Ennis Anderson is the CEO of Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska—a 100-acre urban oasis. He joined Lauritzen Gardens after serving as Senior Vice President of Operations & Guest Services for the newly merged Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) and Fort Worth Botanic Garden, where he was previously Chief Financial Officer.
Before transitioning to garden management in 2016, Ennis spent 15 years in senior hotel management roles, overseeing budgets up to $44 million, managing renovations exceeding $10 million, and opening several hotels from the ground up. Known for elevating customer service and driving profitability, Ennis is a Six Sigma Certified Green Belt and Certified Revenue Manager for multiple hotel chains. He received a White House Communications Agency Certificate of Appreciation for planning logistics for several presidential visits.
Ennis currently serves as Vice President of the American Public Gardens Association Board of Directors, Treasurer of the Nature Conservancy Nebraska Board of Directors, and as a board member of Nonprofit Association of the Midlands. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Baylor University. In his free time, Ennis enjoys watching sports and spending time with his wife and three daughters.
Suburban Rotarians enjoyed an after-hours gathering at John Hoich's lakeside home. The event fostered friendship, good conversation and an opportunity to network while enjoying a beautiful setting. Enjoy the slide show with pictures from the evening.
The next meeting of the Rotary Book Club is Tuesday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at Bonefish Grill in Regency. The book selection is "The Coming Wave" (Technology, power, and the 21st Century's Greatest Dilemma) by Mustafa Suleyman.
Yearlings were asked what was their favorite summer memory. Answers ranged from watching a son pitch, to climbing the Matterhorn, to a trip to Ireland and the Offutt Air Show.
Global scholarship recipient Cecelia Schonlau talked about the impact Rotary has had on her long-term education goals and career.
Mark Olson was introduced by Jennifer Green as a new member of the club.
Club members received perfect attendance tabs for July.
Donors who have given more than $2500 to the Foundation were recognized as Friends with official pins.
Speaker Gretchen Bren, District Governor, talked about how she got involved in Rotary and highlighted the many polio trips she took overseas. Her personal theme for this year is "belonging," and the importance of keeping members engaged. She talked also about how Rotary is an instrument of change but more importantly as a group creating lasting impact. That is this year's Rotary slogan, that every moment of service or friendship Rotarians create can affect people long term.
I'm excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2026 District 5650 Conference, taking place October 23-24 at the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our clubs, learn from fellow Rotarians, strengthen friendships, and be inspired by the impact Rotary is making throughout our district. Register early, as conference rates will increase on September 24. I hope you'll make plans to join us!
August is also Membership and New Club Development Month, a perfect time to reflect on one of Rotary's greatest strengths: belonging.
Throughout my club visits, I've spoken about the connection between Belonging and Impact. People often join Rotary because they are inspired by our service. They stay because they find friendships, purpose, and a place where they feel valued.
Membership is about more than adding names to a roster. It's about creating a club experience where every member feels welcomed, included, and connected. When people feel they belong, they become engaged. When they are engaged, our service grows. And when our service grows, so does our impact.
This month, I encourage every club to think about how we can strengthen that sense of belonging for both current and prospective members. A simple invitation, a warm welcome, or an opportunity to serve can change someone's Rotary journey and ultimately strengthen our organization.
Thank you for all you do to make Rotary a place where people belong and where together we create lasting impact.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Gretchen Bren District Governor 2026-2027 Rotary District 5650
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, 12:00 pm, German American Society, 3717 South 120th St.
Tuesday: Omaha Morning 7:00 am, First Watch Aksarben, 1222 S. 71st, Ste. B, Omaha. NE 68106
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 omahasuburbanrotary@gmail.com.
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