People of Rotary | Erin Dobesh
Written by Libby Valerio-Boster, Intern with UNL interviewing Rotary 14 members.
Erin Dobesh is prepared to be a Rotarian for the rest of her life. As a Lincoln transplant who has lived both in Kansas and Colorado, she has found her most welcoming community in Rotary 14. This club has shaped her opinions of Lincoln and made this capital city into her home. She originally came to Lincoln for graduate school and graduated with a Master’s degree in architecture from University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2007. For the past six years, she has worked as an architect at Davis Design. Erin lives in Lincoln with her husband Ryan and their dog.
Erin and Ryan joined Rotary in February of 2016. They were brought into the organization by Randy Bretz. Ryan met Randy when working with TEDxLincoln. Dobesh said that they had joined previous service groups while trying to get more involved in Lincoln. However, after attending a couple Rotary 14 meetings with Bretz, they realized that this was the perfect organization to find volunteer opportunities and like-minded people. Now, six years later, Erin is proud of the organization and their work. She expected to get involved and make friends but not expect to feel this immense amount of pride. She loves the wide range of ages, personalities, and backgrounds that are represented in the club and enjoys the welcoming environment.
Along with the people, Erin has loved her projects with Rotary. She has especially fond memories of the dictionary handout days at Lincoln elementary schools. Rotarians take dictionaries to fourth grade students once a year and the students are always so excited. She describes it as a humbling experience and says it's amazing to help create a pro-learning and pro-reading environment for these children. She has also enjoyed her work starting and planning the Rise. Shine. Give. fundraiser five years ago. Even during the pandemic, this fundraiser has been very successful and raising money for good causes such as a playground at Everett Elementary, the Gathering Place, and an art hub has been a fantastic experience and use of time.
Erin Dobesh speaks very highly of Rotary 14 and says she enjoys talking about the club to everyone she meets. When asked who she admires, she had two answers. First, she saw her husband as an inspiration because he makes things happen. He always says yes to new opportunities and has helped both of them get more involved in the community. Second, she says she admires all of the older Rotarians who have been in the club for 30+ years. She says that these individuals' passion for service is inspirational. Erin hopes to be one of these Rotarians one day. She is dedicated to staying involved and keeping her connections to the Lincoln community. She believes in Rotary’s mission and is herself a shining example of dedication and service.
