Rotary Club of Norwich, CT
January 28, 2026
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE:
Presiding: President Steve Martin
Invocation: Barry Shead
Fellowship: Susy Hurlbert
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: Stan Lucas – 48 years! Steve Martin – 2 years!
Guests: Our guest speaker Wendy Cooper
Visiting Rotarians: None
Susy’s Fellowship was an “Ice Breaker” Game that all in attendance took part in to get to know more about each other. Member tables took a few minutes to answer questions including the following:
*Do you love Country Music?
*Were you born outside the USA?
*Do you own a boat?
*Can you do 50 pushups?
*Have you been to Disney?
*Are you from a Military family?
At the end we all knew a little more about each other!
Announcements:
The St. Patrick’s Parade will take place on March 8th in Downtown Norwich. A volunteer is needed to coordinate our Rotary Club’s participation in the event.
The Whiskey, Wine and Cigar Event will take place once again this year on May 6th at Bella Fiore. Tickets will go on sale on March 6th. This year’s goal is 80 attendees and $6,000.00 raised. Please consider supporting this event by buying a ticket, inviting a friend and be a sponsor!
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.
Membership Minute: Paul Gaffney
Paul passed out a sheet with Rotary Recruitment ideas to always keep membership top of mind. Even though the Membership Committee is Stan, Molly, Ryan and himself, it’s up to every member to focus on bringing in new members and keep the club strong and growing!
Happy Dollars: Molly Bruno
Molly invited everyone to a ribbon cutting at her new office at 110 Broadway on Thursday, 1/29 at 4pm.
Andy Nollman just returned from sunny, warm St. John! He’s happy that there is another deposit on his parents Condo in Florida and hopes that the condo board doesn’t mess this one up! He’s happy the Patriots are in the Super Bowl however after seeing what the tickets are selling for he’ll save himself a bundle and watch it on TV like the rest of us!
Roz Etra said she’s getting ready for her knee replacement on Friday. She said she will need help around the house following the surgery and if anyone knows a service or can help out let her know.
Bill Champagne said that Pat Marshall got back home yesterday from her hospital stay. She says “Love and Prayers” do work and requested everyone think of her.
Mike Matera missed the Patriots game on Sunday as he was busy plowing out all the business properties he owns. He also said that his sister is in the hospital with some blood clotting in her lungs. Dangerous stuff but he thinks she should get home soon.
Andy Grant is back from his usual winters in Utah for the arrival of his 7th grandchild!
Barry Shead reported that fellow Rotarian Nancy Gentes is doing well following her knee replacement. He also talked to Pat Marshall and said she has a very positive attitude and sounds upbeat!
Stan Lucas thanks fellow Rotarian Kevin Wickless for hosting him and his daughter Ana at his home in Killington, Vermont. Great skiing ensued at both Killington and Pico!
Mike Cooney said he organized his last Pinewood Derby and it was a great success. He was also sore from shoveling out his driveway and his 80 year old neighbor’s as well!
Auction: Stan Lucas auctioned off one of his famous “Hand Made” rocking horses. Andy Grant paid $100.00! For his new grandchild no doubt!
Lottery: Bonnie Johnson
Mike Maters, Tom Adams and Ana Lucas could not find the Ace of Spades. However Ana won Barry’s ARC Cookies so she still came out a winner! She shared them all of course!
Program: Roz Etra introduced our guest speaker Wendy Cooper. Wendy told stories about doing Improv Comedy in New York City and her other jobs throughout her life including being a cruise director, owning a shop at the Velvet Mill in Stonington, being a host on the Home Shopping Network and QVC and her work raising money for a 501c3 charity “Homeless for the Holidays” that will be hosting a huge event in December.
The meeting concluded with Bonnie Johnson leading the club reciting the 4-Way Test at 1:12pm.
** Looking for volunteers to serve on The RONE committee. Contact Bob Reed (bobr@hallradio.net).**