Club Information
Welcome to Suburban Rotary of Omaha! 

Celebrating 56 years of Fun and Service 

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Legends Patio & Grill
6920 Pacific St
Suite 100
Omaha, NE 68106
United States of America
Phone:
(402) 619-6721
Home Page Stories
A group of Rotarians cleaned up the exterior of the Crestridge School learning center. They planted over 200 plants and flowers to plant, put down eight tons of mulch and much more.  Thanks to everyone who made this project a success. The project received wonderful coverage on WOWT. 
 

Roger Dixon is the President and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention Authority (MECA), which manages the operations of CHI Health Center Omaha and Charles Schwab Field Omaha. He also holds the same titles for MECA Tri-Park Complex, LLC, which operates The RiverFront in downtown Omaha.

Dixon joined MECA in 2000 with the goal of building Omaha’s premier arena and convention center. In his over two decades with MECA, MECA’s facilities regularly host top concerts and coveted sporting events, such as the Men’s College World Series, volleyball and basketball NCAA Championships, and four consecutive Olympic team trials for USA Swimming. Under Dixon’s leadership, MECA was also charged with overseeing the construction and activation of The RiverFront. Comprised of three public parks— Gene Leahy Mall, Heartland of America, and Lewis and Clark Landing— The RiverFront, hosts dozens of events each month and welcomes millions of people annually. The latest project Dixon is overseeing at MECA is the 90,000 square foot expansion of the CHI Health Center’s convention center, aimed at allowing Omaha to compete for larger conventions.

Dixon has been in the industry for nearly 50 years. Before coming to Omaha, he served in management positions around the country in cities including St. Louis, Philadelphia, Miami, and Louisville, Kentucky. Dixon was also an executive with SMG, which manages several major facilities throughout the country.

Dixon is a 1976 graduate of Southern Illinois University.

 

 

Jennifer Jirak-Brungardt has been named Rotarian of the Year by the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha, the highest annual honor that can be bestowed on a club member.
 
Jennifer grew up in Kansas and attended Kansas University.  She was an exchange student in Costa Rica.  During that time, she learned to speak Spanish and love travel.   She is the Owner of Cruise Planners, a travel franchise offering all kinds of travel experiences. She has been married to Lee for 30 years, has two adult children and two cats.  Hobbies include Rotary activities, flowering gardening, and, of course, lots of travel. 
 
She has been in Rotary since March of 2009.  She has been active in many activities and serves as the 25-26 incoming chair of the Membership Committee. In 2025 she began an exciting Rotarian recruitment campaign called the 12-Month Gift of Rotary.  According to Mary Bernier, Chair of the 4-Way Test Committee, “Her excitement and enthusiasm for Rotary have led to more than 20 applications and more are coming. She was a natural choice.”
 
 
Our 6th Annual Suburban Rotary Car Show was a tremendous success! With perfect 75-degree weather and an incredible turnout, the event brought together car enthusiasts, families, and community supporters for a day full of fun, food, and fantastic vehicles.
By the numbers:
  • 🚗 152 Cars Registered
  • 🙌 38 Volunteers
  • 🏆 33 Trophies Awarded
  • 🤝 22 Official Sponsors
  • 🧑‍⚖️ 11 Car Judges
  • 🌮 3 Food Trucks
  • 🏁 1 ASCS Sprint Car Midwest Region Champion – Jack Dover
The parking lot was packed, the energy was high, and Boomer Radio kept things lively with a live broadcast from the show. It was truly a family-friendly celebration of community spirit and automotive passion. All proceeds from the event support the Suburban Rotary Foundation, helping to fund youth programs in our local area.  Here is a slide show with some great pictures of the event. 
 
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, participants, and everyone who joined us—your support made this event unforgettable!  A special thank you to: Woodhouse Auto Family, Baxter Auto Group, Edwards Auto Group, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, and Sonic. 
 
 
John Knicely has been named the 2025 Omahan of the Year by the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha.  Knicely has been a mainstay on Omaha television networks for many years as a sportscaster and news anchor on WOWT and KETV. He has become a favorite of the Omaha community through his news features of “John at Work” and “Knicley Done, “giving viewers unique behind-the-scenes perspective through reporter-involved segments. 
John served as Sportscaster for WOWT from 1974 to 1981, at which time he moved to St. Louis in the same capacity for KTVI, the ABC affiliate. He returned to Omaha and KETV in May 1984, and made the move back to WOWT in May 1992, this time as anchor of the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.
 
His community spirit is always on display, and he emcees many charity events throughout the year.  He has received numerous awards, including the Journalism Alumni Award of Excellence from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  He is a graduate of that university’s School of Broadcast Journalism.
 
He and his wife Sue have raised five children and have six grandchildren. He was born in Sidney, Nebraska.
 
According to Mary Bernier Chairman of the Four- Way Test Committee of the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha, John was chosen by the 4-Way Test Committee because of his commitment to the Omaha Community. Through his fair and honest reporting, including his news segment “Knicely Done,” he has inspired our community to be and do better.
 
