Last week, President Jill Slupe presided the meeting. Laura Thomas gave the Invocation. Pat Knowles & JR Kammandel served as greeters. Starla Waite was Sgt. at Arms. Ric Miller was Cashier. Russ Iwan was Chair of the Day and he introduced our speaker, Dr. Jon Cramer. Dr. Cramer is the son of our own Bruce Cramer.
Omaha West Rotary Club Secretary Report for November 16, 2018:
This past Friday, we had several visitors and guests! Bruce Cramer invited his sons – Tom and Jon. Ken Thomason invited his wife, Linda, and son, Alex. Martie Cordaro invited Ben Kratz. Maryssa Brown invited Austin Evans. And John Morey invited Carl Greiner. We also had Larry Johansen from Omaha Downtown, Dick Galusha from Northwest, Ron Searcy from Council Bluffs Centennial, and Phil Schreier from Northwest.
For good news, Russ Iwan just returned from Seattle to visit his daughter and have an early Thanksgiving. Yolanda Hoffman wanted to congratulate Mark Manhart, Jr. for selling $400 of raffle tickets in 21 minutes at the Bloody Mary Jazz Fest. Bonnie Gill also recognized Mark Manhart, Jr. for doing a great woodworking job at her house while she was attending 4 Broadway plays in NY. Dean Jenkins Son, Daughter-in-law, and granddaughter recently moved back from abroad to Boulder CO. Brad Hess found out a couple of weeks ago that this son and his daughter-in-law are expecting what will be Brad’s first grandchild. Laura Thomas’ uncle recently had a successful surgery to remove cancer from his kidney. And Gretchen Radler is welcoming her daughter home for Thanksgiving from the University of MN.
Nick closed with a joke from Gail Veitzer. Thanks, Gail! Have a happy Thanksgiving.
Last week, Committee Chair Ric Miller presented the 2018 Bloody Mary Best of Show to Champions Run Kris Ryan. Kris expressed his thanks to Rotary for the opportunity to share his talent at the recently concluded inaugural Bloody Mary Jazzfest. Along with the honor of winning Best of Show is $500 from Rotary. Kris was grateful for the award but believes in the cause of Rotary and its partner the Police Athletics for Community Engagement, that he turned around and donated the $500 to the Omaha West Rotary Foundation. In attendance was Champions General Manager Andy Reetz. Andy thanked Rotary for holding the one of a kind Bloody Mary Jazzfest in Omaha. Andy said Champions Run is looking forward to working with Rotary next year to have an even bigger Bloody Mary Jazzfest.
Champions General Manager Andy Reetz with Bloody Mary Best of Show winner Kris Ryan and Chair Ric Miller
Last week, Warren Whitted, Jr., Past President, and Rotarian for 40 years introduced his son Warren Whitted III. Here's Warren's introduction of his son:
"It isn’t often we have the opportunity to talk about our kids.
Today I have that chance. I don’t suppose that with the exception of his mother there is anyone more qualified to tell you about him than I am..
I know it’s hard to believe given my youth, but Warren is 41 years old. He has been married to a lovely lady named Chris who works for Ken Cowen at the Buffet Cancer Center, for about 3 ½ years.
Warren (nickname Ren) was born in Omaha. He attended grade school in the Hastings Catholic Schools and District 66. He went to Westside High School where he was a Lincoln Journal Super State and OWH All-State football player. He was also a member of the Westside ATSC. He attended UNO on a football scholarship graduating with a degree in history.
He has worked in a variety of jobs. He has managed restaurants, run logistics for Avenue Scholars and is currently employed by Mutual of Omaha.
In addition to his wife, his passions are his 2 rescue dogs, singing (a member of Sing Omaha, church choirs and is a wedding singer), the Huskers, the Chicago Cubs and most importantly the Chicago Bears. Who finally have something to cheer about.
Ren is a person who loves life and lives it with a passion. He is a hard worker, a willing volunteer, loyal friend, and a creative thinker. He is an average lawn mower.
I have been a member of Rotary for 40 years and today I take a great deal of pride in Ren’s interest and enthusiasm in becoming a Rotarian. Give him a Rotary job and I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
Please welcome the newest Member of The Rotary Club of Omaha West - my son and namesake, Warren Whitted III."
Please be sure to introduce yourself and welcome Warren to Omaha West Rotary at our Friday meeting.
Warren Whitted III
Warren Whitted III with President Jill Slupe and Warren Whitted, Jr.
Last week, Brad Hess introduced returning Rotarian, Ken Thomason. Ken is Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley.
Before coming to Omaha, Ken was an active member of the Rotary Club of St. Andrews-Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina from December 2001 to December 2008. Over seven years in the club, Ken held different committee positions as well as serving on the Board of Directors and holding different officer positions within the club. He worked to get the Rotary Youth Exchange program active again in the club. He also worked on various committee fundraisers including their Casino Night and Comics on Tour fundraisers. As part of the club's Dictionary Program, Ken helped deliver dictionaries to third-grade students in Charleston area schools each year. He helped serve meals to the needy at their annual holiday event. He was active in other fundraising events like the Rotary Club of St. Andrews-Charleston Annual Gold Tournament on Kiawah Island. He was also the head coach of the Rotary Club of St. Andrews-Charleston little league baseball team for two years.
As a member of the Rotary Club of St. Andrews-Charleston, Ken won different club awards over the years including the most coveted Service Above Self Award, Leadership Award and in 2004-2005, Ken was elected the club's Rotarian of the Year.
Ken believed in the mission of Rotary International and its commitment to service. He looks forward to becoming an active member of the Omaha West Rotary Club.
Please be sure to introduce yourself and welcome Ken to Omaha West Rotary.
Ken Thomason with President Jill Slupe and Brad Hess
Ken Thomason with son Alex Thomason, Brad Hess, and wife Linda Thomason
Blake Martin is President at FranNet of the Heartland, a franchise services company. Blake is proposed by Kim Kuhle. Any objections to this proposal must be in writing to the Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@omahawestrotary.org by November 27.
To find out about speakers at other Rotary Clubs in the area, you can conveniently see the list of Club websites here. Then click on the home icon to the left of the club name. The list of speakers are listed on their Homepage.
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