit, non-governmental organization that combats human trafficking called Rejuvenating Women in Omaha, Nebraska. Julie is also Executive Director of the Restoration Home, Restored Wings, for survivors of human trafficking.
Rejuvenating Women was born with a mission to serve the spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being of girls and women who have been sold into sex and labor trafficking.
Julie's desire is to help the victims of human trafficking and help stop the "Johns" who are purchasing them as well as the "traffickers" selling them. If there is no demand, there will be no victims.
Julie works together with all forms of law enforcement as well as Government and Non-Government organizations.
Last week, Past President John Morey presided the meeting. Laura Iliff gave the Invocation, Rana Scarlett-Johnson and Brad Rohrig served as Greeters while Manny Paz was Cashier. Carl Philo served as Sgt. at Arms. Deb Neary was Chair of the Day and she introduced our speaker Dr. Janet Guthmiller who shared with us their accomplishments and exciting developments at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. We had several announcements.
L to R: Past President John Morey, Dr. Guthmiller, & Secretary Matt McKeever
Omaha West Rotarians and five future Rotarians enjoyed bell ringing at the Family Fare Supermarket this past Saturday. Rotarians that rang bells are: Michelle Kaufmann, John Morey, Manny Paz, Nick Rosenberry, Bill Sutton, Mike Shrier, Bonnie Gill, Kim Kuhle, Bob Lovgren, Mark Ellworth, Bev Karrer, and Suzan Rohrig. Bev and Suzan recruited the 5 future Rotarians who did not just ring bells but also sang Christmas carols to the delight of shoppers. They raised a lot of money.
Gretchen Radler raised $218 dollars in just 8 minutes of fund raising at our Dec 1st Friday meeting for our annual Mitten Tree project. Thank you Gretchen!
3624 Farnam St., Omaha, NE Hors d’oeuvres prepared by Table Grace Café. Beer, Wine, and Water will be provided at no cost. Casual attire. Parking is available to the Southwest in the Blackstone/Kiewit surface Lot or Metered Parking on Farnam Street Hosted by: Dwayne & Amy Brown and SLATE ARCHITECTURE
This will count for fellowship event for Red Badge members and everyone gets attendance credit.
I spoke with Kent yesterday over the phone. He is out of the ICU and is now at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Room 116, located at 5401 South St, Lincoln, NE 68506. He said he had his first full day of therapy yesterday. His plan is to get well and he doesn't have a Plan B. He is thankful for your cards, emails, and texts as they have been very encouraging and uplifting to him. Let's keep those inspiring well-wishes going for Kent at kent@x-eqt.com; call or text him at (402) 290-1500. You may visit Kent in the evenings or on the weekends.
The Ecology Committee is looking for volunteers for our annual Christmas Tree Recycling project on Dec. 30th & Jan 7th. Volunteers will help unload Christmas tree from people's vehicles and stack them for recycling. Please sign up during our Friday meeting on Dec 8th and 15th, or visit our website www.omahawestrotary.org and sign up via the website calendar. This service project will be documented and you will be on our YouTube Channel caught in action doing Service Above Self. Hurry, the spots will go fast!
I am the luckiest man in the world. My wife Connie and I have four great children and they are married to four great spouses. All eight are responsible citizens in their respective communities of Greenwich CT, Washington DC, Denver CO and Seattle WA. All are parents and they have given us nine outstanding grandchildren.
My first career was in the cold storage warehouse business. I sold that business to Millard Refrigerated Services and worked with Millard as Assistant to the President. When my contract was up, I did consulting work around that industry. I entered the financial industry in 1999. I am fully licensed in both investments and insurance, and I enjoy the challenges of dealing with a variety of issues every day. My business background gives me a perspective that most financial advisors have not experienced. My only challenge is to find smart people to solve problems. I do not pretend to know the answers to all of the questions that I receive.
My wife and I have always been active volunteers. After our PTA days we were given an Honorary State Life PTA membership.
I was on the Board of Counselors at UNMC and served a term as Chairman. I recently was on the Board of the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association after participating in the FBI training program. I have mentored in math at Boys Town for about eight years. I have been the Chairman of the Livingston Foundation for many years. The mission of the Livingston Foundation is to give away money in a way that our Board believes would be satisfactory to the Livingston family. I was honored in the Jewish community several years ago as Humanitarian of the Year. I currently serve on the Board of the Nebraska Coalition of Lifesaving Cures, which was formed to promote ongoing medical research. In the last year I have become involved with THE FORCE – a program started by Jess Pate, Caren Woodruff and Sally Kahre dealing with sex trafficking in Nebraska. The group has already had an impact. I understand that this club has included this issue as a project,
Five years ago I had the pleasure to speak to this club about the financial crisis. I shared my book list, which included the dozen books I had read at that time about the financial crisis. At the conclusion of my presentation a smart member of your club came up to ask me more questions. It was Nuzhat who came forward. Since that time Nuzhat and I have had the pleasure to meet regularly and visit in depth about many topics.
There is no one in our community who I respect more than Nuzhat. When Nuzhat told me she was going to be President of the Rotary club, it gave me a chance to resign from a Kiwanis Club. I knew if Nuzhat was involved, the organization was in good hands.
I look forward to getting to know all of you in the weeks ahead.
After completing the rigorous requirements for red badge members, Vaughn Wiebusch is now a proud blue badge member. While being a red badge member, he accepted a Committee Chairmanship offer from Nuzhat. He is Committee Chair for Vocational Committee. While Vaughn is a new member at West Rotary, he has been a Rotarian for 23 years! He came to us from Norfolk Rotary. Here's what Vaughn says about himself:
"In 1992 Donna and I moved to Norfolk, Ne and began operating the Country Kitchen Restaurant. As we became involved in the community I was invited to take a look at joining Rotary. I joined I think in 1994. Shortly after that I became the president of the Morning Club. We later merged it with the the Noon Club. I was president of the Noon Club for several years. We were very active in the community. One of the events that I thoroughly enjoyed were the exchange groups we had from various parts of the world. Rotary is truly International as my Kids who were in the Marines mentioned as they see the Rotary signs in various countries around the world."
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)