The Membership Committee kicked off the 2025 Gift of Rotary Campaign in mid-January. This will run in conjunction with our Steak and Beans teams contest which finishes up this year.   Each club member will be contacted individually and asked to sign a pledge to bring in one new member in 2025.   Already this effort has met with great success.  See this slide show with pictures of some of our new members.
 
This campaign is going to center around fun, excitement and what a Gift Rotary has been in all our lives.   Join us in growing the club! 
 
When people talk about yearlings the conversation is usually about a young deer that is between one and two years old and has outgrown the fawn stage but is not yet fully grown. At the Suburban Rotary Club of Omaha, that term has a different meaning. Coined by Saul Cutler, a long-time Rotarian, a yearling is a proposed club member that must go through a program to orient them to the club. The onboarding process has proven to be highly successful.
The Yearling Committee is currently chaired by Past District President Roxy Orr.  The extensive orientation program is designed to make new members feel part of the club, understand the operations principles and mission pillars of Rotary, get a sense of the history and enhance their participation in the work of the group.
 
Requirements for yearling participation include:
  • Attending six yearling meetings in the first year they are members
  • Signing up to greet
  • Giving an invocation
  • Giving a vocational talk to the club
  • Participating in two service projects
  • Joining a committee
  • Participating in the writing of a grant
These requirements are intended to be completed in one-year.
Consider visiting another Rotary club for a make-up!  Rotary.org has a club finder for locations around the world.  Please see the District website at rotarydistrict5650.org  for details on local clubs. Visit one of the following Metro-Area Clubs!
 
Monday: Omaha Millard Rotary & Northwest Rotary, 12:00 pm, German American Society, 3717 South 120th St.
Tuesday: Omaha Morning 7:00 am, 88 Tactical, 15350 Shepard St., Suite 1, Omaha NE 68138
Tuesday: Omaha Night, 5:30 p.m. at La Voltaire, 569 N. 155th Plaza (first and third Tuesdays) Omaha, NE       http://www.omaharotarynight.org/
Wednesday: Omaha Downtown, 12:00 pm, Field Club of Omaha, 3615 Woolworth Ave., Omaha, NE 68105
Wednesday: Council Bluffs Centennial: 7:00 am, Hy-Vee Community Room 1745 Madison Avenue
Thursday: Western Douglas County, 12:00 PM Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation 20272 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022
Thursday: Council Bluffs, 12:00 pm, Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 South 6th Street
Friday: Omaha West, 12:00 pm, Charlie's on the Lake, 4151 S 144th St., Omaha, NE 68137
 
Email Deb for make-up/attendance credit to DebD@suburbanrotary.org.
President's Message
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
 
It is both a tremendous honor and a humbling responsibility to step into the role of President for the Omaha Suburban Rotary Club. As a third-generation Rotarian, Rotary is truly a part of my family’s legacy—and now, I am grateful for the opportunity to carry that legacy forward with all of you.
 
We are part of an extraordinary club, rich in tradition, service, and fellowship. Over the past year, we’ve made meaningful strides in living out the Rotary mission, and I want to build on that momentum. My vision for the year ahead centers on three simple but powerful goals:
 
1. Grow Our Membership
New members bring new energy, fresh ideas, and the passion that keeps our club thriving. I believe we have something truly special to offer, and I want to ensure more people in our community have the opportunity to experience it. We’ll focus on attracting engaged leaders and professionals who are committed to service—just like you.
 
2. Deepen Our Impact in the Community
Rotary’s work is only as strong as its connection to the people we serve. This year, we’ll look for new ways to be visible, valuable, and vital to the Omaha community. Through strategic partnerships, service projects, and public engagement, we’ll strengthen our local impact and remind the community what Rotary stands for.
 
3. Be Simply the Best
Let’s challenge ourselves to raise the bar—in everything we do. Whether it’s the quality of our programs, the warmth of our welcome, or the passion behind our projects, we have the potential to be a model club not just in our district, but across Rotary. Let’s strive to be the club others look to for inspiration.
 
As we begin this new Rotary year together, I invite you to bring your ideas, your energy, and your heart to the table. Let’s celebrate our shared history, embrace new opportunities, and most importantly—let’s enjoy the journey.
 
Here’s to another great year of fellowship, service, and leadership. Together, we will be simply the best.
 
Yours in Rotary,
Jennifer Green
President, 2025-2026
Omaha Suburban Rotary Club
 
Speakers
Jeff Franco, Ex Dir. Pottawattamie Conservation
Jul 31, 2025
Crescent Hill at Hitchcock: Mission, Purpose, and Potential
Crescent Hill at Hitchcock: Mission, Purpose, and Potential
Applied Improv
Aug 07, 2025
Debra Ann Reilly, MD
Aug 21, 2025
Rotary International Medical Missions (Rotaplast.org)
Skip Bailey
Nov 06, 2025
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