Events

Building an Orphanage in Ukraine – This is a story of an unbelievable number of seemingly incidental connections, all of which when put together have helped provide a home for orphans in central Ukraine. It’s a story of a young man from Moldova, a rather
small land-locked country in Eastern Europe who ended up in Nebraska, a somewhat larger land-locked state. It’s also a story of that young man meeting his wife, an immigrant from Ukraine when they were students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The story has an interesting connection to a dedicated group of people who answered the call to build an orphanage for children who have lost parents in the war with Russia. And, the story pulled in a reporter for Nebraska television stations, a Nebraska State
Senator, a Journalism Professor, a Lincoln businessman, friends from a Lincoln church who ended up in Poland greeting Ukrainians fleeing the war . . . Oh, and there’s a Rotary connection that you’ll have to wait to hear during the presentation. Don’t miss this fascinating story of an orphanage in Ukraine that will open in the near future as told by (Ewon) Ivan Gusanu (the young man from Moldova) and John Grinvalds, a reporter for KETV.

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Rose Cat Coffee Co and Reading Society is the culmination of years of dreaming, and an unrelenting hope that together we can create a connected community that will change the way that individuals with IDD are treated, valued, accepted, seen, and integrated into their own communities.

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.

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• Safety vests and garbage bags will be provided.
• Recommend volunteers wear gloves and sturdy closed-toed shoes.
• Each person walks one mile.

Agenda:

1. Uzbeki visitors
2. Grant cycle for the year
3. Intl Speakers

A proud multi-generation Lincolnite, Lily brings extensive experience in the nonprofit, government, and education sectors to her role at Civic Nebraska. As Director of Civic Health, she leads one of the organization's three core program areas, overseeing key initiatives such as the rural civic health initiative, civil discourse efforts, Capitol Experience Days, and Collective Impact Lincoln. Lily is dedicated to sustaining and growing these programs to strengthen civic health across Nebraska.

Club 14 will be hosting a delegation from the Uzbekistan Parliament Oct. 10-17th. This is a professional exchange bringing emerging leaders from Eurasia to the United States. It emphasizes immersive cultural engagement and authentic dialogue. Its core mission is to foster mutual understanding and democratic values by exposing delegates to the American legislative system—at federal, state, and local levels—and the principles of participatory democracy and civic engagement.

The delegation will act as a panel of speakers at our Oct. 14th regular meeting. 

Club 14's Global Engagement Committee will help find homestay hosts, transportation, and a warm receiption for our visitors. 

Join our delegation from Uzbekistan in a panel discussion with Nebraska State Senators. 

The delegation will take part in a panel discussion with Senators Tom Brandt, George Dungan and Jana Hughes, bringing perspectives from agriculture, environmental law, education, and business. Senator Brandt, a farmer and Chair of the Natural Resources Committee, is leading an interim study on the cost impacts of renewable energy goals for Nebraska’s public power system. Senator Dungan has proposed a constitutional “Green Amendment” to guarantee the right to a clean and healthy environment. Senator Hughes draws on her engineering and education background to inform her legislative work on workforce and economic development. Together, their diverse perspectives will give the delegation a broad view of how Nebraska legislators address key themes of economic development, environmental protection, and community priorities.

Jennifer Williams, a fellow Rotary Club #14 member, will serve as the moderator for the delegation’s panel discussion. She brings extensive public service experience as a Lancaster County Commissioner and most recently as Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Lincoln. She now works as a lobbyist, giving her unique perspective on the intersection of government, community leadership, and policy advocacy—making her an ideal guide for this conversation.

Rotary Club #14 Community Reception for our visitors from Uzbekistan

Immediately following the panel discussion, Rotary Club #14 will host a reception for the delegation. 

It is an excellent opportunity to speak with our Uzbeki visitors and the NE State Senators from the panel. This is taking the place of our normal Wine Down Wednesday event for October. 

There will be appetizers and a cash bar. 

Please come and help make our visitors feel welcome! 

*Hosted by Rotary 14 Fellowship Committee*

Schedule of Stops
11:00am - Nebraska History Museum ($5)
12:00pm - Lunch at Bison Witches Bar & Deli
1:30pm - Great Plains Art Museum (FREE)
2:00pm - Sheldon Museum of Art (FREE)
3:00pm - University of Nebraska State Museum - Morrill Hall ($13)

Additional Information
- Join at any stop, only pay for what you do. 
- Total walking time between all venues is about 20 minutes
- Enjoy fellowship while supporting Lincoln's cultural gems. 
- Guests and family welcome! 
- RSVP or Questions, email Jena Lambert, Event Chair.

