Eric Thompson TRF Liaison | Major Gifts Officer | The Rotary Foundation
Eric Thompson joined the Rotary Foundation philanthropy team in September 2018 as the new major gifts officer for Zones 26/27. A native Coloradan and Westerner, he is very happy to be serving Big West Rotarians achieve their philanthropic dreams through The Rotary Foundation. Eric is based at The Rotary Foundation in Evanston, IL, but he travels regularly to districts and clubs in Zones 26/27. For Eric, Rotarians’ leadership in the drive to eradicate polio is one of the most inspiring stories in modern philanthropy, particularly since he had seen first-hand the impact of polio on members of his family.
Eric comes to RI with twenty years of comprehensive fundraising experience, primarily in higher education. In all his previous roles, he partnered with alumni, volunteers, and senior leadership in developing vibrant relationships with individual philanthropists, corporations, foundations, and other organizational partners in completing multi-million and billion-dollar comprehensive capital campaigns. These campaigns were with Illinois Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Ragdale Foundation, and the University of Colorado Foundation.
Eric holds degrees from the University of Illinois/Chicago in marketing, entrepreneurship, and human resource management (MBA); The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MFA); and the University of Colorado/Boulder (BFA). Eric has conceptualized, designed and led many subject matter presentations for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), and the Center for Nonprofit Success. He was an executive board member, conference planner and host on behalf of the Engineering Development Forum (2014-2019). He also served as a subject matter expert/question formulator on the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) testing committee, and held the CFRE certification 2006-2013.
Bill Harvey Endowment/Major Gift Advisor for Rotary Region 36 (Zones 25B and 29) The Rotary Foundation
Bill Harvey is the Endowment/Major Gift Advisor for Rotary Region 36 (Zones 25B and 29) which covers 23 Rotary Districts from Thunder Bay, Ontario to Brownsville, Texas. Bill is an attorney and is a Member and General Counsel of EHPV Management Group, a business management company located in Omaha, Nebraska. He is a 27-year member and past president of the Rotary Club of Omaha (Downtown Rotary). He is a past District 5650 Rotary Foundation Committee Chair. When he’s not working, or doing Rotary, Bill dabbles in genealogy and is Past President and current programs chair of the Fellowship of Rotarian Genealogists, an international fellowship of Rotarians with an interest in genealogy and family history.
Join us for an evening of celebration and gratitude on October 17 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the beautiful Hillsborough Pointe Apartments Club House (14441 Sprague St). This special event is open to all Suburban Rotarians and their spouse, and it’s our way of saying thank you for your generous support of the Rotary International Foundation.
Indulge in complimentary hors d'oeuvres featuring Teriyaki Beef, Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Glaze, and Fresh Fruit Mini Skewers while connecting with fellow Rotarians and celebrating our impact. Don’t miss out—click here to sign up or write your name on the sign-up sheet at Rotary tomorrow. Let’s make it a night to remember! For questions, please contact Committee Chair Eric Dawson at eric@shadowlakecollision.com.
Get ready to ignite your enthusiasm and amplify your impact! We are thrilled to invite you to our highly anticipated Fusion 5650 District Conference, where incredible opportunities await to connect, collaborate, and contribute to our shared vision of making a difference. Click here for the agenda.
📅 Date: October 18th and 19th 📍 Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown ⏰ Time: See agenda
This year’s conference promises to be a dynamic blend of inspiration, innovation, and invaluable networking. Here’s what you can look forward to:
🌟 Engage with Visionaries – Meet and learn from leading professionals who share your commitment to giving back. Our lineup of keynote speakers and panelists will offer fresh perspectives and actionable insights. Friday keynote - Don Eckles, Founder of Scooter's Coffee!
🤝 Expand Your Network – Connect with like-minded Rotarians and community leaders who are passionate about creating positive change. Discover new partnerships and collaborative opportunities that align with your goals.
💡 Roundtable Sessions – Participate in interactive roundtables designed to share your ideas and strategies around service projects, leadership, and community engagement.
🎉 Celebration, Fun, & Recognition – Celebrate the achievements of our district and honor those who have made remarkable contributions to our mission.
This is not just another event—it's a chance to renew your passion for Rotary’s mission and forge lasting connections that will drive our shared vision forward. Your presence and participation will make a significant difference, and we can't wait to share this transformative experience with you.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and they are important to help keep costs low will bringing the best content available - click here.
Secure your spot today and be part of an unforgettable experience that will inspire and empower you. Register now - click here and join us in making this conference a milestone in our journey of giving back.
Fellow Rotarians, we are only a few weeks away from coming together to celebrate District 5650 at our Fusion 5650 District Conference. The registration page is still open, so please sign up to join us for a conference you don't want to miss.
