President's Message 
Rotary International: Creating a Lasting Impact
The Rotary International President for 2026-27 is Olayinka “Yinka” Hakeem Babalola of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Rivers State, Nigeria. Interestingly, he is the first RI president to start his Rotary journey through Rotaract. He is an electronics engineer who spent 25 years in the oil and gas industry with Shell PLC. The theme or message highlighting his presidency is to “Create Lasting Impact”, a powerful reminder that meaningful service is measured not simply by what we accomplish today, but by the positive difference we leave for future generations.
At the heart of Rotary is a commitment to service above self. Across the world, Rotarians work together to improve lives, strengthen communities, and address some of humanity’s greatest challenges. From supporting local food banks and providing educational opportunities to promoting peace, protecting the environment, and eradicating polio, Rotary demonstrates that collective action can bring about lasting change.
Creating a lasting impact begins with recognizing that even small acts of kindness can have far- reaching consequences. A meal provided to a family in need, a scholarship awarded to a deserving student, or a community project that brings people together can influence lives for years to come. When these efforts are sustained through commitment, collaboration, and compassion, their effects extend well beyond the original act of service.
For Rotary clubs, this message encourages us to look beyond immediate results and consider the long-term value of our projects. Are we addressing the underlying needs of our communities? Are we inspiring younger generations to become leaders and volunteers? Are we building partnerships that will ensure our work continues long after a project is completed?
Ultimately, creating a lasting impact is about leaving our communities stronger, more inclusive,
and better prepared for the future. It is also about inspiring others to carry the spirit of service
forward.
As Rotarians, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to make every action count. By working together, living our values, and remaining committed to service above self, we can create a legacy that endures long after our individual contributions have ended.
Quote of the week:
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
—Nelson Henderson
Bad Dad joke of the week:
What do you call a knight who is afraid to fight? Sir Render.
This Week's Zoom Meeting Details:
Topic: Weekly Rotary Meeting
Time: Oct 27, 2026 07:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 828 6879 3340
Passcode: rotary
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Notes from Rotary meeting on October 20, 2026
By Secretary Lyn McGowan
President Chris opened the meeting at 7:07 with 30 members present and our guest speaker attending on Zoom. Chris thanked Roger and Ken, David H and Liz for their coverage in his absence the past few weeks and bestowed a new moniker on Ken, “Forty-Five Minute Robertson.” He displayed scenes from this weekend’s Pumpkinfest, thanked Margo for wrangling the decoration of the float, thanked the 2 Bees and the Grinch, and shared that the 50/50 Raffle prize winner, Michele Fansett will receive $384. Finally, he showed scenes of Rotary’s presence in Palermo, which made us all a little jealous.
Guest Speaker:
Gregor introduced our guest speaker, Terri Korkush from Community Visions and Networking (“CVN”) Quinte. Terri has been working in Developmental Services since 1983.At CVN Quinte,
she believes each person has the right to make their own choices and she champions a service model designed for people one-on-one, where they get the support they want, when they want it and how they want it. CVN Quinte, which has been operating since 1978, is a people-centred
organization with a $3 million budget, and 50 staff that support 100+ people in the Quinte region.
Terri said there is a crisis in developmental services across the province. There are just under 35,000 people currently receiving services, but another 50,000 waiting for services, including 400 families in the Quinte region. To partially address this need, CVN Quinte created CVN Quinte Adventures, to provide adults living with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to enjoy themed adventures through a supported retreat format away from their home environment. These are weekend retreats are organized around common interests such as Pottery, James Bond Laser Tag, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” or community outings. Terry thanked us for our club’s past support and hopes to have our support going forward. Terri was thanked by Phyo.
Club Business:
Chris described a time-sensitive request for funding support for a District Grant project of the RC of Whitby. Yvonne moved that a $1,000 donation be made to support the Backpack Hygiene Project in Nunavut; seconded by Dave R; motion carried.
Chris noted that three new town signs will be officially unveiled at 9:30 on October 21 as part of
the Wellington Beautification Project spearheaded by Peta Hall.
Scottish Curling Tour: Trudy said that anyone who wants to attend the curling lunch on November 5 th @ 12:30 or the wine-tasting and dinner @ 5:00 should let her know as soon as possible.
Cobourg Dinner Theatre: Roger reported that we have 20 people total for the dinner theatre and he has negotiated with the owner to give us the 10% discount. Good work, Roger.
Peter announced that annual poppy sales start on October 24 th
Birthdays: Geoff on October 21 st and Howard on October 22 nd
Learned during Happy Toonie Time: Liz put in $20 to celebrate her 20 th anniversary in Rotary. Congratulations, Liz! Dave S reported that the Hospital Foundation is now within $850,000 of it’s
goal, and there has been a $250,000 anonymous matching donation.
50/50 Draw – Bill H’s ticket was drawn, but he picked the 5 of clubs. Only 7 cards remaining!
Chris closed the meeting at 8:27 with the Four-Way Test.
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How to Host the 2026 Rotary Youth Exchange Student Yuna on an Excursion
