Events

The Lincoln Rotary Club 14 Foundation was founded in 1997 as part of a long-range strategy to build an endowment to serve as the financial vehicle for all of Lincoln Rotary Club 14’s charitable service on a local level and around the world. During the past 25 years, your Club 14 Foundation has awarded over $2 million in grants, scholarships, and awards. 

Through your generous donations, Lincoln Rotary Club 14 is able to fund important club projects like the Dictionary Project, Rotary Youth Exchange, Little Free Pantries, Read Aloud at Everett, and many others. In addition, each year, we award our annual “Service Above Self” scholarship of $2,500 per year for four years to outstanding students in our community.

We are honored by Rotarians’ generosity, as well as the contributions of many friends of Rotary to build our Club’s Foundation for more than 25 years. Support is shown through various pledge campaigns such as our current 5|25 campaign to reach $5 million in assets by 2025, through our Rise.Shine.Give. fundraiser every February, and miscellaneous other annual giving throughout the year. 

This week the Rotary #14 Foundation President, Mike Wortman, will update the club on the work of our foundation and how you can support the work of our club to provide "service above self" throughout our community and the world.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Dr. Larkin Powell is Director for the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The School has 85 faculty with expertise in climate, water/soils, and biodiversity in working landscapes. As professor of conservation biology and animal ecology in the School, Larkin taught undergraduate and graduate courses on wildlife management and research, and his research program focused on landscape dynamics, animal
demography and movements, and decisions made by private landowners in the Great Plains and throughout the world. 

Dr. Powell holds a PhD in Ecology from the University of Georgia. On sabbatical as a Fulbright Scholar in 2009, he moved with his family to Namibia, where he taught for a year at the Polytechnic University of Namibia. He and his wife, Kelly, now lead study trips for UNL students to Namibia to explore models of conservation.

• Click here for stories on how Rotarians are providing clean water and sanitation to those in need. https://rotaryserviceblog.org/tag/world-water-day/
• Click here to learn about and join the WASH Rotary Action Group, focused on clean water and sanitation projects. https://wash-rag.org/
• Click here to donate. Be sure to sign into your MyRotary.org account before completing your donation. Choose "Areas of Focus", "Water, Sanitation & Hygiene" to direct you donation for water projects. https://my.rotary.org/en/donate

Pat Birch and Pat Leach invite Rotarians to join them for a prairie walk to support Rotary’s Global Polio Eradication Initiative and to celebrate the start of spring when the prairie starts to awaken (but hasn’t yet). Join us at the earth-shelter home of Pat Leach and Bill Oberg for short-and-easy walks through the prairie at their place just northwest of Lincoln. To sweeten the deal, Pat and Pat will provide home-baked cookies and coffee. Come to walk in nature or just enjoy the view and the cookies. Further details will be sent following registration.

Please join your fellow Rotarians for this polio fundraiser!

Location: Pat Leach and Bill Oberg’s home & prairie, just northwest of Air Park (map and directions will be sent to registrants)

Cost: $50/person. Please bring a check payable to "Polio Plus" to the event.

Gina Ligon is the founder and director of NCITE - the largest counterterrorism research consortium in the U.S. She is an internationally known industrial and organizational psychologist with proven terrorism expertise in both the academic and policy spheres. 

Ligon has served on Office of the Director of National Intelligence panels for the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She regularly briefs the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Media Exploitation Center, and other federal agencies on terrorism.

She serves on the advisory board of CREST, the U.K.-based Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats. Ligon has published more than 80 peer-reviewed publications related to violent extremist organizations, leadership, and collaboration, and has had federal funding for her research since 2008.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Matthew Hansen in the editor of the Flatwater Free Press. Hansen spent 16 years at Nebraska newspapers, as a reporter at the Lincoln Journal Star and then a reporter and metro columnist at the Omaha World-Herald. The native of Red Cloud and one-time intern at the Red Cloud Chief and the Hastings Tribune now lives in Omaha and is married to Sarah Baker-Hansen, a longtime Nebraska food writer and restaurant critic. 

Dr. Helen Fagan is a leadership scholar and practitioner with specializations in Emotional Intelligence, Intercultural Mindset, Psychological Capital, and Neuroscience of Transformation. She is the founder of Helen Fagan & Associates, which provides consulting and leadership coaching to organizations, communities, and executives. A 2020 Inspire Leadership Excellence in Education award recipient and a 2021 University of Nebraska-Lincoln Fulfilling the Dream award recipient, Dr. Fagan thrives on developing the potential in leaders to create positive impact. She served as a
faculty at University of Nebraska-Lincoln from 2014-2024.

