• Norfolk Rotary Club - Summer Concert Series annual fundraiser at the “Music in the Park” with Blue House!! The Norfolk Rotary Club cut a check to TeamMates and raised monies for Rotary’s PolioPlus campaign to eradicate polio. The music had everyone singing the blues! Thank you for letting me say a few words to the audience to get them excited before the concert.
• Fremont Rotary Club - Fly-In Breakfast’s annual fundraiser for youth scholarships and activities at the Fremont Municipal Airport. The event featured "The Pancake Man", classic cars, interesting aircraft, a helicopter, face painting, balloons, and flight simulator for the kids.
• Rotary Club of Omaha (Downtown) - Mac, Mules & Music at Lucky Bucket Brewing Company, La Vista fundraiser for their annual Rotary Honor Roll and Scholarships. The food, drinks and music were fantastic along with many generous donations!!
• Lincoln South Rotary Club - UNL Stadium Tour and Haymarket Social at Salt Mine City Brewing. What a terrific way to spend your Friday afternoon with your Rotary friends from Beatrice Rotary, Columbus Noon Rotary, Lincoln #14 Rotary, Lincoln East Rotary, Omaha Morning Rotary, Omaha Suburban Rotary and Seward Rotary.

This was my second year participating in this event. I was so moved reading the names of each person on the flags as we worked together, all ages, and Scouts, working in harmony to place the flags in perfect rows in remembrance:  North Tower – 1,508 flags, South Tower – 642 flags, Outside of the Towers – 29 flags, Rescue Personnel – 414 flags, American Airlines Flight 11 – 87 flags, Flight 77 – 56 flags, US Flight 175 – 56 flags, UA Flight 93 – 33 flags, Pentagon – 126 flags.

Never doubt that our communities and the world needs Rotary. We are a light where there is darkness and transform lives. Thank you, Rotarian, Dan Esch, Project

Chair for organizing this event for so many years!!

 

Also, September is Basic Education and Literacy Month. “Did you know that more than 775 million people over the age of fifteen are illiterate. That is 17% of the world’s adult population. Rotary’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.”

 

Finally, I wanted to encourage you to register for the Fall Rotary District Conference on October 17-18^th, 2025, located at the Scott Conference Center in Aksarben Village, Omaha. I hope to see you all there! You will not be disappointed. We have a fantastic District Conference planned for you with multiple options to choose from at a reasonable price. Great speakers, breakouts, peace poles, meals, and the House of Friendship. Remember you could be a part of Rotary’s Got Talent to help raise money for your Rotary Club and PolioPlus. In addition, we will be highlighting a new Rotary Fellowship called “Rotary Means Business”.  Please see link:

 

Enjoy this month of September. 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 I look forward to speaking/meeting with you at your Rotary Club meetings.