Tim Hortons Bowl for Kids’ Sake is back for 2026, and this year we’re turning the lanes at Parkway Social into a PJ Party.
Whether you roll in wearing a cozy flannel set, your favourite onesie, or a comfy robe, this is your chance to support local youth while having fun bowling with friends, families, or coworkers!
Teams of 4 to 6 simply need to raise $300 per team to enjoy 1.5 hours of bowling, with funds supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara mentorship programs.
With 18 Lincoln Rotarians, 1 Visiting Rotarian, Marjorie Ettinger, RC Dunnville, 3 guests: Darren Roorda and Richard & Teresa Barich in attendance, President John Kralt called the meeting to order.
Representing Pod #5, Brenda Kell Kotwa offered the Land Acknowledgment. She followed with her Thought for the Day and reflected on a quote from Walt Disney, “All our dreams can come true; if we have the courage to pursue them.” As Rotarians, we have the opportunity to bring about change and we should not be afraid to pursue our dreams for change.
President John offered a toast to Rotary Clubs around the globe. For his Point of Pride, he shared news from the various Rotary Clubs of Lincoln across the world - i.e. Nebraska, California, UK, Australia, which fuelled his pride in the many ways in which our Rotary Club of Lincoln (Ontario) and other namesake clubs are changing lives.
50/50
Bob Groh had the winning ticket but pulled the 6 of clubs instead of the ace of spades. And so the pot grows!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jennifer Toews happily reported that the Lamplighter Tour Production Team has completed recruiting and assigning 32 actors for the upcoming production on Mother's Day weekend, May 8, 9 & 10, 2026. Weekly rehearsals take place at Providence Church (Beamsville) every Monday, 6-8pm. As for past productions, there is a role for every Lincoln Rotarian in lead up to and during that weekend. Jennifer asked club members to contact her to indicate their interest & availability - jennltoews@gmail.com
President John announced that Past President Joanne Serkeyn is recovering from her recent hip replacement surgery and extended healing wishes on behalf of all club members.
HAPPY BUCKS
Maria Derkacz – 3 Happy Bucks – She slipped and hit her head on Saturday but did not need stitches. She was going to leave for Cuba tomorrow, but her flight was canceled before she set off for the airport. She’s happy she didn’t get there and then not be able to get home, and happy that it’s only -4 this morning, not -17.
Margaret Andrews – Thanks for purchasing the chocolate hearts for Gift of Life.
Tressa Barich – Warmer weather is coming.
Richard Barich – Having an older child at home to help shovel the driveway.
Rob Foster – Just happy.
John M – Bryan Adams – so happy it hurts.
John L – Leaving for the Dominican tomorrow.
Phil Goodwin – With the Great Lakes mostly frozen, there is less chance of lake-effect snow.
Bill Wiley – Happy that Margaret brought the chocolate and reminded us of Valentine’s Day, and enjoying the Olympics.
Terry Kotwa – Super Bowl winners, the Seattle Seahawks.
Dale Hatch – Canada is doing great in the Olympics.
Brenda Kell-Kotwa – Son is away on campus to become a top-notch arborist.
Debbie Klassen – The person she has looking after her horses was able to get through the snow and ensure they were fed and well looked after.
Bob Groh – One day closer to spring.
Sue Foster – Lake-effect snow is still ongoing at the cottage, with snowbanks up to the roof, but happy the weather here is starting to improve.
Jennifer Toews – Happy our treasurer is so nice and is reimbursing her for Lamplighter expenses, and happy Lamplighter has cast all actors.
Marjorie Ettinger – Happy to be with people and not cats, as she has been cat-sitting. Shared the February 12 event the Rotary Club of Dunnville is hosting: Adam Shoalts, one of Canada’s most compelling modern explorers and bestselling authors. Tickets are $25.00.
Darren – Happy provided him with a Happy Buck.
Lindsay – Going skiing this weekend.
Special thanks to Lindsay for providing this content.
PROGRAM
Can AI be useful for Rotary planning?
Presenter: Lincoln Rotarian John Lundrigan
In a most enjoyable 20 minutes, John demonstrated the power of AI as a tool for planning a fundraising event. He began by sharing a PowerPoint presentation, which he generated with Chat GPT. He highlighted that an AI generated document is usually a good first draft but it’s important to remember that the content may not be correct so you need to be vigilant in checking for accuracy. He likened AI to an intern who works fast but sometimes makes things up.
AI is a very sophisiticated algorithm - a “neuro network”. It uses data and algorithms to identify patterns, make predictions, and adapt to new information. The “network” builds its knowledge by what we ask it to do. Consequently, it’s important NOT to put sensitive or personal information into AI tools.
Perplexity is a free AI-powered answer engine that provides accurate, trusted, and real-time answers to any question. Using Perplexity, John requested a template for planning a fundraising event. It took 5 seconds for a comprehensive draft plan to appear on the screen. He noted that this search would have taken much longer using Google because of the need to refer to a number of different websites. From the draft that appeared, John used a series of prompts to drill down into the planning details. To this end, he distributed a one-page handout, Quick Start Guide to AI Planning Prompts. The prompts were categorized as follows:
Event Types/Ideas
Event Plan Structure
Timeline & Checklist
Communications & Promotion
Risk, Safety & Logistics
He emphasized that asking the right questions and knowing what answers are right are key to using AI efficiently and effectively.
In summary, John encouraged us to give AI a try for creating club events. In just 10 seconds, we’ll have a comprehensive planning template to modify for our purposes. His final advice on using AI…
It’s a great tool but don’t trust it 100%
All depends on what you put into the prompts
Prompts will give you prompts & follow-up questions
Use AI for drafts – final decisions rely on team judgment
