CLUB MEETING HIGHLIGHTS - March 28, 2023
Fleming Centre, Beamsville
President Brenda Kell-Kotwa opened the meeting and welcomed special guest Town of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton + 19 Lincoln Rotarians.
She extended happy birthday wishes to Martha Kralt & Vernah Fleming; expressed appreciation & congratulations to RCL’s Environmental Committee on the launch of their very impressive NEW WEBSITE; & encouraged all club members to REGISTER for one or more events at District 7090’s CONFERENCE running April 15 through April 22. Brenda then turned the meeting over to the POD#2 team.
Rob Foster offered the invocation…
We the Rotarians are dedicated to the idea of service to maintain a high ethical standard in our business and profession and to dignity our vocation by enhancing international understanding goodwill and peace through people united in the ideal of service.
He followed with a toast to Lincoln Rotary, Town of Lincoln & the King.
Terry Kotwa’s POP (Point of Pride) consisted of his Rotary Club of Lincoln ‘elevator speech’ (1 min, 20 sec). He explained that First Canadian Place in Toronto has 72 floors. The elevator takes just one minute to get from the 1st to 72nd floor so he has challenged himself to shorten his speech to one minute.
The winning 50/50 ticket was held Anna Murre who missed pulling the winning ace.
Registrar John Maynard collected HAPPY BUCKS...
HAPPINESS abounded for SPRING + BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS popping up in gardens around town +++* HAPPY 29th ANNIVERSARY to Paul R & Gayle L-R! WELCOME BACK Andy F following your knee surgery.
* Bob G was happy that Registrar John let him in - he forgot his wallet. Bill W happily sported his 4-way test coffee mug.
* Lots of families happy to be coming & going… John K for his daughter visiting from Yellowknife; Nancy N for her family arriving from BC; Debbie K for Henry’s upcoming 5-day trip; Dave F for heading to the UK to pick up his granddaughter for a Florida vacation.
* Bruce Springsteen’s live tour this year is top of mind for John M.
* Joanne S is happy to have a shirt design for Tour de Benchlands participants.
* Margaret A happily recognized Mayor Easton for her great ‘draw’ - the largest attendance at a RCL regular meeting in recent weeks.
* Phil G was happy to contribute a HAPPY NICKEL to the pot.
UPCOMING MEETINGS/EVENTS
Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 7:30am - POD#3 Club Meeting @ FLEMING CENTRE, Beamsville
April 15-22, 2023 - Rotary District 7090 Conference Full Schedule - https://rotary7090.org/page/district-calendar-of-events/
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 - CLUB MEETING CANCELLED
Tuesday, May 9, 2023 - POD#4 Club Meeting @ FLEMING CENTRE
Tuesday, May 23, 2023 - POD#4 Club Meeting @ FLEMING CENTRE
Tuesday, May 30, 2023 - POD#4 Club Social (To be confirmed)
PROGRAM
Town of Lincoln Council 2022-26
with Mayor Sandra Easton & Councillor Anna Murre
Anna Murre began by expressing her appreciation for the breadth of experience she has gained as a Lincoln Rotarian. She explained that her Rotary experience served her well during her election campaign in Fall 2022 and continues now in her role as a Ward 3 Councillor.
With just six months under her belt as an elected municipal official, Anna offered a few observations…
- With the support of staff, the mayor and fellow councillors, she has slowly but surely been navigating the steep learning curve as a first-time councillor. “You don’t know what you don’t know. There’s a lot to know in preparation for making sound decisions."
- She enjoys connecting and chatting with constituents and listening to them too. In reaching out to her, most folks are interested in gaining information and clarification or simply airing their thoughts on issues affecting them.
- Communications is a priority for Council & staff as they encourage members of the public to subscribe to Town of Lincoln updates and stay tuned to its social media posts. For current initiatives, “Speak Up Lincoln” is the platform for public input to inform Council’s decision-making.
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Sandra Easton commenced her 3rd term as mayor following her acclamation during the municipal election in Fall 2022. She spoke of her “privilege” in serving as an elected municipal leader and how thankful she is for the great knowledge and experience she has gained as a result.
In focusing on “Who I Am”, Sandra noted that her immigrant father was the instigation for her drive to achieve, approach to leadership and investment in asset based community development. She explained that she personally subscribes to the following basic tenets in her role as mayor…
Strategic Planning - “It’s not about no. It’s about how to.” In meeting the needs of the community, it’s critical to apply incrementalism in planning what can be done and what’s affordable and when. She highlighted the Town of Lincoln’s assets in and above ground are currently valued at one third of a billion dollars.
Social Determinants of Health - the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine individual and population health. While grounded in sound research and evaluation, decisions must be made always with people in mind. The town’s tagline “Grow. Prosper. Belong” originated from conversations with people living and working in our community.
Nursing Model of Care Practice - The five steps of the “nursing process” has carried over from Sandra’s professional healthcare career. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention and evaluation are used cyclically and repeatedly as an invaluable tool in achieving optimal community care.
In all of this, Mayor Easton purports community focus not self-interest, which she likened to Rotary’s leadership.
To conclude, Sandra etched a vision for the future including an increase in shared services, investment in technology and focus on environmental stewardship. Post-COVID, Council is now refreshing its strategic plan, fine-tuning its policies and processes, protecting its assets and always getting work done. She suggested that this is all possible because of a strong council and its commitment to integrity.
Rob Foster thanked Sandra and Anna for spending time with Lincoln Rotarians and pushing awareness of what municipal government is about.
The meeting adjourned with all reciting the 4-Way Test.
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