Visit the Lincoln Rotary's ECO-COMMITTEE BOOTH for a free native tree and shrub give away to Lincoln residents.There are a limited quantity of native trees and plants to be distributed on a first come, first served basis!
Check out all the other booths and fun kid friendly activities provided by the Green Herons, Lincoln Library and Ontariogreen.#rotarycluboflincolnON
Club Meeting Highlights CONTINUED - February 24, 2026
PROGRAM: Gerry Fitzsimmons Classification Talk
Gerry was born in Toronto in 1957. As one of three siblings, he was named after Gerry James, a pro football and hockey player - one of his dad’s favourites. Over the years, he has had many turning points while living in various locations in Southern Ontario and for a short time in Alberta. His educational experiences through childhood, his teens and young adulthood took him on many twists and turns. Initially Gerry pursued vocational trades and ended up at Sir Sanford Fleming College in the electrical technician program. Upon graduation, Gerry was recruited by IBM and Ontario Hydro. His choice to take a higher paying job at Ontario Hydro as a union electrician had everything to do with his desire to own a Camero Z28 with a manual transmission.
Inspired by a fellow team member on the Peterborough Pagans Rugby Club, Gerry decided to quit Ontario Hydro and apply to the University of Western Ontario to study engineering. However, getting accepted at UWO had Gerry engaged in a most intriguing series of pursuits and intersections, which he related in detail, flavoured with his inimitable humour.
In September 1978, he headed to UWO and it was in his first-year chemistry class that he was paired with Dana as his lab partner. Upon graduation, a job with Schlumberger in the Alberta oil fields was short lived because of the recession in January 1982. So, for a year, Gerry worked for Ontario Hydro in the nuclear business until he got a chance to be rehired by the oil company. He accepted and with Dana, his now partner for life, moved to Red Deer, Alberta in Spring 1984.
Gerry related that working in the oil patch was the hardest thing he has ever done. But, while he and Dana very much enjoyed their life as newlyweds in Red Deer, they missed their family in Ontario and made the move back in mid-1986. Living in Unionville, they raised their two children, Kaitlyn and Connor. Dana stayed working with her company and Gerry began with an air conditioning business but moved several times corporately over the last four decades.
This April, Gerry and Dana will celebrate their 42nd anniversary. Their recent move from Unionville to Beamsville happened because their children, their spouses and grandchildren all reside here now.
Club President John Kralt welcomed Rotarians in attendance in addition to guests, Perry Hartwick, Walter Sendzik, Teresa & Rich Barich, & Neil Andrews. Following the usual opening exercises, led by Pod #1 members, Bob Groh offered his Point of Pride, which he tied to the article, circulated by Joanne Serkeyn, featuring the Dr Davey Breakfast and its impact over the years. He reflected on the fact that while the future is hard to predict, in all that we do in Rotary we are influencing the future in a positive way and moving forward with meaning.
President John presented the following…
MOTION: That the Club make a donation in the amount of $3,000 to Beamsville Scouts in support of for
their trip to Switzerland in Summer 2026 as recommended by the Rotary Foundation Committee.
Moved by: Rob Foster Seconded by: Dale Hatch APPROVED
50/50
Terry pulled his own ticket but did not pull the winning card.
HAPPY BUCKS
John K – Happy weather is better
Jennifer -Able to get up this morning. I’m a little sore, but I’m really happy. Dad was sick last weekend, but under my careful guidance he got better, so that’s very good.
John M – Meeting deadlines are being met.
Rob - Happy to return as chair of the NPCA.Also going to give a happy buck for our incoming couple Richard and Teresa.
Bob G – Cheering on the return of spring
Neil – Happy that Dale brought him to the meeting
Dale H – Camping season is starting soon
Martha - Happy that we did well in the Coldest Night of the Year walk. I want to thank everybody who donated to our team and supported us.
Phil – Spring has sprung the birds are singing.
Bill – Enjoyed the point of pride shared earlier.
Sue - Happy that our Global Grant is now in the submission stage. Now we just have to wait for Rotary International to decide whether they’re going to approve it so we can carry on with the project.
