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Table of Contents
April 15, 2016
Table of Contents
Table of Contents MISSION STATEMENT .............................................................................................................. 1
NLPA 2015 - 2016 OFFICERS ..................................................................................................... 1
NLPA 2015 - 2016 COMMITTEES & CHAIRPERSONS ........................................................... 2
CHAPTER OFFICERS .................................................................................................................. 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE—Kathy Eidenmiller ......................................................................... 4
VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE—Jody Weinmeister ............................................................... 5
MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 23, 2016 ........................................... 6
MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING ON MARCH 5, 2016 ............................................... 11
TREASURER’S REPORT – Kathy Hubbell ............................................................................... 16
PARLIAMENTARIAN’S REPORT – Sherry Mitchell, PLS ..................................................... 17
CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS .......................................................................... 18
CNLP— Sarah Lautenschlager, Chapter Representative ................................................ 18
LLPA—Kathy Eidenmiller, Chapter Representative ...................................................... 18
OLPA—Donna Olson, Chapter Representative .............................................................. 19
LPAWN—Jody Weinmeister – Chapter Representative ................................................. 20
2016 ANNUAL MEETING AND SEMINAR ................................................................ 21
COMMITTEE REPORTS ........................................................................................................... 24
Spring 2016 Seminar — Final Report ............................................................................. 24
Historian—Sharon Huber ................................................................................................ 25
Legal Education – Kristine Flott ...................................................................................... 25
Legal Professional of the Year ..................................................................................................... 27
Scholarship ................................................................................................................................... 27
NLPA COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT- Save Aluminum Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald
House ........................................................................................................................................... 28
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MISSION STATEMENT
To establish good fellowship among the members - all persons employed and/or interested in work of
a legal nature - so that ideas may be exchanged and knowledge increased;
To establish a high order of business and professional attainment and to further our knowledge of the
law and uphold its honor and dignity;
To create a high standard of ethics among its members.
NLPA 2015 - 2016 OFFICERS
Name Preferred # Preferred E-mail
PRESIDENT Kathy Eidenmiller (402) 437-8573 [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT Jody Weinmeister (308) 436-6678 [email protected]
SECRETARY Kathy Bass, CP (402) 659-3963 [email protected]
TREASURER Kathy Hubbell (402) 479-7155 [email protected]
PARLIAMENTARIAN Sherry Mitchell, PLS (402) 384-6892 [email protected]
Sherry Mitchell, PLS, Parliamentarian; Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary; Kathy Eidenmiller, President. (not pictured are Jody Weinmeister, Vice-President and Kathy Hubbell, Treasurer.)
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NLPA 2015 - 2016 COMMITTEES & CHAIRPERSONS
Auditing Committee
Carol Paige
Johnson, Flodman, Guenzel, Widger
Lisa Bryan
Brumbaugh & Quandahl
Educational Conference &
Annual Meeting—2016
JoAnn Oseka, PLS
Shamberg, Wolf, McDermott & Depue
Sandy Kendall
Office of the Honorable Mark J. Young
Hall County District Court
Fall Seminar—Lincoln, 2015
LLPA (Lori J. Dymek, Elizabeth J. Christ, Diane
Henninger, Kathy Eidenmiller)
Woods & Aitken LLP
Historian
Sharon Huber - OLPA
McGrath, North, Mullin & Kratz, PC LLO
Legal Education
Kristine Flott
Lamson Dugan and Murray, LLP
Legal Professional of the Year
Christi Leupold
Koenig/Dunne Divorce Law, P.C., L.L.O.
Membership
Jody L. Nedella Weinmeister
Scotts Bluff County Public Defender
Nominations & Elections
Amber Bogle, CP
Mueller Roback, LLC
Publication - The SideBar
Kathy Bass, CP National Indemnity Company
(402) 659-3963 (cell)
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Roster
Kathy Hubbell
Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather, L.L.P.
Scholarship
Amber Bogle, CP
Mueller Roback, LLC
Ways & Means
Sarah Lautenschlager
General Collection Co.
Website Web Master
Shelly Nielsen Mayer, Burns, Koenig & Janulewicz
CHAPTER OFFICERS
CNLP Name Preferred E-mail
PRESIDENT Merry Johnson [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT Lori Ready [email protected]
SECRETARY Debbie Ritter [email protected]
TREASURER Karen Niedfelt [email protected]
CHAPTER REP Sarah Lautenschlager [email protected]
LLPA Name Preferred E-mail
PRESIDENT Amber Bogle, CP [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT Tina Scully [email protected]
SECRETARY Jennifer Hague [email protected]
TREASURER Patricia Liebaert [email protected]
CHAPTER REP Kathy Eidenmiller [email protected]
OLPA Name Preferred E-mail
PRESIDENT Valentina Saavedra valentina@attorneysbankruptcypara
legal.com
VICE PRESIDENT David Raddatz [email protected]
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE—Kathy Eidenmiller
Our year is officially winding down and we are preparing for installation
of new officers and committee chairs in a few weeks. The work that was
accomplished in this term was great - we had very successful educational
seminars, fun social events, and networking opportunities. For this, we owe
a debt of gratitude to our Board members for their leadership, wise counsel
and commitment to the NLPA. I want each to know that their hard work was
deeply appreciated by not just me, but the membership as well - so thank you!
Our organization has amazing, intelligent, hardworking Midwest
people. But like many organizations, in our current situation we face
challenges as we try to increase membership and generate ideas that carry us
to a solid future. My call to action for each of our members, new as well as seasoned, is to share your
views, experience or expertise, volunteer to serve on committees, assist and support active members,
ask that new coworker to attend an event, reach out to prospective members and engage those who
bring a wealth of knowledge through practical experience. These are our common goals and by
accomplishing them we ensure that our future is bright.
I am excited and honored to begin the new term as your President and am looking forward to
a meaningful and memorable year ahead in 2016-17. Hope to see you in Grand Island April 22-24 for
the Educational Conference and Annual Meeting hosted by CNLP!
SECRETARY Cindy Driscoll [email protected]
TREASURER Marcia Jewett [email protected]
CHAPTER REP Donna Olson [email protected]
LPAWN Name Preferred E-mail
PRESIDENT
VICE PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
CHAPTER REP Jody Weinmeister [email protected]
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VICE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE—Jody Weinmeister
This will be my last report as NLPA Vice-President. NLPA is 114 members strong with a
breakdown as follows:
CNLP 17 regular members
3 honorary members 20 MEMBERS
LPAWN 3 regular members
1 honorary 4 MEMBERS
LLPA 29 regular members
14 new members
1 student 44 MEMBERS
OLPA 28 regular members
9 new members
6 students
3 honorary members 46 MEMBERS
GREAT JOB members!!! We retained 77 members, gained an additional 23 new members and
have 7 students on board. A special thank you for all those honorary members over the years and all
that you have accomplished for our organization. WELL DONE!!
