Omaha World-Herald`sKroeger on Tap for Feb. 16
Transcription
Omaha World-Herald`sKroeger on Tap for Feb. 16
The Omaha Press Club Fellowship • Scholarship • Education And the Best View in Town Volume 41 • Number 2 February 2012 Heroes… Omaha World-Herald’s Kroeger on Tap for Feb. 16 OPC Chris Christen On Thursday, Feb. 16, Terry sity of Nebraska-Lincoln. His New technology has called Kroeger, publisher and CEO of the Omaha World-Herald, will discuss the recent sale of the newspaper to Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway. He will talk about the future implications of the sale — how it will affect the business and news operations of the paper and some of the history leading up to the purchase, as well as some of the major players who were involved in the decision. Kroeger joined the WorldHerald in 1985 and became the sixth publisher in the newspaper’s history in January 2008. He is a graduate of the Univer- Ricketts Next Face on the Barroom Floor Joe Ricketts — the man who gave more than 30 years of his career building one of the world’s largest online brokerages — will be honored as the Omaha Press Club’s next “Face on the Barroom Floor” on Monday, Feb. 13. In 1975, with partners and a $12,500 investment, Ricketts founded the company now known as TD Ameritrade. At Continued On Page 2 St. Paddy’s Day Buffet Saturday, March 17 Beginning at 11:30 a.m. Price: $10 BUFFET INCLUDES: • Slow-Roasted Corn Beef Brisket • Garlic & Herb Broiled Red Potatoes • Boiled Cabbage (Made with the Corn Beef Stock) • Irish Frosted Brownies & Cookies For Reservations, Call (402) 345-8008 Note: You can read more about other upcoming Omaha Press Club events on Page 5. involvements in professional and civic organizations are many, both local and beyond. He is especially pleased — as are the rest of us — that the purchase of the World-Herald by Berkshire Hathaway will keep ownership of the newspaper in Omaha. The members of the Education Committee felt that this transaction is not only of special interest to the Omaha Press Club but that it is of such major importance to this city that it requires a place in the committee’s monthly educational forums. into question the future of newspapers as a vital communication medium in growing communities. Please join us to learn how the newspaper in this community will continue to play a necessary role in the future of Omaha and the state of Nebraska. The forum begins at noon and ends promptly at 1 p.m. The cost is $15 per person and includes lunch. Call (402) 345-8008 for reservations. Reservations must be accompanied by an OPC member number or credit card. A 24-hour cancellation policy applies. Digital Submissions to Enhance the OPC Excellence in Journalism Awards By Nicole Lindquist OPC Board Member There are a couple of exciting changes to the Omaha Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism Awards competition for 2012. This year’s contest is made possible by the generosity of six sponsors. ConAgra is a Gold Level sponsor, and All Makes Office Equipment Company, Bailey Lauerman, the Jewish Federation of Omaha Foundation, Swanson Russell and Universal Information Systems are all Bronze Level sponsors. Through these substantial sponsorships, the second big change is that the EIJ contest is going online for the 2012 competition! This will allow us to save on mailing expenses and printing costs. Entrants will save time and money by applying online and judges can score entries anytime from anywhere. With the funds from the sponsorships covering a large majority of the online database setup fees, a larger percentage of the entry fees will be put toward our mission of funding journalism scholarships to local college students. The contest will open Monday, Feb. 13 and run through Friday, March 30. Contest submissions will be handled through the Better Newspaper Contest website, www.betternewspapercontest.com. Entry guidelines will be sent to those who have previously submitted entries; if you would also like to receive the guidelines, e-mail nicolelindquist@ yahoo.com. If you have any questions or experience any difficulty with the online entry form, please contact Nicole Lindquist at [email protected] or call (402) 981-2289. And save the date for the Excellence in Journalism Awards/Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame dinner: Saturday, June 9. By Daisy Hutzell-Rodman OPC Board Member Chris Christen has been a member of the Omaha Press Club since 1985, when she was recruited by, as she said, “the late great” Jim Denney. She has been a board director, and is a past president of the club, but her most heroic act has been working with the Omaha Press Club Show. Denney produced the OPC Show (along with Tom LaHood) when Christen became a club member, and Christen became involved in the show the next year. “I think I spent most of my first year being jealous of those women who had solos,” Christen said. “That was my dream, to be good enough to get a solo.” Continued On Page 7 55th OPC Show Registration Form On Page 4. Omaha Press Club Annual Meeting Omaha Press Club 2012-13 Board: Front row (left to right): Daisy Hutzell-Rodman, Bridget (Weide) Brooks, Nicole Lindquist. Back row (left to right): J.J. Bartlett, Harland Fogle, Don Summerside, Liz Hruska, Judy Horan, Tom Becka, Susan Eustice and Allen Beermann. Not pictured: Deb Daley, John Heaston and Todd Murphy. Photo By Gary Willis One of the lighter moments at the Omaha Press Club Annual Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26 was the empty chair that president-elect Susan Eustice left at the table for Chris Allen, OPC’s president-in-residencein-Oman. Eustice shifted from chair to chair when acting as president to open the meeting and to a different chair to close out the meeting. Eustice pressed board member Tom Becka into service to read Allen’s president’s message, which elicited laughs. Allen praised Eustice and past president Wendy Townley for stepping up to fill in for him. He did say that he had warned the nomination committee that he had applied for a Fulbright award, and he was honored that he was elected despite that. He noted, “As I step down and rejoin the board as past-president and member, I want to urge you to use the Press Club. Eat here, meet friends here, laugh here and celebrate here. We need our members to keep the Press Club healthy.” Executive Director Steve Villamonte reported that the club finished the year in the black after a difficult year. Close control of food costs and a successful New Year’s Eve after-party helped the club break even. Committee chairs presented reports, and the annual election of officers was held. Board of Directors 2012-13 Officers Susan Eustice..................... President The Salvation Army Bridget Brooks......... President-Elect Image Building Communications J.J. Bartlett........................ Treasurer First National Bank Don Summerside...............Secretary Omaha World-Herald (retired) Chris Allen.................Past-President University of Nebraska at Omaha Page 2 • Beyond -30- Allen Beermann (2011-13) Tom Becka (2011-13) Deborah Daley (2011-13) Harland Fogle (2012-14) John Heaston (2011-13) Judy Horan (2012-14) Liz Hruska (2012-14) Daisy Hutzell-Rodman (2012-14) Nicole Lindquist (2012-14) Todd Murphy (2011-13) Nebraska Press Association Author/Speaker Creighton University The Reader Horan Communications Nebraska Legislative Fiscal Office Omaha World-Herald UNMC Universal Information Services Communications Committee Henry Cordes (402) 444-1130 Susan Eustice, co-chair (402) 898-5908 Judy Horan, co-chair (402) 397-6155 Daisy Hutzell-Rodman (402) 444-1328 Kay Kriss (402) 689-7108 Howard K. Marcus (402) 444-1397 John Prescott (402) 344-3894 Don Summerside (402) 556-5547 Gary Willis (402) 493-1373 Bridget (Weide) Brooks (402) 393-4600 Special thanks to Tom O’Connor, Carol Schrader and Sean P. Weide for assisting the committee in proofreading the newsletter. Ricketts Face Event Continued From Page 1 the time, the company was known as First Omaha Securities Inc. Today, it is one of the largest online brokerage firms in the country. A 5:30 p.m. reception will be followed at 6:30 p.m. with the roast ceremony. An optional dinner follows the roast. Those scheduled to roast Ricketts include: Bill Gerber, chief financial officer of TD Ameritrade; Coral Dickau, Ricketts’ longtime executive assistant; Jerry Gress, former Ameritrade associate and close family friend; Kathy Hahn and Mary Fay, two longtime Ameritrade associates; Bob Slezak, former executive and chief financial officer of Ameritrade; and Pete Ricketts, Joe’s son and a former TD Ameritrade executive and current board member. Katrina Becker, managing director of communications and public affairs for TD Ameritrade, will serve as emcee. The event