The Wheel for November 29, 2018
Listen to Ryan Wheeler – Update on Project Neon and I-11
The Wheel
Ryan Wheeler, Project Manager for I-11 and Assistant Manager for Project Neon – Update on Project Neon and I-11
Ryan Wheeler has worked as a senior project manager for the Nevada Department of Transportation for the last 4 years. He is responsible for the scope, schedule, and budget of select major projects. His current assignments include the Garnet design-build project, the Brightline High-Speed Rail and an upcoming I-515 downtown project. Mr. Wheeler has participated in managing over $1 billion of construction projects for NDOT. Mr. Wheeler’s career before NDOT included some of the following:
- Managing and operating a civil engineering office in Mesquite Nevada
- Working as a construction engineer for Obayashi on the Mike O’ Callaghan and Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (aka Hoover Dam Bridge)
- Designing and constructing bridges and storm drain channels
- Operating heavy equipment
- Sandblasting rebar at the bottom of a drilled shaft
- Chipping concrete from inside a cement truck
- He is an elected official, serving as a board member for the Moapa Valley Water District
- He is a volunteer basketball coach for a middle school
- He is a father of five, and he is married to the most beautiful girl in the world
Message From The President
One of the items that I took away from the Rotary training seminar for incoming presidents (“PETS”) was the concept that your club is what your members want it to be. Stated another way, your club will tell you by its actions, what is important to it. So when people come to me and Shawn with ideas that they want to try, I listen to see if it fits under our umbrella. For example, Michale Cudimant approached the Board and me seeking support for a medical mission to the Philippines. The mission fit under one of Rotary’s six areas of focus, fighting disease and we had money in the budget for it. Michael’s mission and his report to the Club about it was a great success.
In 1996, Bob McBrien asked the President and Board whether we could do a project to help provide winter coats for needy children from Las Vegas. The project started off simply enough. One of the JC Penney’s agreed to host our kids and we had 35 children attend the first Santa Clothes. The first Santa Clothes was a success, but it wasn’t impactful enough. Under the guidance of Past Presidents Jim Hunt and Tom Krob, Santa Clothes steadily grew. When it became clear that the program exceeded the capacity of the Club, we did what Rotarians around the world routinely do, we asked other Rotarians for help. And, as Rotarians do, they answered the call for help.
We are in our 23 rd year of Santa Clothes. This year we are going to host 235 kids who were pre-screened by local charitable organizations at multiple JC Penny’s around Las Vegas. We will be joined by multiple Rotary Clubs: the After Hours Rotary Club, the Boulder City Rotary Club, the Boulder City Sunrise Rotary Club, The Central Rotary Club, the Downtown Rotary Club, the North Las Vegas Rotary Club, the Red Rock Rotary Club, the Spring Mountains Rotary Club, the Southwest Rotary Club and the Summerlin Rotary Club. Rotarians and children will pair up to shop for shoes, socks, underwear, pants, shirts and a jacket. When the shopping is done, the kids visit UNLV, where they engage in supervised sports activities with college athletes and cheerleaders. Following the games, the children gather for pizza and an inspirational talk in the Lied Auditorium. In addition, each child receives an age-appropriate toy or gift before returning home.
Santa Clothes is proof that this Club is filled with People of Action. I thank all of you for your continued support of this great project.
Scribe – November 21, 2018
Las Vegas Rotary Club Meeting: November 21, 2018
The Las Vegas and Kiwanis joint meeting was called to order. Kiwanian members assisted with the invocation, song and the Pledge of Allegiance. The Sergeant at Arms was Tina Bishop. President Jim welcomed everyone to the Kiwanis/Rotary 64th Annual Salvation Army Canned Food Drive and Thanksgiving Luncheon meeting.
- President Jim encouraged members to share the live stream of our meeting on social media to share our message and our Club with others;
- International Rotarians, visiting Rotarians and Guests of Rotarians introduced;
- Electronic voting for the 2019-2020 Board of Directors is online through 11/28;
- PP Jim Hunt announced the 23rd year of the Santa Clothes project is moving along and the children participating in the event this year are being given $250 each to shop, a wonderful increase from the prior years of $200, and more volunteer shoppers are still needed for the Grand Canyon and Meadows Malls;
- PP Dave Thorson reminded the club the 4th Quarter Wetzel program is rescheduled to Wednesday, November 28th at 3:00 p.m.; Marie Walsh reminded members that Breakfast With Books is 12/11 at Beckley and we have new T-shirts to wear; Michael Williams reminded everyone of the rewarding experience in volunteering at the Magical Forest 12/20;
- There was no raffle conducted but there is $4,033 ‘in the pot’ carried over to our meeting for 11/29;
- PP Jim Hunt introduced our speaker program, Kathy Olivier, Head Coach for the Lady Rebels at UNLV. Not only is Coach Olivier energetic and enthusiastic, but she brings a substantial and impressive background of leadership experience to UNLV (serving as head coach at UCLA for 15 years, leading the Bruins to a number of impressive accomplishments) and its athletics program, including the new facility and locker room shared with the Aces. She described her vision for the team and two of her players, Nicki Wheatly, and Mara Kemmer both spoke about their experiences as Lady Rebel players. Tickets to the Thanksgiving weekend basketball tournament were ‘gifted’ by Coach Olivier to a couple of club members;
- Major Randy Kinnamon of the Salvation Army thanked both the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs for their support of the Salvation Army and its food drive. The results of the Canned Food Drive were announced, and the Las Vegas Rotary Club, once again, ‘nailed it’ by raising $9,159.50 which translates to 101,954 cans, all well above our results from last year!! Truly an amazing and successful effort!
- The joint meeting was then adjourned.