Norwich Rotary Club
April 23, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
Rone Reporter: Bob Reed
THE RONE
Presiding: President Rodney Green
Invocation: Mandy Crispim
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: None
Guests: Tricia Staley – Guest Speaker
Visiting Rotarians: None
Nancy’s fellowship started with her passing out some Easter candy (no chocolate eggs as the stores were cleaned out) of chocolate candy bars. Nancy had some very funny antidotes about chocolate, one being that chocolate has preservatives, so if you eat it you will look younger!
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan reported that there was a membership committee meeting prior to today’s regular meeting and a table with membership information will be at the Whisky, Wine and Cigar Event in May. A table is also being considered at the Rose Arts Festival and Diversity Event. Please continue to invite business associates and friends to a lunch and introduce to the family of Rotary. Attendance continues to be good and growing every week so let’s keep the ball rolling!
Announcements:
The Whiskey, Wine and Cigar Event will be coming up fast and is only 2 weeks away May 7th! Tickets are selling fast and a very few ticket remain! 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 to be included in naming opportunities on the clock. Installation will hopefully be in the near future.
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. Still looking for volunteers.
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 said he and his family were invited earlier in the week to a special pre-opening of the Great Wolf Lodge and said it’s an amazing place and he even slid down the water slides and other attractions with his son!
Roz Etra enjoyed the Passover holiday’s with her family both in New Jersey and Philadelphia. She made the trip safely in her old car but was happy to report that her new car has arrived the day after she returned and she’s still trying to learn how to work all the new hi-tech aspects of the new vehicle.
Bill Champagne enjoyed attending Miss Lottie’s Café over the weekend at the Norwich Arts Center. Seeing as Patrice was under the weather, Bill invited fellow Rotarian Pat Marshall to go in her place. Bill said a video was shown at the show honoring Lottie with many community leaders giving Lottie accolades for her many years of service in the Norwich community.
Pat Marshall thanked Bill for the invite to Miss Lottie’s Café and said she enjoyed herself greatly. She said that by attending she realized that not everyone goes to bed at 8pm! Pat also said she had a great Easter and thanked fellow Rotarian Margarida Martins-Querido for the invite to her home to spend Easter and a great meal with Margarida and her wonderful family.
Mike Cooney said that last week was school vacations for the kids and they had a fun week that included mini golf and a visit to Hart’s Greenhouse. He’s off to Katie’s softball game this evening!
Margarida Martins-Querido said she was dropping off some Rotary Golf flyers to her neighbor when she noticed he was wearing shorts and everyone was good-naturedly making fun of his “chicken legs.” Upon him looking at the brochure he noticed that one of the photos was one that included his son! She said that sold him and he’s on board to golf in September! Margarida also said that last week’s talk by the sister of one of the Norwich house fire victims made an impression on her. The response from the club members to donate and help made her realize she has “Found her people” and she’s happy to belong to Rotary.
Andrew Nollman said he enjoyed the Passover holidays with his parents and Easter holiday with his wife Lona’s family. He’s looking forward to a concert Friday evening in Hartford! Andrew also reminded everyone to get your tickets for the Whiskey, Wine and Cigar Event. The event coming up fast and only 2 weeks away! Tickets are selling fast and there’s less than 20 tickets remaining! 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
Stan Lucas told a story of a man who was in a rehab facility in Niantic and decided to get in his wheelchair and wheel down the street to the local pub for a few beers. Upon wheeling back to the rehab he realized that the uphill trip was too challenging and hitched a ride from a passerby on the road. The rehab staff was far from amused as they were looking for him for quite a while! Stan also said how proud he is of his grandson who has scored in the 91% country wide in aptitude tests. He followed up with “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree!”
Auction: Jay Waitte
Jay’s out today after having shoulder surgery and we wish him a speedy recovery!
Lottery: Barry Shead
Rodney Green, Jim Daly and Mike Matera drew cards and could not find that allusive Ace of Spades! Barry’s ARC Cookies were won by Andrew Nollman and Pat Marshall.
Program: Rodney introduced Tricia Staley of the Norwich Historical Society. Tricia has authored 2 books on Norwich history and a third book will be forthcoming on Norwich during the American Revolution in the near future. Tricia gave a talk of events that have happened throughout history during the month of April.
**Thank you to Kelly Whipple for delivering the leftover luncheon food to Colchester in Bonnie Johnson’s absence** Service Above Self!
Our guest speaker lead the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:08pm.