is open to the public — limited reservations are still available. To RSVP, call (402) 345-8008. Cost for dinner is $40 for members and $50 for nonmembers. Committee Chairs Communications Co-Chairs Susan Eustice, Judy Horan Education Gary Kerr Excellence in Journalism Awards Nicole Lindquist Executive Committee J.J. Bartlett, Bridget (Weide) Brooks Susan Eustice, Don Summerside, Chris Allen “Face on the Barroom Floor” Tom O’Connor Hall of Fame Judy Horan Marketing/Membership Bridget (Weide) Brooks Professional Development Chris Allen, OPC Foundation Dave Ogden President Rose Ann Shannon Vice President Anne Walsh Secretary Larry Weber Treasurer John Prescott Immediate Past President Trustees Chris Christen Henry Cordes Scott Darling Dave Hamer Howard K. Marcus Joe Weber Eileen Wirth, Ph.D. An Update on Chef Tom Molloy A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR We Did it Again! By Steve Villamonte, CEC, BS OPC Executive Director By Steve Villamonte, CEC, BS OPC Executive Director January Winemaker’s Dinner: Lionel Havé, Steve Villamonte, Tommy Shaw Hip, Hip, Hurray! We did it once again — the Omaha Press Club finished the year in the black. This is great news considering the tough economic times. I attribute the success to my partner Christine, Chef Jon, the efforts of all the committees, the board support, and all of my hardworking staff. Thank you all for the hard work! Winemaker’s Dinner The January Winemaker’s Dinner was fantastic and for those who attended, you already knew that. The next Winemaker’s Dinner is planned for right before tax day — Saturday, April 14, and will feature the distinct flavors of an Omaha favorite, Executive Chef Tom Shaw. Tom has had a vast career, which includes working as executive chef at local country clubs, owning Tommy Shaw’s and, most recently, working at Methodist Hospital. Tom is working his newest venture, an upscale catering operation, partnering with Lionel Havé. These two will definitely be a hit. Photo Archive I have been planning a picture archive for the Omaha Press Club on our website. If you have new or old pictures of events or anything from the Omaha Press Club, and they are digital, or can be made digital, send them to me at villa@ opc.omhcoxmail.com. If you want, we can scan photos for you if you don’t have them in digital form. Upcoming Events We have many events planned for the coming year and the best way to stay informed is to frequently view our website, www.omahapressclub.com. Save A Tree! Please help OPC in our green efforts and request to receive your newsletter online. Not only is it good for the en- Photo By Gary Willis vironment, but you can access the publication sooner, since the electronic version is usually available days before the snail mail copy. Call the office at (402) 345-8587 and tell Jeanie to switch you to “electronic delivery” for your newsletter. Give Us Your E-mail If you don’t already receive our e-newsletter, we don’t have your e-mail, but would love to add you to our list. Thanks Tom! I want to send out a “Big Thank You” to Executive Chef Tom Molloy. You can read more about Tom’s health crisis — and how you can help in the story on this page. Tom and I have worked together for the past 17 years and he has become a close personal friend and godfather to my son Gabriel. See you at the club! For the past 10 years, Chef Tom Molloy has been an integral part of the day-to-day operations of the Press Club. Tom has been a truly hard worker — a quiet and dedicated employee. Tom was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a little over a year ago and continued to work much of the time under severe breathing complications. Tom was supposed be on an oxygen tank 24/7, as part of the treatment. Obviously an oxygen tank cannot be in a professional kitchen environment because of the possible fire hazard, so he did not follow doctor’s orders. Instead, Tom — not wanting to leave the club in a bind — showed up for work each day for the next year, until breathing became so difficult he had to quit working altogether. Tom is currently planning a move back to his hometown (St. Louis) to be near his family. If you would like to make a donation towards Tom’s expenses, you can do so through the Press Club. (Note, however, that your deduction will not be tax deductible.) You can make your checks payable to Tom Molloy or to the Omaha Press Club (put “Tom Molloy” in the subject line of the check) and drop it off or mail it to the club. You can contact Steve Villamonte at [email protected] Beyond -30- • Page 3 Page 4 • Beyond -30- UPCOMING EVENTS Dinners & Such Tasty Tidbits From the Omaha Press Club OPC Easter Buffet When: Sunday, April 8 10 a.m. to Noon | 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Price: Adults $20 • Children $10 Carving Station Prime Rib of Beef with Horseradish Chantilly and Red Wine au Jus Whiskey Pepper Glazed Ham Entrées Chicken Crêpes Supreme Lemon Pepper Butter Baked Tilapia • Eggs Benedict Roasted New Potatoes • Garlic Whipped Potatoes Asparagus Citron Next Winemaker’s Dinner Set for April When: Saturday, April 14 Social: 6 p.m. | Dinner: 6:30 Price: TBA Mark your calendar for the next OPC Winemaker’s Dinner set for April 14. Further details in the March issue. For More Information, Call (402) 345-8008 Happy Hour Drink Specials at the Press Club Receive $1 off all drinks from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (parties and events exempt). For More Information, Call (402) 345-8008 OPC 2-for-1 Prime Rib Dinner Every Thursday Night A La Carte Build-Your-Own Omelet • Multi-Topping Waffle Bar Enjoy a prime rib dinner — two people dine for $25 (tax and gratuity not included). Salad Display Including Smoked Salmon Chaud-Froid Continental Fruit Display, Continental Cheese Display Fresh Baked Pastries & Breakfast Breads For Reservations, Call (402) 345-8008 Desserts Homemade Cakes, Pies & Tortes When: Saturday, March 17 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Price: $10 ST. PADDY’S BUFFET • Slow-Roasted Corn Beef Brisket • Garlic & Herb Broiled Red Potatoes • Boiled Cabbage (made with the Corn Beef Stock) • Irish Frosted Brownies & Cookies St. Patrick’s Day at the Omaha Press Club For Reservations, Call (402) 345-8008 Mother’s Day Buffet When: Sunday, May 13 10 a.m. to Noon | 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Price: Adults $20 • Children $10 Carving Station Prime Rib of Beef with Horseradish Chantilly and Red Wine au Jus Old School Pineapple-Glazed Ham Entrées Chicken Crêpes Supreme Baked Tilapia Buerre Blanc Eggs Benedict Risotto • Lyonnaise Potatoes • Seasonal Vegetables A La Carte Build-Your-Own Omelet • Multi-Topping Pancake Bar Salad Display Including Smoked Salmon Chaud-Froid Deviled Eggs Fresh Baked Pastries • Breakfast Breads • Pecan Rolls Desserts New York-style Cheesecake with Strawberries Chocolate Driscoll Strawberries Warm Peach Cobbler with French Vanilla Ice Cream For Reservations, Call (402) 345-8008 Featuring a Beautiful Themed Ice Carving For Reservations, Call (402) 345-8008 Scholarship Awards Ceremony When: Friday, April 13 5:30 p.m. Cocktail reception 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7:30 p.m. Program Please join us on Friday, April 13, to honor broadcast journalism pioneer Dottie Sater with the OPC Foundation’s Career Achievement Award and Creighton University photojournalism professor Don Doll with the Journalism Educator Award. The OPC Foundation will also award OPC scholarships to outstanding journalism students at Creighton University, the University of NebraskaLincoln, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Cost per person: $25 (set dinner menu; vegetarian entrée upon request) Reservations must be made with the Omaha Press Club by calling (402) 345-8008. If you are not a member of the Omaha Press Club, you must guarantee your reservation with a major credit card or by sending a check in advance to the Press Club. RSVP by Monday, April 9. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance. For Reservations, Call (402) 345-8008 Watch future issues for more information on upcoming events. Beyond -30- • Page 5 OPC NOON FORUM RECAP Alberts Sized Up UNO Sports at Jan. 26 OPC Noon Forum By Henry Cordes OPC Communications Committee Trev Alberts said one of the most important lessons he learned from his years playing football is how to pick yourself up again when you’ve been knocked down. The former Nebraska football standout says that has served him well in the last year, helping him move on from the difficult decision he made as athletic director at UNO to eliminate the school’s football and wrestling teams. Speaking Jan. 26 at the Press Club’s latest noon forum, Alberts said he definitely wishes he could change some things about the way the matter was handled. But