Events

We are celebrating our annual Christmas Party at Senator Mark Mann's home: From 6:00pm to 8:30pm, you will receive an email with his address. Remember to bring your spouse or guest. We will have gift exchange bring wrapped gift under $30 if you wish to participate. Merry Christmas!!

Thank you again for Bricktown Rotary’s sponsorship of our Annual Client Holiday Party on Friday, December 12, 2pm – 4pm at our office.  I’ve ordered the supplies for our client gift bags and have enough funds left to purchase refreshment.   Following is information about volunteering, so feel free to share with your members. Anyone who would like to volunteer should contact Alicia Terry aterry@upwardtransitions.org.  Annual Client Holiday Party Sponsored by Bricktown Rotary is Friday December 12, 2pm-4pm at Upward Transitions located at 1134 W Main St, OKC, OK Any volunteers that can help will be greatly appreciated.

WE DO NOT MEET AT CHARLESTON'S....CLUB MEEING and Board Mtg to follow at The Lamp Post.

Northwind's will be having their Annual Christmas Party on Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 1pm their location is: 3718 N Portland Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73112

Please join us at 4415 N Classen, OKC, OK 73118 at 12:30pm to load up Christmas Gifts stored at Key Realty and Property Management and help deliver them to Northwinds.  We will have Christmas Songs and Gift Giving to the Northwinds patients!! Anyone who would like to volunteer can come!!

In honor of the Christmas holiday we will not meet. Please enjoy your family and friends. May your season be blessed. Please enjoy this holiday break!!

Sleigh Bells Ring are you listening? HO Ho Ho Merry Christmas!!

Good Bye 2025...Hello 2026!! New Year’s Day is observed every year on January 1, the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. If January 1 falls on a weekend, the federal government may observe the holiday on the closest weekday. Enjoy the New Year by Watching Parades, making New Year Resolutions and let's not forget... eating black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread is believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. Time to excercise and watch Football! Out with the Old and in with the new, may your new year be blessed with success, good health and happiness!

We will be meeting at Charleston's in Bricktown

Please welcome District 5750 District Governor, Mukesh "Mack" Patel will be speaking about District 5750 and his vision for the 2nd half of the Rotary Year!

Welcome our very own Patrick Gaines!

Patrick will discuss what is going on at the Capital this session.

Gaines Government Services, Inc. Patrick began his long and varied political career over twenty-five years ago with his first job out of college. As a new graduate from the University of Oklahoma, Patrick went to work on the staff of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Patrick served in this position for over three years, becoming well versed in government and the political process. He has also served as the Legislative Director for the State Insurance Department, State Director for the Oklahoma Republican Party and as an assistant to Higher Education Chancellor Hans Brisch. In 1999, Patrick left state service and began his government relations career working for a statewide medical group. In 2003, Patrick formed his own consulting company, Gaines Government Services, Inc. His clients include a wide variety of professions and industries. Patrick is dedicated to community service serving on numerous boards and commissions. Patrick is also the owner of Gaines Properties LLC, a real estate investment firm in Oklahoma. He and his wife Jennifer Carr Gaines are the proud parents of boy/girl twins.

Rotarian of the Day: To Be Determined! :)

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!

Tonight we welcome back one of our own, the wonderful JOHN MALGET!

He will be sharing info on Chain Reaction Ministries. Since 2009 they have repaired over 7,000 gently used bikes to return to the community to close the gap on the privilege of transportation.

They provide opportunities by recycling bicycles back into the community.

The gift of a bike comes with the gift of transportation for those who could not otherwise afford the luxury. Chain Reaction Ministries repairs gently used bicycles and returns them to the community through homeless assistance programs across the nation.

Tonight’s Speaker: Rachel Newman, Community Health Manager at RestoreOKC

The Bricktown Rotary Club of OKC is pleased to welcome Rachel Newman from RestoreOKC, an asset-based community development organization dedicated to restoring health, the environment, reconciliation, and equity alongside neighbors in Northeast Oklahoma City.

Rachel is a proud Oklahoma City native who earned her degree in Global Health with a minor in Environmental Studies from Georgetown University. She returned home to pursue her dream job as Community Health Manager at RestoreOKC, where she works to connect with local residents and create programs addressing the social determinants of health.

Her passions for health promotion, food access, and equity continue to guide her work and studies as she pursues a Master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. We’re excited to hear how Rachel and RestoreOKC are making a difference in our community!

Rotarian of the Day:  London Oluwami

Rescheduled! :)

Tonight's speaker is Chase Parsons, Executive Director and Co-Founder at OKC Dream Center.

The Oklahoma City Dream Center exists to reach, rescue, and restore people isolated by poverty in OKC by meeting basic needs, preventative programs for at-risk kids and youth, relationships and referrals through our Community Resource Center, and our Dream Living Transitional Program for men.

Their vision is to build a community of resilient people who have been transformed by God’s love. The people whose lives are impacted by their programs go on to share that love with others, serving in the community and making transformation possible for others.

Rotarian of the Day: Jeff Gabelsberg

Please welcome Jennifer Nakayama!  Jennifer has served as the President and CEO of Downtown OKC Partnership since February 2023. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous six years as President and Executive Director of the Waikiki Business Improvement District (WBID) in Hawaii. Nakayama holds a bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and a master's degree from the University of California, Davis. As a licensed professional engineer (P.E.) in civil engineering, she skillfully combines her technical expertise with her executive leadership abilities.

Since joining Downtown OKC Partnership, she has concentrated on building strategic relationships and utilizing partnerships to improve downtown Oklahoma City's environment for residents, employees, and visitors. Her commitment to public spaces drives her collaborative vision, connecting residents, businesses, and government to reinforce community ties. She currently oversees a team of 13 staff members and oversees a budget exceeding $5 million across seven organizational structures.

Nakayama maintains active engagement in community governance, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum in an ex-officio capacity, as Secretary and Executive Committee member on the International Downtown Association's Board of Directors, and as a member of the John Rex Charter Schools Board of Directors.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN OKC PARTNERSHIP Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership (DOKC) is the 501(c)(6) nonprofit urban place management organization created in 2000 and is responsible for creating and championing a vibrant and diverse downtown through placemaking, advocacy, and promotion. DOKC also manages and maintains the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) and fosters an environment of creativity and culture through public art and activation via Downtown OKC Initiatives. The BID delivers street-level amenities such as street cleaning, landscaping and trash pickup, produces events, and provides additional services such as marketing, branding and programming. For more information, visit DowntownOKC.com

Lets welcome Mark Beffort. Mark Beffort serves as Chief Executive Office of Robinson Park, Newmark Robinson Park and Chief Operating Officer and Portfolio Manager of Square Deal Investments. His commercial real estate career began in Oklahoma City in 1985, after graduating from Washburn University.  After several years as a successful commercial real estate broker, Mark began building a personal investment portfolio in addition to assisting several private and public entities build a strategic partnership.  MARK BEFFORT mbeffort@robinson-park.com O: 405.879.4757  C: 405.850.6600 204 N Robinson Ave., Suite 700 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 For nearly 40 years he’s built a solid reputation as a trusted partner and leader in the community.  Mark’s robust portfolio is valued at over $2 billion and spans across 15 million square feet across nine markets including Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Rogers, Arkansas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Winston-Salem and Charlotte, North Carolina; Kansas City, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; and New York City, New York. The portfolio started as a Class A high rise office strategy, but has since grown and diversified through hospitality, multi-family, industrial and storage investments. Mark’s leadership reaches beyond his real estate portfolio and into the lives of those that he mentors and employs.  Between Newmark Robinson Park and Square Deal Investments, Mark employs over 200 individuals with jobs that provide competitive compensation, benefits, and strong company culture. During the pandemic, Mark led a strategy to buy hotels during a distressed market.  The acquisition of 5 hotels during 2021 preserved over 350 jobs. Mark’s professional and community involvement includes Trustee for Washburn University Foundation, and Casady School. Chair of the Council of Bond Oversight for the State of Oklahoma, Myriad Gardens Foundation, and the Oklahoma City Chamber Board of Directors. 

Calling all Rotarians and Friends. WE will be Meeting at "The Goat's Nut" located at 5229 NW 5th St, OKC, OK 73127 at 5:30pm.  We will Bring in Food and drinks.  We will be using this evening to support one of favorite Community Service project for TEEM, The Employment, Education, Ministry for prisoners returning to the work force. We will be putting together 50 TEEM Hygiene bags. Please be on the look out via email for what Hygiene Items to bring. If you have a friend invite them to our casual meeting where we place out hygiene items in bags.

