We are People of Action, Would you like to be?

Following are four of the featured speakers at our upcoming Rotary District 5630, May 18-20 in beautiful St. Paul, Nebraska! You can register here. 

Alice Atemo
Kakamega, Kenya

Alice Atemo Omucheyi Muhindi comes to us from Kakamega, Kenya. Married to Martin Muhindi, she is the mother of two sons, 16 and 7 years old; guardian of her late sisters’ children, ages 15 and 12; and also cares for 13 more children. Alice holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Community Development from Nairobi University; a diploma in Theology from Kaimosi Bible Study, and a Master’s degree in Project Management and Finances from Maseno University in Kisumu, Kenya.

In early 2000, Alice founded the Overcoming Faith Schools for Orphans, which has grown to three institutions in Kakamega, Nambale and Bunyore with a total of 859 children and 67 staff members. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Kakamega, having served as club secretary, director of public relations, director of Rotary family, and president. She is also a Paul Harris Fellow.

In 2016, Alice began Malezi Widows Women Project with three objectives: economic empowerment, poverty eradication, and uplifting health in the community. This year she is launching the Teule Foundation — a scholarship fund for needy and orphaned children.

Larry Dimmitt
Director Nominee, Zone 27
Topeka, Kansas

Larry Dimmitt’s Rotary roots run deep. He has been a member of the Topeka, Kansas, Rotary Club since 1983. He served as District Governor of District 5710 in 2006-07, District Foundation Chair, Zone 27 Rotary Foundation Alumni Coordinator, Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, Paul Harris Society Coordinator, and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator.

In 2015-16, he served on the Rotary Joint Committee on Alumni Relations, and now serves on the 2016-17 Joint Young Leader and Alumni Engagement Committee. He also served as General Chair of the 2014 Zones 21B/27 Institute. He has been on four service missions to Panama and has prepared numerous international grant applications, including those for India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Larry is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Benefactor, a member of the Bequest Society, a member of the Paul Harris Society, a Major Donor and actively supports the Topeka Rotary Foundation. He has been awarded the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Service Award.

A retired attorney, Larry and his wife Lois enjoy traveling and have been to thirteen International Rotary Conventions, where Larry has been a breakout panelist and Institute facilitator. Larry and Lois have two grown children, Cindy and Michael.

Laura Smith
Boulder New Generations Rotary Club

Laura Smith follows her values through her membership in the Boulder New Generations Rotary Club, a satellite of the Boulder Rotary Club. She stays in Rotary for the people, networking, mentorship, and the impact on her community and other parts of the world. Her club is a diverse group of like-minded people.

Laura values community service, people, opportunity, and improving her community and the world. She works as Programs and Grants Coordinator for the Boulder Valley School District’s School Food Project where she organizes all farm-to-school, nutrition education, school garden, greenhouse and grant programs for Boulder Valley School District. She holds a BA from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, and a Masters of Public Health from Colorado School of Public Health in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Laura was raised in Boulder, Colorado, where her parents taught her to be involved in her community and to give back.

Andrea Martinsen
Atlanta, Georgia

Andrea Martinsen, a St. Paul High School grad, now calls Atlanta, Georgia, home. Andrea holds degrees in civil engineering and public health from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Emory University.

Her wanderlust started early in high school as a Rotary youth exchange student to Finland. Since then, she’s lived and worked in seven countries, including time in Panama as a Peace Corps volunteer focused on the design and construction of gravity-fed water systems, as well as various other health programs.

Andrea currently works in emergency response and recovery with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she’s able to blend her passions for water and sanitation, public health, and continuing to travel the world.

Saturday, April 26

District Governor Elect Sarah Cathcart (Kearney Noon) began the morning activities with a powerful flag ceremony with our guests and RYE students parading their respective flag. Representing 11 nations were; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, Nebraska, The United States of America and of course the flag that unites all of us, Rotary International. The US colors were presented by the VFW Color Guard Commander Gary Bush followed by the pledge of Allegiance and the national Anthem’s of Equador and United States.

District RYE Coordinator, Paula Witt (Hastings Sunrise) presented “Passport to Possibilities” to the two outbound RYE Students (25-26) with a gift for their upcoming exchange. Owen Phelps (Hastings) will be traveling to Brazil, while Mac Whitehead (McCook) will be traveling to Japan. Following we heard from the current inbound students themselves as Paula interviewed each of them about their exchange year in Nebraska.

Visiting DG Shawna Secker D-5390 (Montana) presented the “Exchange Effect: Changing Lives, One Journey at a Time” An inspirational story of how RYE is transforming lives across the globe, one student at a time.