In addition to a PhD in Human Sciences with a specialization in leadership from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dr. Fagan holds multiple certifications and is a trained executive coach. She is a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory, which she has used with developing thousands of individuals globally. From 2014 to 2019, Dr. Fagan was invited as a faculty member of the Qatar Institute for Intercultural Communication, providing workshops for
faculty, staff, and graduate students working at six US universities in Education City in Qatar. Dr. Fagan’s expertise in developing leaders, organizations, and communities has enabled her to speak in multiple nations and, at last count, four continents. Her book, Becoming Inclusive: A Worthy Pursuit in Leadership (2021), has gained popularity and provides a road map for leaders endeavoring to create environments where every team member can thrive. In 2023, she and her
team launched the twelve month Guided Leadership Development Journey. The program is grounded in leadership theory, emotional intelligence, intercultural competence, and neuroscience of transformation.

Before academia, Dr. Fagan created and led the diversity and cultural competence initiatives at Bryan Health in Lincoln, NE. Her approach was considered so innovative that Bryan Health gained national recognition and were featured in a Joint Commission (hospital accreditation body) publication. During that time, she played a key role recruiting and resettling nurses from the Philippines to address the nursing shortage in Nebraska. Dr. Fagan also worked diligently to address
the employment and healthcare needs of refugees and immigrants. She held a strong voice for eliminating the use of children as medical interpreters in healthcare settings. As an international student from Iran who arrived in the United States as an unaccompanied minor at age fifteen, Dr. Fagan has experienced a tremendous number of challenges during her life. She has used each of those challenges to inspire others, especially women, and, as a result, has received numerous awards for her contributions to the lives of others, including a key to the city of Lincoln.

In 2018, Dr. Fagan served as a Consulting Producer on a short film, The Healing of Harman. The film was directed by the Academy Award-nominated Director Seth Pinkster. This film has been used to create discussions with leaders about how communities can foster a spirit of welcoming people and embracing their healing. The film won Morehouse College’s Best Human Rights Short Film in 2020.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Fraud and financial scams continue to threaten Nebraskans, often causing not just monetary loss but also emotional and even physical harm—especially among older residents. Unfortunately, studies show that the true extent of fraud is far greater than what is reported, making awareness and prevention more critical than ever.

The 2025 SAFE Update empowers Nebraskans with the latest tools and strategies to recognize, prevent, and respond to scams. This session will highlight common fraud tactics, key warning signs, and practical steps to safeguard yourself and those around you.

The best defense? Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true—it probably is.

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As Outreach Coordinator for the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, Ryan is the state’s front line of defense in consumer education, empowering Nebraskans to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of fraud, elder financial abuse, predatory business practices, identity theft, and Internet safety. His work isn’t just about awareness—it’s about arming individuals with the knowledge to protect themselves in an increasingly complex world. Each year, through dynamic presentations, community partnerships, and major events like the Nebraska State Fair, Ryan reaches over 20,000 citizens, ensuring that consumer protection isn’t just a policy, but a shared mission.

With years of service spanning three attorney general administrations, Ryan brings both institutional knowledge and a fresh, engaging approach to public outreach. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and continues to apply those skills—both in the office and on the golf course, where he is diligently working to turn a high-handicapper’s game into a cautionary tale for spectators everywhere.

As Outreach Coordinator within the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, Ryan has statewide responsibility for developing and implementing community-based initiatives for educating Nebraskans in the areas of consumer fraud, elder financial abuse, predatory and illegal business practices, identity theft, and Internet safety. Educational outreach services are extended to an average of 20,000 Nebraskans annually through presentations to groups of all sizes across the state and at numerous expositions and fairs including the Nebraska State Fair. Ryan’s years of service within the Attorney General’s Offices spans the past three administrations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In his spare time, he works hard at elevating a high-handicapper’s bad golf game into an art form.

Bill Kelly is Senior Producer with Nebraska Public Media, the state network of public radio and television stations affiliated with NPR and PBS. His most recent project is a new podcast called “Once Again,” which explores events in the state’s history that have relevance in today’s news. Devoted history hunters and those casually curious about history will find that each episode of “Once Again” revisits a fascinating chapter from recent Nebraska and Great Plains history and draws stunning parallels from the past to the present. The first two episodes drop May 1 and include "Meyer v. Nebraska" and "The Rise and Fall of the Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack." In the former, Nebraska law makes teaching German to children illegal in the 1920s and today the case sets legal precedent for the U.S. Supreme Court. In the latter episode, after 70 years, Ak-Sar-Ben shuts down an iconic Omaha horse track. Can casinos revive the horse racing industry and traditions?

