Directors: Henny Boeters, Ben Van Heeswijk, David Klatt and Judie Wigcherink
Attendance:
Members: 14, including Blake Sheets, honorary member
.Guests: Sparky Leonard, Downtown CK Rotary, Rebecca Evans (perspective member)
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: None
Meeting Date: Monday, Feb.2, 2026, Anglican Parish Hall. After a wonderful dinner prepared by the ACW, David B started the meeting by thanking the ladies in the kitchen.
Correspondence: Paul
1. ShelterBox asking for more donations
Might be discussed at the next Directors Meeting
2. ShelterBox Canada, again asking for donations
This time honoring the Legacy of Bob and Joyce Perks
The Simcoe Club is launching the Perks Memorial Matching Campaign
Program: Speaker Sparky Leonard, Chair of the District Conference, introduced by David K.
Program: Speaker Sparky Leonard, Chair of the District Conference, introduced by David K.
Sparky has been in Rotary since 1997 and was District Governor in 2019-20
He mentioned that it is a pleasure to be in Ridgetown with a bunch of warm-hearted Rotarians
Wendy Jones, D6380 DG, asked him to be Chair of the District Conference, something that he was supposed to do in 2020, but it was cancelled due to COVID
Sparky explained the conference details, especially charges for attending all of it ( see below))
Wendy’s hope is to have a really good guest speaker and to make it a lot of fun
The guest speaker will be John Hewko, the General Secretary of Rotary International
During the conference, there will be 6 speakers from Canada, US, and internationally (see the sheet below)
To be able to keep the cost to those attending, Sparky has been looking for sponsors
So far, he has raised $25000 out of the $40000 needed, with hopefully some coming from the municipality of C-K
The brand new ShelterBox will be on display at the conference, provided by a club in Michigan
On Friday evening, the conference will be open to the public, where each C-K club will recognize 2 community members by giving them a Paul Harris Award
These people will be able to bring up to 10 family members and members from each club in C-K can attend, but you need a ticket
Sparky will need a photo, short write-up for Adam and Angie Frazee, our 2 nominees
Michael Landsbury will be the guest speaker
The Kiwanis Theatre holds 600, with 250 of those seats filled by Rotarians, so there are lots open to folks from C-K
There will be a dinner, either at Retro Suites or The Armory
Saturday morning, everyone will meet at The Armory where the normal business for the conference will be done
At 11:30, attendees will be taken to TJ Stables for lunch and a performance by the Canadian Cowgirls
After lunch, members will be divided into 4 groups of up to 50 and taken to Ridgetown ,Tilbury, Dresden or Blenheim for 2 hours of work on a project with that club
The Gala Saturday evening will be at the Armory
There will a breakfast Sunday morning, with a guest speaker, Christina Hassan, brings global health and social entrepreneurship to advancing safer childbirth in Uganda
Those attending will head home after this breakfast before those in attendance head home
The conference fees cover Friday supper, Saturday lunch, Saturday’s gala and breakfast on Sunday; hotel costs are extra; see sheet below
Other Business
a. David B: May 2 day of action – update
David went over the plans for this as far as Ridgetown is concerned
One quarter of attendents at the Conference will be bussed to Ridgetown and then taken to wherever we plan our activity
b. David B Service club expo, Ridgetown Adult Activity Centre - update
April 25, 2026
6 confirmed clubs
No guest speaker as it has been decided that it would not flow well with folks from the town attending
We need a new club banner which David B is investigating for costs etc
The CK Children’ Treatment Centre will have a booth for them to explain what CK clubs do for them
c. Henny B: Easter Egg Hunt - April 4, 2026
Henny gave a few more details
We will fill the goody bags in the hall before Easter
d. David B: Kiwanis Valentine’s dinner
David is collecting the $20 for everyone from our club attending
Happy Bucks and 50-50:
Paul for Ange getting a date for her hip surgery; Ben for Sparky’s presentation; David B to get more to attend the Conference; Henny for her upcoming cornea transplant
President David asked if there was “Anything for the good of Rotary?”
President David closed the meeting unofficially at approximately 7:50 pm.
The next meeting is on: Monday, Feb 23, 2026: Bill Long speaking about the ups and downs of the economyat the Anglican Parish Hall
The theme for the 25-26 Rotary year is“Unite for Good”
President David Brian, Sparky Leonard and Rotarian David Klatt
President 