TOPIC: An update on Project Harmony-the Metro Omaha Community’s Child Advocacy Center.
Gene Klein, Executive Director of Project Harmony will share how this organization is responding to child abuse and implementing innovative partnerships to engage the community’s response.
BIO: Gene Klein, LCSW, has been the Executive Director of PROJECT HARMONY for over 15 years. Gene has a Bachelor’s Degree from Creighton University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has over 30 years’ experience in the child welfare field providing direct services as a CPS worker as well as progressive leadership positions in non-profit agencies serving children and families. Gene is also a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner. Gene serves as the co-chair of the Nebraska Governor’s Commission for the Protection of Children, he is the President-Elect of the Nebraska Legislature’s Children’s Commission and he recently finished his term as a board member with the role of the president of the National Children’s Alliance Board of Directors. Gene is a National Children’s Alliance Accreditation Peer Reviewer, a former COA Peer Reviewer, and is a regular National speaker on collaboration, child advocacy and non-profit leadership. Gene has delivered historic fundraising efforts as a result of public advocacy and community engagement-combining federal, state, local and private funding to make this collaborative one of the largest in the Nation.
Under his leadership, Project Harmony has become the model collaborative for effective child abuse prevention, response and treatment. This Child Advocacy Center , is co-located with over 250 professionals from the fields of law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, advocacy, and mental health, and medical, representing city, county, state, federal government entities working with non-profit agencies creating a one-stop response to child abuse investigations and treatment. In addition, Project Harmony provides critical coordination of the community wide Multidisciplinary Team for all child abuse investigations and treatment.
Gene has been a member of Rotary for 16 years. He and his wife Teri have 5 children and live in Papillion.
Last week, President Nuzhat Mahmood presided the meeting. Ray Kurowski gave the Invocation. Anne Fuhrman and Ron Niederhaus served as greeters, while Dick Sturgeon was Cashier. Rodge Bickerstaff was Sgt. at Arms.
Past President Dan Ferris was Chair of the Day. Dan introduced our speaker Lisa Lackovic. Lisa spoke about Harnessing the Power of a Millennial Workforce with a Purpose-Driven Workplace. The topic was so interesting that due to public demand, Lisa shared with us a very informative article about her presentation titled "Generations in the Workplace." You can read it here.
Omaha West Rotary Club Secretary Report for March 9, 2018
This past Friday at Omaha West Rotary, Laura Thomas joined us again from the E-Club of the Carolinas and John Massih joined us from the Trumball, CT Rotary Club. Dan Ferris introduced his guests, Michele Ferris, Jim Pflug and Tara Bowne. Gail Veitzer introduced her husband, Irv. Dr. Mark Manhart introduced his son, Mark Manhart. Deb Neary introduced her guest, Danit Webb and Gretchen Radler introduced Mike Skinner.
For good news, Deb Neary announced her campaign for the Nebraska Board of Education. Martie Cordero shared a newspaper article about Bitcoin but crossed out the names of people in the article and filled in the name "Matt McKeever". Carol Gendler and Kim Kuhle also got Matt fined for Bitcoin articles so Matt fined himself $3.00 and will also add $3.00 of bitcoins to the Club's Bitcoin wallet. Mark Ellsworth told us about his visit to QLI to see Kent Templien. Gretchen Radler paid five dollars to celebrate that her daughter was not traveling to celebrate Spring Break. We tried again, unsucessfully, to get Jamie Summerfelt's VNA video to work but will try again next week. Brett Wawers shared his very good news about his grandchild leaving the NICU. Matt also shared with the Club the photo of the deck Dick Sturgeon is creating out of some of the cards he's drawn for Bucks for Bingel over the past few years.
Matt fined Brett for an article about a Lamp Rynerson road project. Dr. Mark Manhart brought to Matt's attention that Manny Paz's cell phone was ringing, allowing Matt the opportunity to fine Manny. Thanks, Mark! There was no time left for Matt's story about some hay bales but he'll share it next week.