Saturday Presentations

The Exchange Effect: Changing Lives, One Journey at a Time DG Shawna Secker, D-5390
Download (.pptx)
Rotary’s Secret Sauce: Attracting & Keeping Members, PDG Deb McCaslin, DMCE Toshia Jones
Download (.pptx)
Unlocking Growth: Transforming Rotary Membership in India, PAG Neeraj Bhatnagar, D-3011
Download (.pdf)
Branding Rotary: Making a Lasting Impact, DG Whitney Smith, D-5470
Download (.pptx)

Up next PDG Deb McCaslin (Broken Bow Area) and incoming District Membership Chair Toshia Jones (Cheyenne County) presented “Rotary’s Secret Sauce: Attracting & Keeping Members“, sharing fresh ideas and proven strategies to help grow and strengthen clubs.

Visiting Rotarian Neeraj Bhatnagar, PAG District 3011 (Dehli, India) presented his first of two presentations, “Unlocking Growth: Transforming Rotary Membership in India.” PAG Neeraj demonstrated how innovative strategies are driving incredible membership and engagement across one of Rotary’s most dynamic regions.

Visiting DG Whitney Smith D-5470 (Southern Colorado) presented “Branding Rotary: Making a Lasting Impact” teaching how to harness the power of storytelling, social media and visual identity to effectively share Rotary’s mission and amplify its impact in your community. 

Luncheon Keynote

Davanne Moul; Sr. Sales Director Mary Kay, delivered a powerful message of how passion, planning and perseverance has lifted her to tower above others. Ms. Moul intertwined messages of hope with her stories of growing up on a ranch in Aladdin WY.  Ms Moul described how she has lived a life of service to others and how that has empowered her to become a top sales leader for Mary Kay nationally for many years. Her message most certainly encouraged all to pursue their dreams.

Pride Points: 60 Years of Inspiration, Innovation & Impact, Davanne Moul Mary Kay
Download (.pdf)
Rotary’s Blueprint for Global Impact: The 7 Areas of Focus, PAG Neeraj Bhatnagar, D-3011
Download (.pdf)
How it Began... PDG Pedro Zanini & Elba Bernat D-4945
Download (.pptx)
Global Grants: Turning Vision into Action, PDG Dale Schultz
Download (.pptx)
CRMC Clinic: Honoring Life through Service, Dr. Kim Baxter
Download (.pptx)
PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Daniel Maloney Bio
Download (.pdf)
PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Daniel Maloney [Speech w/ cues]
Download (.pdf)
PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Maloney
Download (.pptx)

PAG Neeraj returned to the stage to present “Rotary’s Blueprint for Global Impact: The 7 Areas of Focus“, a message of how one person with a single focus can drive meaningful change in communities around the world.

PDG Bob Mayber, DRFC (North Platte Noon) shared “The Heart of Rotary: Transforming Lives Through Giving.” Bob shared a hopeful message of how the simple act of giving can be a force multiplier in Rotary’s mission and provide immeasurable impact on the lives of people whom he thought he would never meet.

PDG Pedro Zanini D-4945 (Argentina) and his wife Elba Bernat presented “This is How it Began“, sharing how a chance meeting of two DG classmates PDG Pedro and PDG Don Peterson (Kearney Dawn) on ZOOM and later in Person in Atlanta, GA would lead to a lasting friendship, and a “Ripple-Effect” of many wonderful projects.

PDG Dale Schultz (Hastings Sunrise) walked everyone through four individual Global Grant projects between D-4945 and D-5630 totaling more than $140,000. Sharing how Rotary has made a lasting impact through the power of collaboration.

Dr. Kim Baxter (North Platte) presented “CRMC Clinic: Honoring Life through Service” A global grant in Kenya. Dr. Baxter shared the incredible work being done to improve healthcare and make a lasting impact in Kenya through this vision to honor his son, Craig Baxter.

Past President Mike McQuillan (Ogallala) served as the emcee for the Dinner and District Celebration. The event was held at the historic Haythorn Ranch Arthur, NE recognizing the efforts of everyone across the district. The Haythorn Family was so gracious hosting and providing a world class Nebraska beef dinner.  

Our most honored guests were Past Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney and his lovely wife Gay. It was very special to have PRIP Maloney attend our District Conference because the PRIP is only allowed ONE official appointment from the current RI President each year. Having Lorena’s PRIP from her year as President of the Ogallala Rotary club accept her invitation was truly an honor. 

Mark delivered an inspirational message with a little humor tossed in for good measure.  “Marks Magical Markers” should be something that every Rotarian should strive to achieve. Download the speech and use the cues to view the Powerpoint and follow along with his message.  Mark’s Bio is also provided on the right.    

District Awards

Club of the Year (Small)
Arnold
Club of the Year (Medium)
Kearney Dawn
Club of the Year (Large)
Holdrege
Rotarian of the Year
PDG Deb McCaslin
District 5630 Conference | April 25-16, 2025

Photo Gallery courtesy of Rtn. David Fowler (Ogallala) … Click on the image above to visit the full gallery.

“THANK YOU” to our sponsors for their generous support to “The Magic of Rotary” Conference