Norwich Rotary Club
March 6th, 2024
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Mary Richardson
Invocation: Mandy Crispim
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Birthday’s: No birthday’s!
Anniversaries: Erin Gizio – March 9th – 7 Years.
Guests: Cara Westcott, Margarita Martins-Querido & Roz Etra.
Visiting Rotarians: None.
Nancy entertained us with a series of St. Patrick’s Day themed puns and Irish jokes that were all very well received!
Membership Minute: Ryan Tedford told Rotarians that it’s important to let prospective guests you may invite to meetings what Rotary does both in our community and internationally. Go the extra mile when you think of people you may invite into the club. Stan said that the induction of some new members will be done in early April, most likely the 3rd, due to scheduling conflicts.
Announcements:
President Mary said the Board has approved the membership applications for Margarita Martins-Querido, Cary Trantalis and Cara Westcott. All three will most likely be inducted on April 3rd.
The 4 Way Speech Contest will take place on April 20th.
The Whisky, Wine and Cigar event will be back again on May 1stat Bella Fiore. Edwin Muenzner, CPA has signed on as the Food Sponsor! Tickets will go on sale on March 1st. $75.00 per person.
The Rotary “Day of Service” will be May 18th. Last year over 11,000 meals were packaged for the Gemma Moran- United Way Food Center. This year Area Rotary Clubs hope to package double that number! Mark your calendar now to donate a few hours of your time at the (NEW LOCATION) United Methodist Church in Gales Ferry. At least 10 Rotarians from our club are requested to help out on that day.
The Native Son/Daughter Lunch is scheduled for June 5th. Submit a candidate and you can find an application on the Rotary website. March 15th is the deadline for applications.
Serviceperson of the Month meeting will be on March 13th. Make every effort to attend and honor this month’s recipient.
Anyone with spare clean egg cartons please give them to Bonnie Johnson.
Members are encouraged to fill out a donation form and donate to the Rotary Clock Project.
If you know of a speaker for one of our meetings please contact Kevin Wickless or Alexis Kahn to get on the schedule.
June 19th will be our Rose Garden Luncheon.
June 26th will be our Change of Command Ceremony.
Happy Dollars: Mike Matera
Mike said that his son’s soccer season is coming to a close and he’s sorry he has to miss his final match as he has to be away at a conference.
Gary Young said he has a great time at the Norwich St. Patrick’s Day Parade and it was fun to see all the Rotarians who came out to march. Kudo’s to Mike Goldblatt for lending his classic Caddie for the event. Gary also said he has once again won the Stan Lucas Look-a-Like contest as he nee3ds another haircut!
Pat Marshall enjoyed the parade and marching along with her trusty Pug even though she stepped in poop! It was a joyful day and great energy and a huge crowd!
Susy Hurlbert enjoyed the parade also and was impressed to see the 16 Rotarians who showed up to support Rotary in the event. She is also getting ready to attend real estate conferences in both San Diego and Miami.
Kathryn Tracey said she is looking forward to visiting Florida and seeing her dad!
Molly Bruno had fun passing out over 200 lollypops at the parade!
Stan Lucas said the parade was a great time and he’ll do a bar-b-q at his property on Broadway next year following the parade to keep the fun going!
Roz Etra thanked Mike Goldblatt for letting her and Bonnie Johnson ride in the backseat of the Caddie for the parade!
Rodney Green told a story of the 3 parades he has been in. One was in Memphis in 1961 for the Cotton Festival dressed as Darth Vader and it was 102 degrees! Another was in Norwich for the first Winterfest parade dressed as a turkey promoting “Turkey Dinners at Old Tymes!”
Steve Martin will be attending a conference next week and hopes to get in a round of golf between work sessions!
Mary Richardson enjoyed the parade and suggested to Mike Goldblatt that we include more of his classic cars next year! She thank Susy for filling in for her last week as she was attending to her husband who had some surgery that day. President-Elect Rodney Green will be filling in for her for the nest 2 weeks as she will be away in London to visit with her sister. They will also squeeze in a trip to Paris while they visit together!
Mike Goldblatt thanked Gary Young and Mary Richardson for all their help getting his classic Caddie ready for the parade as he’s been busy with tax season! They also found a Leprechaun hood ornament for the vehicle!
Margareta Martins-Querido said it was the first time she has ever marched in a parade and her husband enjoyed martching as well!
Weekly Auction: Andrew Nollman gave $20.00!
Lottery: Bonnie Johnson
Margarita Martins-Querido found the Ace of Spades!
Program: No program today.
The 4-Way Test was led by Bonnie Johnson and the meeting was adjourned at 12:49pm.