Page 2 - Jan 20, 2026

MINUTES OF MEETING: Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Editor: Tess Pierce

Meeting Called to Order at 6:35 PM Grace: Ted M.

Toast to the KING: Dale D.

Land Acknowledgement: President Dave

We respectfully acknowledge that the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood is meeting on the traditional territory of the Mississauga of Scugog Island First Nations, within the jurisdiction of the Williams Treaties. We are committed to our responsibility of stewardship, in these relationships and for this land on which we learn, share and live.

Toast to Canada: Lennis T.

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: No in-person guests today. Our speaker, Dr Dan Perlman, via ZOOM

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES:

Happy Birthday to Patti Koski on Jan 21

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

Our St Patrick’s Day social will be on WEDNESDAY  March 18 at Whiskey Johns 843 King St W, Oshawa, ON L1J 2L4  . THERE IS NO MEETING TUESDAY MARCH 17.

DETAILS WILL FOLLOW.

  • Sad news. Bob Elliott passed away Jan. 19. MAK Funeral Home is taking care of the arrangements. See his beautiful obituary here.
  • Need volunteers for Delta Bingo. Thanks to everyone for taking care of the front desk duties in February. Stay tuned for more details about our St Patrick’s Day social.
 
  • The next “Ladies of Rotary” lunch is scheduled for Monday, Feb 2, at noon. See you at Kelsey’s in the Oshawa Mall. Thanks to Esther Trotter for organizing. Let Esther or Tess know if you will be attending.
  • Robert Kipling underwent serious back surgery. He is currently recuperating at a Rehab hospital in Toronto.
  • Dave A. Larry Hurren’s sister’s spouse recently passed away. Keep Larry and family in your thoughts & prayers. Reverse Draw tickets are now available. Contact Dave for tickets. Now is also the time to secure silent auction items.
  • ZONE NEWS. New Members Online Zoom session Wednesday, Jan 21. Watch our Facebook page for more opportunities like this.
  • Please let him know if you still need one of the famous Robert Kipling 2026 calendars.
 

SGT AT ARMS: Bob Stewart

ACE OF SPADES: Linda P had the ticket and drew the EIGHT of Diamonds. The pot is now $389.00. Only 32 cards left …

 

HAPPY TWOONIES:

The weather may be challenging but we are still a happy bunch!

$     Dale D: Hip surgery went well. Played golf at the simulator and was sore, but it felt good to move!

$     Ted: Not to be outdone by Dale, but his shoulder surgery went so well that the doctor complimented him at his post-op visit.

$     Robbie: was happy about the Safety Village, but I forgot to write down why. (My bad).

$     Yvonne: Her course evaluations came in, and she is happy to report she received a positive response.

$     Bob K: His oldest granddaughter started her new career as a Landscape Architect.

$     Lennis: Sad buck for Bob Elliott. Happy buck for enjoying Mrs. Doubtfire, The Musical.

$     Dave A: Bob Elliott will be missed.

$     Bev: Speaking of hip surgery… hers was the best decision she ever made.

$     Don: His future’s so bright he’s got to wear shades! Spoiler Alert: he had both his eyes fixed this Monday.

$     David P: Thanked Bob Elliott for his support of the International Committee. In fact, anytime David made a request, it was always Bob who answered first. David also had the last laugh. With all the talk of replacement surgeries tonight, David was happy he has NO replacement parts. This got a big laugh from all of us.

 

Rotary Moment: The Rotary Vision & Creating Lasting Change

Ted shared his inspirational Zoom call with RI-President-Elect Yinka Babalola. Babalola used the Rotary Vision Statement (above) to reflect on how Rotary has changed each of us. Ted spoke of how projects such as working with the Oshawa club to build the Rotary Peace Bridge in the Oshawa Botanical Gardens changed the way he thinks of community engagement. The End Polio Now campaign provided Ted with a more global connection. These are just two examples of many. President-Elect Babalola spent considerable time challenging Rotarians to reflect on how lasting change has affected each of us. Ted asked us “Since joining Rotary how have changed since I joined Rotary?” This Bulletin Editor went home and shared this challenge with my spouse. Together, we came up with many positive examples, with the first being my wonderful friendships. This is an inspirational challenge we should all take to heart. Thanks, Ted for sharing. A video of the assembly is available HERE.

 

SPEAKER: Dr. Dan Perlman and the WAKAM Project

Linda Porritt and David Penney introduced our guest (via ZOOM) from his home in Aspen Colorado. Tropical disease expert Dr. Dan Perlman spent 30 years in Denver, where he describes himself as the guy who rushed to hospital intensive care units to treat everything from pneumonia to infectious foot wounds. After retiring, Perlman became a member of the Aspen and Carbondale Rotary clubs. Using this local support, Perlman is spearheading a war against one of the world’s deadliest diseases, malaria. His battlefields are Equatorial Africa, Zambia and Kenya, where volunteer healthcare providers often walk miles on dirt paths to treat malaria in remote villages.
For the past (almost) 2 years, Perlman, with his wife Bryna, have led a Global Grant called WAKAM (Western Alliance Kenyans Against Malaria). This grant provides education and materials through generous contributions from 107 Rotary Clubs in Kenya and around the world. Our club is one of these connections.
 
As Dr. Perlman said, like polio, malaria is much more than an infectious disease. Western Kenya has a high incidence of malaria, which is especially lethal to children under 5 years old and pregnant women. Last year alone, 600,000 children died from Malaria-related disease. Malaria is preventable and treatable. Important to their work are Community Health Workers (CHW) who provide materials like mosquito nets and medical treatment to remote villages. Perlman shared a moving example of one CHW who rode her bike to a remote village during the rainy season to treat a baby with malaria. The community worker spent the night, treated the child, and the child survived.
The Global Grant for WAKAM ends in October 2026 and Perlman and his team are preparing a new grant to continue their work. The World Health Organization has committed to 2 more years of support. One of the main challenges is getting the word out to Rotary partners. Perlman thanked our club for its continued support. When asked, “What are the
 
next steps?” Perlman answered that negotiating RI grant red tape and improving global communication were priorities. To learn more about their work click on the logo below or CLICK HERE.
 
 
 
Meeting adjourned by President Dave @ 8:15 pm
 
 
Don’t forget to check the club calendar for events and updates.
 
Next week (Jan 27) We will learn how our club can contribute to and participate in Durham Little Forests.
 
 
 
IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT, YOU CAN MAKE UP: Go online at www.rotary.org go to the club locator and find a club or clubs near your destination. Or you can add the free App Rotary Club Locator to your phone for instant look up of any club in the world. Please mail or fax your make-ups to Executive Secretary Dave Andrews or give your make-up card to the attendance/registration officer at the next club meeting.