he said he remains convinced it was the right thing in the long run for the future of athletics at UNO. Alberts was a late substitute in the forum for UNO hockey coach Dean Blais, who was called out on the road recruiting. The forum, moderated by Press Club president-elect Bridget (Weide) Brooks, will be broadcast at noon on Monday, Feb. 13 on KIOS radio. Alberts said when he came to UNO nearly three years ago, he had no idea of the depth of the department’s financial problems. He said dropping football and wrestling and moving up to Division I competition in all sports were critical to creating fiscal stability. He said the department has already proven it can drive more revenue competing at Division I than it could in Division II. The Maverick men’s basketball team will pull in at least $260,000 in guarantees for playing road games against other Division I foes next year, including games at Iowa State and Wisconsin. That’s more than double the total ticket revenue that all of UNO’s DiPage 6 • Beyond -30- UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts vision II sports — including football — collected a year ago. But Alberts said UNO has been and will remain a hockey school. Some 92 percent of the school’s generated athletic revenues come from that sport, and maximizing financial returns in hockey will be critical to the department’s future. “This is our Nebraska football,” he said. Alberts said it’s too early to talk about whether UNO will ultimately build an on-campus arena to house Maverick hockey. He said there are “a lot of smart people”’ looking into questions like whether it’s financially feasible and how big such a facility would need to be. He said he doesn’t want to rush the process because UNO only has “one chance at this.’” While The CenturyLink Center is a world-class facil- ity, he said, its capacity is also double the 8,300 fans UNO typically draws for a hockey game. Photo By Gary Willis “You can draw your own conclusions,” he said. “I believe the right thing is going to happen for UNO.” Press Club Members Making News Omaha Press Club member Bill Ramsey was named Military Veteran of the Month and was honored by the Ricketts family — co-owners of the Chicago Cubs — as their guest at Wrigley Field in Chicago last September. NEWS BITS ON LOCAL MEDIA HAPPENINGS Media Notes • Howard K. Marcus, of the Omaha World-Herald, who has been with the newspaper for 25 years, has been promoted to Deputy Special Sections Editor. Marcus, an OPC Foundation trustee, is a past president of the club and the foundation. He received an OPC scholarship in 1982. Stephanie Ogren from the Daily Nonpareil will join the special sections team as a reporter-editor-designer. Marcus and Ogren will both report to Special Sections Editor Shelley Larsen, also an OPC member. • Josie Loza is the Omaha World-Herald’s new momaha editor. She will leave her nightlife reporter beat and use her expertise in social media, creative content and networking to further grow the website. • Morning DJ Rich Denison has moved to Wyoming. Denison was a frequent award winner in the Omaha Press Club Excellence in Journalism Competition. Chris Christen Profile She has done more than become a soloist in the show — Christen has been the producer of the Omaha Press Club Show since Denney retired in 1996. She was assistant producer in 1995, after which she took over production of the whole show. The OPC Show takes Christen and the show committee about nine months to plan and execute, and over the years, she has seen a lot of changes. The show moved from Peony Park, to Holiday Inn Central to The Rose Theater, during which time they went from a dinner theater to heavy hors d’oeuvres. “There was a misconception that we were displeased with The Rose,” Christen said. “We loved performing at The Rose, but patrons said they missed the dinner, so we moved to the Mid-America Center.” Christen has also pared down some of the costuming, which helps the performers and the overall bottom line. • Kevin Kugler, host of “Unsportsmanlike Conduct” at 1620 The Zone, has been named Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year for the eighth time. • KMTV meteorologist CT Thongklin is taking a job as a meteorologist at RFD network effective in March. • Ros Mercio has been hired as director of sales at Journal Broadcast Group. She joins Journal from Linn Broadcasting, where she was in