Momentum is building as we launch a new fundraising event for the Rotary Club of West Omaha, and there are plenty of opportunities for Club Members to get involved. The Committee Chairs are in place and the group held its first meeting last Thursday, September 6th at 5:30 at Champions Run. Tickets to the event will be available in the next week, and can be purchased online using our secure payment system here.
BLOODY MARY JAZZ FEST Sunday, November 4, 2018, 3 pm to 6 pm Champions Run Country Club Ticket Price: $45 VIP Ticket: $65 includes Swag Bag and Perks.
Every ticket holder will receive a complimentary drink (Bloody Mary recommended) and Charcuterie Buffet. Adding to the atmosphere, we will have two jazz ensembles providing their best Jazz arrangements. Read more here.
Last week, President Jill Slupe presided the meeting. We had our big raffle drawing, which culminated our 11th Annual Gold Scramble. Mark Ellsworth gave the Invocation. Kim Kuhle served as greeter. Greg Key was Sgt. at Arms. Ron Niederhaus was Cashier. Andy Shim was Chair of the Day and he introduced our speaker Kristin Utterback of King Science and Tech Magnet center.
President Jill Slupe with Kristin Utterback & Andy Shim
Last week John Philo filled in for Nick's Secretary job.
Visiting Rotarians include Jim Leslie (Suburban), Eric Stueckrath (Suburban), Jena Bailey (Downtown). Guests were: Maryssa Brown (Dwayne Brown)
Ken Thomson (Jill Slupe) Amy Williams, guest of speaker, Dan Morrison, Shilo Stueckrath (Eric Stueckrath) and Jim Story.
We greeted our September birthday celebrants. For good news: Gretchen Radler’s took her granddaughter back to college for year 2. Russ Iwan married off his youngest daughter. Starla Waite has the same birthday as her daughter and they celebrated together last week. Steve Levinger lamented that his daughter is back on the payroll as she has been accepted into the University of Chicago MBA program.
John ended his stint as Secretary with the Colorado Buffaloes jokes.
On behalf of the club, Past President Kent Templien said goodbye and thanked Rotarian Nizar Mamdami, who's moving to Florida. Nizar was passionate about recruiting younger members to Rotary and he provided funds to help make it happen. Nizar said he will always cherish the friends he made in Omaha and in Rotary for the past 18 years. We have captured part of Nizar's goodbye on video and you can watch it here.
Golf Committee Chair, Butch Ethington, announced our auction winners. Mark Ellsworth bid $250 and won the Gourmet Dinner for 6 donated by Kim Kuhle. Gail Veitzer bid $110 and won the Pilates Program donated by Lori Benton. Jim Gerner bid $200 and won the Wine Tasting Program for 20 people @ WineStyles donated by Bob Kully. Congratulations to the winners!
Last week, The Rotary Foundation Chair Bonnie Gill presented the Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) Awards to Laura Iliff, PHF and Nizar Mamdami, PHF + 2. Their combined total donation to The Rotary Foundation is $4,000. Thank you Rotarians for your generosity!
Last week, Starla Waite received her Blue Badge from President Jill Slupe after completing the rigorous Red Badge requirements, facilitated by our Red Badge Coordinator Suzan Rohrig. Starla is Director at Mary Kay Cosmetics. Congratulations, Starla!
Gretchen Radler is leading our Book Drive for our Little Free Libraries. Our book drive will run for three weeks starting September 14, 2018. Please bring your books to our Rotary weekly meeting. If you would like your books to be picked up, please contact Gretchen at (402) 612-4383; email address gretchen@bloomcompanion.com.
The Omaha West Rotary is participating in a multi-club project called Hotel/Motel Project, which seeks to eliminate and prevent sex trafficking by educating those in the hospitality industry to realize it is happening and training them on how to respond. Our club Foundation has approved up to $3,000 to support the project. This project is now underway and we need your support. Sign up to help Rotary fight human trafficking by training hotel/motel employees. See the flyer here. Please email jennifer@suburbanrotary.org or call 402-397-7335 to sign up. Read more here.
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.
Momentum is building as we launch a new fundraising event for the Rotary Club of West Omaha, and there are plenty of opportunities for Club Members to get involved. The Committee Chairs are in place and the group held its first meeting last Thursday, September 6th at 5:30 at Champions Run. Tickets to the event will be available in the next week, and can be purchased online using our secure payment system 
Golf Committee Chair, Butch Ethington, announced our auction winners. Mark Ellsworth bid $250 and won the Gourmet Dinner for 6 donated by Kim Kuhle. Gail Veitzer bid $110 and won the Pilates Program donated by Lori Benton. Jim Gerner bid $200 and won the Wine Tasting Program for 20 people @ WineStyles donated by Bob Kully. Congratulations to the winners!
Gretchen Radler is leading our Book Drive for our Little Free Libraries. Our book drive will run for three weeks starting September 14, 2018. Please bring your books to our Rotary weekly meeting. If you would like your books to be picked up, please contact Gretchen at (402) 612-4383; email address 
