Ed Hoffman

President Greg rang the Rotary bell. All stood to sing a spirited “Star-Spangled Banner,” taking their tempo cues from our dashing, bowler-hatted Immediate Past President, John Ackenhusen. As the Anthem’s final notes faded into the ballroom firmament, Norma Sarkar came forward to deliver the Inspiration. “My message today has to do with Positive Aging,” she […]

It was 12:30 p.m. when all hell broke loose. President Greg stormed the podium like it was the front door of the Stonehouse Bar, cuffing the Rotary Bell a good one along the way. His eyes beamed, immutable obelisks of justice, as he scanned the room hungrily for a hint of Capone or any of […]

Past President John Ackenhusen’s resplendent piano prelude morphed dramatically into an impassioned “Star-Spangled Banner.” Frankly, the man can play anything. How much brighter, one might ask, would Dickens’ Atlantic crossing on the Britannia have been — let alone his subsequent appraisal of our young republic in his American Notes of 1842 — had he and […]

Joan Knoertzer’s lyrical piano captured perfectly the spirit of the season. For her prelude Joan played “What a Wonderful World,” then, with the Rotary bell rung, she launched into a beautiful “God Bless America,” the country’s number 1 choice should we ever adopt dual anthems. Victor Stoeffler kicked off the proceedings with his Inspiration: “Regardless […]

President Greg rang the Rotary bell following a beautiful piano prelude by Past President John Ackenhusen. A full assembly of Rotarians and guests rose to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Greg then addressed the room: “Good afternoon, I’m doing the Inspiration today. This Friday marks the 77th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The architect […]

President Greg rang the Rotary bell, signally the opening of the meeting. He nodded to Katie Bauer, who came to the podium to deliver the Inspiration — and a stunner it was. “One hundred years ago the fighting in World War I ended,” Katie began. She then read quotes from Presidents Woodrow Wilson and John […]

  From the Desk of Harpoon News Reporter, Ed Hoffman   President Greg rang the Rotary bell; members and guests rose in unison to sing a spirited “Star-Spangled Banner.” As Tom Strode’s regal piano began to fade, Katie Bauer came to the podium for the Inspiration. And what an Inspiration! Clearly tailoring her words to […]

President Greg struck the Rotary bell as only a Nebraska man can…no, he didn’t miss it. Its clarion tones circled the Weber’s ballroom as Deanna Relyea quickly launched into “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Toni Gupta, her eyes intent on the flag, came up after a moment and delivered a heartfelt Inspiration. “These are the 7 Rules […]

After President Greg rang the Rotary bell, and following a spirited “Star-Spangled Banner,” Lauren Heinonen came up to deliver a fabulous Inspiration. Lauren, one of RCAA’s newest (and youngest) members, is a real luminary; the Rotary spirit of service above self shines brilliantly around her. She spoke of epiphanies — of that spark that can […]

There was no gavel, just the blow of an almighty horn. President Greg was there, but nowhere to be seen. The Weber’s ballroom had transformed into a lush carpet of green, where redoubtable men and women scythed their way from field to field. Others, more confined, battled with sticks at close range in unforgiving rectangles. […]