Norwich Rotary Club
February 5, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Rodney Green
Invocation: Gary Young
WELL HERE WE ARE ON FEBRUARY FIVE
AND HERE’S A THOUGHT THAT AIN’T NO JIVE
BEING FAIR AND TRUTHFUL IS WHAT WE STRIVE
TO DO EACH DAY WHILE WE ARE ALIVE
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE REAL HARD LABOR
TRYING TO LOVE GOD AND LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
LET”S FACE IT THINGS DON’T ALWAYS GO OUR WAY
SO WE NEED TO STAND UP EACH AND EVERY DAY
HERE’S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO TO EASE THE LOAD
YOU DON’T NEED A PIN OR A PASSWORD CODE
YOU CAN DO IT AT WORK OR AT YOUR HOME ABODE
JUST TELL THE DEVIL TO HIT THE ROAD
AND ONCE THAT DEVIL IS OUT OF SIGHT
YOU’LL FEEL LIKE YOU JUST WON THE FIGHT
HAVING STRENGTH TO KEEP DOING WHAT’S RIGHT
SO GOD BLESS Y’ALL – AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT
NOW LETS GIVE THANKS FOR THE USUALL STUFF
FOR THE FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP ALWAYS MORE THAN ENOUGH
AND UNTIL WE GET TOGETHER AGAIN
LET’S PRAISE THE LORD AND SAY AMEN
Fellowship: Ray Baribeault
Birthdays: Kathleen Stauffer – 2/7 and Kathryn Tracey – 2/12
Anniversaries: None
Guests: Roz Etra introduced her daughter Dori Clarke. Stan Lucas introduced Michael Vaz
Visiting Rotarians: None.
The club sang our guests “both’ versions of the Rotary Welcome Song. Ray’s fellowship then consisted of…. you guessed it! Puns! “I asked my friend to spell Won Ton backwards. He said “Not Now!” Many funny ones followed and much laughter and a few groans ensued!
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan passed out papers for members to write the names of prospective members on. He said to always keep prospective members top of mind and don’t give up!
Announcements:
Time is running out 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 February 28th 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.
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.
**New Member Postings**: Atalya Champalath from Charter Oak Credit Union-2nd Posting. Michael Vaz-Thames River Family Program-1st Posting. If any member has objection please talk to President Rodney or any member of the Board.
Happy Dollars: Barry Shead
Barry started things off saying that he survived the flu and is happy to here at today’s meeting.
Andy Nollman gave $20.00 to welcome today’s guests and to say that this year’s Whiskey, Wine and Cigar event will take place on May 7th at Bella Fiore from 6pm to 8pm. There will be a dinner buffet, whiskey and wine tastings, cigars and a silent auction. Tickets are $75.00 and can be purchased via www.eventbrite.com The event sold out in the past, so don’t wait to buy you tickets. All proceeds from this fun event benefit the Norwich Rotary Foundation and Local Community. Please grab flyers to promote the event as well as share on social media.
Rodney Green gave $10.00 to say that business has not been so good during the month of January. Egg prices are through the roof and that makes his margins for breakfast razor thin. Until this uptick in prices changes he might have to consider a dollar surcharge on meals.
Cara Westcott gave $10.00 to say she has finally gotten over the flu! She says she’ll wear a mask for a while to make sure she stay’s healthy! She passed around a sign-up sheet for this year’s Norwich St. Patrick’s Parade that will take place on March 2nd. Members who wish to march should assemble at noon on Main Street near Eastern Bank.
Dori Etra Clarke gave to say her daughters are selling Girl Scout Cookies and they need to sell a lot to get a prize of a backstage pass to a big event in NYC.
Gary Young had happy dollars to say that Stan won the Gary Young look-a-like contest!
Bill Champagne has been busy with the Norwich Race Equity Committee. February is Black History Month and says that Black History is America’s History.
Pat Marshall said that she had a great time at last year’s Whiskey, Wine and Cigar event! She hired Sean to clean her house and said she now only smokes outside. She has cut down from 2 packs a day to a pack and a half and hopes to keep cutting down.
Margarita Martins-Querido welcomed our guests. She said that she is President of this year’s Op-Sail CT and they are looking for a Secretary for the organization.
Stan Lucas said that he a Barry Shead spoke earlier in the day with a business about a business membership. He also said how much fun he had at last year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Thanks were also given to Andy Nollman for his “Health Fair” with the Whiskey, Wine and Cigar event!
Barry Shead said he enjoyed prospecting members with Stan and admired his passion for Rotary and that he really speaks from the heart when discussing Rotary with prospects.
Auction: No Auction today.
Lottery: Pat Marshall
Paul Gaffney and Bob Reed did not find the Ace of Spades, however Susy Hurlbert did find the Ace of Spades! Winner, Winner-Chicken Dinner! Congratulations Susy! Barry’s Cookies were won by Roz Etra!
Program: President Rodney introduced Jennifer Zubek and Michele Deane from The Riverfront Children’s Center. The Riverfront Children’s Center began as a preschool component of the YMCA childcare center in 1983. Riverfront serves up to 120 children aged 12 weeks to Kindergarten from throughout Southeastern Connecticut. Many of the students are referred by local educational agencies and social service agencies as they are already receiving services such as housing, nutrition and other kinds of government subsidized assistance. The Riverfront Children’s Center is overseen by a diverse Board of Directors and has 10 classrooms serving up to 120 children. They are a 501c3 organization. For more information log on to www.riverfrontchildren.org
Rodney lead the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:05pm.