Thank you for letting me have the honor of being NLPA’s Vice-President for the past two years.
Much appreciated. I enjoyed all the friendships and encouragement from each of you. Again,
Jody L. Weinmeister
NLPA Vice-President
NEBRASKA LEGAL PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION
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MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 23, 2016 Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary
Call to Order. The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Legal Professionals
Association was held on Saturday, January 23, 2016 via teleconference. The meeting was called to
order at approximately 10:04 a.m. by President, Kathy Eidenmiller.
Kathy Eidenmiller welcomed everyone in attendance at the Board meeting and Kathy Bass, CP, read
the Mission Statement and Standing Rule No. 17.
Roll Call. Roll call was taken by President, Kathy Eidenmiller, as follows:
Roll Call of Officers:
Present/Absent
Kathy Eidenmiller, President Present
Jody Weinmeister, Vice President Present
Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary Present
Kathy Hubbell, Treasurer Absent
Sherry Mitchell, PLS, Parliamentarian Present
Roll Call of Chapter Representatives and Chapter Count:
Present/Absent Chapter Count
CNLP – Sarah Lautenschlager Present 6
LPAWN – Jody Weinmeister Present 1
LLPA – Kathy Eidenmiller Present 2
OLPA – Donna Olson Present 8
Total 17
A quorum was established.
Other Chairpersons/Members/Guests Present: Lisa Bryan, Beth Christ, Sharon Huber, Merry
Johnson, Sandy Kendall, Bonnie Kudron, Karen Niedfelt, JoAnn Oseka, PLS, Debbie Ritter, Jean
Roeder, Valentina Saavedra.
Officer Reports:
President: Kathy wished everyone a Happy New Year and all the best in NLPA’s 2016 endeavors.
“I hope it’s a good year for you and your families.
We’ve turned the corner and we’re in the homestretch for the NLPA year. We have something each
month now, so it is a busy time. January is this meeting, February is close of nominations, March is
Spring Seminar and then April is convention. This is our busiest time, so please let me know if there
is anything I can do to help.
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And, finally, I want to send out a high five for all the new members! It’s one of our most important
goals and it’s a tough challenge in that we are trying to compete with every other thing that takes our
members’ precious time. So thank you for your continued diligence. Please let me know if there is
anything I can do along the way to help!”
Vice President: Jody Weinmeister reported the following membership numbers. There are a total of
114 members.
CNLP 19
LPAWN 4
LLPA 44
OLPA 47
Jody also reported that there again is a discrepancy between the numbers received from the NLPA
Treasurer and the numbers from the chapter Vice Presidents. Kathy Eidenmiller asked all of the
chapter Treasurers and Vice Presidents to reconcile their chapter counts and report back to Jody
Weinmeister.
Secretary: Kathy Bass, CP reported that she sent a sympathy card to CNLP member, Karen Niedfelt
on the passing of her husband.
Treasurer: Kathy Hubbell was not in attendance. Kathy Eidenmiller distributed the Treasurer’s
Report. The balance on September 30, 2015 was $11,550.85 and the balance on hand on January 21,
2016 was $11,621.06. There were receipts in the amount of $851.93 and disbursements in the amount
of $781.72.
Parliamentarian. Sherry Mitchell, PLS, has submitted the revised by-laws and standing rules to
Shelly Nielsen to put on the website.
Committee Reports
1. Annual Convention. JoAnn Oseka, PLS & Sandy Kendall with CNLP stated that they had
submitted a draft of the registration form and asked for feedback. It was requested that the
deadline for room reservations be added to the registration form. “Knowledge is the Key” is
the working theme of the convention and they reminded everyone that the dates are April 22-
24, 2016 at Fairfield Inn & Suites. The meeting room is reserved. Catering is part of the hotel.
The reservations for individual rooms should be made by March 22, 2016.
2. Audit Report / Budget. No report.
3. Historian. Sharon Huber had no report. She would like photos and information so she can
complete the scrapbook for Kathy Eidenmiller.
4. Legal Education. No report
5. Legal Professional of the Year. Bonnie has transferred the files to Christi Leupold.
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6. Nominations & Elections. Amber Bogle, CP – no report. Kathy Eidenmiller reminded
everyone that nominations close February 15, 2016.
7. Publication. Kathy Bass, CP has asked the Board to submit their reports for The SideBar to
her by April 15, 2016.
8. Roster. No report.
9. Scholarship. Kathy Eidenmiller reported that Amber Bogle, CP did not have a report but that
Kathy Hubbell had confirmed the 2nd semester enrollment of the scholarship winners and will
issue scholarship checks next week.
10. Seminar- Fall. Beth Christ gave the final report. There were 30 attendees. There were three
presentations with the first from the League of Women Voters of Lincoln. Mike Foley, the Lt.
Governor of Nebraska was the second speaker. Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike
Heavican spoke next and was followed by Lincoln City Council Member Roy Christensen.
The final speaker was Mr. Dave Landis, the Director of the Urban Development Department
for Lincoln. The seminar had in income of $750 and the expenses were $549. The profit was
$201 which was split between LLPA and NLPA.
11. Seminar – Spring. Sherry Mitchell, PLS and Bonnie Kudron stated that the topic was “The
Good, the Bad and the Ugly” The date for the Spring Seminar is March 5, 2016. It will be held
at Regency Lodge. There are three speakers lined up for morning, Mark Langan, author of
Busting Bad Guys, is a retired Omaha Police Officer and VP of Field Operations for the
Nebraska Humane Society. NLPA will do a community service project for the Nebraska
Humane Society. The seminar committee will disseminate a wish list for the Humane Society
and items will be collected at the seminar. The second speaker will be Ray Somberg, President
and Executive Director of the First Responders Foundation. The final speaker will be Rich
Hoffman, who will speak about Computer Forensics and Cyber Security. The NLPA Board
Meeting will start at 1:00 p.m. The registration fee will be $25.00. The deadline for
registration is February 29, 2016.
12. Website/Web Master. Shelly Nielsen was not present. Kathy Eidenmiller read Shelly’s report
and stated that we have had 1,323 visitors from October 1, 2015 to present, with 86% of those
being new visitors to the site. The renewal of the website fee is due in March.
13. Ways & Means –Debbie Ritter provided the list of prizes for the Annual Convention.
Framed artwork by Terry Redlin, valued at $200
Netbook, valued at $117
$100 cash
$75 cash incentive prize for top ticket seller
Jody Nedella moved to accept the proposed $492 budget for the raffle items which
Merry Johnson seconded. The motion carried
Chapter Reports
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CNLP. Sarah Lautenschlager reported that their chapter fundraiser was gift wrapping at
Conestoga Mall. Their chapter has had general meetings in November, January and February
with guest speakers and a holiday gathering in December. The March meeting is their annual
Bosses Night where the Boss of the Year and the Legal Professional of the Year awards will
be presented. CNLP is also excited to host the Annual Convention in April.
LLPA. Kathy Eidenmiller stated that the chapter had general meetings with speakers at their
November and January general meetings and a holiday party in December. Upcoming events
are LLPA elections in March and Bosses’ Night on April 7th at The Nebraska Club. LLPA
currently has 44 members.
LPAWN. Jody had nothing to report. LPAWN currently has 4 members.
OLPA. Donna Olson reported that November’s general meeting had a presentation about
CASA. The Holiday party was held at Fernando’s and the community service project benefited
Lutheran Family Services. OLPA received the Outstanding Volunteer award from the Omaha
Bar Association will receive their award at a dinner on February 22, 2016. The membership
drive is in February with a special meeting. OLPA currently has 47 members.
Old Business
1. Status of LPAWN - Jody stated that she had contacted previous members to ascertain their
interest in renewing their membership. The previous members did not express any interest in
rejoining LPAWN. The LPAWN chapter had been dissolved by operation of law in 2011 by
the Secretary of State for nonpayment of taxes. There being no interest in restarting the chapter
at this time, the chapter will be officially disbanded at the end of the fiscal year. Jody and
Charlotte Williams will meet with an attorney to discuss the process as well as decide how to
liquidate the chapter’s remaining funds. Any members wishing to be members-at-large of
NLPA, will be welcomed and encouraged to do so.
2. Letter from Kevin Simnick – The Board chose not to respond to his letter.
3. Sharing Website Expense/ Link – There was a lively discussion about more ways to utilize
the NLPA website including posting employment opportunities. As Shelly Nielsen, the
website chair, was not in attendance, the discussion was tabled until the next Board meeting.
New Business.
1. Budget for Spring Seminar – Bonnie Kudron stated they OLPA is planning for 30 registrants
at $25/ea. The primary expenses will be food and speaker honorariums. Sherry Mitchell, PLS
talked the Regency Lodge into dropping the room deposit. Proposed expenses are $849.
OLPA anticipates a loss at about $100 to the NLPA for the seminar. Bonnie Kudron moved
to accept the proposed budget for the seminar and Valentina seconded the motion. The motion
carried. Bonnie reminded the Board that speaker Mark Langan will be selling his book at the
seminar, there will be an OLPA raffle and we will be collecting items for the Nebraka Humane
Society.
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2. Budget for Annual Convention – The budget for the Annual Convention was presented.
Bonnie asked about budgeted amount listed for boodle bags as the items for the boodle bags
are usually donated. It was explained that the expense for the boodle bags is dependent on the
number of attendees and may not be that high. The seminar committee was waiting on
confirmation of donations from other sources. Jody Nedella moved to accept the proposed
budget for the Annual convention which Sarah Lautenbaugh seconded. There being no further
discussion, the motion carried.
3. Floral arrangment charges – Sherry Mitchell, PLS moved that NLPA pay the credit card
charge for the memorial flowers for Dick Niedfelt, Karen Niedfelt’s husband. Bonnie Kudron
seconded the motion. The motion carried.
4. Legal Aid letter/invitation – Tina Scully received a letter inviting NLPA members to donate
their time and talents. Kathy Eidenmiller will circulate the letter so each chapter can respond
accordingly.
5. Upcoming deadlines – Kathy Eidenmiller reminded everyone of the deadlines already
discussed during the meeting as well as the deadline to get reports in for the Convention
booklets of March 15. It was also decided to make that the deadline for The SideBar
(previously set for April 15) to make it more convenient for everyone submitting such reports
6. NLPA funds to Chapters for Seminars – Kathy Eidenmiller proposed some options for
fronting funds for the seminars and convention to the hosting chapters. Discussion ensued and
most attendees suggested that this would be too much work for the NLPA treasurer.
7. State Acknowledgement for Service – Kathy Eidenmiller proposed a way to acknowledge
members for their service to the NLPA. Valentina Saavedra talked about OLPA’s OSCAR
award for service/participation. Discussion continued and it was tabled for the next Board
meeting.
Ronald McDonald House – Bonnie Kudron reminded the membership to collect the pop-tabs for the
Ronald McDonald House since it is a state-wide project now. NLPA has a long way to go before
collecting one million pop-tabs.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at approximately
12:28 p.m. The next Board Meeting will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2016 immediately following
the Spring Seminar.
__________________________________________
Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary
On February 4, 2016, Sherry Mitchell, PLS moved to accept the January 23, 2016 NLPA Board
meeting minutes as corrected. Kathy Bass, CP seconded the motion and the motion carried.
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NEBRASKA LEGAL PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION
MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETING ON MARCH 5, 2016 Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary
Call to Order. The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Nebraska Legal Professionals
Association was held on Saturday, March 5, 2016, immediately following the Spring Seminar at the
Regency Lodge’s Alpine Room in Omaha, Nebraska. The meeting was called to order at 1:07 p.m. by
President, Kathy Eidenmiller.
Kathy Eidenmiller welcomed everyone in attendance at the Board meeting and Kathy Bass, CP, read
the Mission Statement and Standing Rule No. 17.
Roll Call. Roll call was taken by President, Kathy Eidenmiller, as follows:
Roll Call of Officers:
Present/Absent
Kathy Eidenmiller, President Present
Jody Weinmeister, Vice President Present
Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary Present
Kathy Hubbell, Treasurer Absent
Sherry Mitchell, PLS, Parliamentarian Present
Roll Call of Chapter Representatives and Chapter Count:
Present/Absent Chapter Count
CNLP – Sarah Lautenschlager Present 4
LPAWN – Jody Weinmeister Present 1
LLPA – Kathy Eidenmiller Present 2
OLPA – Donna Olson Present 14
Total 21
A quorum was established.
Other Chairpersons/Members/Guests Present:
Mary Baker, Amber Bogle, CP, Lisa Bryan, Theresa Hartwig, Lynda Henningsen, Sharon Huber,
Sandy Kendall, Bonnie Kudron, Tanya Kuenning, Karen Niedfelt, Nadine Ostrow, Jeanne Roeder,
Valentina Saavedra, Cherie Sempek, PLS, CLA and Carol Sperry.
Officer Reports:
President: Kathy Eidenmiller thanked OLPA for hosting the Spring Seminar. She reminded everyone
that the Annual Convention will be held in Grand Island and looked forward to seeing everyone there.
She also reminded everyone that the deadline for both convention booklet and The SideBar was April
1, 2016.
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Vice President: Jody Weinmeister reported the following membership numbers. There are a total of
109 members.
CNLP 20
LPAWN 4
LLPA 40
OLPA 45
She recommended the chapter treasurers contact the state treasurer to reconcile the membership
numbers. She felt that the disparity between the chapter membership and state membership counts
were due to the dues not being sent to the state in a timely manner.
Secretary: Kathy Bass, CP reported that she sent a Thinking of You card to OLPA member,
Kristine Flott, on her illness.
Treasurer: Kathy Hubbell was not in attendance. Kathy Eidenmiller distributed the Treasurer’s
Report. The balance on January 21, 2016 was $11,621.06 and the balance on hand on March 3, 2016
was $10,496.11. There were receipts in the amount of $0.52 and disbursements in the amount of
$1,125.45.
Parliamentarian. Sherry Mitchell, PLS, provided copies of the Standing Rules and Bylaws. They
are also available on the website.
Committee Reports
14. Annual Convention. Sandy Kendall with CNLP stated that the chapter is ready for the
convention. “Knowledge is the Key” is the theme of the convention and they reminded
everyone that the dates are April 22-24, 2016 at Fairfield Inn & Suites. The meeting room is
reserved. Catering is part of the hotel. The reservations for individual rooms should be made
by March 22, 2016.
15. Audit Report / Budget. No report. Kathy Eidenmiller will help Kathy Hubbell work on the
budget for the next meeting.
16. Historian. Sharon Huber had no report. She would like photos and information so she can
complete the scrapbook for Kathy Eidenmiller.
17. Legal Education. No report.
18. Legal Professional of the Year. No report.
19. Nominations & Elections. Amber Bogle, CP. Amber received one nomination for Kathy
Eidenmiller as President. She also stated that she had received nominations for the Vice
President and Secretary, but was still needing a nominee for Treasurer. She was hoping to
have a full slate of officers for the elections at the April meeting.
Kathy Eidenmiller had previously accepted the nomination for President. There being no
further nominations from the floor for the office of President, a voice vote was called. Kathey
Eidenmiller was elected by voice vote.
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20. Publication. Kathy Bass, CP has asked the Board to submit their reports for The SideBar to
her by April 1, 2016, which is the same deadeline as the convention booklet. Kathy Bass will
confirm with JoAnn Oseka, PLS who is producing the convention booklet.
21. Roster. No report.
22. Scholarship. Amber Bogle, CP has received about 10 applications so far and expects more
before the deadline.
23. Seminar – Spring. Bonnie Kudron stated that there were 43 paid registrants for the seminar.
The income from the seminar was $1,075 from registrations and $250 from the Omaha Bar
Association. She was still waiting for a full reconciliation of expenses but anticipated the
expenses to include the catering for breakfast and lunch, the honorariums for the three speakers
and for the screen. She expected to see an income of $160.53 which will be split between
NLPA and OLPA. Bonnie thanked everyone for their contributions to the Nebraska Humane
Society. Cherie Sempek, PLS, CLA will deliver the items.
24. Website/Web Master. Shelly Nielsen was not present. Kathy Eidenmiller read Shelly’s report
which stated between January 1, 2016 and February 26, 2016 there were 370 users, 22.4%
were returning users. The domain name and the hosting site are both to be renewed on March
19, 2016. The cost for the domain name is $18.17 and the hosting fee is $83.88. Shelly
encouraged the chapters to consider the proposal being discussed to combine the websites into
one website. Bonnie Kudron moved, and Jody Weinmeister seconded a motion that the domain
and hosting fees be paid for another year until a decision is made.
25. Ways & Means – Sarah Lautenschlager reminded the chapters to use the red tickets when they
sell the raffle tickets. The prizes for the raffle are a framed Terry Redlin print from Bartenback
galleries; a Nextbook Flex 9 with a keyboard and $100 cash. There is also a $75 cash incentive
prize for the person selling the most raffle tickets.
Chapter Reports
CNLP. Sarah Lautenschlager reported the February monthly meeting was held at the Saddle
Club and the speaker was Casy Smith from DHHS and her presentation was “Protecting our
Children Through Foster Care.” On March 3, CNLP held their Bosses Night at Fonner Park.
The Boss of the Year was Judge Mark Young and the CNLP Legal Professional of the Year
was Karen Niedfelt. Goldilocks wll be on trial for the 3rd graders on May 5th & 6th. Fifteen
schools will participate in the trial. The next meeting will be hosted at Karen Bortz's home for
the annual tea party for installation of officers. CNLP is also preparing for annual convention
on April 22-24.
LLPA. Kathy Eidenmiller stated the February 11th general meeting was hosted by members
from Wolfe Snowden law firm. Pastor Tom of People’s City Mission spoke about “Who and
where are Lincoln’s Homeless?” Donations were collected. Upcoming events are the LLPA
elections on March 10, and Bosses’ Night on April 7 at the Nebraska Club.
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LPAWN. Jody is waiting until Charlotte Williams returns to take action on the disposition of
the chapter.
OLPA. Donna Olson reported the February general meeting was the membership meeting
held at Valentino’s. The speaker was Catherine M. Swiniarski, who spoke about "Legal
Documents and More: Protecting Yourself and Your Family." OLPA was joined by Kathy
Eidenmiller. The March general meeting will feature the OLPA elections. The Annual Awards
Banquet will be held on April 20th. The May general meeting will be at Do Space, a new
digital library and technology center. On May 3, OLPA will be participating in Law Day.
OLPA judged the essay contest for 8th graders and the theme of the essay will be on the Miranda
rights, since 2016 is the 50th anniversary of the Miranda decision. OLPA was awarded a
Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Omaha Bar Association and Lynda Henningson
received the same award for The Daily Record.
