Rotary Club of Norwich
October 2nd, 2019
THE RONE
Presiding: President Mike Cooney
Invocation: Rodney Green
Fellowship: Ray Baribeault
Birthdays: Mike Gordon – October 7th
Anniversaries: None
Guests: Roz Etra accompanied the club with the “Welcome to Rotary” song on her accordion! It was awesome!
Ray enlighted the club with a fellowship with some real corny, but humorous, jokes! “What did the left eye say to the right eye? Something smells between us!” You get the point, so I’ll stop there!
Announcements:
President Mike Cooney had the following announcements:
*The 75th Norwich Rotary Anniversary booklet has been scanned to the Norwich Rotary webpage for all to view!
*Happy Dollars committee is looking for deserving families or individuals to support.
*If you know of anyone who would be a good speaker at one of our Rotary Meetings contact Mary Richardson.
*Next meeting’s speaker will be our District Governor, Jack Solomon.
*The Trivia Challenge for Madonna Place will take place on Friday, November 15th at the Moose Lodge in Bozrah. All are welcome. More information here http://www.madonnaplace.org/2019/07/17/2019-trivial-pursuit-challenge/
*Dues Invoices are out. Please pay promptly!
*The Liberty Bank “Turkey Challenge” is just around the corner! The bank will match all we donate in $$! In the past $20.00 a member at Happy Dollars will do the trick!
Jennifer Granger informed that the “Dictionary Project” will take place on the morning of October 23rd at 10 am. Volunteers are needed to deliver books to the Norwich Schools.
Happy Dollars: Jennifer Granger
Jen started things off saying she can still manage to do a cartwheel! She also recently attended her 40th high school reunion at the East End Yacht Club. She said she dressed for the occasion seeing as it was at a “yacht club” thinking it would be a posh affair. She said she was by far the best dressed in the room and the yacht club attire was unnecessary! UCFS also did a Community Cleanup in Griswold and in one hour 204 cigarette butts were collected!
Gary Young played Scrabble with Stan Lucas’s sister Annie at the Senior Center and got his butt handed to him! He reminded that the Annual Otis Library Book Sale is on October 18, 19 & 20th. Gary also was in Myrtle Beach last week and he was surprised that it was as hot in Connecticut as it was down there!
Mike Matera thanked Andy Grant for his help with the Amber Alert registration at the Healthy Living Festival. Mike also took his childhood buddies out on his boat to Block Island and the highlight was coming across some Humpback whales on the trip home off Fisher’s Island!
Erin Gizio informed that she is walking in the Terri Brodeur 5K Walk in memory of her mother. 100% of the money raised from this walk goes to fund breast cancer research. Any support from club members would be most appreciated.
Andy Grant thanked Mike Matera for his never ending support of the Amber Alert project the Mike has spearheaded for many years. Also, Andy gave for Jeff Brining and is sailing exploits with his 2 sons. Gary Young “crushed” him in a recent tennis match. Andy wrapped up the a story of his visit to the University of Vermont for an Alumni Lacrosse event that he realized that a man in his 60’s cannot play Lacrosse like a man in his 20’s. A few sore muscles from that visit!
Rodney Green was sorry he missed 4 meetings in a row that he cannot remember ever doing. Between running and playing in a number of charity golf tournaments and running a busy restaurant it was tough to make the meetings! The Chestnut Street Playhouse has a play called “Church and State” that is running October 10th to the 20th that deals with gun control and has had trouble getting the word out (mostly on social media) due to the theme of the play. Many of the post are taken down for some reason.
Jeff Brining had a great time on his sailboat out on Block Island with his 2 sons a week ago. On the sail back home they had to turn back to New Harbor on the Block after the fog was so thick it was too risky a trip. Eventually took the ferry back to sail the boat home in better conditions!
Lottie Scott reminded the club of her being one of the founding members of the Norwich Branch of the NAACP and urged people to become members and attend the Freedom Fund Event. Also, for First Friday on October 4th at the Norwich Arts Center, “Miss Lottie’s Café” at the Donald Oat Theatre, the music of Muddy Waters will be performed by Paul “Sweet P” Williams starting at 8pm.
Mike Cooney gave for Mike Matera and his commitment for the Amber Alert. Mike also told of the exploits of his son Matt’s battle with strep throat and being on a number of meds. Third time was the charm as the 3rd drug finally worked even though he had to go to Massachusetts and end up mixing the drug here locally to get the mixture right! Matt’s much better now!
Auction: Kevin Wickless donated 2 certificates for large mums from Malerba’s Farm! Barry Shead and Andy Grant but $10.00 a piece!
Lottery: Jim Daly, Bob Reed & Lottie Scott drew cards to no avail.
Speaking Program: Faye Ringel and David Carlson gave a presentation on Steampunk and what events are happening in Norwich. Steampunk is a celebration of Victorian and Sci-Fi culture. Silk City Steampunk and Oddball Newt will be presenting “Book Fiend Reader’s Fest” on Saturday, November 9th between 10am and 6pm at the Norwich Art’s Center that will be a celebration of Steampunk, Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Paranormal authors. Book signings, panels, special guests, readings, costume contests and fun activities will take place. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show and $15 for 55+ and 16 and under.
President Mike Cooney ended the meeting at 1:25pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter