Rotary District 5650 Rotarians—Happy November!! I hope everyone remembers to set their clock back an hour this weekend for a well-earned extra hour of sleep!! When I was a little boy growing up on the farm I always appreciated the extra hour of sleep because I did not have to get up as early to do my chores, which included milking the Ayrshire cow. I am sure those of you who grew up on a farm, delivered the morning paper or had early morning jobs can identify with me.
I wanted to give a big shout out to every Rotary Club in our District for everything they did in October to “Unite for Good” and serve their communities and the world!! Here is a partial listing of the events including fundraisers:
- October 1st, 2025, Omaha Millard Rotary Dave & Arlene Steier Memorial Golf Tournament, Tiburon Golf Club
- Rotary Zones 25B & 29 Institute, October 1-4th, 2025, Prior Lake, Minnesota
- October 9th, 2025, Red Oak Rotary Club Chili Cookoff, Annual PolioPlus Fundraiser held at Red Oak High School. I was a judge and deciding which were the top three chili’s was extremely hard. Lucky for me, I had two other judges to help me decide.
- October 11th, 2025, Suburban Rotary Club – Annual Electronics Recycling Event Powered by Datashield. I participated in this event and A big thank you to Dan Hosford, President-elect & Suburban Rotarian volunteers including David Kutler, Owner of Body Basics where the event took place.
- October 22nd, 2025, Seward Rotary Club PolioPlus Fundraiser Event
- October 23rd, 2025, Omaha Night Rotary - Casino Night benefiting ENVY Volleyball, Champions Run
- October 28th, 2025, Rotary Clubs of Lincoln Salute to Business 2025, Cornhusker Marriott, Lincoln. I spoke at this event. What an honor!!
- October 29th, 2025, Fairbury Rotary Club Trash Pickup
A reminder to document your club service projects hours/volunteers in Rotary Club Central so they will show on District Governor-elect, Gretchen Bren’s Thermometer -https://rotarydistrict5650.org/Stories/district-goal-thermometer. We want to recognize all the fantastic work you are doing to serve your communities!!
The most special event for me in October was our Fall District Conference held October 17-18th, 2025, at the Scott Conference Center, Aksarben Village, Omaha. Thank you very much for all your support as we came together to “Unite for Good.’ We had great speakers, service projects and entertainment that brought Rotarians and guests from across our District and the world. Here are the main highlights:
- 148 registered attendees
- 19 units of blood given to support the Red Cross
- 20 volunteer service hours – Elmwood Park, City of Omaha Parks & Recreation
- 3 Peace Essay Contest Winners, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, 1st Place $200, 2nd Place $175, 3rd Place $150
- $1,410 to PolioPlus, Rotary International Foundation, 20 Peace Pumpkins & 7 Peace Poles Auction. Peace Poles & Pumpkins were hand decorated by District Conference participants.
- 25-50 Peace notes, handwritten by District Conference participants, given to the Stephen Center as encouragement for men, women, and children as they seek to overcome homelessness, addiction, and poverty.
- $625 back to Rotary Clubs for Club Projects, Club Gift Baskets
- $6,000 donated to the Rotary International Foundation
- Launch of Rotary Means Business Fellowship
- Vocational Tour of Outlook Enrichment Facility for Visually Impaired Providing Training and Employment - Nina Rongisch, Executive Director
- Youth Study Exchange Student – Bob Rauner, District Chair, students shared experiences from their time in Germany & Japan
- Paul Harris & His Fellow Band, Mark Sanford, Omaha Night & Fellow Band Mates
- Rotary’s Got Talent, Robert Rapp, District Governor & His Karaoke Singing Machine
- Boomer Radio, Public Image Chair, Jill Thomas
- Vibrant Rotary Club Workshop – District Governor-elect, Gretchen Bren
- Rotarian Memoriam – Curt Peters, District Governor Nominee
- Membership/RYLA, Past District Governor, Kathryn Schubert
- Foundation/Leaving a Legacy/Major Donors – Tom Kerfoot, Foundation Chair, Past District Governor
- PolioPlus – Gary Bren, PolioPlus Chair, Past District Governor
- Artificial Intelligence Workshop – Jacob Nachtigall
- Protecting Your Loved Ones - Identity Theft– Better Business Bureau, FBI, Senate Office
- Judi gaiashkibos, Executive Director, Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs, Friday Lunch Speaker
- Renee Brouse, Rotary Relations Manager, Shelterbox USA, Saturday Lunch Speaker
- House of Friendship, Multiple Rotary Clubs, PolioPlus, Toastmasters, Shelterbox USA, Andrew Mwape, Lincoln East Rotary Club, Environment, Dean Settle, Author, Inside Nebraska Courthouses
- Lorena Beckius, Rotary International Presidents Rep, Past District Governor 5630, Saturday Awards Banquet Speaker
- 2024-25 Club Awards – Tom Kerfoot, Past District Governor
- Dr. Robert Rauner III, Lincoln #14 Rotary Club, Cadwallader Award
- Jenny Cardwell – Lincoln South Rotary Club, Service Above Self Award
- Edward “Ed” Walsh – Suburban Rotary Club, Citation for Meritorious Service Award
- Gary Bren - Omaha West Rotary Club, District Governor's Citation was presented Saturday during the Polio Plus segment
I also wanted to thank the Scott Conference Center and all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make the District Conference possible. It was truly a remarkable weekend!!
Please find the following recognition and thanks!! If I have forgotten anyone, please forgive me.
District Conference Committee – Chair, Master of Ceremonies, James Mackiewicz, Public Image Chair, Jill Thomas, Tom Kerfoot, Past District Governor, Foundation Chair, Robert Rapp, District Governor
AV/Streaming – Dan Lupardus, Curt Peters
Graphics – Futureware, Jacob Frisbie
Conference Registration – Nicki Klein, District Executive Secretary, Dan Hosford, President-elect, Suburban Rotary Club, Alice Schumaker & Glenda Friesen, Suburban Rotary Club
Conference Presenting Sponsor – Futureware
Platinum Sponsors – Robert Rapp Insurance & Jill of All Trades
Gold Sponsors – Rotary Club of Omaha, Past District Governor Gary Bren & District Governor-elect Gretchen Bren, Fellowship of Rotarian Genealogists
Silver Sponsors –Toastmasters International, CRESTCOM
Bronze Sponsors – Robert and Past District Governor Barbara Bartle, Rotary Means Business Fellowship, Arc Element Wealth Design
Finally, I wanted to remind you that November is Foundation Month on the Rotary calendar.
The Rotary International Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since The Rotary International Foundation was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we make lives better in your community and around the world.
Please reach out to Tom Kerfoot, District Foundation Chair. He would be happy to do a program for you on the Rotary International Foundation in November.
As I sit here looking out the window and see the beautiful fall colors, it reminds me of how blessed we are to live in such a wonderful place where we can make such a difference in our communities and the world through Rotary.
Enjoy this month of November. Remember to invite a guest to your Rotary Club meeting. Grow your membership. One meeting could change their life and yours as well. Focus on your Rotary Club experience for your members and guests. Take care of your family, friends, and community and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
In Rotary,
Robert Rapp
District 5650 Governor 2025-26
Omaha Morning Rotary Club
rrapprotary@gmail.com
(308) 325-1704
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