Old Business
4. Websites – State & Chapter – Lisa Bryan. A proposal was put forward to combine the NLPA
and chapter websites. The membership discussed the different options for the structure and
control of the combined website. Kathy Eidenmiller suggested that NLPA pay for the
statewide website and each chapter would maintain their sub-site. Some of the concerns
brought forward were administrative access to the site and training for the members. Kathy
Eidenmiller would like to discuss more fully at the April meeting and call a vote at that
meeting.
5. Acknowledgement of Service – Kathy Eidenmiller – proposed a President’s Foundation
Award – to acknowledge those whose work has shown deep commitement, extra effort and
contributed to the growth and success of the NLPA. Proposed point structure. Discussion
ensued. Proposed that the current NLPA President and Vice President work with the chapter
Vice Presidents on the structure of the proposed award. Proposal will be made at the next
board meeting.
New Business.
8. Legal Education Chair – Kathy Eidenmiller spoke with Kristine Flott, the Legal Education
Chair, regarding the position. They discussed the possibility of expanding the role to help with
seminars and be a resource. The state could advance financial assistance to each chapter to
front the seminar expenses for the chapter.
9. Shirts – Kathy Eidenmiller will go forward with ordering a few NLPA shirts to wear at
convention to garner more interest in shirts.
10. 990 – Filings – Sherry Mitchell reminded chapters to file on time.
Ronald McDonald House – Bonnie Kudron reminded the membership to collect the pop-tabs for the
Ronald McDonald House since it is a state-wide project now. She stated that the current collected
count is 270,500. NLPA has a long way to go before collecting one million pop-tabs.
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There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at approximately
2:53 p.m. The Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016, following the seminar.
__________________________________________
Kathy Bass, CP, Secretary
On February 4, 2016, Sherry Mitchell, PLS moved to accept the March 5, 2016 NLPA Board meeting
minutes as corrected. Kathy Bass, CP seconded the motion and the motion carried.
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TREASURER’S REPORT – Kathy Hubbell
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PARLIAMENTARIAN’S REPORT – Sherry Mitchell, PLS
As Parliamentarian of NLPA this past year, I have advised the President and other members on
procedures when asked. At the board meeting held on October 3, 2015, proposed revisions to the
Bylaws and Standing Rules were approved. The revised Bylaws and Standing Rules were
forwarded to Shelly Nielsen to put on the website and I provided copies to officers and
chairpersons at the board meeting held on March 5, 2016. I was in attendance at all board meetings
and I appreciate having been appointed by Kathy Eidenmiller to serve the association in the
capacity of Parliamentarian.
Sherry Mitchell, PLS
Parliamentarian
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CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES’ REPORTS CNLP— by Merry Johnson-President, for Sarah Lautenschlager, Chapter Rep
The focus for CNLP for the past year has been
getting acquainted with a few of the organizations in
our community that are working for the sake of
children. Very interesting and enjoyable guest
speakers have been enjoyed. All of our meetings are
held at 6:00 p.m. with dinner at various venues.
November: Attorney Vince Dowding was our
guest speaker and his topic was “Mediation For The
Sake of Children.” Mr. Dowding’s presentation was
enjoyed at the Saddle Club.
December: Our Christmas celebration always
includes our spouse and this year we enjoyed dining at Texas T-Bone prior to enjoying the sounds
of Christmas at Heartland Event Center with Mannheim Steamroller.
January: The Honorable Arthur Wetzel spoke to our group on “Protecting Our Children in
Court” which was presented at The Liederkranz.
February: Our speaker was Casey Smith from DHHS and she enlightened us on
“Protecting Our Children Through Foster Care. This meeting was held at Perkins.
March: March is designated each year as our Bosses Night event. This event was held at
the beautiful Fonner Park Club House. CNLP members provide finger foods for the social hour.
The Honorable Mark Young was named Boss of the Year and our own Karen Niedfelt was present
Legal Professional of the Year.
April: Amy Bennett presented an informative meeting with her topic being “What is Casa
All About?” This presentation was made at the home of Karen Bortz. We enjoyed our 3rd annual
Tea Party after the presentation by Ms. Bennett and we then held our installation of officers for
the new term.
Our final meeting prior to taking the summer off will be held at Perkins in May. This will
be the first meeting our newly elected officers will preside and the meeting will be to plan our
agendas for the up-coming term.
We look forward to seeing you all at convention!
LLPA—Kathy Eidenmiller, Chapter Representative
Our November 12th General Meeting was hosted
by Cline Williams members and brought Brent Wolzen as
the speaker. Brent is an immigration attorney in Lincoln
and he spoke about the journey that led him to be
interested in law and specifically immigration. After
spending time in Japan he returned to Nebraska to study
law. He later initiated sister-cities between people of Ozu,
Kumamoto and the communities of Arapahoe and
Hastings Nebraska. Brent also spoke about changes and
challenges with immigration laws and how Nebraska
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immigrant families are affected by them - from attaining driver’s licenses to housing to visiting
their home countries.
LLPA ended the year with its Holiday Party on December 10th which was hosted by Baylor
Evnen. Tina Scully coordinated the evening which included drinks and hors d’oeuvres (homemade
by her mother), a White Elephant Gift Exchange and a Red/White Wine Fight (I’m still not sure
how/if you can “lose” at this game). Guests were encouraged to wear red & white. It was a lively,
festive evening and fun was had by all.
2016 opened with our General Meeting on January 14th hosted by Johnson Flodman
members. Speaker Bruce Spence did a PowerPoint presentation about the history of his company,
Firespring, and how they attained B Corporation certification. Companies must meet rigorous
standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. He shared
the good things companies can do to be profitable but yet give back to communities and employees
on various levels. Firespring is the only Nebraska company with B Corp status.
February 11th was the General Meeting hosted by members from Wolfe Snowden law firm.
Pastor Tom of People’s City Mission spoke about “Who and Where are Lincoln’s Homeless?”
Donations were collected, specifically diapers and gloves/scarves for guests of the City Mission.
LLPA elections were held on March 10th with a full slate of candidates. Our newly elected
officers for the 2016-17 term are:
Amber Bogle, President
Tina Scully, Vice President
Mary Douglas, Secretary
Alicia Hunt, Treasurer
Sandie Smith, Chapter Representative
OLPA—Donna Olson, Chapter Representative
May 20, 2015 – We took a tour of the Omaha Street School and learned how they meet the
challenges of at-risk youth by providing personalized education, a moral code and tools for self-
sufficiency.
June 17, 2015 – We met at Children’s Hospital and Medical Clinic where Katie Wiebels spoke to
us about Guardianship/Consent issues the hospital faces in caring for children.
Ways & Means – We asked members to tell all their friends and families about efundraising to
buy magazines, gift cards, etc. with 40% of the purchase going to OLPA. We also sold Savings
Sidekicks and Village Inn Pie Certificates. Our profit for the pie certificates was $187.50.
September 16, 2015 – Maria Mendoza from Justice for Our Neighbors was our guest speaker. She
spoke about the issues of becoming a U.S. citizen and how the process works.
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October 21, 2015 – Attorney Michael F. Kinney was our presenter. He spoke to us about the
Nebraska Bar Association’s Solace program, helping attorneys, their families and staff in times of
medical need or a death.
November 18, 2015 – OLPA hosted the CASA for
Douglas County. Kim Thomas, Executive Director,
and Chris Watson, Recruitment and Operations
Director, spoke to us about the CASA program and
their increased need for volunteers.
December 2, 2015 – Our Holiday Party was held at
Fernando’s.
Community Service - We collected children’s shoes,
boots, new and gently used clothing which we donated
to Lutheran Family Services to hand out to families for
the holidays.
January 20, 2016 – Christopher Roth, an attorney with Kasaby & Nicholls, LLC, spoke to us about
representing the accused and questioning the victim’s story: cross-examining in a sexual assault
case.
February 17, 2016 – Our membership drive was held at Valentino’s. We had a great turnout and
garnered some new members. Catherine N. Swiniarski with Elder Care of Omaha was our guest
speaker. She presented on Legal Documents and More: Protecting Yourself and Your Family.
March 16, 2016 – Election of Officers for OLPA was held at Spaghetti Works. The
Nominations/Elections Committee consisted of Sheryl Agner, Carol Sperry and Shirley
Simmonds. The Officers Elected for the 2016-2017 term are:
President Lynda Henningsen
Vice President Shirley Simmonds
Secretary David Raddatz
Treasurer Lisa Bryan
Chapter Representative Donna Olson
April 20, 2016 – OLPA’s 19th Annual Awards Banquet, Installation of Officers and Boss
Appreciation Banquet will be held at Arbor Hall.
LPAWN—Jody Weinmeister – Chapter Representative
This will be the last report for LPAWN. It saddens me greatly that we are dissolving Legal
Professionals of Western Nebraska. Charlotte and I are meeting next Wednesday to take care of
everything. I wish I had the strength, time and will power to get it up and going again, but working
by myself I must be honest I don’t. Thank you for all who attended seminars and conventions out
in Western Nebraska. We had some good times out here and will miss it dearly.
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NEBRASKA LEGAL PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION
2016 ANNUAL MEETING AND SEMINAR FAIRFIELD INN, 805 ALLEN DRIVE, GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA APRIL 22 - 24, 2016
KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY Friday, April 22, 2016, FAIRFIELD INN ON THE PATIO OUTSIDE THE BREAKFAST ROOM 7:00 - 10:00 Meet/greet Saturday, April 23, 2016, Conference Room 8:30 - 9:00 Registration 9:00 - 9:15 Welcome 9:15 - 10:15 How Laws are Made or Changed Mark Porto 10:15 - 10:30 Break 10:30 - 11:30 How Your Grammar Reflects On You George Ayoub 11:45 - 12:45 Lunch 1:00 - 2:00 New Mandatory/Minimum Sentencing Sarah Carstensen, Chief Deputy Hall County Attorney 2:15 - 4:00 NLPA 2016 Annual Meeting 5:30 - 6:30 Social hour (no alcohol will be served) 6:30 - 8:30 Banquet and Installation of Officers Lori Moss, Mistress of Ceremonies Sunday, April 24, 2016, JoAnn Oseka’s home at 3820 Warbler Road, Grand Island 9:00 – 11:00 Executive Board Meeting Guests staying at Fairfield Inn will have a hot breakfast included with their hotel registration. We will offer muffins and drinks during the morning break. For reservations at Fairfield Inn, please call 1-308-381-8980 by March 22, 2016. Rooms are available at a cost of $99.95. Expenses of continuing education (including registration fees, travel, meals, and lodging) taken to maintain and improve professional skills may be tax deductible, subject to certain limitations. Consult with your tax advisor for a determination.
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REGISTRATION Please check events you will attend: _____ $55 Full Scrip Ticket (includes all events) _____ Friday Night meet/greet _____ $25 Saturday only seminar and lunch _____ $20 Banquet Only/Additional Guests _____ Sunday Meeting at JoAnn Oseka’s home Make checks payable to NLPA and mail with registration form by April 17, 2016, to Sandy Kendall, 2421 Sheridan Ave., Grand Island, NE 68803. Cancellations cannot be accepted after April 20. If you register but do not attend, you will be responsible for the registration fee. Business casual attire (no jeans) is recommended. Name: ______________________________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ Firm: ______________________________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________ Email Address: _____________________________ NLPA Member: _____ yes _____ no Chapter: __________________________________ _____ Check if CLE certificates are needed For reservations at Fairfield Inn, please call 1-308-381-8980 by March 22, 2016. Expenses of continuing education (including registration fees, travel, meals, and lodging) taken to maintain and improve professional skills may be tax deductible, subject to certain limitations. Consult with your tax advisor for a determination.
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NLPA 2015-2016 RAFFLE FLYER
Item #1
Item #2
$1.00 PER TICKET – 6 TICKETS FOR $5.00 USE RED TICKETS – INDICATE ON YOUR TICKET YOUR CHOICE OF #1, #2, OR #3
IF NOT INDICATED THE TICKETS WILL BE PLACED IN #1 THERE WILL BE A $75.00 INCENTIVE PRIZE
EVENING WITH FRIENDS By Terry Redlin
Courtesy of Bartenbach Galleries
8.9" Nextbook Flexx 9
$100 CASH
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COMMITTEE REPORTS
Spring 2016 Seminar — Final Report
The 2016 NLPA Spring Seminar was held on March 5, 2016 at the Regency Lodge in
Omaha. The theme of the seminar was, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” Forty-four people
registered for the seminar; forty-two were present.
Speakers for the seminar were:
Mark Langan – Retired Omaha Police Officer and Vice President of Field
Operations for the Nebraska Humane Society. The title of Mark’s presentation
was, “Busting Bad Guys.”
Ray Somberg – President and Executive Director of the First Responders
Foundation. The title of Ray’s presentation was, “What you Should Know
About the First Responders Foundation.”
Rich Hoffman – Assistant Vice President of Forensics and Lead Examiner of
UnitedLex. Rich spoke to us about Computer Forensics and Cyber Security.
