Norwich Rotary Club
August 16th, 2023
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Mary Richardson
Invocation: Mandy Crispin
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Nancy announced the following Rotarian Birthday’s! Bonnie Johnson turns 77 on 8/18. Most in attendance commented “No Way.” Happy Birthday Bonnie! There were no anniversaries or guests to report. Nancy’s fellowship was a group of questions that the answers all had one thing in common. The common theme was “Ants.” Nancy followed up with some puns that could give Ray B a run for his money!
Announcements:
Golf Committee member Gary Young said golfers, volunteers, sponsors and auction items are still being accepted. If you want to volunteer contact Gary directly. Right now there are 14 4-somes signed up. Need 18 to have the course closed for our event. There will be no regular meeting the day of the tournament. If you have a speaker for a weekly meeting that you wish to schedule contact Alexis Kahn or Kevin Wickless and a meeting can be scheduled. Amber Alert sign up’s will be at The Healthy Living Expo on September 9th 10-2pm and the Celebrate Cultural Diversity Event. Also, scheduled are 8/30 at Mahan School and 9/23 for the City of Norwich. Need 2 volunteers to assist in signing up children. Nominees are being sought for a number of awards at the Celebrate Cultural Diversity Event on September 18th on Chelsea Parade. Contact President Mary for applications. The Clock Project contribution forms are available at each meeting.
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan reminded members to identify a person or corporate identity to invite to the membership night. We need to grow the club so we can do more programs and activities in the community.
Happy Dollars: Andy Grant
*Andy started things off saying he loves his Peloton for working out! He also saw a show on Michael J. Fox that he urged everyone to watch as it was very inspiring.
*Bill Champagne was sorry to miss the dedication and ground breaking of the Uncas Leap project. He was in Vermont and enjoyed his visit to Quechee Gorge.
*Andrew Nollman gave $20.00 to say over the past weekend he attended a wedding, a stay at a lake house and a concert that featured In Living Color & Extreme. While tailgating and cooking so really great food some of the band members were attracted by the smell of the good food and asked for some to be saved for them to eat. No luck as they waited too long to return! He is also happy that on Friday he’s on vacation!!
*Stan Lucas is happy that the house that Gary Young was renting from him has sold and the money he made didn’t rest long in the bank as he bought another house to invest in on Monday!
*Mike Cooney said his son Matt had a great week at scout camp and went of some long hikes! He also played some golf in Mass.
*Barry Shead was sad to learn of his friend Les King’s death. Barry served on many boards and committees with Les. He’ll be missed. Barry also told a funny story of his Daughter-in-Law running a red light and getting pulled over. The cop asked her why she got pulled over and her response was “I was racing to get through the red light.” The cop was so surprised by her honestly he just gave her a warning and told her to stop racing to beat red lights!
*Bonnie Johnson was happy that her boat is finally in the water and she was able to enjoy it last week with her grandchildren. Her daughter also gained a degree from Penn State and she was happy to attend her graduation. Her husband also is attending his 60th Class Reunion!
*Mandy Crispin said to keep an eye out when you are at your local bank branches as in the past week there has been 5 bank robberies in town. Be careful!
*Mary Richardson is enjoying her vacation and did go to Boston earlier in the week with her sister, but did not go to Florida as erroneously reported in The Rone last week by Bob Reed. She said who in their right mind would go to Florida in the heat of summer!
Weekly Auction: Kathryn Tracey auctioned a stay at Foxwoods for 2 nights that included rounds of golf at Lake of Isles. Stan Lucas stole it for $90.00!!!!!
Lottery: Barry Shead
Andy Grant, Jen Granger and Andy Nollamn drew cards and the Ace of Spades was not found. Bill Champagne won Barry Shead’s ARC Cookies!
Program: There was no program today.
President Mary called on Bonnie Johnson to lead the members reciting the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 12:53pm See Below for important Golf Tournament Information!
THE ROTARY CLUBS OF NORWICH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 – NORWICH GOLF COURSE
VOLUNTEER NEWS!!
IF NOT FOR FRIENDLY AND WILLING VOLUNTEERS THIS ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT WOULD NOT EXIST. TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED IN THE PAST – THANK YOU! TO THOSE WHO ARE SIGNING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME – WELCOME ABOARD. THIS BRIEF NEWSLETTER WILL HELP EXPLAIN THE VARIOUS VOLUNTEER DUTIES AND PROVIDE OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY RAISED YOUR HAND TO VOLUNTEER ON SEPTEMBER 6, BUT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE NUMBERS STRAIGHT AND ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, PLEASE – ANTYONE WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER – TAKE TIME TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
SEND AN EMAIL TO VOLUNTEER CAPTAIN ERIN GIZIO egizio@preston-ct.org AND CC TO GARY YOUNG, COMMITTEE CHAIR rgaryyoung@att.net. IF ANY QUESTIONS ARISE YOU CAN CONTACT ERIN AT 860-230-8006 OR GARY AT 860-608-3674. PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL CLARIFIES “I CAN STAY ALL DAY” – OR “I CAN ONLY STAY UNTIL______”, OR “I CANNOT ARRIVE UNTIL _______” NOTE: ANYONE WHO SENDS A VOLUNTEER EMAIL AFTER WE HAVE REACHED OUR VOLUNTEER LIMIT WILL BE PLACED ON A LIST AND INVITED TO VOLUNTEER IN CASE SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO WITHDRAW
REGISTRATION, PUTTING CONTEST, SILENT AUCTION, SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS ALL START AT 9AM…SO, PLEASE ARRIVE AT NORWICH GOLF COURSE FOR A QUICK VOLUNTEER MEETING AT 8:30. ALL VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PROVIDED COFFEE AND PASTRIES TO START, A BOX LUNCH – AND IF YOU ARE STAYING TIL THE END, A GREAT TASTING BUFFET AT END OF PLAY.
