Norwich Rotary Club
October 4th, 2023
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Mary Richardson
Invocation: Mandy Crispin
Fellowship: Ray Baribeault
Ray began Fellowship with announcing Mike Gordon will be celebrating a birthday on October 7th! No Rotarian anniversaries this week. Rotarian’s with guests featured the following. Mary Richardson introduced Jennifer Chadukiewitz, Bill Champagne introduced Pat Marshall and Stan Lucas introduced Bobbie Braboy. A resounding rendition of the Rotary “Welcome Song” followed. Ray then proceeded with some excellent puns that were received with much laughter and only a few groans. “They say that two brothers invented the airplane….. They were Wright!”
Announcements:
The Happy Dollars “Turkey Drive” has now begun and will go through November 13th. All monies raised will benefit the residents of Schwartz Manor in Norwich. Please give generously.
On October 12th the District Governor will be meeting with all area clubs at a breakfast meeting to take place at Three Rivers College at 7:30am. It is a Wednesday and there WILL be a regular club meeting later that day. Please make every effort to attend the meeting with the District Governor however.
The October 18th weekly meeting will be a special off site meeting. Rotarian Mike Goldblatt will be opening his residence at 63 Sherwood Lane in Norwich to enjoy a catered lunch and view his collection of antique cars. Members are asked to wear orange that day and feel free to bring a guest. Bring your old car if you have one! Cost is $20.00 pp.
The Annual Madonna Place Trivial Pursuit Challenge will be on November 3rd at the Bozrah Moose Club. The club is looking to enter a team or two this year.
Happy Dollars: Andy Grant
*Andy gave $40.00 for the Thanksgiving Challenge and said that every family has conflicts and he’s happy that some of the conflicts with his wife some of her siblings has ended!
*Barry Shead gave to the Thanksgiving Challenge!
*Ray Baribeault donated to the Thanksgiving Challenge!
*Bill Champagne thanked Bob Reed for starting off the welcome song. He also said the Walktober Calendars are available at the Norwich Historical Society.
*Mandy Crispin will be walking in the Terrie Broduer Breast Cancer Foundation Walk on October 7th at Harkness Park in Waterford. Please donate what you can to a good cause.
*Susy Hurlbert gave $40.00 for the Thanksgiving Challenge. She also said the Realtors association has been a big supporter of the Terrie Broduer Breast Cancer Walk. She followed up with she was experiencing a bit of “Brain Fog” as she just got her annual flu shot.
*Stan Lucas had lunch at Norwich Tech and said there is a possibility of a corporate membership and maybe having a meeting at that location. Stan is also preparing for a busy week with his Marine Corps reunion. A week of touring Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, Slater Museum dinners and a tour of the newest US Nuclear Submarine the Hyman Rickover and attend the commissioning.
*Mary Richardson welcomed all our guests and gave to the Thanksgiving Challenge.
*Nancy Gentes gave to the Thanksgiving Challenge and welcomed our guest speaker. She also said she attended the retirement party for Deb Moynahan.
*Mike Cooney had great news that he has been promoted to Regional Manager of Dixon Golf and he will have lots of territory to cover that encompasses much of the Northeast. He also had a funny story of leaving one of his employees out on the course at an end of a tournament in some pretty lousy weather.
*Guest Pat Marshall gave to say hello and looks forward to becoming a member of the club!
*Andrew Nollman gave $40.00 for the Thanksgiving Challenge and welcomed all of our guests. He also told of the trials and tribulations of getting his aging parents to all their medical appointments.
*Jennifer from SCADD said that alcohol is still the #1 addiction in the United States. She also said she is celebrating an anniversary working with recovering addicts at SCADD.
*Guest Speaker Bobbie Braboy was happy to say there is grant money available to help run the Global City Norwich program.
*Molly Bruno gave to the Thanksgiving Challenge and was happy to share that she is celebrating 5 years with her boyfriend!
*Gary Young said that he was hoping to play golf in the Chestnut Street Playhouse Golf Tournament today, but they were full up! So he came to Rotary!
Weekly Auction: Ray Baribeault auctioned off a game of “Norwich-opoly.” Mary Richardson won with a $20.00 bid!
Lottery: Bill Champagne
Barry Shead drew first to no avail. Molly Bruno drew next and she found the ACE OF SPADES! Congratulations! Susy Hurlbert won Barry Shead’s ARC Cookies!
Program: Mary Richardson introduced Bobbie Braboy, Director of Global City Norwich. Global City Norwich is a multi-year project supporting the revitalization of Downtown Norwich. GCN engages the community with multi-cultural experiences and events that enrich and stimulate residents, businesses as well as visitors. Through food, music, dance, art and creativity, Global City Norwich stimulates and ensures the continuous bloom for a vibrant future. We organize many family friendly events through the year and we are so excited for all the opportunities that Norwich residents and visitors are enjoying. Our city is thriving and we can’t express how overjoyed we are for our events.”
President Mary called on Bonnie Johnson to lead the members reciting the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:15pm