To celebrate the start of Spring Training, Matt defined baseball terms. One such term was "frozen rope" which is a 150 feet-per-second line drive that, after you recover from your injuries, should convince you that you can't play professional baseball. Another was a "foul ball" defined as a ball that is hit out of bounds or, in the alternative, a homerun ball hit by the other team that causes you to loudly curse.
We are announcing our New Member proposal TARA BOWNE. Tara is Major Market Account Executive at Paychex. Tara's proposer is Past President Dan Ferris. Any objections to this proposal must be in writing to the Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@omahawestrotary.org by March 17th.
Andrew "Andy" Shim made the best decision when he chose to join the Omaha West Rotary, the best Rotary club in Metro Omaha! Andy was introduced by Membership Chair and President-Elect Jill Slupe. Andy is a former Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of Vermillion in South Dakota where he served as Chair of their Fundraising and Membership Committees. Andy is Program Director at College of Saint Mary. Please make sure to introduce yourself and welcome Andy when you see him at our Friday meeting.
L to R: Dean Rasmussen, Rod Anderson, Bonnie Gill and Nuzhat Mahmood
Recently, The Rotary Foundation Chair Bonnie Gill, awarded Dean Rasmussen as Paul Harris Fellow + 5 and Rod Anderson as Paul Harris Fellow + 1. Congratulations and thank you Dean and Rod for your generosity!
Announcement: We are meeting at QLI on March 23rd. Mark your calendars as this is one of a kind meeting.
On March 23rd we have decided to support our fellow Rotarian and immediate past president, Kent Templien by holding our Friday Rotary lunch at Quality Living Inc., 6404 N 70th Plaza, Omaha, NE 68104. Kent is a resident at QLI and loves the idea of us bringing Rotary to him. The guest speaker will be Jon Pearson, director at QLI.
QLI is providing lunch at their cost. In return, we will ask for voluntary contributions to QLI, certainly not mandatory. But we do need to have everyone sign up in advance so that we know how many to plan for. Please register here.
Join us to plant trees and sustain the urban forest in Miller Park/Minne Lusa Neighborhood and Boulevard on April 28, 2018 at 08:30 AM - 12:00 PM. Sign up here.
We will be planting shade trees along the Minne Lusa Boulevard and Florence neighborhood right-of-way parkland.
Meet at the Minne Lusa Elementary School located at 2728 Ida Street (East side of school).
We will plant shade trees and lay mulch.
Although shovels will be provided, volunteers are encouraged to bring their own shovel and gloves.
Tree holes will be pre-dug to ease volunteer labor.
Spread the News! It's a great time to join Omaha West Rotary!
Please spread the news, the fee for joining West Omaha Rotary has been discounted from $540 ($340 plus $200 application fee) to $113 from now till June 30th. Because of the generous “new member” contributions from Nizar Mamdani, Dwayne Brown and John Morey, the application fee has been waived and the membership fee has been supplemented for all new members. This is a great opportunity to encourage prospects to test out our club and join at a reduced rate. For more information please reach out to Jill Slupe at Jslupe@verdemartin.com or 917-416-7498.
Understanding the value of The Rotary Foundation . . .
When asked what participants want to get out of Rotary training and meetings, we hear things like the statements above.
Meeting all of those needs is a challenge - but there is an answer – the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI).
RLI has been available in District 5650 since 2006. The curriculum and format were improved in 2009 and we expanded to partner with District 6000 in Iowa in 2012. There have been nearly 275 Rotarians participate in our local program.
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) was designed to provide discussion and activity-based programs. There is time to go into detail on many topics. It is not focused on a particular Rotary position but allows an opportunity for participants to truly discover Rotary.
All Rotary members benefit from the RLI experience. Rotary Club leadership can be more effective because of their expanded knowledge and connections made during RLI sessions.
RLI is a three-part program. Each RLI participant attends three one-day sessions. Our goal is to offer each Part with every meeting date (pending a sufficient number of registrations).
Upcoming session dates:
March 3, 2018 - Hosted by District 6000 in Iowa City
April 21, 2018 - Hosted by District 5650 likely in Omaha
October 6, 2018 - Hosted by District 5650 likely in Omaha
November 3, 2018 - Hosted by District 6000 likely in Des Moines
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)
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