The debut production at WEST NIAGARA SECONDARY SCHOOL, May 8,9 & 10, was a rousing success with more than 800 attendees & involvement of some 100 community volunteers.
Join us for the Tiger-Cats Home Opener on June 4, 2026 for a 7:30pm Kickoff at Hamilton Stadium as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats take on the Montreal Alouettes.
This is an amazing opportunity to showcase Rotary to the community and share some great fellowship together!
Our EXCLUSIVE OFFER features Gold Level Tickets for only $75 CAD ($54.50 USD)!
Club President John Kralt called the meeting to order with 22 attendees: 21 Rotarians, including Honorary Lincoln Rotarian Bob Bujas & Visiting Rotarians, Frank Adamson, Past District Governor (RC Fonthill) and Elaine Richard, RC St Catharines Lakeshore, in addition to Guest Speaker, Trevor Bujas.
Pod #2 members, led by Rob Foster, opened with the Land Acknowledgment. Nancy Neville followed with her Invocation & Toast. In her Point of Pride, Vernah Fleming spoke enthusiastically about the work of Lincoln Rotary's Environmental Committee most recently at several local community events around Earth Day, April 22, 2026.
50/50
Gerry Fitzsimmons had the winning ticket but missed pulling the ace of spades :(
SPECIAL MESSAGE for ROTARIAN PHIL GOODWIN
HAPPY BUCKS
Happiness abounded for the warmer weather and beautiful landscape as spring emerges.
Bob Bujas - to see many familiar faces
Margaret - to wish Alice a HAPPY BURTHDAY
Maria - for completing her President-Elect training
Alice & Nancy - to welcome Bob B to the meeting
Alice - for the phenomenal success of the “SHINE ON” fundraiser for the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation & McNally House Hospice
Terry - thankful that Lamplighter Tour Artistic Director, Betsy Tauro, is ‘on the mend’ following emergency surgery & how the LT team is rallying to cover for her unexpected absence
John K & Sue - happy for his grandson and her great-nephew who are Ontario MInor Hockey Association CHAMPS (Under 11 years)
Sue - for the success of “Downtown Tidy” (Beamsville) with the help of more than 200 students who picked up 245 kilos (500 ilbs.) of garbage on April 21, 2026 & Town of Lincoln Eco-fest on April 25 where LIncoln Rotary gave away 75 trees & bushes and donated a cheque for $1000 to the Green Herons, a local youth enviromental group
Barb - for husband George who fixed her lawn mower
Joanne- to have her daughter home for a visit
Frank - looking forward to celebrating 77 years on the planet tomorrow and gearing up for FOUR upcoming bike rides; excited about RC Lincoln's environmental projects; invited participation in District 7090's Participate for Polio 2026 this fall
RECOGNITION for SUE FOSTER
As District District 7090 PolioPlus Co-Chairs, Elaine Richard & Frank Adamson recognized Sue Foster for committing to donating $100.00 USD per year until Polio is eradicated. They presented her with a Polio Plus Society pin.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Past President Joanne Serkeyn extended an official welcome to new Rotary Club of Lincoln members, Teresa & Rich Barich.
To confirm the club leadership for 2026-27, the following two motions were passed unanimously…
MOTION: That the composition of the Rotary Club of Lincoln Ontario Inc. Board of Directors 2026-27 be approved as follows:
President: Maria Derkacz | President-Elect: John Maynard | Vice President: Dale Hatch | Secretary: Lindsay Dressel | Treasurer David Grabb | Foundation Director: Robert Foster | Public Relations Director: Sue Foster | Club Administration Director: Barb Mitges | Past President: John Kralt
Moved by: Joanne Serekyn; Seconded by: Nancy Neville
MOTION: That the composition of the Rotary Club of Lincoln Foundation Inc. Board of Directors 2026-27 be approved as follows:
President: Rob Foster | Vice President: Debbie Klassen | Secretary-Treasurer John Maynard | Directors (2) David Grabb; Nancy Neville
Moved by: Rob Foster; Seconded by: Margaret Andrewes
PROGRAM
Special Guest: Elaine Richard
Rotary District 7090 Polio Plus Chair & Polio Plus Society Coordinator
Elaine's far-reaching remarks are highlighted as follows…
World Immunization Week
Each year during World Immunization Week (April 24–30), Rotary and its global partners pause to reflect on the life-saving importance of vaccination. This year, the message is more urgent than ever.
Measles in Canada
To understand where we stand with polio, it helps to first look at what happens when vaccination rates slip.
Canada was declared measles-free in 1998 after widespread vaccination campaigns halted the virus's local circulation. For decades, most cases were imported by travellers. But a recent outbreak — which began when a visitor from Thailand attended a wedding in New Brunswick — demonstrated just how quickly things can unravel when immunity gaps exist.
The virus took hold in communities with low vaccination rates and then spread across the country. As of April 18, 2026, Canada has reported 907 measles cases (834 confirmed, 73 probable) for the calendar year alone. By the end of 2025, Canada reported 5,460 cases.
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) — Measles and Rubella Weekly Monitoring Report
Now imagine that same scenario — but with polio.
Polio is Closer Than You Think
Many Canadians assume polio is a distant problem, confined to a handful of countries overseas. The evidence of the last five years tells a different story.
Key detections, 2021–2026:
New York, 2022: A paralytic case in an unvaccinated adult confirmed that polio had been circulating undetected in New York City sewage for at least six months.
