April is Earth Month and we're celebrating with Keep Omaha Beautiful! KOB is a nonprofit dedicated to the health and wellbeing of our community and the environment. Their core programs include: Environmental Education; Tree Canopy Improvement; Waste-Reduction & Recycling Education; Pollution Prevention Initiatives; and Volunteer Service Opportunities. Learn more at KeepOmahaBeautiful.org!
Christie Abdul-Greene is the Executive Director of Keep Omaha Beautiful. Most recently, Abdul-Greene was a division manager of operations at CHI Health, where her work included: serving as co-chair of the Sustainability and Earth Care Advisory Council, developing creative funding opportunities for programs, and partnering with communities to incorporate social determinants of health into patient-centered practice and environmental/social health initiatives. Additionally, her professional experience includes work with local nonprofits: Lutheran Family Services, Child Saving Institute, and Refugee Empowerment Center. She was also the manager of community outreach and volunteers at Lakeside Hospital.
Originally from Central City, Nebraska, Abdul-Greene has lived in Omaha for 23 years. She has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska, Omaha and a bachelor’s degree in business psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She is also a certified Climate Ambassador through ecoAmerica’s program for health leaders.
The annual Suburban Rotary Scholarship luncheon, held amidst the elegant ambiance of the Happy Hollow Club, proved to be an extraordinary celebration of academic excellence and community generosity. Guided by the distinguished presence of astronaut Clayton Anderson, the event illuminated the achievements of ten outstanding students from local high schools, each awarded with $3,000 scholarships.
These scholarships, renewable for up to two years or a total of three years or $9,000 per scholar, promise not just financial support but also a beacon of encouragement for the recipients as they embark on their educational journeys. Congratulations resonate warmly with Eric Asher, Evan Auel, Benjamin Grelk, Elijah Moises Manrique, Bradley Martin, Caleb Nilius, Ava Patten, Jay Price, Miles Severe, and Kyle St. Cyr, the deserving beneficiaries of the 2024 Suburban Rotary Scholarship.
Heartfelt appreciation extends to the Rotarian donors, esteemed members of the President Scholarship Circle, and contributors to the One Year Scholarship program, whose benevolence fuels the aspirations of these young scholars. Special gratitude is owed to donors of the Endowed Scholarship Funds, including The Rex E. Ekwall Memorial Scholarship, The Ron & Phyllis Pearson Scholarship, and The Howard D. Vann Memorial Scholarship, whose enduring support ensures a legacy of educational opportunity.
In the coming days, the contributions of One Year Scholarship donors will be duly acknowledged, further underscoring the unwavering commitment of our community to nurturing future leaders. Below, we share glimpses captured from the inspiring scholarship luncheon, moments that embody the spirit of collective empowerment and academic excellence.
The 2024 Scholarship Recipients
Photo Credit: Jo Wellendorf
The Luncheon head table with L to R: President Katie Henry, Scholarship Chair Carol Ebdon, Master of Ceremonies Astronaut Clayton Anderson, Rotary District Governor Kathryn Schubert, and Trustees Chair John Hoich Photo Credit: Jo Wellendorf
Crowd photos provided by the Scuttlebutt Editor
Big thank you to the Scholarship Committee led by Carol Ebdon with members Barb Rebrovich, Suzi Brehmer, Thomas Freeman, Duane Gross, Doug Hansen, David Kutler, Bruce Lemen, Julie Livingston, Roxy Orr, Ron Pearson, Dan Schnoes, Alice Schumaker, Judy Sealer, Roger Utman and Dan Wellendorf.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP; we need 24 volunteers. Suburban Rotary is dedicated to supporting refugee children at Andersen Middle School. We will be actively involved in accompanying 2-3 children each, guiding them through what might be their inaugural shopping experience in a store. Equipped with a list delineating permissible items and those that are not, these outings offer a remarkable chance to forge connections with these children and provide them with an opportunity to partake in what many of us consider commonplace. Upon completing their lists, you will assist them to the cashier, where they will independently conclude their transactions, fostering independence and empowerment. Click here to sign up. For questions, please contact Dan Lupardus at danl@futurewareinc.com.
Thank you to those who have already donated to this year's fundraiser! You can donate online on our website under The Foundation at the top navigation DONATE HERE or at the Rotary meeting.
This week marks the fourth week of our Fundraiser at Rotary, where we rally support for The Suburban Rotary Club Charitable Foundation. The roots of our foundation trace back to 1988, a poignant moment when two members, reflecting on a tragic loss in the Colorado Rockies, envisioned a platform for tax-deductible contributions to fuel our club's philanthropic endeavors, particularly its scholarship program and other noble causes.
Our local Foundation's impact reverberates locally and globally, touching countless lives. For instance, in collaboration with neighboring Rotary clubs, we recently spearheaded the procurement and packaging of over 40,000 nutritious meals for the disadvantaged in our immediate community. Moreover, our Foundation's financial support extends to transformative initiatives in regions like India and Lebanon.
Every Suburban Rotarian is urged to contribute to our Club Foundation, with the aim of achieving 100% participation this year, regardless of the donation amount. Joining the President's Scholarship Circle requires an annual contribution of $300, which signifies your dedication to our shared mission of making a positive impact at home and abroad. CLICK HERE TO DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOUR HEART DESIRES.