For many years Bill has produced, researched, and written documentaries for television and long-form news stories for radio. Topics covered have included a history of Nebraska’s death penalty, scandals involving crime scene investigators, small town law enforcement, and the impact of the legalization of marijuana on the state. He was recently inducted into the Nebraska Broadcasters Association’s Hall of Fame.

Hi-Vis & trash bags provided.

Please join members of the Rotary 14 Global Engagement Committee at this opportunity for some African cultural immersion. 

African Cultural Connection - Special Event

9:00 - 11:30 Interactive workshops on African dancing and drumming and Artists Panel Discussion

4:00 pm African Marketplace opens

6:00 pm African Performance -- expect rhythm, color, energy and pure cultural joy! 

Dr. Michael Jobst is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Head of Medical Affairs at Virtual Incision. Dr Jobst led the clinical trial that secured FDA approval for the MIRA surgical robot, and he performed groundbreaking remote procedures using the new device—including surgery between Earth and theInternational Space Station.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Learn all about Lincoln’s newest park! Joining us will be officials from Lincoln Parks Foundation and Lincoln Parks and Recreation, who will take us on a walk through the exciting plans for the 8.5-acre South Haymarket Park, soon to be built at 7th and N Streets. Presenters include Randy Gordon and Susan Larson Rodenburg of Lincoln Parks Foundation, and Maggie Stuckey-Ross and Karen Nalow of Lincoln Parks and Recreation.

According to Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, “Our ambitious South Haymarket Park will transform Lincoln’s downtown area and become a beloved destination for our residents and for visitors from miles around. An investment in this park is an investment in the continued growth of residential living downtown, economic development and tourism, and a livable community for all Lincoln residents.”

In 1964, Gordon “Mac” Hull purchased the patented recipe and built the first factory in Columbus, Nebraska. Today, under Tasty Toppings, Inc., and the leadership of Hull’s daughter Marilea, the brand remains family-owned and proudly produced in Duncan, Nebraska. 

Dorothy Lynch is going through a rebrand with the help of Eleanor Creative their team will give you a sneak peek about the future of Nebraska's beloved salad dressing! 

- Wrap up of the year

- Brainstorming for the year ahead

Rotary 14 | Lunch by the Cascade Fountain
Tuesday, June 24, 12-1pm
1250 S 27th St., Lincoln 68502
 
Bring your own lunch!
 

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Happy 4th of July holiday! 

Originally from Michigan, Ryan Wieber arrived as Library Director in Lincoln 2 ½ years ago. While in Michigan he served as library director for over 20 years at three different systems. He has degrees from Western Michigan University and Wayne State University, and he loves to share his love for public libraries and the positive impact it has on communities. He’s inspired in leading efforts to improve libraries and creating a shared vision for modern library services, while also being responsive to resident’s expectations. Ryan has been married to Molly for 34 years and they have 3 adult kids: Ben, Sophie, and Matthew who are scattered about in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Florida. He’s a Spartan and Bronco at heart but he’s adapted quickly and loves the Huskers, too.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Robert grew up on a farm/ranch in South Central Nebraska. He became a Rotarian in 1994 after serving as Rotary District’s 5650’s Ambassadorial Scholar to the University of Edinburgh Law School, Edinburgh, Scotland in 1988-89. He was President of his Omaha Morning Rotary Club in 2020-21.

Robert earned his undergraduate degree in Business/Finance from Doane University and MBA from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

Robert’s professional background includes his work in economic/community development, international business consulting, and insurance and financial services.

He enjoys spending time working and relaxing at the family farm/nature reserve located near Johnson Lake in the Platte River Valley. His son, Alex and wife Allie live in Mesa, AZ. He and his partner, Pam, live in Elkhorn, NE. His hobbies include music, photography, and history.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR FOCUS Club Strategic Planning; Building Stronger Rotary Clubs; Membership Retention & Growth; Rotary Club Innovation, Community & International Projects; Rotary International Foundation Giving; Peace & Conflict Resolution

ROTARY AWARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

• Ambassadorial Scholar, District 1020, Univ. Edinburgh Law School, Scotland 1988-89
• Group Study Exchange Team Leader, District 4370, Venezuela, 2006
• Outstanding District Chair 2010 – Rotary Group Study Exchange Team
• Group Study Exchange Team District Chair 2010 – 2013
• Vocational Training Team Chair 2013 – Present
• Presidential Citation 2016-17
• Paul Harris Fellow, 2011, 2012, 2021
• Benefactor/Bequest Society Level 1 2020-21

Since there is limited space and a larger expected attendance, we are asking that everyone pre-register for this meeting. 

Click here to pre-register.