Canada, 2022: The virus was detected in wastewater in major Canadian hubs, genetically linked to strains found in New York and London.
United Kingdom, 2022–2025: Persistent detections in London's wastewater triggered an emergency vaccination campaign for over one million children.
Germany, 2025: Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) was found in Hamburg sewage, directly linked to a strain from Afghanistan.
Europe, 2024–2025: Detections in Poland and Spain.
Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) & WHO Surveillance Reports, 2026
These "silent" outbreaks in North America and Europe prove one thing: as long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat to children everywhere. We have been told this repeatedly — polio is only a plane ride away.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is the coordinated effort keeping the world's children protected. Here is how the partners divide the work:
Rotary International — Rotary's role is advocacy, large-scale fundraising, and mobilizing millions of volunteers worldwide.
World Health Organization (WHO) — Leads the global strategy, technical direction, and surveillance of the virus.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Provided epidemiologists, laboratory experts, and researchers to track the virus.
UNICEF — Manages vaccine procurement, distribution, and community outreach.
Gates Foundation — A major financial donor.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — Joined to strengthen routine immunization systems.
This partnership is the only thing standing between isolated detections and a global resurgence.
District 7090's PolioPlus Society
This is why we are asking District 7090 Rotarians to step up. District 7090 officially launched its PolioPlus Society (PPS) on July 1st.
Membership commitment: A pledge of at least $100 USD per year to the PolioPlus Fund, until polio is eradicated.
What you receive as a member:
A PolioPlus Society lapel pin and certificate
100 Paul Harris/Foundation recognition points for your $100 donation
Your donation matched two-to-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — turning your $100 into $300 in impact
Up to 1,000 additional Foundation recognition points thanks to the generous Thie Convery Challenge, which matches recognition points for new District 7090 PPS members through June 30, 2026
Recognition as a Charter Member of the District 7090 PolioPlus Society, if you join before June 30, 2026
To join: Complete a pledge form (available from your club President) and email it with confirmation of your donation to emmrichard55@gmail.com.
To donate: Visit endpolio.org, give through My Rotary, contact your club's Foundation Chair, or call Rotary International at 1-866-976-8279.
Every Dollar Helps
If the Society commitment is not right for you at this time, that is completely understood. But as Rotarians who believe in doing good in the world, consider making a one-time donation to PolioPlus. It does not have to be large — every single dollar is matched and multiplied.
Your club can also organize a simple PolioPlus fundraiser that requires minimal time and manpower. Ask your Foundation Chair or District End Polio Chairs for a list of easy ideas to get started.
Together, we can ensure that the generation of children growing up today never knows a world with polio. The finish line is in sight.
For more information about End Polio Now and District 7090's PolioPlus Society, contact Frank Adamson: fadamson@vaxxine.com and Elaine Richard: emmrichard55@gmail.com
BIKE RIDES FOR THE GOOD OF ROTARY
District 7090 is holding a special Participate for Polio event on Saturday, September 26 — the7th Annual Dr. Ron Mergl Memorial Ride. Once again, all donations will support PolioPlus and Rotary’s number one humanitarian cause: the eradication of polio worldwide.
And this year, some exciting news: District 7090 along with the Rotary clubs of Lincoln and Dundas are collaborating for the good of Rotary.
Bike the Benchlands is a Rotary Club of Lincoln community fundraising and cycling event, with proceeds going to Rotary Youth Programs. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, August 29, and donations raised will support the Kristen French Child Advocacy Centre.
Tour de Dundas is a community charity cycling event organized by the Rotary Club of Dundas. It takes place this year on Sunday, September 27. Funds raised will benefit two local causes: Margaret’s Place Hospice and Routes Youth Centre.
These events offer something for all District 7090 Rotarians. We invite you to join one, two, or all three rides (register for all three and win a t-shirt!). Don’t want to ride? Why not support your favourite rider and the cause(s) that matter most to you?
Naval Combat Systems Engineer, Canadian Armed Forces
President John welcomed Trevor, whose Dad, Bob Bujas, is a founding member of the Rotary Club of Lincoln. Consequently, Trevor has had a close association with the club since it was chartered almost 30 years ago. Trevor's service with the Canadian Armed Forces has accumulated over the past 25 years, which began when he joined the navy as an adventurous summer job and a way to pay his university tuition.
In his fast paced, jam-packed and exciting presentation, Trevor featured the Royal Canadian Navy fleet using a separate slide for each ship. He highlighted their characteristics and many other interesting facts that illuminated the current strengths of the fleet while noting the challenges of sustaining and building it.
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) operates approximately 33 commissioned war vessels and 12 coastal defence vessels, with a total fleet including auxiliary and training ships often cited around 68 vessels. RCN bases are located in Esquimalt BC & Halifax, NS.
2-5 Joint Support ships (2027) | 15 River-class destroyers (2032) | 12-20 Continental defence corvettes | Up to 12 submarines
Of particular interest was his explanation of how the budget for a ship building project is calculated. One project can cost $40 billion comprised of ⅓ of the cost for building the ship and ⅔ for covering maintenance and training for 20 years.
This overview doesn't begin to capture the many details offered up by Trevor. Certainly, he provided an excellent glimpse into how the RCN continues to position itself to protect the vast expanse of waters that surround our country.
District 7090's PolioPlus Society