Please welcome Mark Ivey from NewView Oklahoma!  Mark will share his personal journey with vision loss, offering insight into his eye condition and how it led him to NewView Oklahoma. He will highlight NewView Oklahoma’s mission and services, discuss common misconceptions about blindness — particularly in today’s workforce — and introduce the world of adaptive sports for individuals who are blind.  

About the Speaker:

Mark Ivy was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and moved to Edmond to attend the University of Central Oklahoma. He has spent the past 12 years with NewView Oklahoma, where he serves as Financial Development & Adaptive Sports Manager.

After losing his eyesight to retinitis pigmentosa, Mark found a passion for adaptive sports. He has trained with the USA Paralympic Goalball Team and competes nationally in beep baseball. Mark started the NewView Oklahoma Beep Ball team, the Lookouts in 2022. Their first World Series ended with a 15th-place finish. This past year? They shattered expectations finishing 6th in the world at the National Beep Baseball World Series. Mark was also selected to play as an All-Star at the 2025 Ultimate BeepBall tournament at George Mason University.

Mark is married to his wife, Alyssa, a first-grade teacher, and is the proud dad of seven-year-old Evelyn June, who says, “Blind dads are super fun.” He’s also a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan— and despite what his wife says, he still considers himself funny.

Please welcome Rian Smoak to our club tonight! 

As an Oklahoman native, Rian Smoak is an accomplished endurance athlete and keynote speaker whose journey began with a single childhood moment that taught him the power of following through. After growing up with limited resources and learning to persevere through personal adversity, Rian went on to achieve what first inspired him at age twelve: competing in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, the very race that lit the spark in him as a kid. That experience not only fulfilled a lifelong dream but also reshaped his sense of purpose and the impact one person can make.

 His personal life now centers on inclusion, adaptive athletics, and helping others reach finish lines they never thought possible. After completing his own Ironman journey, Rian began guiding athletes with disabilities — including Bryce, who lives with cerebral palsy, and Carla, who lives with autism — through triathlons and the Ironman World Championship. These partnerships transformed his mission into one of advocacy, leadership, and community impact. Today, as a speaker, Rian challenges audiences to identify their own “follow through” moment and take meaningful action that creates a more inclusive world.

Let's welcome Ashley Simpson!

Ashley will share how the Cavett Kids Foundation is empowering children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses to build character, develop coping skills, and form connections through their programs. She'll also highlight how partnering with organizations like Bricktown Rotary Club helps to expand their impact and create even more life-changing experiences for these incredible Oklahoma kids.

Ashley Simpson serves as the Executive Director of the Cavett Kids Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children and youth with chronic and life-threatening illnesses to thrive beyond their diagnosis. Her journey with Cavett Kids began in 2012 as an intern providing art therapy services at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, where she witnessed firsthand the healing power of connection and creativity. After joining the team as Program Director, Ashley was named Executive Director in 2018. Under her leadership, Cavett Kids has expanded its programs and reach across Oklahoma, improving the lives of thousands each year through medically supported camps, programs, and hospital outreach services.

Born and raised in Tulsa, Ashley earned her Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma State University and dual master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A nationally licensed Art Therapist (ATR), she brings both professional expertise and heartfelt vision to her leadership. Her work has earned wide recognition—Cavett Kids was named Nonprofit of the Year for three consecutive years by OKCYP (OKC Young Professionals) and won the Crystal Milestone award. While Ashley has been honored among OKC’s 50 Most Influential Young Professionals and voted one of Oklahoma City’s Most Powerful Young Professionals for five consecutive years. She was also featured among Hundred Magazine’s “Top 100 Wildly Capable Women” which honors not just achievements but a woman’s character.

Grounded in the belief that every child deserves to feel accepted, supported, and never alone in their battle, Ashley has led the mission of Cavett Kids for over 13 years with authenticity and a deep commitment to community impact. She lives in Edmond, Oklahoma with her husband, Devin, and their three pets (two Golden Retrievers and a cat)—Finn, Andy, and Zazu— and enjoys painting, traveling, boating, time at Lake Eufaula, and cheering on OSU sports all while still campaigning for adding another Golden Retriever to the family.  

