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Congratulations, Jeremiah Theork, recipient of the Rotary 14 High School Student Leadership Award at Lincoln High School. Jeremiah joined Rotary 14 on Tuesday, November 28 to accept this honor. 

Every year, Rotary 14 invites a student from each local high school to present information to the club membership regarding the importance of community service at their school. To share the Rotary mission with area high school students and create an interest in the ideals of service. Committee members work with school administrators to identify a student leader to accept the award and work with those students to create a short presentation to be given at a regular club meeting.

These same students are encouraged to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards seminar held by Rotary District 5650 each spring. They are also made aware of the Club’s High School Scholarship criteria and encouraged to apply, if appropriate.

Lyn Leach is President of the Roughriders Motorcycle Riding Group. Formed in 1998, the organization raises ~$45K annually through events and sponsorships. The group picks a dozen families experiencing hardship and visits their home with a heartwarming donation leading up to the holidays, and supports local nonprofits such as Make-A-Wish, Center for People in Need, Down Syndrome Association, and Autism Family Networks. To him, the "Golden Wheel" symbolizes the motorcycles used to deliver donations. They have partnered with Union Bank and Trust on Magic Moments, giving money to families in need around the holidays, as well as Lincoln Fire and Rescue on Operation Warm, a program that provides elementary school students with winter coats hats and gloves. Lyn is the President of his own business, Ace Rent-To-Own, with 24 locations across Nebraska and Iowa, having been in business since 1982.
Recruiting Good Teachers for Lincoln Public Schools
 
LPS is poised to launch the teaching of Arabic by hiring a refugee scholar from Gaza. Dr. Nael Hijjo fled from Hamas rule soon after he graduated from college and went first to Malaysia. There he earned a PhD in linguistics and translation at the University of Malaysia and taught Arabic in a Saudi-sponsored primary and high school. In 2020 Dr. Hijjo came to the U.S. where he gained asylum in 2022. Most recently, he has been serving as a part-time simultaneous interpreter in New York City (see photo next page), working in courts, hospitals and, occasionally, at the United Nations.
 
Erik Witt has reviewed Dr. Hijjo’s qualifications and has invited him to begin teaching Arabic in January, with probationary licensure while he concurrently takes 14 credits of education courses at UNL that will make him fully eligible for Nebraska’s certification. Thanks to funding provided by one of Professor Hamann’s grants, the cost of tuition will be covered. But given Dr. Hijjo’s circumstances, he will still need further assistance to relocate to Lincoln and get settled, before he begins teaching, studying, and earning his way. He would like to move to Lincoln in December 2023.
 
  1. Plane fare New York to Nebraska, (one-way) (roughly $500)
  2. Additional moving expenses (he has just a few boxes to send – roughly $500)
  3. A car (a good second-hand car would be fine – roughly $7,000)
  4. A security deposit to rent an apartment or pay his share of an apartment shared with grad students (usually first and last month rent – roughly $2000) for the first couple of months (Nael would prefer to rent a room in an apartment, perhaps with graduate students, until the beginning of summer, by time he will know Lincoln and be able to find a place of his own.
  5. Initial spending money (for groceries and like expenses) until payments from his salary begin (roughly $2,500)
  6. Donated furniture (e.g., bed with mattress, dresser, chair(s) – in-kind, but roughly $1,000) For more information contact Barbara Bartle, dgbarbara5650@gmail.com or 402-770-3323
At the Rotary District 5650 Conference (Oct. 13-14, 2023), Dr. Klaus Hartmann of Lincoln Rotary 14 was presented with the 2024 Cadwallader Award during Saturday's awards dinner. This award is the highest honor given in the Rotary District. 
 
This annual Cadwallader Award is presented in honor of Charles N. Cadwallader who served as President of Lincoln Rotary Club 14, District Governor, and Director of Rotary International, as well as sponsored eleven Rotary Clubs in the District. The award is presented to a Rotarian in District 5650 who has made a monumental contribution in one or all of the avenues of Rotary service. The award is made possible by an endowed gift from Charles N. and Ruth Cadwallader.
 
