Events

No meeting due to the July 4th holiday weekend. 

First meeting of the 2024-2025 Rotary year. 

The Honorable Bob Evnen has served as Nebraska’s Secretary of State since January 2019. The Secretary of State’s office covers several functions important to the State of Nebraska. The Secretary oversees the state’s Business Services Division, which handles business and nonprofit filings, security interest filings, notary public commissions, apostilles and documents going to other countries.

Secretary Evnen is Nebraska’s Chief Election Officer. He oversees election matters in the state.Secretary Evnen prioritizes election security and accuracy. In 2019, the Secretary of State’s office was awarded the Innovators Award by the National Association of State Election Directors for the office’s work on an intrusion detection device for voter registration lists. Secretary Evnen is overseeing the implementation of the state’s new voter ID law, which Nebraska voters overwhelmingly passed in 2022 and the Unicameral has implemented through legislation.

Secretary Evnen serves as Nebraska’s Chief Protocol Officer for international relations and trade. He promotes foreign direct investment in Nebraska, and as a diplomat for the State, he promotes Nebraska’s products, industries, commercial businesses and services in the international sphere. Secretary Evnen has led trade missions involving Nebraska businesses and university educators, to Kenya, Bulgaria, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. Additionally, the Secretary serves on the Pardons Board, Real Estate Commission, State Records Board, Board of State Canvassers and the Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Secretary Evnen is the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Nebraska.

Prior to serving as Secretary of State, Mr. Evnen was a distinguished attorney who practiced labor and employment law as a partner with Wood Aitken LLP, a Nebraska-based law firm. Before being elected as Secretary of State, Mr. Evnen served for eight years on the Nebraska State Board of Education.

Mr. Evnen is a graduate of Michigan State University (BA) and the University of Southern California (JD).

Welcome to Africa! Dr. Mary Willis will present the impact of a Rotary #14 project, the largest in 2024, providing dental supplies and treatment for children in Zambia! Eight of her students from Missouri State University and 20 from the Copperbelt University School of Medicine, Dental Clinic, provided assessment and dental supplies to 1,123 kids with 143 receiving dental treatments in June & July. 

Dr. Willis is the Department Head for Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology at Missouri State University. For 22 years, she was a Professor, Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.   Her passion has always been student research trips to Africa which have had a major impact on their careers. She has organized research for 65 students in Zambia and Ethiopia over the past ten years. Her philosophy is always the importance of “giving back” to the communities where she works; this Rotary #14 support has provided 6th and 7th graders with dental supplies and treatment in Zambia, improving the health of those who have never been to a dentist. Dr. Willis earned an MA and PhD at Washington University, St. Louis and completed the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship at USAID’s Population, Health, and Nutrition. She has authored numerous articles and book chapters, and is currently working on a textbook, Consuming Culture: A Holistic Approach to the Study of Food and Nutrition. Her focus is on food security and health-related sequelae in domestic and international settings, and always in serving for an impact.

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Tom Kerfoot joined Children's Nebraska in January of 2016 as a Director of Development for Philanthropy. Tom attended Bellevue University for Marketing Management and has thirteen years of experience in healthcare fundraising, working previously for the CHI Health Foundation. Tom has a long record of successfully working with private donors, foundations and corporate sponsors to secure funding for projects and programs. He has extensive experience in event planning and management, and collaborated with a team to develop the planned giving program at CHI Health Foundation.

Tom completed the Certificate in Fundraising Management through the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is currently the Vice President – Marketing & Sponsorships for the Charitable Gift Planners of Nebraska and is a member of the Omaha Estate Planning Council. Tom earned the designation of Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy in 2016 through a year-long program with The American College of Financial Services and the Omaha Community Foundation.

Tom has received numerous awards and recognition for his volunteer work in the community. He was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year in 2007, 2013 and 2014 for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce. He received the highest honor of Chamber Excellence Award in 2016 for the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce. He was honored as the Volunteer of the Year in 2009 for the La Vista Chamber of Commerce. He was recognized as the Friend of La Vista in 2011 for his work with the foundation and volunteer work in the community. 

Michael (Mike) Boehm leads efforts across the University of Nebraska system for all agricultural, natural resources, rural economic prosperity and related affairs. He holds the dual role of Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska. Prior to joining UNL in 2017, Mike was a professor of plant pathology and vice provost for academic and strategic planning at Ohio State. 

One of Vice Chancellor Boehm's responsibilities is to oversee the development of the new agricultural research center at Nebraska Innovation Campus. That will be the primary topic of his presentation. 

What does it take to lead a Live Television Production? Join Ryan Dobesh as he talks about all the people, technology and planning that goes into National Sports Production.

Ryan has worked in Television Production for more than 20 years. He started his career at Nebraska Public Media, where in 2022 he earned a Heartland Emmy Award for directing "Ernie Chambers - Through the Years".

He has worked for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Big Ten Network, and ESPN where he is currently an Operations Producer. 

He will talk about what goes into creating National TV Productions as well as some behind the scenes stories of the TV world.

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• Sports Radio Station Owner KNTK-FM Lincoln, Nebraska. 93.7 The Ticket FM.
• Host of "Old School with Jay Foreman” and “DP One on One" at 93.7 The Ticket FM Lincoln, Nebraska.
• Speakerat  TEDxLander, May 2019. The Love Project
• Speaker at TEDxDeerPark, March 2020. An American Face 13X
• Amazon Best Selling Author, “The Impact of Influence," (Volumes 1-8), "Rebuilt Through Recovery," "Black Man Love," "Concrete Connections," "It’s Not About Me," and "The Winning Mindset."