Please welcome Kevin Richardson, Owner/Operator of Seniors Helping Seniors Central Oklahoma. His presentation is entitled, "The Silver Tsunami".

Kevin will share how their unique in-home care model supports older adults who wish to remain independent while living in their own homes. Their services focus on companionship and practical daily assistance, helping seniors navigate the challenges that can come with aging.

During this presentation, attendees will learn how trained caregivers provide support with everyday activities such as light housekeeping, meal preparation, transportation, and companionship. The organization also emphasizes thoughtfully matching caregivers with clients to build meaningful relationships that enhance quality of life.

This talk will highlight how compassionate in-home support can help seniors maintain dignity, independence, and connection within their communities while also providing peace of mind for families.

Please welcome Dr. John Otto!

Dr. John Otto is a veterinarian, educator, and community advocate whose career has combined animal welfare, service, and rehabilitation. A graduate of Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, he owned and operated University Animal Hospital in Norman for over 30 years.

Dr. Otto is the founder of Friends for Folks, a nonprofit prison dog training program that provides second chances for both shelter dogs and incarcerated individuals. His work has inspired similar initiatives at correctional facilities across Oklahoma and was featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary The Dogs of Lexington.

In addition to his work with Friends for Folks, Dr. Otto has led efforts to improve spay/neuter access, expand shelter medicine education, and champion pet therapy for veterans. His service has earned him numerous honors, including the American Red Cross Hero Award, OSU’s Distinguished Alumnus Award, and Veterinarian of the Year in 2022.

Let's Welcome Carey A. Lee, the Director of OKC Walk to End Alzheimers. She will share with us information about the Walk and how we can help!!

Attached is the enrollment link:  https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=19860&pg=entry 

Time:
Party at 8:30 a.m. Ceremony at 10 a.m. with the walk to follow.

 Location:
Scissortail Park- Great Lawn (Love's Stage area)
300 SW 7th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73109

We will be meeting at 5:30 PM at the Bricktown Charleston's for a Club Social!

Please welcome Tim Haws, Chief Operations Officer for The 34 Project, a non-profit adaptive fitness and strength training center. 

The 34 Project, Inc. is a nonprofit organization focused on improving the quality of life in our community through adaptive fitness and exercise based training to those with neurological challenges due to injury or disease. 

The 34 Project seeks to maximize the potential for each individual suffering from spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders by utilizing strategic exercises and providing the proper stimulation for an optimal functional outcome.

The 34 Project provides strength and fitness training using specialized adaptive equipment and trainers with experience handling those dealing with paralysis. While our organization's main goal is fitness and strength for an underserved, unique part of our community, we believe this is a springboard for our clients to re-engage with the world. Clients who once felt trapped at home have begun to drive, work and engage in outdoor activities for the first time since they were injured. 

Tim earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and his master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University in 2000. Tim retired in 2018 from public education having served Bethany Public Schools and Putnam City Schools.  He is married to Lisa Haws, an attorney at the Oklahoma Tax Commission.  They have three sons; Jackson, Grayson and Hudson.

More details to come!

Please welcome Senator Mark Mann and Dave Bond, Vice President for Advocacy with the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA).

Senator Mann will discuss the most recent legislative session.

Dave will present an overview of State Question 832 and its potential impact on Oklahoma’s economy, employers, workers, and consumers. The discussion will cover concerns about rising costs, reduced job opportunities, and added pressure on small businesses and agricultural operations across the state.

Since 2011, Dave has advocated at the Oklahoma Capitol on issues of free enterprise, limited government, individual initiative, and personal responsibility. He has been referred to in the Tulsa World as "a prominent Oklahoma anti-tax lobbyist."

Prior to advocacy, Dave worked in Oklahoma elections, including as executive director of the Republican State House Committee, and also with the firm A.H. Strategies and the inaugural campaign of Corporation Commission Jeff Cloud.

Dave is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and a member of the Choctaw Nation. He and his wife Marsha have two sons and live in Oklahoma City.

Our Rotarian of the Day is Jordan Maldanado.