Rotary Club of Norwich, CT
January 7, 2026
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Steve Martin
Invocation: Gary Young
IF YOUR LIFE IS GOING CRAZY AND YOU NEED A QUICK FIX
IF YOU WISH YOU WERE STILL 10 AND PLAYING PICK UP STICKS
IF YOUR FEET ARE HURTIN’ LIKE YOUU’RE WALKING ON BRICKS
IF YOU FEEL ALL ALONE AND NOT IN THE MIX
IF YOUR CAMERA IS TIRED OF TAKING ALL THOSE PICS
IF YOUR CANDLES ARE ALL BURNED RIGHT DOWN TO THE WICKS
IF YOUR DOG ALWAYS BITES AND NEVER LICKS
AND IF ALL YOU DO IS WATCH YOU TUBE AND NETFLIX…..
THEN KISS 2025 GOODBYE AND WELCOME 2026
THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO START OVER
AND YOU DON’T NEED TO PICK A FOURLEAF CLOVER
JUST ASK THE LORD FOR HELP AND HE’LL SHOW YOU THE WAY
HE WILL GIVE YOU A HUG EACH AND EVERY DAY
NOW LET’S GIVE THANKS FOR ALL THE USUAL STUFF
FOR THE FOOD AND THE FELLOWSHIP ALWAYS MORE THAN ENOUGH
AND UNTIL WE GET TOGETHER AGAIN
LET’S PRAISE THE LORD AND SAY AMEN
Fellowship: Susy Hurlbert
Birthdays: Kim Tondreau – December 27, Kelly Whipple – January 2, Jim Daly – January 10 & Gary Young – January 12
Anniversaries: Bob Reed – 34 years and Ryan Telford – 1 year
Guests: Bill Champagne introduced Catherine Ray
Visiting Rotarians: None
Susy’s Fellowship was a little about New Year’s resolutions and taking responsibility. She and Ernie recently helped move a 77 year old woman who was convalescing into what would become her permanent nursing home. I was a move she really didn’t want but she had no choice and agreed to it as there were no realistic options left. Susy said what struck her was not her age, or her illness, or even the heartbreak of losing her independence. It was that much of this heartache could have been avoided had she not resisted adjusting her lifestyle, downsizing, accepting help, planning for change. New Year’s resolutions often feel optional, flexible, easy to postpone. We tell ourselves we’ll deal with things “later.” But life has a way of collecting all those later decisions and presenting us with the bill all at once. This story isn’t about blame. It’s about realism. It’s about dignity. Small honest adjustments, asking for help, planning ahead, being willing to change. This can preserve freedom far longer than stubborn independence ever will. As Rotarians, we talk about service above self. But service also begins with responsibility to us, to our families and to the people who may one day have to make the hard decisions on our behalf. As we set our resolutions this year, maybe they don’t need to be dramatic. Maybe they just need to be realistic. A conversation started. A plan written down. A willingness to adapt. The greatest gift we can give ourselves and those who care about us is not perfection, but preparedness.
Announcements:
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.
** Bob Reed is looking for volunteers to serve on The RONE committee. PLEASE SOMEONE STEP UP VOLUNTEER ON THIS COMMITTEE. It won’t be every week. Contact Bob Reed (bobr@hallradio.net).**
Membership Minute: Molly Bruno
Molly talked about setting some membership goals for the coming year. As of today out membership number is 52. If every current member could bring in one new member this coming year the club could double the size of our membership. Attention will also focus on members who have not attended in quite a while.
Happy Dollars: Molly Bruno
Molly started things off saying she attended the gym yesterday as a New Year’s resolution.
Bill Champagne gave an update on Rotarian Pat Marshall after a recent visit with her. Pat gave him permission to convey that she is now battling cancer in a number of places throughout her body. We all wish her the best to get her health back and Bill took a video of all in attendance wishing her well and hoping to see her back soon!
Andrew Nollamn wished all a Happy New Year. Along with the New Year starting it also bring stress in his business. He thanked Roz for notarizing some documents for the sale of his parent’s condo in Florida only to have the condo board turndown the buyer, so he’s starting from scratch again to sell it again.
Gary Young gave $5.00 Happy Dollars to welcome Catherine Ray and thank her again for buying his former property in Norwich.
Roz Etra started off the New Year with a big bill for a new furnace. She said she felt down over the New Year as it would have been her and Joel’s 50th wedding anniversary. She ended up getting tickets for a Michael Jackson tribute review show that lifted he spirits! She also said she will be getting a knee replacement later this month.
Rodney Green will be getting a hip replacement next week. He also told a story of a haunted house he owns that he has put a great deal of money improving and renovating and has had tenants that have an agreement to live there and pay rent and have a 3 year purchase agreement. Only problem is they have not been paying him the rent! Bottom line is Rodney said not to get into a deal like he gave these tenants as it hasn’t ended up being a good deal for him.
Barry Shead went to the Wasabi Bowl at Fenway Park for the UConn – Army game. It was a little chilly but fun just the same. Barry then rolled out the banner that will be hung at the ARC Redemption Center in honor of Norwich Rotary winning the “Crush it” bottle and can drive with the Putnam Rotary Club!
Steve Martin said he had a great New Year’s Eve dinner at Red 36 in Mystic!
Mike Matera was happy to have his dad home from rehab for the holidays and he’s doing much better. He took his son to a Creed concert at Mohegan Sun and was able to upgrade their seats to the 2nd row up front! Now is son wants to go see Metallica! They also went to the Air Museum at Bradly Airport and suggested that everyone visit the place as it’s very impressive.
Margarida Martins-Querido said a thank you on behalf of Larina who was the recipient of support from our Happy Dollars Fund. She is very grateful and has been going through many challenges taking care of her family and dealing with health challenges, however she’s working hard to get on her feet.
Andrew Nollman returned to tell Mike Matera to defiantly go to a Metallica concert as he has attended quite a few and they’re great!
Auction: Bonnie Johnson auctioned off a scented candle. Susy Hurlbert was high bidder at $15.00!
Lottery: Bonnie Johnson
Gary Young, Rodney Green and Mary Richardson could not find that Ace of Spades. Mary Richardson won Barry’s ARC Cookies!
Program: No Program today.
The meeting concluded with Bonnie Johnson leading the club reciting the 4-Way Test at 1:01pm.
** Looking for volunteers to serve on The RONE committee. Contact Bob Reed (bobr@hallradio.net).**