Maria- Thank you to Martha for taking over my responsibility at the last meeting when I couldn’t be there. Second, happy for British Columbians for getting out and voting. Also really happy that we have great American friends next door.
Teresa - We were at the Journey concert last night. Journey played the Canadian anthem, and it was so heartfelt. The stadium was packed and it was very touching.
Rich - I’m grateful that my wife listened to the radio early in the morning and won tickets to the Journey concert. It let us relive a little bit of our high school youth while we were standing there. Also, power was out for a couple of hours on the weekend because of the wind, but the power company came out and repaired it quickly. Being without power for only a couple hours really makes me think about people around the world—especially in Ukraine—who have to deal with that over and over again. Grateful to live in this part of the world, and grateful that my grandparents made the move here about 100 years ago.
Lindsay - Going skiing one more time this weekend—hopefully. We’ll see if there’s still snow on the hills
Perry - Happy that my two grandkids live around the corner now, so I get to see them all the time and I’m happy in my job because I get to meet all kinds of community groups and people that I would never normally meet, so I’m thrilled to meet you folks today.
Barb - As some of you know, I have a dear little dog named Emma. She’s five pounds, has no teeth, cataracts, and now dementia. She’s on medication, and it’s helping quite a bit. She’s a little dopey some of the time, but she’s happy on my lap, and I’m happy she’s still with us.
Terry -Last but not least—a happy buck. I was skiing in the Gatineaus on the weekend and put my son-in-law on skis for the first time, and he survived. I bought tickets to my first Blue Jays game of the season last night—against Cleveland on April 20.
PROGRAM
NIAGARA GEOPARK INITIATIVE
Speaker: Perry Hartwick, Chair, Niagara Peninsula UNESCO Global Geopark Initiative
Perry Hartwick has served as President of Upper Canada Stone Company since 1991, leading quarry operations across Ontario. With decades of experience in geology, resource management, and community leadership, he has played a key role in guiding the Niagara Geopark initiative and promoting stewardship of the region’s remarkable geological and cultural heritage.
What Is the Niagara Geopark?
A geopark is a region recognized for internationally significant geology that is managed to promote conservation, education, and sustainable development. There are currently over 200 UNESCO Global Geoparks worldwide, and Niagara is working to become the sixth in Canada.
The proposed geopark highlights the incredible geological story of the region—from the ancient rock layers of the Niagara Escarpment to world-famous landmarks such as Niagara Falls. These features tell a story spanning more than 500 million years of Earth’s history, including ancient seas, fossils, glacial activity, and Indigenous history tied to the land.
Four Pillars of the Niagara Geopark
The initiative is guided by four strategic pillars:
1. Culture & Community Celebrating the stories, traditions, and heritage connected to the land including strong partnerships with Indigenous communities.
2. Education & Research Developing educational programs, school curriculum connections, and research opportunities focused on Niagara’s geology, environment, and cultural history.
3. Environmental Conservation Promoting stewardship of natural landscapes and supporting sustainable practices aligned with global environmental goals.
4. Sustainable Tourism & Economic Development Encouraging visitors to explore more of Niagara beyond the Falls—supporting local businesses, trails, cultural sites, and outdoor experiences.
Why It Matters
Becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark would:
Strengthen community pride in Niagara’s natural heritage
Promote environmental awareness and stewardship
Support sustainable tourism and local economic growth
Connect Niagara to an international network of geoparks
As Hartwick noted, “Everything we use comes from the Earth. If it doesn’t grow, it comes from the ground.” The geopark initiative aims to reconnect people with the land and its importance in our daily lives.
How Rotarians and Community Members Can Get Involved
There are several ways to support the Niagara Geopark initiative:
Participate in community events and educational programs
Take the Geopark online learning modules to become a community ambassador
Support signage and interpretive projects across Niagara
Help spread awareness about Niagara’s geological and cultural heritage
The Niagara Geopark is a grassroots initiative driven by community partnerships and volunteers. With broader community engagement, Niagara can secure global recognition while preserving and celebrating the natural landscape that makes our region unique.
