Norwich Rotary Club
February 22nd, 2023
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Barry Shead
Invocation: Barry Shead
Fellowship: Bob Farwell
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: None
Guests: None
Bob gave an interesting fellowship about another one of Connecticut’s lesser known characters in history, Donald Grant Mitchell. Mitchell was the grandson of politician and jurist Stephen Mix Mitchell. Donald Mitchell was born in Norwich in 1822. He graduated for Yale College in 1841, where he was a member of Skull and Bones and studied law, but soon took up literature. Throughout his life he showed a particular interest in agriculture and landscape gardening, which he followed at first in pursuit of health. He served as U.S. Consul at Venice, Italy, from 1853 to 1854, and in 1855 he settled at his estate, called Edgewood, near New Haven, Connecticut. He was best known as the author, under the pseudonym “IK Marvel”. Of the sentimental essays contained in the volumes Reveries of a Bachelor, or a Book of Heart and Dream Life, a fable of the Seasons. Reveries of a Bachelor examines the dream-like lives of Americans were living at the time. It was one of the top best sellers at the time but received little attention from 19th century literary critics. Mitchel was one of the best-selling authors and popular lecturers, and his books sold more than a million copies in his times. A self-taught landscape agricultural architect, Mitchell was known in his day for creating his beautiful farm of “Edgewood” on the outskirts of New Haven in Westville and went on to design much of the early New Haven park system, including East Rock and Edgewood parks. The Westville Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library is named for Mitchell.
Announcements:
*Barry Shead had the following announcements:
*Mike Cooney has updated the club’s webpage and it continues to be a work in progress.
*March 15th will be the “Serviceperson of the Month” program. Please make every effort to attend that meeting.
*March 29th will be the Rotary Business Lunch with the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce.
*March 28th the Norwich Race Equity Committee will conduct a workshop on “Race” at NFA at 6:30pm. Bob Farwell will be the moderator for the event. The attendance to the discussion is limited and 50 people. 4 Rotarians are requested to take part. There is no charge for attending but registration is required. A light dinner will be served.
*May 3rd will be the Whiskey and Wine Event at Bella Fiore. $75.00 per person and tickets will be on sale next week on Eventbrite.
*May 20th will be a “Rotary Day of Service” and our club will be doing a joint project with other area clubs that day. It will most likely be packing meals this year. Location is 3 Rivers Community College.
*Golf Tournament will be September 6th this year!
*The Native Son/Daughter Lunch will take place in June 7th and our club will be sponsoring the event along with the Norwich Woman’s City Club. Nominations deadline is March 8th.
*The Centennial Clock Project is on track and a vote on March 6th will give the final approval for the project to move to the fundraising stage. Stay tuned for more information.
*The “No Show Gala” will be returning! Plan on donating so you can spend a wonderful evening at home and not showing up to a gala!
*Rotarians are encouraged to please invite prospective members for lunch and introduce them to the world of Rotary.
Happy Dollars: – Jen Granger
*Jen Granger gave for Bob Farwell’s fellowship and said she was born in New Haven where Mitchell was famous for making his living.
*Bill Champagne said the Norwich Race Equity Committee will be sponsoring a Chicago Style Dinner on March 28th at Norwich Free Academy at 5:30pm. At the dinner attendees will each be given topics to discuss on race. Bill said there is still room for anyone who would like to take part. He would like to see at least 4 Rotarians from our club take part in the discussion that promises to be enlightening. There is no cost.
*Gary Young said fellow Rotarian Ray Baribeault had some good jokes at church. He also he now once again belong to the Stan Lucas look-a-like club.
*Bob Farwell said he once belonged to a Bowling League called the “Rolling Bagels” while in college and said they were really bad! Bob will soon be attending his 50th college reunion and hopes to reunite the group!
*Mike Cooney has dollars for his son Matt who was sick earlier in the week and wanted waffles for breakfast and thought he’d heat them up himself. Well, he put them on a plastic plate in their toaster oven. Needless to say Mike now needs a new toaster oven and Matt didn’t get his waffles.
*Mandy Crispin had Happy Dollars to say she was happy to be back to Rotary after a leave of absence.
*Barry Shead gave $20.00 and said he was also glad to be back to Rotary after taking some time away to help take care of his daughter-in-law who recently underwent open heart surgery. She suffered additional problems as the retina in one of her eyes detached and they had to do an additional operation to reattach so soon after the heart operation. She is thankfully doing well after both operations! He also reminded that The ARC Film Festival is coming up on March 29th and will be held at The Spa at Norwich Inn. Tickets at $50.00 and can be purchased at TheArcECT.org/film-tickets
Auction: Roz & Joel Etra had a heavy glass pedestal plate. Andrew Nollman was the high bidder at $20.00!
Monthly Rotary Trivia: Stay tuned.
Lottery: – Kathleen Tracey
Stan Lucas, Joel Etra and Gary Young drew cards and no one found the Ace of Spades! Roz Etra and Jen Granger won Barry’s cookies!
Program:
Bob Farwell introduced Mary Didiuk and Diana Caty from Traveling Toys. Traveling Toys provides access to high-quality, age-appropriate toys to promote play. Their vision is to provide access to toys and games for children and teens of all socioeconomic backgrounds throughout Connecticut. They are currently in a partnership with Otis Library to establish a Toy Library for Norwich. Traveling Toys has applied to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut for the Norwich Youth Grant. More information can be found at the following webpage: https://www.travelingtoys.info/
Barry led the Club and all recited the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:10pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter