Rotary Club of Norwich
December 9th, 2020
Location-Courtyard by Marriott
THE RONE
Presiding: President Mary Richardson
Invocation: Gary Young stepped in for Keith Caplet (Zoom trouble).
Fellowship: Due to some trouble with Zoom, Mary went directly to Announcements:
Birthdays: Erin Gizio – December 12th
Anniversaries: None.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guests: None
Announcements:
President Mary displayed a number of Thank You cards from the residents of Swartz Manor for the gift cards they received for Thanksgiving from the club.
*The school supply drive will continue to January. Please bring Crayola Crayons, Crayola Markers and Ticonderoga Pencils to the weekly meetings for collection.
*If you know of anyone who would be a good speaker at one of our Rotary Meetings contact Bob Farwell or Kevin Wickless. Speakers can be done virtual as well if needed.
*Gary Young reported that the committee for Benji’s Fund met and there is promotional material and applications available. Contact Gary for additional information. Gary also reminded the club that the 2121 Golf Tournament will be on September 1st.
*President Mary said that we will continue conducting the Zoom meeting in tandem with the in-person meeting for the near future unless the state rules change.
*The Norwich Rotary Club will hold the Annual Meeting on December 31st to approve nominations for club officers and directors.
*Sign up to ring the bells for the Salvation Army on Friday and Saturday’s during December up until Christmas.
*Jim Konrad is looking for volunteers to help with the Tommy Toy Fund Monday 12 /14 through Thursday 12/17 to prepare the gifts. Call Jim at 860-334-8675 if you can lend a hand. Location is One Thames Plaza in Norwich.
*Mike Matera reported that Rodney Green fell at home over the weekend and ended up with 7 staples in his head.
Happy Dollars: Barry Shead:
Barry gave to say he has bought a new car! He pointed out this was the first new car he has purchased in a while. His first new car was in 1978 and was a Ford Gran Torino. He said the difference between getting a new car and a pre-owned low mileage model was only $3,600 so he went with the new option!
Gary Young gave to welcome Brenda McDonald who is the new leader of the Rotary Community Corps.
Susy Hurlbert said her daughter works at Yale New Haven Hospital and said the Covid admission numbers this week at the hospital was 564! Five weeks ago it was just 8! Wear your masks and wash your hands! Also, ECAR is having a virtual raffle that will benefit 6 charities in Eastern Connecticut. Check out ECAR’s website for additional details.
Mike Matera was happy to report that his son’s report card was emailed to him from St. Patrick’s School and it contained 9 A’s and 2 B’s! He’s very pleased! Mike also said his first car was a 1972 Torino with 196,000 miles!
Andy Grant gave $20.00 and told a story of a car that was a gift. It was a Triumph TR-6 that he admired and it ended up in garage! Nice Gift indeed.
Bill Champagne said his wife got tested for Covid and was negative! He said UCFS offers testing Monday to Friday at their 47 Town Street location that is fast and easy. He also thanked Andrew Nollman for researching everyone’s birthdays and updating the list!
Mary Richardson gave $10.00 for this year’s Christmas Party for her office that changed from years past. This year everyone got bags that contained cookies from Barry Shead and the nice folks from ARC and food prepared by Rodney Green. She also told a report card story from a while ago involving her son William! Mary’s 1st car was a Green Gremlin.
Mike Cooney conveyed a car story from 1978 that involved him being born in an ambulance during a blizzard. He also had a story about his son’s Common Core math class. The teacher said his son got a problem wrong but upon further investigation the teacher was the one who was wrong! His daughter Katie is still home 5 days a week! Mike also stated that he heard that Barry Shead’s first car was actually a Flintstone car!
Joel Etra (via Zoom) told a car story of an American Motors Rambler he was riding in overheated and flipped off the road in Brice Canyon and he was hanging upside down by is seat belt. Seat belts were a new thing back then!
Nancy Gentes wished everyone a Happy Hannukkah!
Auction: Kathryn Tracy: Kathryn auctioned off a beautiful Pointsetta plant and Barry’s ARC cookies. Spirited bidding ensued between Andy Nollman and Jim Daly! Kathryn offered to go out to her car and get another one of they both agreed to $25.00 a piece! Both agreed! Jim ended up with the cookies however!
Lottery: Susy Hurlbert
Kathryn Tracy, Mike Matera for Joel Etra, and Kathryn Tracy (again!) drew cards! The Ace of Spades is still safe for another week!
Program: No Program today.
Jim Daly led the club with the 4-Way Test.
President Mary adjourned the meeting at 1:05pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter