Norwich Rotary Club

Virtual Rotary Meeting April 29 2020

President and Supreme Authoritarian Mike gaveled the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance at 12:12 p.m.

Those assembled were surprised and pleased to see among the attentive visages our much-missed member Bonnie Hong. A flurry of huzzahs! would have been heard if this was not a virtual meeting.

Pinch-hitting for Rodney, Gary Young provided another eloquent invocation.

Fellowship- Bob F. shared the biography of the recently deceased, legendary minor league pitcher Steve Dalkowski, a native of New Britain. Mr. Dalkowski was the inspiration for the flame-throwing, bazooka armed and wildly erratic pitcher Nook LaLoosh in the classic baseball film Bull Durham. The audience was mesmerized by Dalkowski’s biographic minutiae, detailed statistics, and legendary activities, so much so that they were rendered completely, ineffably, silent.

Happy Dollars-No longer reduced to pantomime, Barry led a spirited round of Happy Dollars, in which encomiums for Bonnie featured prominently.   Barry, Bob F. Bob R., Ray, Theresa, Michelle, Bill, and Gary caught your reporter’s attention, with apologies to others who contributed when my pencil broke. In addition, Bonnie made a contribution in acknowledgment of the club’s spirit of caring. Jim D. bestowed some bucks to keeping Barry off the road (sounds ominous, doesn’t it?). Bill C. acknowledged Jim Konrad’s departure from the Bulletin and Jim also contributed, mentioning his 33 years at the Bulletin. Michelle also contributed on behalf of her daughter and President Mike expressed his gratitude at seeing so many people in attendance and for keeping is children sane. Andy Nollman described his wife’s absence as a nurse and contributed for those assembled (virtually) at Rotary.

With customary gusto, those joined in virtual comradery recited the four-way test. Or they didn’t.