HAPPENINGS since Lincoln Rotary's most recent regular meeting on October 9, 2024...
SUNRISE GREENHOUSES ROAD TRIP - Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Special thanks to Sue Foster for this article and photos
As an alternative to a regular club meeting Lincoln Rotarians went on a road trip to visit and tour Sunrise Greenhouses located at 3324 Second Avenue in Vineland Station. Sunrise has been very generous to Lincoln Rotary and we wanted to go and see all the fantastic things they have been doing. The operation functions out of 1,000,000 square feet of growing space. Rodney Bierhuizen the business owner provided a tour following a brief meeting in their board room. Sunrise's specialty is potted plants, featuring unique, exclusive hand-picked plants. Additionally, their business involves the development and implementation of greenhouse equipment with their onsite robotics lab for the development of equipment.
Over the years they have had many additions that not only make them more efficient, but also "greener". They currently house two large sets of solar panels which have contributed to taking 500,000 pounds of CO2 out of our breathing air to date. Two large silos are housed on the main Sunrise property catching rainwater and storing it for watering plants both in the greenhouses and fields without touching the city water system. Additional storage of this water is held in their greenhouse basement where they can then treat (naturally derived treatment protocol), reuse and recycle their water. They also use blackout material to lessen light pollution and they recycle their many plastic pots. They have become almost 100% biological in the growing of plants. This means they do not use pesticides or other harmful chemicals that can pollute our environment making them a bee friendly facility. In partnering with others like the Ontario Farm Environmental Coalition, they aim to be as environmentally sustainable as possible.
SPECIAL CLUB MEETING - Wednesday, October 23, 2024, 7pm, Fleming Centre, Beamsville
Adapted from minutes attached to email from Rob Foster - October 27, 2024
In Attendance: Maria Derkacz, Robert Foster, Sue Foster, Phil Goodwin, Dale Hatch, Brenda Kell-Kotwa, Debbie Klassen, Terry Kotwa, John Kralt, Martha Kralt, John Maynard, Nancy Neville, Joanne Serkeyn, William Wiley, David Wood (15) Represented by Proxy: Margaret Andrewes, Lindsay Dressel, Vernah Fleming, Alice Klamer, John Lundrigan, Barbara Mitges, Anna Murre (7)
Declaration of Conflict of Interest: Mat Miller who was not in attendance.
Once quorum was established, Club President Joanne Serkeyn called the meeting to order and thanked everyone for attending. She invited John Maynard to set the context for the single item of business... Proposal for a $100,000 donation by the Rotary Club of Lincoln / Foundation towards the capital costs of the new theatre that was built as part of the new West Niagara Secondary School.
Background
• The new Secondary School was opened in September of 2023 • A new theatre was built costing $6.8 million • Community was asked to contribute $2.6 million
Rotary Club of Lincoln has followed a due diligence process that started in 2021 Committee formed (John Maynard, Martha Kralt, Terry Kotwa); Meetings followed with Principal Mat Miller and DSBN to discuss: - Event opportunities - Partnerships with students / staff - Logistics of the theatre - Recognition From these discussions, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed and presented to all parties. In April 2024, a recommendation to move forward to next steps was made by the committee to RCL Board of Directors and approved MOU Key Terms • Recognition of Rotary Club of Lincoln at the Ovation Donor Level (top level) • Plaques outside of the 2 green rooms • Thanked in event program • Recognition as a sponsor of an event in the first two years • 10-year club use of theatre, which includes priority bookings up to 18 months out, waiver of rental / admin fees for theatre (3 nights / days), music concerts (4 weeknights annually), community event (1 per year), storage of theatre equipment • Custodial fees dependent on the event • Sound technology provided by Niagara College The Donation The club is in a financial situation where a lump sum payment can be made for this donation. Together with financial commitments that remain for both for Rotary Park and required reserves, the recommendation from the Finance Committee to the Rotary Club of Lincoln Board, which was approved by the Board at the meeting of October 7, that this donation be made with minimal risk to overall club finances
MOTION (RCL-SGM-01 23/10/24)
That the Rotary Club of Lincoln membership approve the Memorandum of Understanding between the Rotary Club of Lincoln and the District School Board of Niagara / West Niagara Secondary School; And further, that the Rotary Club of Lincoln approve $100,000 to be donated to the District School Board of Niagara / West Niagara Secondary School towards the capital cost of the Theatre.
Moved by John Maynard, Seconded by Martha Kralt |Approved unanimously
WORLD POLIO DAY- Thursday, October 24, 2024, Lincoln Town Hall
Lincoln Town Councillor Lynn Timmers joined Lincoln Rotarians Rob Foster, Sue Foster & Barb Mitges to raise the End Polio Now flag. Special thanks to the Town of Lincoln for their continued support for this annual commemoration.
COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING EVENT -Saturday, November 2, 2024
Community volunteers including Lincoln Rotarians planted over 700 native trees in the Val Fleming Butterfly Garden located on the southwest corner of Rotary Park in Beamsville. The planting of this mini-forest is an initiative of Ontariogreen Conservation Association and the Town of Lincoln... "Together, we’re working towards our goal of planting 1,000 new trees across Lincoln this year to combat climate change and grow our urban tree canopy. Every tree planted helps reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and enhance local biodiversity."
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WORLD POLIO DAY
