Rotary Club of Norwich
March 25th, 2020
THE RONE
Presiding: President Mike Cooney kicked off the first “Online” meeting of the club via ZOOM!
Invocation: Gary Young
THIS COUNTRY HAS TURNED INTO THE GREAT DIVIDE
EVERYONE’S CHOOSING A PARTICULAR SIDE
TO TELL THE TRUTH I DON’T THINK IT’S TOO BRIGHT
TO ALWAYS BE GOING LEFT – OR ALWAYS BE GOING RIGHT
AND THIS MIGHT SOUND CRAZY – WELL JUST A LITTLE
BUT IT’S ALSO NOT GOOD GOING RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE
THE PROBLEMS WE FACE REQUIRE FAITH HOPE AND LOVE
PLUS DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE FROM OUR FATHER ABOVE
WITH GOD THERE’S NO GRAY – IT’S EITHER RIGHT OR WRONG
AND UNLESS WE PUT HIM FIRST – IT WILL BE HARD TO GET ALONG
SO WHETHER OUR PROBLEMS ARE SMALL OR LARGE
WE’LL WORK THINGS OUT WHEN WE POUT HIM IN CHARGE
HOLD ON A MINUTE – THERE’S A NEW KID IN TOWN
CAUSING SICKNESS AND WORRY, TRYING TO TEAR US ALL DOWN
SO IF FEAR HAS GOT YA – LET’S START TO PRAY
THAT CORONA VIRUS WILL SOON GO AWAY
WE’RE NOT SIDE BY SIDE AND THAT’S KIND OF ROUGH
BUT WE CAN STILL GIVE GOD THANKS FOR THE USUAL STUFF
AND THANKS FOR MIKE WHO IS DOING JUST FINE
ACTUALLY GOT US TO LOG IN FOR A MEETING ONLINE
AND UNTIL WE GET TOGETHER AGAIN
LET’S PRAISE THE LORD AND SAY AMEN
Fellowship: Bob Farwell
Birthdays: Not sure!
Anniversaries: Maybe, but no data!
Guests: None that we know of!
Bob Farwell assured the Otis Library is still here! He gave a wonderful rendition of the William Butler Yeats poem “The Second Coming”
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Announcements:
President Mike Cooney had the following announcements:
*Mark your calendar! Rotary Golf Tournament will be September 2nd!
*Happy Dollars committee is looking for deserving families or individuals to support.
*If you know of anyone who would be a good speaker at one of our Rotary Meetings contact Mary Richardson.
*The Rotary Carnival will be Memorial Day Weekend this year. Location will be at the viaduct parking lot in Downtown Norwich. Stay tuned for more information as volunteers will be needed throughout the weekend.
Happy Dollars: Mike Cooney
Mike Cooney kicked things off saying that he and his family climbed the highest point in Rhode Island that he thought to be only about 60FT above sea level!
Mary Richardson gave $20.00 to say that it was good to see everyone even if it is over a computer! Mary also said her businesses are operating and she’s happy to be working!
Suzy Hurlbert thanked President Mike for organizing the meeting via Zoom! The business of Real Estate is still open during these times and all the realtors are following the guidelines for safety.
Bill Champagne did his first house closing over the internet and not in person! Again the business of real estate is open and is essential.
Theresa Madonna gave in honor of Rodney Green for his food market at the parking lot of Olde Tymes!
Bob Farwell was happy to report that he has a new grandson this week!
Barry Shead gave $20.00 to welcome his 5th grandchild who arrived earlier in the week. He was able to see the new addition via a camera in the hospital nursery from Worcester, MA. No visitors during this time of course.
Nancy Gentes said that Madonna Place of open and operating offering curbside delivery for basic needs. If anyone wants to contribute to their foundation you can do it with PayPal!
Gary Youngasked everyone who is able to give blood and reminded that everyone’s essential in times like these.
Kathryn Tracey said Rotary International Foundation has set aside a half million dollars to find a vaccine for COVID-19.
Roz & Joel Etra logged in for the meeting and it’s great to see both of them!
Auction: Kathryn Tracey auction off a kit full of stuff to keep your kids busy during the quarantine! Mary Richardson was the high bidder at $25.00 and she donated it to Nancy Gentes for the kids served by Madonna Place.
Lottery: No Lottery.
Program: Mike Cooney said the “No Show Gala” is up and running on the clubs website.
Suzy Hurlbert led the club with the 4-Way Test.
President Mike Cooney ended the meeting shortly after 1pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter