Page 2 - March 31, 2026

MINUTES OF MEETING:  Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Editor: Tess Pierce

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a (wet) lamb

APR 3 & 4 - Easter Eggstravaganza at the Kids Safety Village – 9:30 am to 2 pm both days. Please sign up with Lennis or Robbie to volunteer. We expect over 5000 attendees. 

Don’t forget to email Dave Andrews with your meal choices for weekly meeting by Sunday night.

Meeting Called to Order: at 6:00 PM: by President David Mankiewicz

Grace: Bob Koski

Toast to the KING: Hilda Finnigan

Land Acknowledgement:

We respectfully acknowledge that the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood is meeting on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas 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: Dale Duke

Visiting Rotarians and Guests:

John Henry (our speaker)

Tito & Anna Marie Marimpietri

Tito Dante Marimpietri

Ennio Digasbarro

Mark Sherriff 

Rhonda Stewart

Caroline Kipling

Linda Biddle

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Anniversary to Don & Maria Igbokwe on April 6.

Happy Birthday to Suzz Sandalwood on March 30.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Tess

• The Board meeting on April 7 will include the 2026-27 board. All incoming and current board members are expected to attend.
• April 14^th is a meeting for the 50^th Anniversary Committee at 5 pm.
• April Social on April 28^th will be at The Mandarin. Tess will organize.

Dave A.

• Reverse Draw tickets now available. You can take tickets tonight and turn in the money once they are sold. Thanks to Camille for designing our social media-ready poster.
• Reminder the District Assembly is May 23. RLI Part 1 also that day. New and existing Board members and new members are encouraged to attend. The club will cover the tuition costs for both.
• Peace Forum is May 20. This online event includes Zone 28 & 32 and is a high-energy hour of stories, music and more, showcases peacebuilding work of Rotary. CLICK HERE to REGISTER. Advance registration required to get the ZOOM link.
• Spring Cleanup @ Second Marsh is April 25. Friends, family all invited to help.

Ted

• There is Maple Syrup still available. Ted has some in his car. The rest are stored at Bill Creamer’s house. Bill is moving soon and any bottles there will be moved to Donald’s house.
• SILENT AUCTION items still needed.

Robbie

• Volunteers are still needed for Safety Village Spring Eggstravaganza April 3 & 4. Please come early and park in lot behind school next door.

SGT AT ARMS: Larry Hurren

ACE OF SPADES: The pot is over $500. Only 25 cards left. Tess had the winning ticket and pulled the 9 of clubs.

Ted Morrison: “Rotary’s Relationship With The UN”

The partnership between Rotary and the United Nations is a testament to what can happen when vision meets courage, and when service meets global responsibility. Ted provided a historical overview of the reasons why Rotary was invited to shape the vision that is now the UN. When the UN was being created the delegates turned to Rotary as a peace-building model. Rotary already had 40 years’ experience building peace though ground-breaking global projects. (No weapons needed!) Rotary’s influence helped weave our values into the fabric of the UN Charter. Nowhere is this more powerfully evident than our shared fight to END POLIO NOW. Today Rotary holds the highest consultative status seat of any NGO at the UN. As we look to the future our shared legacy proves that together we have changed the world and together we will do it again. Another beautiful Rotary moment.

Happy Bucks! 

Dave A: Welcome John and happy John is doing well! Welcome Mark too!

Bob Stewart: Teased Mark about eating salad.

Hilda: April is Tissue Donor Awareness month. Flag raising events are scheduled for the City of Oshawa on April 1^st and at the Regional Headquarters April 16^th.

Bev: Happy to be back even though leaving Mexico made her cry.

Robbie: Picked up lots of goods for Safety Village including giant rolls of stickers. Thanks to the cutting crew Camille, Al, David P. who pulled double duty at Bingo.

Emmy: Welcome friends especially the Marimpietri family.

Tito: Happy his cousin Ennio is visiting, and God bless us all.

Neil: His dear friend had a heart attack but thanks to the excellent healthcare in Ontario, he is alive and doing well.

Tess: Jumped in the lake on March 29 and raised over $500 for Rotary projects. Thanks to those of you who donated. The new waterproof booties worked well. The water was 1C. BRRRRRRR.

Robert K: Happy to be well after surgery and a long recovery. He agrees with Neil-our healthcare is great.

Dale D: Happy to be healthy after his experiences in Cook Islands, Jan’s 18 stitches, and his Typhoid fever scare and hospitalization. (Note to self-if the docs come into your room in hazmat suits-be worried!)

Larry: Treated us with a joke about the names of football players from Iceland vs Herzegovina.

Our Speaker: John Henry - Rotarian and Regional Chair-Durham

Dave Andrews introduced our speaker, John Henry. John was elected Regional Chair in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Born and raised in Oshawa, John has a long history of public service and volunteerism. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Oshawa. He is married to Katherine, and they have two daughters. Every year Lennis asks John to but a Reverse Draw ticket. (See their picture below.) Not only does John buy a ticket he contributes to the Silent Auction.

John had three themes tonight: building connected communities, strengthening resilience, and leading with purpose and partnership.

Building Connected Communities

The 2025 Regional Strategic Plan is the roadmap to building connections. Improving transit options is essential. In 2025 DRT served over 12 million passengers, travelled 14 million kilometres, and completed more than 330,00 On Demand trips. The Durham-Scarborough RT (DSBRT) will link Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, and Scarborough. Once complete the DSBRT is expected to reduce wait times, cut carbon emissions, and save riders precious commuting times. Other transit improvements include the GO Lakeshore East expansion, and toll reductions on Hwy 407 E. In addition to transit improvements, several housing initiatives are planned. The At Home Incentive Program supports new affordable rental units and Housing Durham is a key player in redeveloping Durham properties, like the Ritson School Project, into mixed income communities.

Strengthening Resilience

Resilience is about being prepared, responsive and supportive – so our communities can weather change and emerge stronger. To this Durham Region invests in infrastructure projects that improve roads (100 kilometres paved) and installation of 15 kilometres of new watermains and sewers. Resilience also means supporting businesses that protect the local economy and fuels economic growth. When businesses thrive, we all benefit. Resilience also means feeling safe and the Region is increasing investment in policing and paramedic capacity. Resilience also includes strengthening our energy systems and climate resilience. Durham is proud to be named the CLEAN ENERGY CAPITAL OF CANADA

Improvements at OPG Darlington, creating clean energy jobs, for example, the graduates of the Ontario Tech Nuclear Engineering program.

Leading With Purpose & Partnership

Across Durham strong partnerships and bold ideas are shaping a brighter future – enhancing quality of life and fueling economic growth. We are proud to be the hometown partner of the professional Lacrosse team, the Firewolves. In 2025 the Intelligent Community Forum named Durham Region Community of the Year. These reflect what we can achieve when we lead with purpose and work together.

John ended his speech tonight thanking our club for our community contributions and providing him with his Rotary make-up meeting! Ted Morrison thanked John. 

President David Mankiewicz closed the meeting at 8:05 PM.                                        

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.