Attendance:

·         Members present: 23 (53%) of 43 total members

·         InterClubs:  0

·         Guests:   1 (Mary Jane Mayavski)

Every Child A Swimmer (Young Children Priority One)

·         Started February 1, every Friday through March 14, 10:30 am – 2:15 pm  

·         6 classes of 12 kids (72 kids total)

·         John Perrin told us that classes are progressing with strong participation, and a waiting list

·         Swimmer herders: John and Mary Ann Perrin, Pete and Kay Ontiveros, Roy and Arla Bennett, and Will Craig

 

Avery K-Kids

·         Don Mayavski reported on the latest activities

·         Clothing drive supporting the Baptist Church on Mission Ave

o       The display at the school is a “closet” for the donated clothing

·         Valentine’s Day cards for the residents at Hillcrest

New member Chris Kennison was inducted into the Club

·         Chris is the Store manager for the No Frills Super Market on Highway 370 in Bellevue

·         Chris is married to Jessica, they have 4 daughters and are expecting a son

·         He was a recent Speaker at the January 10 Meeting Club Meeting

·         Chris’s membership brings our total membership to 43 and leaves only 4 more to make our goal of 5 new members this year

Retired USAF Colonel John “Mac” McLean, Executive Director for the Strategic Air and Space Museum

·         Col McLean spent 34 years on active duty with assignments to the Pentagon, Barksdale AFB, LA and Montgomery AL as well as Offutt AFB

o        While stationed at Offutt he was the 55^th Wing Vice Commander (2000-2002)

o        He liked the area so much he returned when he retired from active duty, working with America First in the renovation of base housing

o        Last October he accepted the job of Executive Director for the Strategic Air and Space Museum in Ashland, NE

·         The Museum has it’s origins with the Strategic Air Command (SAC) Museum that was located on the parking ramp at Offutt AFB

o        He pointed out that ultimately the story of Strategic Air and Space begins on 14 December 1903 with the flight of the Wright Bros

o        However, the legacy of SAC is a large part of the Museum

o        In recent years the scope of the Museum has expanded to include all airplanes and rockets – not just SAC

o        The Museum’s mission of preservation and restoration of aircraft also continues with 13 aircraft now restored

·         He covered the latest planned expansion of the Museum’s focus

o        Exhibits embracing the impact of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)

§         A rich learning environment for kids emphasizing STEM – with lots of interaction in the exhibits

§         Some of these will be what he called “out-of-the-box” exhibits

·         with only a vague connection to the traditional focus of the Museum

·         But a strong link to the STEM concept

·         The Brain, the World Inside your Head, an upcoming exhibit, will show kids how the brain works

§         Other exhibits like Space, A Journey to the Future, which opened 9 February, will be more traditional but still emphasize the STEM focus

·         This exhibit includes a simulated International Space Station (ISS) walkthrough

·         3 person, man-powered, centrifuge allows riders to safely experience g-forces

·         Moon rock display that can be touched

·         Mars / asteroid rock display

o        Closer coordination with the Durham and Joslyn museums to augment the experience of museum visits for the public

§         The STEM emphasis allows a better definition of direction in relation to the other major museums in the area

§         A planned exhibit in 2011 will involve coordination between the three museums for the full experience

o        Becoming a center of excellence through coordination with local education curriculums

§         Col McLean sees the Museum becoming a tool to enhance those curriculums

·         The Museum will continue celebrating past accomplishments but also will be looking to the future

o        Col McLean said “Visitors should prepare to be inspired”

o        And closed with “It’s not your granddaddy’s museum anymore!”

February 12: 9:30 am, Omaha Golden K, Olive Garden, 74th and Dodge

·         Tentative Attendees: Don Glenn, Pete Ontiveros, Bill O’Donnell, Lonnie Shumate

February 13: Noon, Westside, Olive Garden, 74th and Dodge

·         Tentative Attendees: Don Glenn, Ralph Gladbach, Dick Rupert, Lonnie Shumate

February 22: Noon, Bellevue-Offutt, That's Amore, 370 and Hillcrest

·         Tentative Attendees: Rick Sanders, Ralph Gladbach, Pete Ontiveros, Lonnie Shumate, (maybe Bill O’Donnell)