Daniela Rojas Florez is the Director of Community Leadership Programs at the Greater Omaha Chamber. Originally from Bogota, Colombia, she brings a systems-informed and inclusive approach to leadership development. Daniela holds a master's degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln and has held multiple leadership roles in higher education. She is a graduate of Leadership Omaha (Class 44) and is passionate about building cross-sector collaborations that foster belonging and community progress.
Jennifer Jirak-Brungardt is going to meet with new members to get valuable feedback on their Rotary experience. There are two meetings: Tuesday, August 4th at 5:00 p.m. at the Salty Dog 3401 S 72nd St., and Wednesday August 5th at 10:00 a.m. at Scooters 5405 S 72nd St. Please RSVP to her so adequate table space can be reserved.
There are After-Hour events scheduled for August and September.
First John Hoich is inviting Rotarians to his lake house again on August 13. The gathering will be from 4:30 p.m. -8:20 p.m. at 5410 N. 279th St. , Valley, NE 68604.
Suzi Brehmer is hosting an After-Hours on Sept. 18 at her office in Council Bluffs at 532 1st Ave. Suite 101 from 3:00-7:00 p.m. See the flier below.
Fourteen Suburban Rotary volunteers supported the event on July 26, where nearly 200 girls completed the IronHawk Juniors triathlon. Huge thanks to the great turnout -- our best ever!
While the young ladies battled through the heat, our members enthusiastically cheered every last one toward the finish line, providing encouragement and motivation to keep them going.
New this year, the IronHawk Juniors organizers set-up a refreshment station at the turnaround circle, where Rotarians stood, and our members handed out countless cups of Gatorade and water, along with snacks, to keep the young ladies hydrated and energized.
Like past years, Dan Hosford -- our beloved chapter president this year -- encouraged the girls to run by running along side them for a while, returning to "his spot" and running with another, then another, and another.
Lastly, our very own Todd Samland had a major role in running the swimming portion of the event, making sure everybody was safely in and out of the water, managing spectators (in a very small pool area), and organizing his own separate group of volunteers from the Omaha Masters Swimming swim club to help orchestrate the swim program!
The next book selection is "Tweak (Growing Up On Methamphetamines) written by Nic Sheff, the son of the author who wrote "Beautiful Boy," which we read last month. This book makes a great segue from the dad's perspective in dealing with his son's meth addiction to now this book written by the son who reveals his experience of growing up on meth. This book is a USA Today and New York Times Bestseller, and will make for great conversation at the August Book Club.
The next Rotary Book Club Meeting is Tuesday, August 11, at 5:30 p.m. at Bonefish Grill in Regency.
Yearlings were asked what their favorite women's sports is and most responded volleyball.
Aldi Moussa was introduced to the club as a new member by his sponsor Angela Chaney. Charles Rosenthal was introduced as a new member by Chris Barone.
Several club members received Charlene Tierney certificates.
Anthony Flott received his blue badge.
Speaker Joanne Li talked about how UNO is Omaha's college and how groups like Rotary are so important to the community. She reminded the audience that UNO was rated in the Wall Street Journal as #1 in Best Value, #1 in social mobility and #1 in student experiences. She spotlighted the university's other achievements including its academic research facility, its center of excellence, work force development, health science collaboration (having the #1 Biometrics Lab) and how graduates are staying in Nebraska and supporting economic development.
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
P.S. Nicki Klein is currently out of the office and has been since July 28. If you need help, please reach out to me instead! Nicki will not be back until the end of the month.
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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