Norwich Rotary Club
April 2, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Rodney Green
Invocation: Barry Shead
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Birthdays: None, however we all sang the “Birthday Song” to Mary Richardson!
Anniversaries: None
Guests: Guest Speaker Patrick Murphy- Masonicare Hospice
Visiting Rotarians: Brandon Gidicsin – Westerly, RI Rotary Club
Seeing as its Spring and Baseball is now in “full swing,” Nancy’s fellowship consisted of quotes from famous baseball players throughout history. Some quotes were from greats including, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Bob Lemon, Satchel Page and of course, Yogi Berra!
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION: Yahaira Jaquez
President Rodney called up Membership Chairman Stan Lucas along with Barry Shead and Gary Young to introduce Yahaira Jaquez and induct her officially into the club. Yahaira is currently the Assistant Financial Center Manager at Berkshire Bank at the Salem Turnpike location. She grew up in Norwich and has 2 children. Welcome to Norwich Rotary Yahaira!
Announcements:
The Whiskey, Wine and Cigar Event is coming up fast and is only 4 weeks away! Tickets are selling fast! Don’t wait and get your tickets NOW! Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/norwich-rotarys-whiskey-wine-and-cigar-event-tickets-1228434784509?aff=erelexpmlt
There is still time to donate to the Clock Tower Project. The Rotary website has been updated with current pledge forms and Rotarians and anyone else can get their pledges in by the end of March to be included in naming opportunities on the clock. Installation will hopefully be in April or very soon thereafter.
Rotary Grants are now through May 15th. Applications can be found on the Norwich Rotary website.
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.
The Rotary Day of Service will happen on May 17th. Six clubs in our area will be packing meals with each area club having at least 10 members volunteering. The goal is 30,000 meals packed. Location will be the Rose City Senior Center on Mahan Drive in Norwich. Packing will take place from 9 to 11am and 11 to Noon for cleanup.
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!
Happy Dollars: Mike Matera
Mike welcomed Yahaira to the club. Mike has been cleaning out his warehouse over the past two weeks. Been a 7-day a week project!
Pat Marshall reported that she did something that she doubted any member has done lately. She put her pants on inside out! No kidding!
Stan welcomed Yahaira to Rotary. He also reported he’ll be away in California for 5 days to celebrate his son Mason’s 50th birthday! Stan also said the rock he hauled from Arizona a few weeks ago he will now haul out to California! That’s one well-traveled stone!
Michael Vaz congratulated our newer members as he’s also one. Mike also asked for Rotarians to support the fundraiser that the Thames River Community Service is having on May 8th at the Port and Starboard Room at Ocean Beach in New London. Get your tickets at www.trfp.org
Gary Young welcomed Yahaira. Gary said that today is “National Do It Yourself Day” and he was hanging a picture at home and ended up breaking a dimmer switch. Now he has to “Do it himself” and fix the dimmer switch!
Mandy Crispim welcomed Yahaira to Norwich Rotary!
Andrew Nollman said that he picked his parents up from the airport and got them settled in their home for the warmer months and also getting ready for the Passover holidays. He reminded to get your tickets for the Whiskey, Wine and Cigar Event. The Whiskey, Wine and Cigar Event is coming up fast and is only 4 weeks away! Tickets are selling fast! Don’t wait and get your tickets NOW! Get your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/norwich-rotarys-whiskey-wine-and-cigar-event-tickets-1228434784509?aff=erelexpmlt
Mike Cooney was surprised that Nancy had no quotes from Baseball great Bob Uecker! He welcomed Yahaira! Mike has been busy organizing golf tournaments for Groton Rotary and Plainfield Rotary. He was pleased to see that Cathy Osten was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Native Daughter Award. Mike closed by giving Rodney thanks for his leadership and to see the club growing again.
Rodney Green welcomed Yahaira to Rotary. He also laughed at Pat Marshall’s tale of the inside out pants!
Roz Etra was also happy to hear that Cathy Osten will be honored. She now has a brand new roof and it seems that flocks of birds are no attracted to it and are pooping all over it. She gave credit to the roofers as they finished the entire job in one day! She also went to Philly to visit her grandkids and the trains were super delayed and she arrived 4 hours behind schedule.
Auction: Ryan Telford
Ryan had some CT Lottery Scratch Tickets face value $40.00, but could be worth millions if they are the right ones. After some spirited bidding Mary Richardson took them home for $55.00. If we never see Mary again we’ll know she won some big bucks!
Lottery: Kathryn Tracey
Mike Cooney, Roz Etra and Tom Adams could not find the Ace of Spades. Stan Lucas won Barry’s cookies!
Program: Ryan Telford introduced Patrick Murphy, the Norwich Branch Manager for the organization. Patrick explained what Masonicare Hospice does. Hospice is a philosophy of care with a holistic approach that encompasses mind, body and spirit. Masonicare’s Hospice Program supports the needs of people with life-limiting conditions and the family members who care for them. The time to choose hospice is when the goal of treatment shifts from curing illness to providing comfort. Our program addresses physical comfort, such as pain control and symptom management, while also supporting the emotional and spiritual well-being of both the patient and his or her family. Hospice isn’t just for a person’s last few days or weeks—in fact, many patients receive hospice care for months. The Masonicare Hospice team works collaboratively with each patient’s community physician to customize a plan of care tailored to the individual. Our team members include a medical director, hospice specialty nurses, social workers, spiritual care counselors, hospice aides, and trained volunteers.
Bonnie Johnson lead the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:21pm.