Derrick “DP” Pearson is a sportscaster, radio and television host, writer, sports executive, and high school coach. That career has taken him nationwide, including Washington, DC, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, and now Lincoln where he calls home. In addition to his media and coaching ventures,he also helped establish Fat Guy Charities in Charlotte, an NFL Charity, and developed LovePrints, a national mentor program that promotes Loving and Learning through Sports. DP joins Jay Foreman every weekday from 4pm to 6pm.

Police Chief Michon Morrow has been a member of the Lincoln Police Department since 1995. She started her career in the Victim Assistance Unit as a Domestic Violence Advocate before becoming a commissioned officer in December 1997. During her tenure, she has served as Field Training Officer, Domestic Violence Investigator, Duty Commander, and Captain of the Southwest Team, one of the Department’s diverse community-based policing teams. As an Assistant Chief, she led the Management Services Unit, to include CALEA, Liquor and Keno, Legislation, and Special Projects. She also led the Emergency Communication Center, Education and Personnel, Internal Affairs, Records, Property and Evidence and Finance. She is passionate about leadership, officer wellness and service to the community. She chaired the Lincoln Police Department Wellness Committee, which she worked to establish in 2012, until 2022. She now oversees the Wellness Committee, Peer Support Officers and Chaplains. She serves on several boards for non-profit organizations and volunteers in her community on a regular basis. She is also the coordinator and a facilitator for the IACP Leadership in Police Organizations Program for 16 agencies in Eastern Nebraska as well as a National Instructor for the First Line Leadership Program. She is also an Instructor, Content Creator and Podcast moderator for VALOR. She holds a Master's Degree in Forensic Science, Behavioral Studies, from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She is married with two boys who keep her very busy.

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A renowned academic leader, researcher, professor and pediatrician, H. Dele Davies, MD, is dedicated to transforming health science education and driving positive change within the community and beyond.

Dr. Davies serves as the interim chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, following the selection of Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, as president of the University of Nebraska System.
 
In this role, Dr. Davies is responsible for all aspects of campus leadership, program quality and operations, including six colleges, a graduate studies program, two degree-granting institutes, the professional staff and faculty of more than 6,000, and 4,500 health professions students.
 
Throughout his career, Dr. Davies has championed initiatives that inspire personal and professional growth, ensuring that students, faculty and staff are equipped with the tools and opportunities to excel. He is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and dynamic environment at UNMC where every individual is empowered to reach their full potential.
 
Dr. Davies joined UNMC in 2012, initially appointed as vice chancellor. He was promoted in 2017 to senior vice chancellor, with expanded responsibilities and direct oversight of all UNMC colleges and a health sciences library. He has served as dean of graduate studies since joining UNMC.
 
Prior to joining UNMC, Dr. Davies served as professor and chair of the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Pediatrics and Human Development Department. Before that, he was director of the Child Health Research Unit at Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Canada, and the Child Health Research Institute at the University of Calgary.
 
As senior vice chancellor, Dr. Davies has overseen numerous initiatives and helped grow UNMC's rural health programs, pathway programs, community outreach and faculty development. Under his leadership, UNMC’s overall student enrollment has grown every year with multiple new professional degree programs added. As dean of graduate studies, Dr. Davies implemented key programs focused on student development and wellness, and developed faculty as mentors and leaders.
 
Dr. Davies has received numerous prestigious awards during his career for his research, teaching, mentorship and community service. Since 2006, he has been recognized annually as a member of the Best Doctors of America, is a fellow of both the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha National Honor Medical Society, the Society for Pediatric Research and the American Pediatric Society.  
 
Dr. Davies has more than 250 publications in peer-reviewed journals related to his research on infectious diseases topics, several book chapters and other scholarly publications, and numerous presentations at national and international meetings.

Dr. Davies earned his medical degree from the University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine and a master’s degree in epidemiology from the University of Toronto Dana Lana School of Public Health. Dr. Davies also holds a master’s degree in health care management from the Harvard School of Public Health.
 
He is specialty-trained in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

Dr. Davies has served on more than 180 committees, advisory boards, government or public health councils and organizations, such as:

• Chair, Readiness and Resilience Working Group, National Biodefense Safety Board, advisory to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• Member, Advisory Committee to the National Institutes of Health, Deputy Director for Intramural Research.
• Founding and Past Chair, Association of Academic Health Centers, Chief Academic Officers Executive Leadership Group.
• Board Member, Council of Graduate Schools.

Kwame Dawes is the author of numerous books of poetry and other books of fiction, criticism, and essays. His most recent collection is Sturge Town(Peepal Tree Press, UK 2023). Dawes is a George W. Holmes University Professor of English and Glenna Luschei Editor of Prairie Schooner. He teaches in the Pacific MFA Program and is the Series Editor of the African Poetry Book Series, Director of the African Poetry Book Fund, and Artistic Director of the Calabash International Literary Festival. He is a Chancellor for the Academy of American Poets and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Kwame Dawes is the winner of the prestigious Windham/Campbell Award for Poetry and was a finalist for the 2022 Neustadt International Prize for Literature. In 2022 Dawes was awarded the Order of Distinction Commander class by the Government of Jamaica. He is the Poet Laureate of Jamaica (2024-2027).

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Click here to sign up to volunteer.