As part of the seminar, Mark Langan sold and autographed his book, “Busting Bad Guys,”
NLPA collected Wish List items for the Nebraska Humane Society, and as a fundraiser, OLPA
raffled off three themed baskets and a fleece blanket.
The finances of the seminar break down as follows:
INCOME 43 paid registrations @25.00 $1,075.00
Donation from the Omaha Bar Association 250.00
Total Income $1,325.00
EXPENSES Speaker honorariums (3 @ 25.00) $ 75.00
Food bill 1,089.47
Total Expenses $1,164.47
PROFIT $ 160.53
(Half to Omaha $ 80.27
As chairs for the 2016 NLPA Spring Seminar, we would like to thank all of the OLPA
members for their contributions of time, talent, snacks, door prizes and raffle items. Without you,
and without all of those who attended, the seminar would not have been the success that it was.
Thank you very much.
Bonnie Kudron
Sherry Mitchell, PLS
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Historian—Sharon Huber While I try to find information on chapter websites, I am still requesting that Historians or
Chapter Reps forward to me any material you would like included in your Chapter’s section of the
Scrapbook. Newspaper articles, clippings, photographs, programs, etc. would be great. You can
email at [email protected] or send to my home address. Thank you.
Legal Education – Kristine Flott
Can You Pass an American Civics Test?
Quick, how many amendments does the U.S. Constitution have?
What is the economic system in the United States?
Who is the commander in chief of the military?
What is the name of the speaker of the House of Representatives?
Why does the flag have 50 stars?
A new bill introduced by State Senator Bob Krist of Omaha, a military veteran, wants to
require Nebraska students to pass an American civics test to graduate from high school. A large
number of American’s can’t answer basic questions about their government and how it operates.
Legislative Bill 868 would require Nebraska students to pass an American civics test before
they could graduate from high school. Students would have to correctly answer at least 70 percent
of the questions before they could graduate. They would be allowed to take the test multiple times,
starting in the ninth grade. Students would be tested using questions from the naturalization test
given to people seeking citizenship in the United States. This is part of a national Civics Education
Initiative to get similar legislation passed in all 50 states by the 230th anniversary of the signing
of the Constitution in September 2017. Nine states have already passed the legislation so far,
according to the Joe Foss Institute —Arizona, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Tennessee, South Carolina, Louisiana and Wisconsin.
If you would like to read more on this, please see the article written by Martha Stoddard in
the Omaha World Herald: http://www.omaha.com/news/legislature/new-bill-would-require-
nebraska-students-to-pass-civics-test/article_e3e05abd-ac24-5811-940d-702b8dd499d3.html
* Answers to questions above: (Here are the answers to the questions posed earlier: 27
amendments, capitalist or market economy, the president, Speaker Paul Ryan, a star for each of
the 50 states.)
Test your knowledge further – take the test:
http://www.omaha.com/news/legislature/q-a-nebraska-legislature/article_35887118-
1635-51e5-9f09-0cdfc15ea04f.html
What is a Caucus?
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In the US, some states have caucuses instead of having people go to the polls to cast their
votes to narrow down the field to just one political candidate for each party. At the caucuses,
Republicans gather together and Democrats gather together and decide among themselves who the
candidate will be for their party. It happens in small local political party meetings where people
can give speeches or have discussions, and sometimes people can change their minds and switch
to support different candidates.
Everyone is talking about caucuses right now because the Iowa caucuses are Monday, and
it's the first time voters get to weigh in on the 2016 presidential candidates. But this is Grammar
Girl, not Political Girl, so I wondered, why do we call these meetings caucuses.
Native American Origin?
The word caucus appeared in Boston in the 1760s, but nobody knows for sure where the
word came from. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, caucus may have come from an
Algonquin word cau′-cau-as′u, which meant “one who advises, urges, or encourages.”
Greek Origin?
In 1763, John Adams mentioned a social and political organization called the Caucus Clubb
in his diary, and clubs in New England were known to adopt Indian names sometimes, so that
would fit with the Algonquin origin. However, the Online Etymology Dictionary speculates that
it's also possible the club got its name from the Greek word kaukos, which means “drinking cup.”
The Native American origin seems most likely, but really, nobody knows for sure.
John Adams and the Caucus Clubb
Adams' description of the Caucus Clubb sounds a lot like caucuses today though. He
described it like this in his diary:
“They choose a Moderator, who puts Questions to the Vote regularly, and select Men,
Assessors, Collectors, Wardens, Fire Wards, and Representatives are Regularly chosen
before they are chosen in the Town.” (He wrote his diary during a time when English
writers capitalized a lot more words than they do now.)
Verbing Nouns
A caucus was originally a thing, a meeting. It was a noun first, but because it’s common to
verb nouns in English, by the 1780s, caucus was also a verb. In addition to attending a caucus, you
could then simply caucus or say that you were caucusing. By 1823, you could be a caucuser, and
by 1885, you could be caucusified: in a Speech in the House of Lords, Earl Wemyss described a
caucusified atmosphere.
And that's your tidbit. Nobody knows for sure where we got the word caucus, but it started
in America and may be derived from a Native American word that means “one who advises, urges,
or encourages.” Happy caucusing.
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Taken from: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar
Legal Professional of the Year I am pleased to announce this year’s nominees for the NLPA Legal Professional of the Year! The
winner will be announced at the convention on April 23, 2016.
Karen Niedfelt - CNLP
Karen has 50 years of total experience in the legal profession, the first portion working in the
banking industry. She currently enjoys her position at Central Community College and the
opportunities it provides. Karen previously held the office of treasurer for the CNLPA over
multiple years, as well as the office of Parliamentarian for the NLPA. She is actively involved in
her community, including at her church, her college, the Stuhr Museum, and the Prairie Pioneer
Genealogical Society.
Lori Dymek - LLPA
Lori brings 36 years of experience to the legal profession. Most recently, she has worked at Baylor,
Evnen, Curtiss, Grimit & Witt since 2009 as a Legal Assistant. She has been a member of NLPA
for 28 years, and was previously a member of the CNLPA, winning their Legal Profession of the
Year award. Lori says, “When asked why I got into the legal profession, I told them I was too
young to know better – but seriously, I fell in love with the law and realized this was my calling.
I enjoy the feeling we get when helping clients with their problems and learning new ways to
achieve that.”
Deb Hubbs - OLPA
Deb has experienced nearly 40 successful years in the legal profession, spending the last 36 with
her current employer, Erikson|Sederstrom. Deb earned her Bachelor of Arts from Doane College.
