Norwich Rotary Club

Club meeting for Jan. 22, 2020: Opioids and how to fight them

Date: Jan. 22, 2020

Presiding: Jim Daly for the absent Mike Cooney.

Invocation: Barry Young

Fellowship: With Barry Shead. Great events from Jan. 22. Here are some of them. In 1970, Boeing makes its first commercial passenger trip to London. In 1929, the Prohibition Dry Bill was introduced into Congress. In 1984, the Macintosh computer was introduced. And there were more!

Birthdays: None.

Anniversaries: Bill Champagne (34 years), Tom Adams (18 years), Laura Hobart (18 years).

Guests: Guest speaker Stephen Feathers.

Announcements: We are looking for nominations for Native Son/Native Daughter.

The District Conference is coming up at the Mystic Marriott in Groton.

The Happy Dollars Fund is available for needy recipients.

The golf tournament is Sept. 2.

Happy Dollars with Barry Shead. He says it’s good to see Joel Etra back.

Jim Daly says his football season ended a bit early, and he says baseball season is a bit rocky. But there’s always hope.

Bill Champagne was happy about his 34 years in this wonderful club.

Mike Matera congratulated Rodney Greene for his award from the Norwich Chamber.

Rodney Greene talked about new restaurant inspections, which includes a rule saying there must be a sink (two tubs) next to a coffee maker.

Auction: $20 in lottery tickets – including Powerball, Megamillions and scratchoffs – went for $40. Winning bidder was Andrew Nollman.

Lottery with Paul Blanchard. Roz Etra, Jim Daly … and Jim Daly again. No winners.

Program: Guest speaker Stephen Feathers is with Perception Programs, a non-profit in Willimantic. He said his firm’s focus is on harm reduction — reducing the consequences of clients’ behaviors.

He talked about Narcan and its effects on reversing the effects of opioids – and only on opioids. Quick fact: Narcan lasts in the body for 90 minutes – most opioids can last in the body for twice that long or more. The more-powerful Fentanyl and carfentanyl are not affected by Narcan.

Narcan is available via prescription at participating pharmacies, including all CVS and Walgreens stores.