About Us

  • Omaha Town Hall Lecture Series is committed to enhancing the cultural life of the metropolitan area. We present experts speaking on topics from entertainment to history, politics to art, geography to journalism. Our speakers often aim to teach, sometimes entertain, and always inform.

    Our organization began in the summer of 1964 when Dick Walter, Omaha’s impresario, and seven area women decided it was time to initiate a lecture series. Representatives of different lecture bureaus came to Omaha from New York to meet with the board and to describe what they had to offer. The opening speaker in the series was Bennett Cerf.

    The idea of presenting speakers of varying backgrounds who had made an impact, often presenting controversial issues, grew, attracting people who enjoyed the stimulation of ideas.

    Initially the lectures were held at Peony Park. The usual format for town halls across the country was to hold a morning lecture followed by lunch, a format which our Town Hall series embraced.

    The venues for our lectures and luncheons have changed through the years, but the quality of our speakers has remained consistently impressive. As a result, Omaha Town Hall Lecture Series has attracted membership from a large geographic region encompassing both sides of the Missouri River.

  • 2023-24 Omaha Town Hall Board

    President: Bev Westerberg

    President-Elect: Stacy Wilson

    Secretary: Amy Knuth

    Treasurer: Kathy Mrla

    VP Board Coordinator: Jennifer Betger

    VP Lecture Coordinator: Mary Lynn Reiser

    VP Meal: Ann Marie Bausch

    VP Membership: Tami Giitter

    VP Speaker Selection: Carol Zink

    Advisor: Jill Thomsen

    Board Assistant: Ashley Horgan

    Board Dinners: Joani Mullin & Jennifer Peterson

    Book Sales: Jackie Nelson

    Courtesy: Maureen Turner

    Luncheon Seating: Ann Christiansen

    Luncheon Reservations: Elaine Anderson

    Membership Assistant: Julie Lyons

    Newsletter: Suzan Rohrig

    Photographer/Historian: Kathy Johnson

    Speaker Selection: Phyllis Choat, Kathi Hesser, Alison Johnson, Lori Pirnie

    Sponsorship/Publicity: Jane Pohlman

    Ushers/Greeters: Becky Dietle

    Virtual Membership Asst.: Beth Wooster

    Website/Social Media: Kacey Lempka