We are honored to be joined by our President's Representatives, Past District Governor Lyle Staab and his wife Ann Marie. We also just found out that our Regional Public Image Coordinators Patrick Harrison and Amber Scarborough will join us to share the great ideas they have to help promote The Magic of Rotary, our clubs and Rotarians as People of Action.
We will have Don Eckles as our keynote speaker at the District Luncheon on Friday to share his journey as the co-founder of Scooters. After lunch, we will have some great interactive discussions on membership and public image, followed by a social gathering featuring entertainment by The Paul Harris Fellows Rotary band.
Saturday will feature some inspiring presentations, including Past District Governor Barbara Bartle presenting on her recent NID trip to India, Curt Bowen from Semilla Nueva talking about their work to develop better corn seeds to fight malnutrition, poverty and climate vulnerability in developing countries. We will culminate the event at our annual District 5650 Awards Banquet to recognize the achievements this past year of our clubs and Rotarians.
So please plan to join us by registering: (click here).
The recent multi-club Rotary After Hours at Beacon Hills, hosted by Jennifer Jira-Brungardt of Cruise Planners, was an unforgettable evening! Rotarians from Downtown and Omaha West came together for a night of great conversation and exciting travel opportunities. The highlight? A sneak peek into the once-in-a-lifetime Rocky Mountain adventure following the 2025 Rotary Convention in Calgary, Canada! Imagine experiencing world-class luxury—staying in a stunning hotel that typically costs $1,500 a night—at a fraction of the price, exclusively for Rotarians on the Rocky Mountaineer trip. You will be treated to a GoldLeaf Service on a train with world-renowned chefs in a full-service kitchen on board the luxury train. Don't miss out on this incredible deal! Secure your spot by contacting Jennifer at jennifer.jirak@cruiseplanners.com. Below are some photos from the event.
Don't forget to register for the Rotary International Convention, click here.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
How do I join a fellowship?
Membership in a fellowship is open to any interested individual. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the link below. https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/more-fellowships
Thanks to the foresight of the Rotary Club of Bucyrus, Ohio, students were outfitted with 6,600 pairs of glasses for the 8 April total solar eclipse. In late 2022, with the eclipse still nearly two years away, “we talked about how neat it would be to get solar eclipse glasses for every school in our county for their students for the big event,” says Julie Rexroad, a club member, Interact club adviser, and science teacher at Wynford Local Schools. Once the club approved the $4,300 purchase, members designed, ordered, stored, and eventually delivered the glasses, purchased online from a company recommended by a local astronomy club. “Our location in Ohio is in the totality zone, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime event for most,” Rexroad says. For those missing out, northern Ohio can always look forward to 2099.
Canada
Atop self-crafted engineering marvels of corrugated paper and tape, about 80 cardboard toboggan enthusiasts sledded during a timed contest of the Rotaract Club of North Simcoe, Ontario, in February. The challenge is held in conjunction with Penetanguishene’s Winterama, a 76-year-old staple in the town, and is open to competitors at no cost, attracting as many as 160 each year. “We’ve seen so many amazing sleds, and each year they get even better,” Club President Elana Durtnall says. The club awards prizes for categories such as most creative, most team spirit, and fastest sled, with the speediest clocked at about 28 kilometers per hour (17 mph) by the radar of auxiliary officers of the Ontario Provincial Police. Club members handle tasks such as registration, social media promotion, sponsorship acquisition, and assistance with building a Rotaract cardboard toboggan used to promote the event in the parade the previous day.
Belize
The Rotaract Club of Belize City is renovating a rural school and a Rotary club-sponsored park as part of its youth-focused agenda. In April, club members met at the Hattieville Government Preschool to paint restrooms and complete other beautification work. A later phase will include new toilets. “We’ve been able to replace chalkboards in 10 classrooms with whiteboards and to donate a printer and other school and hygiene materials,” says Kristoff Nicholson, immediate past president. The club partnered with a telecom provider and raffled off smartphones to help pay for the project. It also received a District 4250 grant of $1,000. In March, club members replaced basketball and goal nets and painted benches and a playset at Love Park in Balama, another element of the project, Nicholson says.
Colombia
In January, the Rotary Club of Cúcuta-Ciudad de Arboles purchased about $600 of school supplies and delivered 100 sets of notebooks, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, and more to students in the city. It’s about 350 miles northeast of Bogotá. Club members also visited with students in the neighborhood of Las Delicias, says Dora Patricia Lobo, a past president of the club. “The hustle and bustle and joy of these students when they receive their school package warms our souls and encourages us to continue,” Lobo says. More than 1,400 students have benefited since the project began.
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.
Eric Thompson
Bill Harvey
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