Norwich RONE June 26, 2019
Presiding: Mike Cooney (1st time!) Invocation: Jim O’Shea
Fellowship: With Laura Hobart. She talked about National Anthem etiquette.
Birthdays: Jerry Lowney (June 27) and Jennifer Granger (July 1).
Rotarian Anniversaries: Gary Young (15 years on June 25), Susy Hurlbert (1 year on June 27).
Rotarians with guests: Mike Matera with Jeff Brining; Kyle Muenzner with Ed Muenzner; Mike Goldblatt with wife Rosa Goldblatt.
Visiting Rotarians: Rick Lawrence from the Manchester club, and his wife Elin.
Announcements: With Mike Cooney.
- John Mancini announced the Eastern CT Saving Bank Foundation gave $500 to the Rotary Foundation for the coat drive, and John himself gave $250 for the coats.
- Mike continues the Jim Daly era of technology tyranny with the silencing of cell phones (or else).
- Save the date: July 31 – we will meet outdoors at the Courtyard for a BBQ. Vegetarian options will be available. Bring your sunscreen, and maybe a hat.
- Happy Dollars are available for needy recipients.
Happy Dollars: With Barry Shead. His wife gave him a retirement party this weekend, and Gary Young spoke well of the man of honor.
- Jim Daly wishes the Cooney regime the best of luck and says hello again to John Mancini. He also says that Kyle Muenzner, Kathy Croteau and Bolduc are at their last meeting, and wishes them a fond farewell.
- Gary Young reminds us the Rotary Golf Tournament is Sept. 4. He held a pay-to-play putting tournament after the meeting to raise money, but all participants were winners – Gary gave each a Klondike bar.
- Andy Grant gives a thumbs up to Café Otis downtown.
- Kyle Muenzner, at his last meeting, recalls his first Rotary meeting. He attributes his growth to Rotary and his father Ed, who is in attendance.
- Andrew Nollman had an anniversary camping weekend with his wife, sister, and brother-in-law that was interrupted by sad family news. Unfortunately, his mother-in-law passed away soon after. He also congratulated Jim Daly for his tenure and wished Mike Cooney well for his.
- Rodney Greene got a new griddle. He says it should be ready to go for the pancake breakfast at the Rose Arts Festival on Saturday. He is looking for four volunteers to help out that day and is well on his way to having them. Breakfast is 9-11 a.m. on Chelsea Parade.
- Mike Matera thanks Jim Daly and wishes Mike Cooney luck. He is happy John Mancini is back. He is looking forward to his friend Jeff Brining joining the club.
- Mike Goldblatt was in college with Rick Lawrence at RPI in 1968 and had some memories.
- John Mancini is happy to be back with the club after getting a new hip, and then some serious medical issues that followed and occupied much of his year. “I’m smiling, I’m happy and I’m pain-free,” he said, and he looks forward to contributing to the club.
- Nancy Gentes said the Madonna Place music fundraiser at Johathan Edwards Winery was a great success and great fun. Members of the club and their businesses were generous donors. Super “Sugar” fan Andy Grant bought 40 tickets for his friends.
- Mike Cooney said goodbye to John Bolduc, Kathy Croteau and Kyle Muenzner, and welcomed John Mancini back.
Auction: Kevin Wickless made a donation.
Lottery: With Barry, who was playing with a full deck (insert joke here). Tom Adams, Rodney Greene and Gary Young all missed the mark.
Program: Rick Lawrence of the Manchester club gave a talk about the Rotary’s clean-water projects that have been completed in Guatemala, and those that are ongoing and need funds.
Rick notes that 1.1 billion people in the world don’t have access to safe water, and 30,000 people per day die because of water-related illnesses. Rotary volunteers bring water into homes in several villages in that country. Where water, sanitation and stove improvements are made, diseases, infections and ailments decreased by about 60%. A parting thought: “Sin auga, no hay vida” (without water, there is no life).
Reporter: Jim Konrad