Rhonda Mattingly is a seasoned nonprofit leader with nearly 45 years of executive management experience and more than 18 years specializing in nonprofit development and grant writing. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Bridges to Hope, a Lincoln-based nonprofit organization that supports individuals transitioning from incarceration—a position she has held since 2015. She is also the founder of Bud’s Thrift Shoppe and Hope Village, both established to address unmet needs within the community.

A native of Norfolk, Nebraska, Rhonda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Wayne State College. Her early professional background includes service as a Child Protection and Safety worker for the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and as Executive Director of a Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault organization in Norfolk. Rhonda also held the role of Director of Operations for the Bureau of Sociological Research at the
University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she led a federally funded longitudinal study examining how the loss of language and cultural identity impacts substance use and violence on Native American reservations. She later served as Budget/Business Coordinator for the University’s College of Education and Health Sciences before returning to her passion for direct service and nonprofit leadership.

She is actively engaged in local and statewide collaborative efforts, including serving as a member of the Realtors Association of Lincoln Housing Committee, Give Nebraska, the Homeless Coalition, the Reentry Alliance of Nebraska, and the Clinton Neighborhood Organization. She is also a current member and past president of Cause Collective, a nonprofit network supporting human service organizations in Nebraska.

Outside of her professional work, Rhonda enjoys outdoor walks, golfing, and exploring Nebraska with her husband of 17 years, Dave, and their two Morkies. She is the proud mother of five children and grandmother to six.

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• Meet at Van Dorn Park – Access the park from S. 10^th and High Streets; park is at the northwest corner of this intersection. From S. 10^th, turn west onto High Street and take the first right to drive north to the parking lot. We’ll meet in the parking lot.
• Ride – We’ll ride on limestone and concrete trails and some bike-friendly city streets; approximate 15-mile loop. Depending on the group, the ride will take about 60-90 minutes.
• Fellowship – After our ride, we’ll gather for a beverage.
• Donation – We are suggesting a donation of $30 per person, but all amounts, big or small, are welcome! The money raised will benefit Rotary International’s Polio eradication efforts and will be part of our club’s commitment to raise $7,000 this year for polio. Please bring a check to the event (or pass it to Landon at a club meeting) made payable to The Rotary Foundation (please note it’s for Polio), or cash (ideally in an envelope with your name on it).

Questions? Reach out to Landon Bartel or Pat Birch.

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Dan Worth is a Principal Emeritus of BVH Architecture. Dan specialty is historic preservation with over 45 years of experience in projects ranging from the Nebraska State Capitol exterior, interior and dome restoration, 24 projects at the Smithsonian Institution and over 250 projects for the National Park Service’s Midwest Region. Dan is a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects and the Association for Preservation Technology International. In 2019, he was awarded the Cunningham Gold Medal from the Nebraska Chapter of the AIA.

A Rotary 14 holiday tradition – ringing a bell for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. Join your fellow Rotarians across Lincoln on December 6, 2025, for a short one-hour shift to help raise funds to support The Salvation Army’s programs.

Each year, The Salvation Army will serve more than 25 million people across America – including many in Lincoln. That means 55+ million meals for the hungry, 10+ million nights of shelter for people experiencing homelessness, and countless Christmas gifts for children who may otherwise go without.

For questions, please call Co-Chairs Jay Wexler at (845) 913-6719 or Deb Uttecht at (402) 560-4148.

Colby Coash is the Associate Executive Director for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, providing leadership and government relations work on behalf of elected leaders across Nebraska. This work gives him an opportunity to engage with policymakers and elected leaders using his experience as a former two-term State Senator. During his tenure in the Nebraska Unicameral Coash championed various causes, including child welfare, tourism, criminal justice
reform, and support for people with disabilities.

Prior to his public service, Colby worked many years in the field of developmental disabilities while operating group homes and emergency shelters for kids with disabilities. It was here he learned the value of advocacy and inclusion in all settings while working with the most
vulnerable citizens of his State. He has spoken regionally about his passion for advocacy and taking a simple approach to leadership.

His work has taken him from group homes to the Capitol. His training as an actor allows him to use storytelling as a medium for sharing his passion for advocacy and taking a simple approach to leadership. Colby speaks nationally in the areas of advocacy, employee engagement,
performance coaching, communication, and leadership. Colby holds a Masters Degree in Leadership Education and is an adjunct faculty member at Doane University and the Bryan College of Health Sciences.

He is married with one son and enjoys movie making, having appeared in dozens of short and feature films.

His debut memoir, Running Naked, Surviving the Legacy of Family in Rural Nebraska was released in 2024.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.

Click here to sign up to volunteer.