Buffalo, NY. • Wake up with Wingy ... again. Dave Wingert has been hired by Omaha’s Big O (101.9) as morning show host. • Andy Ruback has been named market manager of Omaha Metro Radio Cluster at NRG Media. Media News? Notes? Updates? Contact [email protected] OPC Heroes… Continued From Page 1 • Omaha Press Club board member Al Carl has left his position at Channel 3 and is moving back to his home base of Kansas City. The search is on for a new news director. The show’s format has gone from cabaret to Broadway and now, back to cabaret. “Each director and group of writers has brought unique vision to our staging, and that has kept it fun for our audiences through the decades,” Christen said. Another regular feature to the show is emcee Gary Sadlemyer. Christen said the show writers, directors and producers have tried to switch things up so that Sadlemyer’s act is always new. “I love show night because of the laughter that fills the room. We never want the show to be perceived as mean-spirited,” Christen said. This year’s show will be held on March 31 at the Mid-America Center. Condolences The Omaha Press Club wishes to extend its condolences to Chris Christen on the passing of her mother, and to Susan Eustice on the loss of her father. Hall of Fame Nomination Form Nominations are welcome. The nominee may be living or deceased and must have made notable contributions to broadcast, print or new media journalism. They have shown exceptional leadership, courage or contributions to the news industry. They either have worked in the Omaha area or had a reasonable career in Omaha before going elsewhere. Your name __________________________________________ Your phone number __________________________________ I nominate (name) ___________________________________ __ Check here if the journalist is being nominated posthumously. Why this person should be inducted into the OPC Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame (attach separate sheet if necessary): __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Please submit by March 7, 2012 to Omaha Press Club Hall of Fame Committee, 1620 Dodge St., 22nd Floor, Omaha, NE 68102. Or FAX to 402-345-0114. Beyond -30- • Page 7 Events Listing Monday, Feb. 13 Face on the Barroom Floor Joe Ricketts • Details Page 1 Thursday, Feb. 16 OPC Noon Forum • Details Page 1 Wednesday, March 7 OPC Hall of Fame Nomination Deadline • Details Page 7 Saturday, March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Buffet • Details - Page 5 Saturday, March 31 • 5:30 p.m. Omaha Press Club Show • Details - Page 4 Sunday, April 8 • 10:30 a.m. OPC Easter Buffet • Details - Page 5 Friday, April 13 OPC Foundation Career Achievement and Scholarships Awards Ceremony Details - Page 5 Saturday, April 14 OPC Winemaker’s Dinner • Details - Page 5 Sunday, May 13 OPC Mother’s Day Brunch • Details - Page 5 Saturday, June 9 OPC Hall of Fame/Excellence in Journalism Awards • Details - Page 1 OMAHA PRESS CLUB OFFICE STAFF Executive Director......................................... Steve Villamonte Planning & Event Coordinator........................Christine Jones Administrative Manager................................ Jeanie Campbell E-mail......................................... [email protected] Office..............................................................(402) 345-8587 Fax..................................................................(402) 345-0114 Restaurant.......................................................(402) 345-8008 Website...............................................www.omahapressclub.org NEWSLETTER Bridget (Weide) Brooks..................................................Editor Jon Brooks.................................................................Designer Office..............................................................(402) 393-4600 Fax..................................................................(402) 393-4603 E-mail...................................................... [email protected] Submissions for the March 2012 issue are due by Feb. 15. Reminder! The current minimum quarter ends Saturday, March 31. Hours of Operation Lunch Monday – Friday.............. 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bar Tuesday – Saturday.......... 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dinner Thursday – Saturday............. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.