Norwich Rotary Club
December 4th, 2024
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Rodney Green
Invocation: Barry Shead
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Birthdays: Mandy Crispim 11/24 and Bill Champagne 12/3
Anniversaries: Kevin Wickless, 11/17 – 14 years & Pat Marshall 12/6 – 1 year!
Guests: Andrew Nollman introduced Atalia Champalth from Charter Oak Credit Union
Visiting Rotarians: None.
Nancy’s fellowship was a teacher asking her 1st grade students to write a letter on the subject of “What am I grateful for.” One of her students drew the outline of his hand. The teacher asked her students what they thought his drawing meant? After many guesses the student who drew it said it was the teacher’s hand. The hand she took in his hand on the first day of school and he was thankful for her kindness. The moral is that things do not have to be material to have meaning.
Membership Minute: Molly Bruno
Molly reminded that a Christmas Swap Party will take place at Stan Lucas’ home at 280 Broadway in Norwich on December 11th at 5:30pm. Invite a prospective member to join in the fun that evening. Also bring a wrapped gift for the “Yankee Swap.” There will be no regular noon meeting that day. It’s Potluck. Some club members have already signed up to come with a dish to share. Please let Mary Richardson know if you plan to attend and what you’ll bring.
Announcements:
Please bring spare clean egg cartons and give them to Bonnie Johnson.
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.
Happy Dollars: Barry Shead
Barry said he had a great Thanksgiving with his family. He noted that tomorrow at 2pm the ARC will be commemorating the “2 Millionth Bottle” at their redemption center! Barry also told a story of a friend of his that was recently in Kiev, Ukraine and ran into a fellow member of Barry’s Masonic Lodge from Putnam. Small world indeed.
Rodney Green brought in 170 egg cartons for Bonnie Johnson! You heard right! 170! Rodney ended up buying eggs from Walmart as the price was 2 dollars less a dozen than he was paying his supplier for a dozen extra large eggs. Needless to say Bonnie was overwhelmed! Rodney also said the family of Manny Kadish donated back the lunch fees for the 22 Rotarians who attended Manny Memorial Service. They were so touched by the number of Rotarians who showed up to Manny’s tribute they wanted to pay tribute to an organization that was so close to Manny’s heart. The Rabbi was also touched by the number of Rotarians who attended.
Pat Marshall told a story of attending a wedding of a co-worker over the weekend and during the “speeches” part of the wedding reception she got up in front of a couple hundred people she has never met and gave the bride accolades. Pat said her speaking at Rotary has helped her over any fears of public speaking! She also attended the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade in NYC to see her son help carry the huge Ronald McDonald balloon down 5th Avenue! She stayed dry with her grandkids and watched on TV and her son got pretty cold and wet! Pat will miss next week’s meeting as she’ll be in Texas with a heard of Giraffe’s at an animal sanctuary.
Mike Matera said he had a really nice Thanksgiving with his family that his sister hosted for the first time. His brother-in-law called in the morning to say the bar was open but Mike said he was a good boy and only had one drink! He said the only problem over the holiday was on Black Friday trying to get the credit card away from his wife. That drew both laughter and groans from all in attendance!
Gary Young spent Thanksgiving in Virginia with his wife Romer. He said they really know how to put on a Thanksgiving feast down south as he gained 9 pounds!
Mary Richardson welcomed our guests. She thanked Kathryn Tracey for facilitating getting all the Thanksgiving gift cards to Schwartz Manor. Thank you notes are already coming in from grateful residents. Mary also said she was happy to see so many turnout to Manny’s service.
Andrew Nollman welcomed our guests. He gave kudo’s to Rodney Green for his efforts in making Manny’s service a memorable one. He had a good Thanksgiving holiday with his family and will miss next Wednesday’s meeting as it his wife Lona’s birthday!
Bill Champagne thanked everyone for singing happy birthday in honor of his 75th year around the sun! He’s then followed up with 75 Happy Dollars! Applause followed that!
Mike Cooney said that his kids were under the weather for the Thanksgiving holiday. He also said he enjoyed attending Manny’s service and at the luncheon that followed there was a “Meeting of the Mike’s” as he dined with Mike Goldblatt and Mike Gordon!
Molly Bruno congratulated Pat Marshall on her 1st Anniversary as a Norwich Rotarian! Molly also welcomed our guests. She’s was happy to be back in town as she’s been traveling a lot as of late to Boston and Philadelphia for conferences.
Auction: Bonnie Johnson auctioned a set of cooking baskets for the grill to cook vegetables and other things. Mike Matera was the high bidder at $25.00!
Lottery: Bill Champagne
Rodney Green, Mike Cooney and Gary Young could not find that pesky Ace of Spades!
Barry’s cookies went to Kelly Westcott.
Program: President Rodney introduced Sean Spatafora, owner of Crystal Restoration.
President Rodney at 12:55pm led the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned.