Rotary Club of Norwich, CT
August 13, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Steve Martin
Invocation: Cara Westcott
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Birthdays: Bonnie Johnson – 8/18 A rousing rendition of Happy Birthday followed!
Anniversaries: None
Guests: Stan Lucas introduced Atty. Isabel Del Vecchio, Anna Lucas and Caleb Stover.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Nancy just returned from vacation and entertained everyone with some travel musings of humor and reflection. Here’s a few she shared. “I’ve been to almost as many places as my luggage!”-Bob Hope. “Airplane travel is nature’s way of making you look like your passport photo.”- Former VP Al Gore. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime” – Mark Twain. “The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.”- Henry Boye.
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan commented that it was so great to see a full room of Rotarians. Especially young new ones! He also gave credit to the hard working Board of Directors of the club for the good direction and leadership.
Announcements:
*New Member Posting (2nd Posting)* Stan Lucas has proposed Attorney Isabel Del Vecchio for membership. If any member has objection please contact President Steve or any member of the Board.
Please bring spare clean egg cartons and give them to Bonnie Johnson.
Celebrate Diversity event will take place on Chelsea Parade on September 3rd from 5pm to 8pm. Reminder, that food tasting is a big part of the event. Sponsors are needed badly as there are no grants available this year to help pay for the event.
If you know of a speaker for one of our meetings, please contact Kevin Wickless or Alexis Kahn to get on the schedule.
If there is a Rotarian who is sick or going through a tough time let the Sunshine Committee know and contact Mary Richardson or Nancy Gentes.
Rotary Golf will be September 3rd. Get your 4-somes together as well as sponsors. Raffle items and goody bad items are also needed. Brochures are available to get sponsors at all levels and golfers. Gary passed the hat again for monetary donations for buying lottery tickets for prizes. Gary also auctioned off a bottle of Blackberry Jam for the cause. Andy Grant gave $40.00!
Happy Dollars: Andy Grant
Andy said that he attended a trade show in Chicago for the 44th year in a row. He said that’s it’s a small world as he ran into fellow Norwich Rotarian Susy Hurlbert coming out of a store while there!
Bill Champagne expounded on last week’s news of the passing of Steve Plank saying that when he and his wife were first married and looking for a place to live, he ended up living next to Steve’s historic house on lower Washington Street. Steve welcomed Bill and Patrice to the neighborhood and introduced them to fellow neighbors like the Edgars and the Noyes’s who all lived in historic homes. Bill said that was instrumental in the direction of his vocation of real estate brokering of 18th century properties and his involvement in the Norwich Historical Society, Norwich Heritage Trust and other organizations.
Stan Lucas welcomed all our guests to today’s meeting.
Andy Nollman is looking forward to vacationing next week at a house on the coast. He said it has been an extremely busy summer so far. He said that his mom is going in for some surgery next week and keep her in your thoughts. Also, there are some good concerts coming up in the next few weeks to look forward to.
Susy Hurlbert was at a realtor’s conference in Chicago and was also surprised to see Andy while there. She did experience some bad weather on the return home that delayed her flight home. She also spent some time on Cape Cod and the weather was spectacular there!
Pat Marshall said hearing Bill Champagne talking of old housed she once lived in an 17 room 1876 vintage historic home in Danielson and loved it and had great fun living there. It used to be a funeral home, so there was plenty of parlor space!
Mike Cooney spent last week at scout camp with his daughter Katie. He said his feet hurt however! Mike was also surprised to receive a letter in the mail from the Avalonia Land Trust that included an Honorary Membership for his help setting up the projection system for the presentation that “didn’t” take place a couple of weeks ago for our program. Imagine what he’ll get when the program does take place! Maybe a chunk of land! He also encouraged all to attend the Celebrate Cultural Diversity event in September as it’s a fun time.
Jeff Brining spent time on his sailboat last week in Montauk, Three Mile Harbor and Block Island. He’s looking forward to visiting Burlington, VT next week.
Bonnie Johnson said she spent the past 2 ½ weeks on her boat traveling to Bristol, RI, Cape Cod Canal, Sandwich, MA and New Bedford.
Steve Martin had a wonderful time at the Donny Marshall Golf Tournament at Lake of Isles last week. Lots of celebrities were in attendance and he even got to spend some time in the high roller lounge after. The auction alone rose over $30,000 for children’s charities and other worthy organizations. Great event.
Auction: Mike Cooney will donate $20.00!
Lottery: Bill Champagne
Andy Grant, Stan Lucas and Pat Marshall drew cards but could not find the Ace! Anna Lucas won Barry’s ARC Cookies!
Program: No Program today. President Steve did remind all that our District Governor Stephanie Philips will be at our meeting on the 20th so please make every effort to be in attendance that day and give her a warm Norwich Rotary welcome!
The meeting concluded with all in attendance reciting the 4-Way Test and President Steve adjourned the meeting at 12:50pm.