Rotary Club of Norwich, CT
October 22nd, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Steve Martin
Invocation: Gary Young
FOR SOME OF US IT’S KIND OF A BUMMER
THAT WE’VE REACHED THE END OF ANOTHER SUMMER
SOON WE’LL BE OUT THERE SHOVELING SNOW
AND GIVING THE OIL MAN ALL OF OUR DOUGH
BUT DO NOT WORRY AND DO NOT FRET
FOR ON THESE WORDS YOU CAN PLACE A BET
IF YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS ARE ALWAYS FAIR
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO GIVE AND WILLING TO SHARE
IF YOUR LIFESTYLE REFLECTS GOD ABOVE
REPLACING HATE AND ANGER WITH LOVE
IF YOU’RE SEEKING TO ALWAYS MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THAT STILL SMALL VOICE
IF YOU TRUST IN GOD’S WORD AND TAKE IT TO HEART
THEN STAND BACK AND WATCH GOD DO HIS PART
FOR HE ALONE CARES LIKE NO OTHER
HE’S A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
NOW LET US THANK GOD FOR THE USUAL STUFF
THE FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP-ALWAYS MORE THAN ENOUGH
AND UNTIL WE GET TOGETHER AGAIN
LET’S PRAISE THE LORD AND SAY AMEN!
Fellowship: Ray Baribeault
Birthdays: No Rotarian Birthdays.
Anniversaries: Mike Cooney – 10/25 – 12 years!
Guests: Steve Martin introduced Samantha Ireland from the Norwich Housing Authority and Stan Lucas introduced his daughter Anna Lucas.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Ray’s fellowship was you guessed it, PUNS!
“I got an email on how to read maps backwards, it was spam!” “I would love to get paid to sleep, it would be a dream job!” Many more funny ones followed!
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan Lucas called Rotarian Kathleen Stauffer to present her with her new Paul Harris pin. It’s a Paul Harris +5! Thank you Kathleen for your generous support of the Rotary Foundation! Stan then called his daughter Anna to the podium to induct her into the Norwich Rotary Club! Welcome Anna to Norwich Rotary!
Announcements:
November 7th is the Trivial Pursuit Tournament to benefit Madonna Place. Join the Rotary team! Still an open spot!
From October 1st to October 29th is the “Crush It for Inclusion Can Challenge” between Putnam Rotary and Norwich Rotary in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month! All donations will benefit the ARC Eastern Connecticut. Bottles and cans only. Bring to Rotary on Wednesday’s! Barry says as of now Norwich is winning, but Putnam plays tough and will certainly finish strong. Collect your bottles and cans from you home and business! Winner receives Bragging Rights, Proclamation Banner and Community Pride! Only one more week! Let’s finish strong!
October 29th is the morning to deliver the dictionaries to the schools. Please volunteer your time if you can and help with deliveries. The more the merrier. Meet at 10am at 34 East Town Street the yellow UCFS building is the meeting place. Contact Jen Granger.
Liberty Bank will be matching our Happy Dollars .25 cents on the dollar for this year’s Thanksgiving Challenge. Suggested donation is $50.00 per member if you can be that generous. The drive will be 6 now through mid-November. Thanksgiving and gift cards will be purchased for the residents of Schwartz Manor and the Colchester food pantry.
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.
Happy Dollars: Jen Granger
Jen said she has just planted tulip bulbs she brought back from her trip to Amsterdam. She can’t wait for spring to see what comes up. She also gave for the Thanksgiving Challenge!
Andy Grant said he is going to be a grandfather for the 6th time later today!
Roz Etra said she became a happy grandma on October 22nd too, just not this year!
Pat Marshall congratulated Anna and welcomed her to the club! She also is looking forward to delivering the dictionaries next week!
Tom Adams gave for the Thanksgiving Challenge.
Kathleen Stauffer gave for the Thanksgiving Challenge, welcomed Anna to the club and congratulated Molly Bruno on her recent nuptials!
Bonnie Johnson welcomed Anna to Rotary and congratulated Molly on her marriage.
Jim Daly was happy to report that the Rotary Golf Tournament netted the noon and mornings clubs $8,000.00 each! A new high! Jim also gave to the Thanksgiving Challenge!
Rodney Green gave to the Thanksgiving Challenge and brought a huge pile of egg cartons for Nancy Johnson!
Auction: No Auction today.
Lottery: Pat Marshall
Susy Hurlbert & Roz Etra drew cards and could not find the Ace of Spades, but Andy Grant found it! Congratulations Andy!
Program: President Steve introduced Elanah Sherman, Board Member from the Avalonia Land Conservancy. The Avalonia Land Conservancy, founded in 1968, is a land trust dedicated to conservation through the acquisition of open space. It is a non-profit, non-political, tax-exempt organization. We believe that the conservation of natural resources for the benefit of people and wildlife is essential and will ensure healthy and livable communities for generations to come. For more detailed information log on to https://avalonia.org/
The meeting concluded with Bonnie Johnson reciting the 4-Way Test at 1:09pm.