Rotary Club of Norwich, CT
September 10th, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Steve Martin
Invocation: Gary Young
Fellowship: Susy Hurlbert
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: Bonnie Johnson – 30 years & Kim Tondrau – 1 year
Guests: Stan Lucas introduced Anna Lucas, Bob Reed introduced former Norwich Rotarian Ellen Lind and Kevin Wickless introduced Mike Cummings.
Visiting Rotarians: Kathleen Stauffer
Susy had members and guests perform an exercise where participants whispered a word or phrase that changed their lives in a positive way that might have been given to them by a parent, mentor or teacher.
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
Stan commented that all should take a few moments every Wednesday to think of who they could invite to the club as either a member or speaker and keep Rotary in focus every day.
Announcements:
The Rotary Golf Tournament was a great success this year and the money is still being tallied up and will be reported soon. President Steve gave accolades to Barry, Gary Andy and all who helped make the event such a great success.
Please bring spare clean egg cartons and give them to Bonnie Johnson.
Celebrate Diversity event will take place on Chelsea Parade on September 29th from 5pm to 8pm. Reminder, that volunteers are still needed especially between the hours on 5 to 8pm. ECAR was thanked for today’s $500 sponsorship for the event.
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: Nancy Gentes
Nancy started this off with thanking everyone who helped make the golf tournament a huge success.
Gary Young thanked all who helped with the golf tournament.
Pat Marshall gave $23.00 happy dollars and told a tale of her driving in a golf cart alone and thinking she was going to crash! She admitted to shouting “FU*K” out loud when she slammed on the brakes. Everyone laughed! She said some of the dollars might be sad ones. She took her dog to the Vet as she thought there was something wrong only to be told $2,200.00 later that her dog is just getting old! Sad for the cost, but happy her dog is ok!
Kathleen Stauffer said it felt nice to be welcomed so nicely at today’s meeting! She is very proud that her wife Kimberly received a Lifetime Achievement Award in her profession. She also said that the ARC Cookies are going to be doing a promotion called “Cookies for a Cause!”
Mike maters welcomed all the guests and said he’ll be selling the old Amber Alert equipment to benefit the Tommy Toy Fund.
Steve Martin Thanked everyone who helped make the golf tournament a success. He’s looking forward to playing the upcoming ECAR golf tournament.
Barry Shead thanked all the golf tournament volunteers. He reminded everyone that October is “Employment Disability Month.” Norwich Rotary will be having a competition with Putnam Rotary with a can drive between now and the end of October. Bring your cans and Barry will collect for the club.
Ellen Lind said that when she lived and worked in Norwich she was the President of the Tommy Toy Fund and is glad to see it’s still going strong. She now lives in North Carolina and is active in her church, teaching and taking part in theater.
Andy Grant welcomed Ellen and Kathleen.
Bill Champagne also said it was great to see Ellen and Kathleen at today’s meeting.
Molly Bruno said she had fun at the golf tournament and the woman golfers did great! She welcomed our guest speaker Daniela Vincent to today’s meeting. She also noted Stan Lucas’s snappy new haircut!
Auction: Gary Young auctioned $75.00 worth of scratch lottery tickets. Andy Nollman was the high bidder at $60.00! Good luck Andy! Mandy Crispim auctioned off 2 cookbooks. Barry Shead took them both for $20.00!
Lottery: Bill Champagne
Roz Etra, Gary Young and Kelly Whipple drew cards, but could not find the Ace! Barry Shead won Barry’s ARC Cookies!
Program: President Steve introduced today guest speaker Daniela Vincent from Alliance Abroad. Alliance Abroad is a U.S. Department of State Visa Sponsor. Celebrating over 30 years, Alliance Abroad channels a start-up spirit through providing a culturally diverse workforce of motivated students from across the globe to work for companies and tourism related businesses with J-1 visa work and travel programs. For more information log on to https://allianceabroad.com/
The meeting concluded with Bonnie Johnson reciting the 4-Way Test and President Steve adjourned the meeting at 1:04pm.