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This Week at Rotary - Biggest Rotary Event in Lincoln
This week at Rotary is the 27th Annual Salute to Business. The event is a longstanding cooperative venture of Lincoln Rotary Clubs and brings together Rotarians, civic leaders, and government officials to honor an outstanding local business. This year, Lincoln Rotarians voted to honor Firespring. It will be at the Cornhusker Hotel, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. Only 6 tickets left, click/tap here or email Yolanda.
 
Master of Ceremonies: Rich Claussen
National Anthem: Cooper Creal
Invocation: Tony Goins
Special Remarks: Secretary of State Bob Evnen, Mayor Chris Beutler, & Rotary Gov. Julie O'Hara
Award Presentation: Rotary Presidents Randy Bretz, Paul Horton, & Suzanne Tyrrell
Award Recipient: Jay Wilkinson, Firespring CEO
 
Early in life, Jay learned he couldn't follow directions and eventually succumbed to becoming an entrepreneur. Before graduating from college, he started 8 businesses, most of which failed miserably. He eventually caught on, and in 1986 helped launch Campus Connection magazine in NYC which eventually expanded to 350 college campuses.

After selling the magazine in '92, Jay moved back to Nebraska to open an AlphaGraphics printshop which subsequently broke the record for the 350-store franchise as the fastest to reach $1M in annual sales. Today, the printing company is listed by Printing News magazine as the #1 (largest) rapid-response printshop in America.

In 1996, Jay and his team launched a website design division which eventually landed the Backstreet Boys Band as a client. They knew from that point on, they'd always "Want it That Way"​ and in 2001, spun-off the division as a separate company.

Today, Firespring has more than 200 team members and thousands of clients in all 50 states and all over the world. It became Nebraska's first Certified B Corp in 2014 and was named by Inc. Magazine in 2016 as one of the "50 Best Workplaces."​ Read more about Jay here.
Jim Mastera at Rotary International Council on Legislation
Our very own Past President and Past Dist. Governor Jim Mastera was the lone representative of Dist. 5650 to the recently concluded RI Council on Legislation (COL) in Chicago. Every three years, Rotarians meet at the Council on Legislation to review and vote on proposed changes to the legislation that governs Rotary. They consider enactments, which change Rotary’s governing documents, and position statements by the RI Board. To view the highlights of the 2019 COL, please click here.
 
Jim Mastera at his seat at COL equipped with language translation gadgets
 
Back to Lincoln #14 last week, Jim Mastera shared with members the important enactments such as the elevation of Rotaract status and dues increase
Last Week at Rotary
Last week at Rotary, President Randy Bretz presided the meeting, while Christina Usher conducted club business. President Bretz recognized our own Past President and Past Dist. Governor Jim Mastera for ably representing Rotary Dist. 5650 to the Council on Legislation in Chicago. Dean Settle introduced our newest member Dennis Hoffman. We had a few announcements. Charley Ogden, Leslie Huerta, & Christie Weston served as Cashiers. Greeter was Betsy Tonniges. To sign up as Cashier, click/tap here. To serve as Greeter, click/tap here
 
Cashiers L to R: Charley Ogden at Happily Retired, Leslie Huerta of Francie & Finch Bookshop, & Christie Weston of NIFA
 
Greeter Betsy Tonniges of Primrose of Lincoln greeting Finemaster Extraordinaire Bruce Rippeteau
 
Keith Larsen announcing Rotary's Clean up project at Rotary Strolling Garden by the Rose Garden
The Rotary Foundation YTD Donations
Thank you to the following Rotarians who already contributed to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) of Rotary International. If you have not already given, please consider making your annual donation by sending a check payable to The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693, USA or give your check to Yolanda. You may also conveniently contribute online at Rotary.org/give. If this is your first time to give, Rotary #14 will match your first $100 to the Foundation giving you $200 toward your Paul Harris Fellowship, a cumulative giving of $1,000. Your donation comes back to us in three years in the form of Global and District grants. An example of Global Grant is our Colonoscopy screening in the Dominican Republic and the Anti-Human Trafficking project for District Grant. Questions, please contact TRF Chair Scott Larson.
 
Travelling Rotarian, Phyllis Chambers
Here's Phyllis Chambers at the Superstition Mountain Rotary Club in Gold Canyon, AZ. Yes, it's the name of the club and that's where Phyllis hangs out during the cold months in Nebraska. Pictured here is Phyllis exchanging banner with Superstition's President Matt Ruppert. We will welcome back Phyllis soon now that spring has finally arrived in Nebraska.
Rotary District 5650 Conference, SHAPE THE FUTURE

It's is only $100 through March 31; $140 after that.
 
Before we know it, this snow will be gone and it will be time for District Conference.  The theme this year is “Shape the Future”.
Save the date: July 26 and 27th – Lied Lodge and Conference Center, Nebraska City. 
 
We have many things planned – one of which will be a cruise on the Belle of Brownville boat!
 
Other family opportunities will be offered and available at discounted prices.  Registration is open and can be done by clicking here.
 
Additional information previously published:
 
Attention: This is NOT your Grandpa’s conference!
 
This will be a fresh and exciting weekend with inspirational, informative speakers and family events.
 
Bring your family! Plan to come early or stay late. Nebraska City Rotarians are working hard to put together deals and discounts for the family in their community.
 
Other conference features:
- - Service project for all conference attendees including your guests - Service Above Self
- - Rotary International Representative attending on behalf of the Rotary International President
- - Registration is open (click here) - $100 through March 31; $140 after that
- - Blocks of hotel rooms for the conference have been booked and the links to those are below (see separate article).
 
Many more details are being worked out and will be released as they are finalized.
Happy Birthday April Celebrants!
April 2019
Abbi Swatsworth 06  Pat Birch 11
Bill Waddell 14  Sharon Wherry 14
Patsy Koch Johns 20  Steve Glenn 21
Don Linscott 22  Don McClure 22
Deen Popoola 22  Yolanda Hoffman 23
Barb Tyler 23  Tom Allman 25
Barb Bartle 25  Adam Criswell 25
Ken Broman  26  Mailani Veney 27
Randy Nitz 29  Regina Werum 29
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May 07, 2019
Climate Change
May 14, 2019
Electric Cars
May 21, 2019
The Opioid Crisis
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