We are all about kids & community!

Kiwanis Club of Southwest Omaha is part of the Kiwanis International Organization, which is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child at a time.

  • Would you like to become more involved while working with and assisting the youth in our community? 
  • Would you like to meet with community minded men and women while enjoying good food, conversation, and presentations shared by a variety of speakers within our community? 

Then come join us for lunch and get involved!

Kiwanis Club of Southwest Omaha meets the first, third and fourth Thursday of each month at noon at Corner Kick Cantina, 13806 P ST. 
Get Involved

Mental Health Grant

Through Kiwanis International, our club recently was awarded a grant to help support students at Rockwell Elementary.  Rockwell has a goal to help all teachers provide a Calming Corners in their classroom.  These areas will include a soft cushion, books, fidgets, calming tools and more.  With the help of Rockwell School Connect Community and the grant, we were able to provide the above supplies for each classroom. 
Items provided to each class room for their Calming Corner.
Kindergarten teacher receiving her supplies for the Calming Corner from principal, Laura Malcom.
Another teacher receiving the gifts.
One of the Calming Corners set up and ready for students!

Recent Club Projects

Our club supports the community in many ways. Recently, we have been hard at work with the following service projects.
Celebrate Education
Our club recently supported the Open Door Mission and Lydia House at their "Celebrate Education" picnic. Participating members included: John Krajicek, John Miller, Diana Wagner, Jed Johnston, and  Wendell Hockens.

Rockwell Student Council Celebration
Club members grilled hotdogs and provided chips and desert for students serving on the Rockwell Student Council. What a fun end-of-year celebration!
Staff Appreciation Gift Bags
Club members supported Rockwell staff by donating snacks, drinks and flower seeds that we presented to staff in reusable "Thank You" bags.  This was a School Connect Project in collaboration with Brookside Church and the Millard Public Schools Foundation.

Upcoming Meetings and Speakers

September 17, 2026
12:00 p.m. Corner Kick Cantina
13806 P Street
Melissa Hayes-Connolly-Director, OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's)

OLLI is at UNL and is a volunteer-driven adult-learning membership program.  It is designed for men and women 50 years of age and older. Partnering with the College of Education and Human Sciences, OLLI provides stimulating and varied noncredit educational opportunities. Along with great courses OLLI also offers many social and cultural events, interest groups, and travel opportunities. OLLI at UNL is one of 124 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes across the United States.

September  24, 2026
Annual Banquet- Tiburon Golf Club 10302 S 168th St 

Join us from 5:30 – 8:00 pm.  Cost: Meal Plan Members $21 Other Members and Guests $39. MENU: Buffet: Chicken Portofino & Stuffed Roast Beef Spring Green Salad, Herb Roasted Baby Red Potatoes, Roasted Seasonal Vegetables Cheesecake Bites

September 26, 2026
Love our Schools Day
8:30 am
Rockwell Elementary

Bring your gloves, trimmers, etc.  Looking forward to seeing you.

2025-2026 Club President

President Wendell Hockens has been a member of Kiwanis Club of Southwest Omaha since January of 2020. Wendell has served on the Board of Directors for three years, two as a director and one as the President Elect.  

Wendell enjoyed a lengthy career serving  the oil, agriculture and financial services industries.  His positions allowed him to live in many states, including Minnesota,  Kansas, Virginia, and Nebraska.  He and his family settled in Omaha in 1986. Wendell and his wife, Gala, have two children and three grandchildren.

If interested in learning more about our club and service to children in the Millard and Omaha area, please contact Wendell at wkhockens@gmail.com.

2025-2026 Club Year
Officers & Directors Installed

The Kiwanis Club of Southwest Omaha members elected their Club Officers and Directors at the Annual Meeting on May 2nd. These Officers and Directors were installed on Thursday, September 25, 2025 and began their new roles on October 1, 2025. 

Congratulations to the following members:

   President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Wendell Hockens
   President Elect/VP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Diana Wagner
   Past President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Andy Bradley
   Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rand Hansen
   Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ginger Hansen
   Director of Technology & Media . . .  Kara Hutton
   Board of Directors - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Becky Flint
                                                                     Tom Howe
                                                                     Dick Hovorka
                                                                     Jed Johnston
                                                                     Jerry Primm
                                                                     Terry Wilson
 
             Southwest Kiwanis Foundation Board
Director Britt Campbell through 9.2027
Director/ President Matt Taylor through 9.2026
Director Jed Johnston
Foundation Current Treasurer Rand Hansen
Foundation Current Secretary Ginger Hansen
Foundation Immediate Past President - Andy Bradley
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