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 20 +/- AND WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED
- ONE VOLUNTEER AT REGISTRATION TABLE TO HELP PAULA AND HER MOM
- TWO VOLUNTEERS AT PUTTING CONTEST
- ONE VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS GUARDIAN OF SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS
- EIGHT VOLUNTEERS: TWO AT EACH OF THE FOUR PAR 3 TEE OFF AREAS
- EIGHT VOLUNTEERS: TWO AT EACH OF THE FOUR PAR 3 GREENS
VOLUNTEER DUTIES:
- REGISTRATION TABLE: ASSIST PAULA AND MOM BY MAKING SURE ALL GOLFERS RECEIVE A GOODY BAG; MAKING SURE ALL GOLFERS ARE REMINDED OF PUTTING CONTEST; MAKE SURE ALL GOLFERS ARE OFFERED A CHANCE TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS – AND POINT OUT THAT SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS ARE ON THE DECK JUST OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT; HELP MAKE SURE ALL GOLFERS ARE OFFERRED A CHANCE TO PURCHASE STRINGS/MULLIGANS. RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE 10 TICKETS FOR $10 OR AN ARMS LENGTH FOR $20. MONEY FROM SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS SHOULD BE TURNED OVER TO JIM DALY. PURCHASED RAFFLE TICKETS ARE TO BE HANDED OVER TO VOLUNTEER WHO IS GUARDIAN OF SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS ON THE DECK
- PUTTING CONTEST: STARTS AT 9AM – ENDS AT 9:50AM. 3 PUTTS FOR $10. MEASURE ANY PUTTS THAT GET CLOSER TO HOLE THAN PREVIOUS PUTTS; WRITE DOWN NAME/PHONE NUMBER AND DISTANCE TO HOLE FOR EACH CLOSER PUTT UNTIL WE END UP WITH A WINNER. WINNER SPLITS THE POT WITH ROTARY. IN THE EVENT OF A TIE, ROTARY STILL KEEPS 50% AND REMAINING 50% IS SPLIT EVENLY. WHOEVER IS HANDLING THE MONEY – TURN IT OVER TO JIM DALY ALONG WITH WINNER INFO WHEN CONTEST IS OVER. NOTE: GOLFERS CAN PUTT AS MANY TIMES AS THEY LIKE AS LONG AS THEY KEEP PAYING THE $10 FOR 3 PUTTS.
- GUARDIAN OF SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS: THE EASY PART IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS DURING TOURNAMENT PLAY. DURING PLAY ONE WINNING RAFFLE TICKET WILL BE DRAWN FOR EACH RAFFLE ITEM. WINNING TICKET NUMBERS WILL BE POSTED ON RAFFLE POSTER. NOTE: WHEN TOURNAMENT IS OVER THERE WILL BE A SHORT INTERVAL WHEN GOLFERS CAN CONTINUE TO BID ON SILENT AUCTION ITEMS – AT WHICH TIME THEY CAN REVIEW RAFFLE POSTER AND CLAIM THEIR PRIZE. IT WILL ALSO BE YOUR JOB TO REVIEW SILENT AUCTION BIDDING SHEETS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE WRITING DOWN THEIR BIDS, THEIR NAMES AND THEIR PHONE NUMBERS AS LEGIBLY AS POSSIBLE. AFTER BUFFET, ALL BIDDERS WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THEY HAD THE HIGHEST BID – AND WINNERS WILL PAY FOR THEIR AUCTION ITEM WITH CASH, CHECK OR CREDIT CARD
- VOLUNTEERS ON THE COURSE – TEE OFF AREA. YOUR JOB WILL BE TO THANK FOLKS FOR PLAYING TODAY AND SELL THEM A “HIT THE GREEN” TICKET FOR $5. IF A GOLFER WHO HAS PAID THE $5 LANDS HIS DRIVE ON THE GREEN, HE RECEIVES A TICKET AND WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING – WINNER SPLITS THE POT WITH ROTARY. TICKETS AND MONEY SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO JIM DALY AFTER PLAY IS OVER. NOTE: YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A GOLF CART FOR BATHROOM BREAK IF NEEDED
- VOLUNTEERS ON THE COURSE – AT THE GREEN: YOUR JOBS WILL INCLUDE: 1) GIVING A THUMBS UP WHEN A GOLFER LANDS HIS DRIVE ON THE GREEN(THIS WAY THE VOLUNTEERS AT TEE OFF AREA WILL KNOW TO HAND OUT A “HIT THE GREEN” TICKET); 2) THIS IS SUPER RARE – BUT KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ANY HOLE IN ONE; 3) EACH PAR 3 HAS A “CLOSEST TO THE PIN” PRIZE – SO, MAKE SURE GOLFERS WHO LAND CLOSE TO THE HOLE MEASURE THEIR DISTANCE TO HOLE AND WRITE DOWN THEIR NAME/CELL PHONE AND DISTANCE IF IT IS CLOSER THAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED DISTANCE. A POSTER AND TAPE MEASURE SHOULD BE AT EACH GREEN; 4) THANK THE GOLFERS FOR PLAYING TODAY. YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A GOLF CART FOR BATHROOM BREAK IF NEEDED
THANK YOU!!