Below are Rotarians in the Presidents' Scholarship Circle:
L to R: Dan Lupardus, Frank McGree, Kim Stewart, Glenda Friesen, Jonathan Davidson, Ryan Keiser, Tom Kerfoot, Travis Sholin, Trustees Chair John Hoich, Mark Taylor, Scott Keep, Gary Beller, and Chuck Hackshaw
Inductees to the President Scholarship Circle L to R: Presiding wasTrustee Tom Kerfoot, Jared Bakewell, Dan Hosford, Kathryn Schubert, Mary Bernier, and Roxy Orr
Recent inductees to the Presidents Scholarship Circle L to R: Bob Perrin, Tom Adams and Curt Peters with Trustees Chair John Hoice and Trustees Treasurer Dave Laferla
Recent inductees to the Presidents Scholarship Circle L to R: Suzi Brehmer, John Binderup, Rick Caulk, Jack Heidel, Warren Hill, Frank Goldberg with Dave LaFarla and President Katie Henry. Not in photo: Carol Ebdon, David Radler, Duane Gross, Edgar Fleming, Jennifer Jirak-Brundardt, and Trustee Chair John Hoich.
Most North American plant species depend on insects, predominantly bees, for pollination. “Your whole food web is supported by bees,” says Dave Hunter, a member of the Rotary Club of Woodinville, Washington. The club leads a project that nourishes bees while beautifying the Seattle suburb. Members use donated wine barrels to construct planters to attract pollinators. Local businesses can sign up to have one placed at their storefront for a donation of $150 a year to the club’s foundation. The planters have QR codes that take visitors to information on the club’s website about the program and pollinators’ importance. “We are not just putting planters out; we’re educating through them,” says Hunter, proprietor of Crown Bees, which sells bees, bee houses, and other materials. The club also partnered with the city, businesses, a garden club, and a nonprofit organization to host a Pollinator Fest in May that attracted about 500 people to hear the latest buzz on bees.
Canada
The Rotary Club of Olds, Alberta, is livening up its process for awarding grants to community groups. In November, representatives of about a dozen organizations pitched their proposals at a contest modeled on Dragons’ Den, a CBC television program (much like Shark Tank in the U.S.) in which venture capitalists judge entrepreneurs’ proposals for investment. The organizations were allotted five minutes to make their pitch, followed by five minutes of questioning by a panel of Rotarian “dragons,” or judges. Club President Randy Smith concedes that the awardees would have received their share of the roughly $10,000 regardless of who won. But he says the spirited affair gave the groups, including Interactors and fire department cadets, an opportunity to hone their presentation skills and showcase their creativity.
We believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and healthcare access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases. Rotary members have hundreds of health projects underway around the world at any given time.
For over three and a half decades, Rotary International has tirelessly dedicated itself to the noble cause of eradicating polio from our planet. Since our inception in this monumental mission in 1979, when we initiated vaccinations for six million children in the Philippines, Rotary has been at the forefront of the battle against this debilitating disease.
Through unwavering commitment and global collaboration, Rotary, alongside its partners in health and humanitarian efforts, has made remarkable strides in reducing polio's grip on humanity. Today, our collective efforts have brought us to a critical juncture where the dream of a polio-free world is within reach.
Despite the progress made, challenges persist, particularly in regions like Afghanistan and Pakistan, where polio remains endemic. However, Rotary remains resolute in its determination to overcome these obstacles and achieve our ultimate goal.
Rotary's efforts extend far beyond the mere distribution of vaccines. We have spearheaded community engagement initiatives, advocated for increased funding and support, and worked tirelessly to ensure that every child receives the life-saving polio vaccine regardless of their circumstances.
As we continue our journey towards a polio-free world, Rotary invites individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide to join us in this historic endeavor. Together, we can turn the tide against polio, safeguarding future generations from its devastating effects and leaving behind a legacy of health, hope, and resilience for all.
In June 1999, a year after I joined the staff of Rotary International, I attended my first convention. It was then that I first witnessed the global power of Rotary and made my first batch of Rotary friends. And it was then that I was introduced to Singapore for a second time.
My first trip to Singapore occurred five years earlier when, as a journalist, I covered the third Europe-East Asia Economic Summit. At that time, Western financial media were referring to Singapore as the 20th century’s most successful development story, which meant that the summit lured scores of policymakers, economists, and businesspeople from across Europe and Asia.
Once a British Crown colony which subsequently merged with Malaysia, Singapore broke away and was founded as an independent sovereign nation in 1965. Despite predictions that a string of small islands that lack natural resources to survive, Lee Kwan Yew, who was referred to as the founding father of modern Singapore, turned the tattered outpost of the faded empire into a thriving modern nation. The archipelago of 64 islands that was once plagued by malaria and rife with ethnic conflicts among its Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations, now stands as a gleaming city state, known in the 1990s throughout the world as one of the four Asian Tigers for its robust economic transformation along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Having grown up in China, where decades of Mao’s draconian rule had impoverished the country, I, along with millions of other Chinese, became enamored of the Singapore model of economic success. My first impression of Singapore in 1994, which will forever be associated with the brightly illuminated skyscrapers that dotted the banks of the Singapore River, confirmed my belief that this was a place of modernity and prosperity.
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, 88 Tactical, 15350 Shepard St., Suite 1, Omaha NE 68138
Tuesday: Omaha Northwest, 12:00 pm, Sand Point, New England Fare, 655 North 114th Street. Omaha, NE 68154
Wednesday: Omaha Downtown, 12:00 pm, Trinity 113 N 18th St., Omaha, NE 68124
Wednesday: Council Bluffs Centennial: 7:00 am, Hy-Vee Community Room 1745 Madison Avenue Thursday: West Douglas County, 12:00 PM Elkhorn Public Schools Foundation 20272 Veterans Drive
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 Yolanda for make-up/attendance credit at yolanda@suburbanrotary.org.
Christie Abdul-Greene
United States
Canada
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