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Coming Up 8/7/2026

Gretchen Bren

5650 District Governor 2026-2027

Gretchen Bren’s life has been profoundly impacted by her Rotary journey.  Through her experiences she has seen how much power each of us has through Rotary to impact our world.
  
She joined The Rotary Club of Omaha (aka Omaha Downtown) in 2007 and served as Executive Director there for 10 years.  In 2019, she joined Omaha Night Rotary Club and is a past club president (2020-2022). At the District level, she has been the End Polio Now chair and an Assistant Governor. Gretchen has been a past District Trainer and is a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institute and for RI Club Visioning.  Outside the District, Gretchen is the secretary for the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship. 

Gretchen is a Paul Harris Fellow+8, a Level 1 Bequest Society member and Major Donor Level 2 and spearheaded the Polio Plus Society in District 5650. Her spouse—Gary Bren—is a former District Governor for District 5650 (2016-17) and is also a facilitator for Rotary Leadership Institute and Visioning, and took over as the End Polio Now chair for District 5650.

Gretchen received the Citation for Meritorious Service from the Rotary Foundation and the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World. In 2019, Gretchen was honored with the District 5650 Cadwallader Award – the District’s highest honor for someone who has made monumental contribution in one or more areas of service with Rotary.

Outside of Rotary, Gretchen has worked in the computer industry doing training, programing and web design. She is a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist Master Instructor and Microsoft Certified Professional.  Since 2016, she has been at Turner Technology as the Director of Special Projects.  Gretchen has been married to Gary since 1989, and is the proud mom of two cats, Artemis and Shadow. In her free time, she loves to read, drink fine wines and travel, and recently started stand up paddleboarding.  

Friday's Duties

Greeter: Veronica Kuebler

Invocator: Chris Krueger

Cashier: Anne Fuhrman & Micki Pane

Chair of the Day: Volunteer Needed

 

A great Rotary meeting starts the moment our members and guests walk through the door. You can help create that welcoming environment! We have open slots on our signup sheet for three essential weekly roles:
  • Greeters: Welcome members and visiting Rotarians.

  • Invocators: Inspire us with an opening reflection.

  • Cashiers: Keep our check-in and lunch lines moving.

 

Golf Fundraiser
Save the Date!
The Annual Golf Fundraiser Sept 21st at Pacific Springs! Click HERE for more info and to register! 
 
 
Rotarians In Service!
Omaha West Rotarians helping the community! 
 
 
Hope Lodge
 To help make a difference register HERE for August 13th!
  
 
the Ride is an opportunity for you to engage your members in support of Rotary's most significant International project. We need your help to get members and riders engaged.  This event is open to the general public, families, and Rotarians.  It features:
  • Family friendly 10 and 25 mile rides (all on trails)
  • A 42 mile ride for people looking for a little more challenge
  • Bike clinics hosted by the Bellevue Bicycle Club
  • Food trucks
  • Riders get a quality t-shirt, an entry into a raffle to win a $500 gift certificate to a local bike ship, and the registration includes a PolioPlus donation.
For information and registration for the ride, go to www.rotaryrides.org.  All riders need to register in advance. 
 
SPEAKER SUGGESTIONS WANTED
We are currently planning the 2026-2027 Speaker line-up and would LOVE your input!
Got a great speaker in mind for our Friday meetings? Share your ideas and help shape our club's weekly lineup! 🎙️✨
The best way to make a difference and keep our club active is to bring fresh, inspiring voices to our Friday podium. Whether it is a local business leader, an inspiring nonprofit director, or a unique storyteller, we want to hear about them. Take 60 seconds to drop your recommendations and let’s make our Friday lunches the highlight of the week! CLICK HERE!
RLI - Part I and Part II

Rotary Leadership Institute - Part I and Part II
Saturday, November 14, 2026
8:30am-3:30pm
$50
 


Project Harmony
11949 Q Street
OmahaNE   68137

https://www.rli-heartland.org/calendar/event?calID=145

Extension Meeting

SUMMER EXTENSION MEETINGS!

Please plan on joining us on Tuesday evening, 8/11 and 8/25 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm 

17110 Davenport St #114, Omaha, NE 68118
 
Come and enjoy Rotary Happy Hour drink specials and appetizers. Bring a friend and join the FUN!
Monthly Meeting Sponsor
Thank you to Butch Ethington with Business Ethics Alliance for sponsoring the August meetings! 
 
 
This is a perfect opportunity to get your logo and business name out there! 
 
Email Sarah below if you would like to be a meeting sponsor for just $90!
Please email Sarah at executivedirector@omahawestrotary.org if you are interest! 
Speakers
Aug 07, 2026 12:00 PM
Aug 14, 2026 12:00 PM
Persevus
Aug 21, 2026 12:00 PM
Bags of Fun
Sep 04, 2026 12:00 PM
View entire list
Upcoming Events
New Member Orientation
Aug. 07, 2026
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Omaha
Biaggi's

Extension Meeting
Aug. 11, 2026
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Please plan on joining us on Tuesday evening, 7/14 from 5:30 to 7 for our first Summer Extension Club Meeting. Our summer meeting spot will be:
17110 Davenport St #114, Omaha, NE 68118
 
Come and enjoy Rotary Happy Hour drink specials and appetizers. Bring a friend and join the FUN!
Omaha
Ancho & Agave

Hope Lodge - Aug 13th
Aug. 13, 2026
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

We need your help to prepare and serve dinner at the Hope Lodge! 

 

Omaha
Hope Lodge

Community Service Committee Meeting
Aug. 14, 2026
11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Biaggi's

Tri-Faith Clean up
Aug. 15, 2026
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Community Service Committee presents Omaha West Rotary members and friends another outdoor cleanup activity: the TriFaith Initiative is celebrating its 20th year anniversary on August 30th, 2026. Over time, invasive and ‘junk’ trees have taken over areas that were meant for other plants. Some of these have been cut down and there are brush piles around the inner walkway known as Abraham’s Bridge. We are planning a clean-up day at TriFaith on August 15, which is a Saturday, 1 to 3 pm. After we move the piles to the parking lots, we have someone come to chip the brush. The chipped brush will then be distributed appropriately.

 

The TriFaith Community appreciated the work that Omaha West Rotary did in May.

 

We would appreciate any help from the Omaha West Community. There will be other groups assisting in this effort.

 

Any questions, please contact me.  As we get closer to the event I will provide more detaila.

 

Thank you.

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles Shapiro

Chas613@hotmail.com

Omaha
Tri-Faith

Board Meeting
Aug. 19, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Charlie's on the Lake

Extension Meeting
Aug. 25, 2026
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Please plan on joining us on Tuesday evening, 7/14 from 5:30 to 7 for our first Summer Extension Club Meeting. Our summer meeting spot will be:
17110 Davenport St #114, Omaha, NE 68118
 
Come and enjoy Rotary Happy Hour drink specials and appetizers. Bring a friend and join the FUN!
Omaha
Ancho & Agave

View entire list
Sponsors
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
Birthdays
Member Birthdays
Tony Denman
August 7
 
David Greiner
August 8
 
Hannah Steen
August 10
 
Jonathan Jameson
August 10
 
Nina Rongisch
August 10
 
Lindsey Vande Hoef
August 11
 
Anne Fuhrman
August 14
 
Mark Christopher Manhart
August 14
 
Trent Pearce
August 16
 
Chad Allen
August 17
 
Suzan Rohrig
August 17
 
Jim Otis
August 20
 
Scott Hahn
August 24
 
Veronica Kuebler
August 24
 
Judy Ackland
August 27