Member pictureWe are thrilled to announce that Eric Drumheller has been honored with the Rotarian of the Year Award for his outstanding service to the goals and objectives of Lincoln Rotary 14. This award recognizes a Club 14 Rotarian who exemplifies dedication, commitment, and exceptional contributions to our organization. Eric Drumheller truly embodies these qualities and more. With over a decade of Rotary membership, Eric's commitment to our club has been unwavering. Throughout the past two years, he has consistently demonstrated remarkable attendance and active participation, making a lasting impact on our community. As a Paul Harris Fellow +4, Eric has shown his dedication to the ideals of Rotary and the importance of giving back.
 
Eric's leadership within our club is commendable. He has held various roles, including Club Secretary, board member, President-Elect, and President of our club during the challenging year of 2020-2021. His guidance and vision were instrumental in navigating the complexities of the Covid pandemic, ensuring our club continued to thrive and serve the community. Notably, Eric played a pivotal role in updating our club's strategic plan, setting us on a path of success for years to come.
 
Beyond his official roles, Eric's involvement in numerous committees has been invaluable. From the Meeting Tech Team to the International Student Picnic, from the Rotary Foundation to the Little Free Pantries project, including providing admin support at our weekly meetings, Eric has consistently demonstrated a high level of engagement and dedication. He has also played a crucial role in managing our club's district grants, enhancing our impact on the community.
 
One remarkable aspect of Eric's contributions is his humility and selflessness. He prefers to work behind the scenes, diligently carrying out tasks without seeking the limelight. However, it is time to shine the light on Eric and acknowledge the significant contributions he has made to Rotary 14. His exemplary service and commitment to the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" deserve recognition and admiration.
 
Rotarian of the Year Eric Drumheller receives the award from President John Gessert
Katie King, a fourth-generation Rotarian, has been honored with the prestigious Rookie of the Year Award by Club 14. This award recognizes new members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and involvement in Rotary activities within their first two years of membership. Katie's remarkable contributions to the club include chairing the Greeter Committee, and ensuring warm welcomes for members and guests at weekly meetings. She also played an active role in the Business Networking Committee and actively participated in the Little Free Pantries initiative, supporting community members facing food insecurity. However, her most outstanding achievement was co-chairing the Rise.Shine.Give. event with Michelle Zlomke. Together, they successfully raised an impressive $38,000 for Club 14 Foundation, presenting a generous check to HopeSpoke to support their vital work in Lincoln and the surrounding areas. Katie's commitment to service and her unwavering dedication to the Rotary's values make her a true exemplar of "Service Above Self," and deserving of this esteemed recognition.
 
Pictured L to R are President John Gessert, Katie King, and President-Elect Jess Kinser
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Club Executives & Directors
Club President
Club President-elect
Club President-nominee
Immediate Past Club President
Club Secretary
Club Treasurer
Club Foundation Chair - TRF
Club Membership Co-Chair
Club Membership Co-Chair
Corporate Membership Chair
Club Polio Chair
Club Program Co-Chair
Club Program Co-Chair
Communications Director
Club Service Projects
Sergeant-at-Arms
'23-'25 Director
'23-'25 Director
'23-'25 Director
'23-'25 Director
'22-'24 Director
'22-'24 Director
'22-'24 Director
'22-'24 Director
Club 14 Foundation Liaison
Club Information
Lincoln 14

Rotary 14 is the place to be.

We meet In Person & Online
Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Talon Room
230 N 12th Street, Suite 1
Lincoln, NE 68508
United States of America
Rotary 14 meets in a hybrid format. Join us at the Talon Room or on Zoom: https://bit.ly/3YosV2W | Meeting ID: 849 7976 2224 | Password: 661910
Speakers
Lyn Leach, 2024 Golden Wheel Awardee
Dec 05, 2023 12:00 PM
Roughriders Motorcycle Riding Group
Roughriders Motorcycle Riding Group
Lincoln Industries
Dec 12, 2023 12:00 PM
Holiday Party
Dec 19, 2023
(In-Club Celebrations Committee)
NO ROTARY MEETING
Dec 26, 2023
NO ROTARY MEETING
Jan 02, 2024
Happy New Year
Governor Jim Pillen
Jan 09, 2024 12:00 PM
UNL's Chancellor Rodney Bennett
Jan 23, 2024 12:00 PM
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Jason Hellbusch, Kawasaki
Jan 30, 2024 12:00 PM
Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corporation
Diane Mendenhall, Omaha Supernovas
Feb 06, 2024 12:00 PM
Nebraska Professional Volleyball
Rise.Shine.Give. 2024
Feb 10, 2024 9:30 AM
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