Rotary Club of Norwich, CT
May 21, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Rodney Green
Invocation: Gary Young
Fellowship: Susy Hurlbert
Birthdays: Andy Grant – 5/24 and Mike Matera – 5/27
Anniversaries: None
Guests: None
Visiting Rotarians: Julia Kushigian-Secor-New London. Cal Lord-Westerly, RI. Sam Roudebush-Ledyard.
Susy’s fellowship was on what else is happening on May 21st beside our Rotary Luncheon Meeting! May 21st is also National Red Cross Founder’s Day in honor of Clara Barton who established the Red Cross in 1881. May 21st is also National Memo Day! We as Rotarians know that communication is a key to success so write a memo to yourself and invite a prospective new member to our club! May 21st is also National Strawberries and Cream Day! May 21st is National Wait Staff Day. Susy concluded that as we celebrate Clara Barton’s legacy, sharpen our communication skills, savor a sweet treat and thank someone in service, let’s remember that each small gesture contributed to the greater good-just like every Rotarian’s work contributes to a better world.
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan reported that Paul Gaffney contacted all the people who expressed interest in Rotary from the Whisky, Wine and Cigar event last week. At least one will come to a meeting in the near future. Stan also said that his daughter Anna will be joining Norwich Rotary in the near future as well!
Announcements:
The 21st Annual “Evening with an Author” will take place on June 6th at 6pm at the Otis Library. This year will feature New York Times Best Selling Author’s Kelly Corrigan and George Sweetland. Tickets are $125.00pp and include 300 copies of Marianne the Maker to be distributed to children on our community.
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.
Rotary Golf will be September 3rd. Get your 4-somes together as well as sponsors!
Happy Dollars: Nancy Gentes
Nancy welcomed Julia and thanked her for serving our District as she will be stepping in as District Governor in 2 years. Nancy also said the Day of Service went very well and 30,000 meals were packed in record time!
Rodney Green said he kicked off golf season playing in the Norwich Chamber’s Golf Tournament with Gary Young and Stan Lucas. Rodney is leaving soon after the meeting for Nashville to see his granddaughter graduate!
Michael Vaz thanked all who supported the recent fundraiser for Thames River Community Service at Ocean Beach. There was a great turnout and it was a success. Michael said it was also on his birthday so he wished himself a Happy Birthday!
Cal Lord said he was happy to be back at Norwich Rotary and see some old friends!
Mike Matera reminded that the United Way/Norwich Chamber Food Drive is coming up and will be in the parking lot at Surplus Unlimited. Last year they collected 14 pallets of food for the Gemma Moran Food Center and they hope to better that this year.
Kathryn Tracey gave $10.00 happy dollars and said it was great to see both Keith Caplet and Cal at today’s meeting. She was also happy to see her youngest graduate from college with a 4.0 average! She also reminded that the Chamber’s Annual Duck Race is coming up soon and she has ducks to sell!
Mary Richardson reminded everyone that next week’s meeting is “Service Person of the Month” and all should make every effort to attend. Also, the Native Daughter Luncheon is June 11th at the Holiday Inn. Get your seats now.
Cara Westcott, dressed in 1920’s garb, said that the morning’s celebration of Sheltering Arm’s 100th Anniversary was fun but a little chilly. Unfortunately, the time capsule could not be located so they planted a new time capsule to be found 100 years from now with very good instructions on where it buried!
Mike Cooney welcomed Cal and Keith. He said his daughter Katie is a real slugger on her softball team having hit a 3 run homer earlier in the week!
Stan Lucas said he had lunch with some Norwich Rotary Past Presidents including Mike Gordon, Don Amaro, and Alan Sholes along with our current President Rodney.
Jeff Brining said his daughter won her division in a recent road race! His son now has a driver’s license and Jeff’s dad gave him a 2005 Jeep as a gift. It does have a GPS tracker however!
Margarida Martins-Querido said the funding for Op-Sail 2025 is questionable. As President of that organization and with SailFest being scaled back, a plan must be found to save these events for the benefit of all the vendors who take part and depend on these events for their businesses. A drone show is in the works to help boost interest in these events. Margarida was also happy to report that her son is out of the hospital and doing much better.
Julia Kushigian-Secor said she was happy to be visiting Norwich Rotary and looks forward to learning what our club does and maybe doing come collaboration with New London and other clubs in the future. She thanked Norwich Rotarian Nancy Gentes for her hard work organizing District Managed Grants for our area clubs and thanked her for her wisdom and guidance.
Sam Roudebush just game in late from the Coast Guard Graduation Ceremony and was thankful for a hot meal seeing as it was very blustery and cold on the Academy football field! He also invited all to a Ledyard Rotary “Meet and Greet” of the Ledyard Town Green on May 29th from 4:30 to 7pm!
Auction: Cara Westcott
Cara auctioned a 100 Year old Yo-Yo and some other goodies from 100 years ago from the Sheltering Arm’s event earlier in the day. Stan Lucas was the high bidder saying that his grandson will enjoy the Yo-Yo!
Lottery: Bonnie Johnson
Cal Lord, Bob Reed and someone else could not find the Ace of Spades!
Program: Today’s program speaker was Julia Kushigian-Secor who outlined her plans for her year coming up and would live to hear feedback and suggestions. The District Conference is coming up soon and will be taking place this year at Sturbridge, MA from May 30th to June 1st. For more information log on to https://www.rotary7980.org/magical-mystery-tour-2025-district-conference/
Bonnie Johnson lead the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:14pm.