She is a very active member of OLPA, currently serving on the board. She previously held the
office of Secretary. Deb is an active member of her community, going so far as to earn the
Volunteer of the Year award from the Omaha Tennis Association in 2014. Fun fact: Deb is a
United States Tennis Association certified umpire.
Scholarship CNLP SCHOLARSHIP REPORT
2016-2017
CNLP received nine applications for our $250.00 scholarship. Thirty-seven announcements of the
CNLP scholarship were mailed to the surrounding area schools as well as Central Community
College. Judges for the CNLP scholarship were: J.D. Sabbott of Shamberg, Wolf, McDermott &
Depue; Jon Hendricks of Dowding, Dowding, Dowding, & Urbom; and Bill McLellan, VP
Business Development, Equitable Bank.
Diana Elias of Lincoln, Nebraska had the highest score. She received 83 points out of a possible
90. A congratulatory letter and certificate were sent to Diana along with an invitation to our
membership night tea party. Ashley Bykerk of Grand Island was selected as the alternate.
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Diana attends Lincoln High School and plans to attend Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln,
Nebraska this fall. She plans to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in law
enforcement.
We are pleased to present Diana with the 2016-2017 scholarship from Central Nebraska Legal
Professionals.
Teresa Hartwig
Scholarship Chairperson
NLPA COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT- Save Aluminum Pop Tabs for Ronald McDonald House
Your aluminum can tabs go a long way with Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha.
Those tabs, when recycled, help defray their operational costs. The seemingly insignificant tab
you use to open your soft drink is important to
Ronald McDonald House Charities. Last year,
they recycled an estimated 35 million pop tabs.
Those tabs came from school children, businesses,
community organizations and people just like you.
You can help! Saving pop tabs is easy. Simply
remove the tab off your can, save them and when
you have a large amount, give them to Bonnie
Kudron or any OLPA member. It is that simple
for you to help a great cause.
OLPA is a “Thanks a Million” club member (donating more than one-million tabs, and the
NLPA is now working to become a “Thanks a Million” club member.
NLPA members can give their collected can tabs to Bonnie Kudron or any OLPA member.
Why tabs and not the cans?
Why pop tabs and not the entire can? Because pop tabs are smaller and easier to store. The tabs
are also paint free and pure aluminum, which increases their value and profit when recycled. So
pull your tabs for the Ronald McDonald House, but be sure to recycle the cans.
Here are some fun facts about tabs:
One pound of tabs is about 1,500 tabs
Each tab measures about 1 inch, so there are 12 tabs – when placed end to end — in a
foot and 40 in a meter.
To reach a mile, when placing tabs end to end, would take 63,360 tabs.
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1 million tabs end to end would stretch 16.75 miles.
Teach children about recycling and the importance of protecting our environment
Use the tab program in conjunction with your math program. For example, how many
tabs would it take to equal 2 miles, or 8 pounds?
Help teach kids how to count in tens, hundreds, even thousands
Use the can tab program as an example of community involvement and community
service
Children can design and decorate their individual containers to take home
Mission
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC) is to create and operate
programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. We strive to do so by
providing opportunities that strengthen children and families during their most difficult and
challenging times. The specific purpose of the Ronald McDonald House Charities is to support
access to care, reduce financial burden, provide psychosocial support keeping families together,
enhance clinical experiences and outcomes and help families resume normalcy.
With over 5,500 lodging nights annually, normalcy is established by providing warm beds, hot
showers, meals, laundry facilities, family friendly kitchens, playrooms, and a playground — all
of the basic essentials of home. Additionally, the Ronald McDonald House environment
includes a built in support system where families are able to connect with each other forming an
interdependent network of resources and collaboration. The cost to provide our services is
approximately $120 per night, per family, and no family is ever turned away due to inability to
pay the $10 suggested donation.
FAQ’s
Who can stay at the Ronald McDonald
House?
The families of seriously ill or injured
children who are receiving treatment in an
Omaha Area Hospital. The family must
reside more than 25 miles from the House
(620 S. 38th Ave., Omaha, NE 68105)
How much does it cost?
The Ronald McDonald House of Omaha
suggests a donation of $10 per night per
family. If possible, the first night’s donation
is requested when the family checks in. This
includes lodging, volunteer-prepared meals, laundry facilities and other services. If the family is
Medicaid eligible, Medicaid will often cover your stay.
What are the hours of the Ronald McDonald House?
The House is accessible to families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The office is staffed 24
hours a day.
How big is the Ronald McDonald House?
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The Ronald McDonald House can accommodate 20 families each night in private suites. Each
family has a private room, which includes a bathroom. The house includes a large kitchen,
several television rooms, a laundry room, a computer room, a linen closet and a playground.
Are meals provided?
Volunteers provide lunch and dinner for our families on a daily basis.
How long do families stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Omaha?
A family’s length of stay cannot exceed 15 months. The RMHC Board of Directors may grant an
extension. The appeal will be considered if it is determined that the health issues of the patient
will be resolved within a short time frame. The request for an extension must be written by the
parents. This should be accompanied by a statement from the child’s primary physician
indicating the estimated length of recovery. A family whose length of stay has expired may
reapply for admission if such request is made after the family and patient has returned to their
permanent residence and the patient has been released from the current medical situation by a
physician.
Who can use the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms?
Any family who has a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at an Omaha hospital.
How much does it cost to use the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms?
There is no charge for the Family Rooms. Families can sit, enjoy a snack or drink, watch TV,
talk with other parents or our Family Room volunteers or log on to one of our computers, all free
of charge.
What is the relationship between McDonald’s and Ronald McDonald House Charities of
Omaha?
While McDonald’s the corporation is a partner in care, Ronald McDonald House Charities is
neither owned nor fully funded by McDonald’s. Local McDonald’s owner/operators and their
customers provide approximately seventeen percent of our operating budget. Several
owner/operators and McDonald’s corporate employees volunteer as members of our Board or
serve as guest services or meal volunteers. McDonald’s customers show their support by
donating change in the restaurant donation canisters.
How is Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha funded?
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha is solely operated with funds raised
through donations made by individuals, organizations, and corporations in the communities we
serve.
How can I support RMHC Omaha?
By donating. We could not operate without generous donations from our community. While we
ask families to contribute $10 per night for their stay, no family is ever turned away for inability
to pay. It costs us $97 per night to provide a room for a family. Your donations help bridge that
gap.
By volunteering. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of the House – and the reason we
accomplish so much with such a small staff. Come join us!