Norwich Rotary Club
March 12, 2025
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Rodney Green
Invocation: Rodney Green
Fellowship: Barry Shead
Birthdays: Bob Reed – 3/15 He’s old!
Anniversaries: None
Guests: Andrew Nollman introduced Atalia Champalath. Barry Shead introduced Liz Cooke
Visiting Rotarians: None
Barry’s fellowship consisted of a list of Woman’s firsts in honor of March being Woman’s History Month. Just some of the notables he mentioned were the following. In 1849 Elizabeth Blackwell was the 1st female doctor in the US. In 1916 Jeanette Rankin was the 1st woman elected to the US House of Representatives. Susan B. Anthony was the 1st woman to be minted on a US Coin in 1979. In 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor was the 1st woman to be appointed to the US Supreme Court. And on October 21st, 1987, Judge Linda Salafia was the 1st woman inducted into the Norwich Rotary Club!
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Stan called upon Andrew Nollman to induct Atalya Champalath, Assistant Branch Manager at Charter Oak Credit Union. Atalya’s interests include Cancer Walks, Volunteering for Toys for Tots, hiking, camping and kayaking. She lives in Dayville, CT with her two children. Welcome Atalya! The club then sang the Rotary Welcome Song!
NEW MEMBER POSTING: Liz Cooke
Announcements:
There is still time to donate to the Clock Tower Project. The Rotary website has been updated with current pledge forms and Rotarians and anyone else can get their pledges in by the end of March to be included in naming opportunities on the clock. Installation will hopefully be in April or very soon thereafter.
Rotary Grants are now through May 15th. Applications can be found on the Norwich Rotary website.
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.
The Rotary 4 Way Test Speech Contest will happen this March.
The Rotary Day of Service will happen on May 19th. Details will follow soon.
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 gave $20.00 Happy Dollars saying that work has been stressful lately and a Board Member from UCFS sent her some tulips and chocolate to take the edge off. Jen also said that she is the 1st female CEO of UCFS in the history of the organization!
Susy Hurlbert gave $20.00 to welcome Atalya to the club. She also gave kudo’s to Barry and Rodney for their comments in The Day newspaper article on the trolley. She also spent a nice weekend visiting her son in New York City at his new apartment on the Upper West Side. Susy was proud that ECAR sponsored a film at the Lisbon Landing theatre about homelessness.
Pat Marshall welcomed Atalya to the club. Last week she mentioned she had no water at her house. She got her water back, but now she has had a problem with the sewer backing up. She has kept her sense of humor by saying “sh*t happens!” Pat said that a service for Laura Hobart will take place Saturday from 2-4pm at the Woyaz Funeral Home in Uncasville.
Rodney Green said he missed last week’s due to his brother in New Mexico being gravely ill. He was able to get there in time to shake his brother’s hand, say goodbye and watch him go peacefully. Due to the dust storms in the area it took him a bit longer to get back East as the flights were cancelled all over that part of the country.
Bill Champagne said he considers himself to be a pretty good appraiser and assessor of properties, especially historical ones. Stan came to him a while back and asked him to sell a property he had in Preston. Bill said he told Stan what he thought a reasonable price would be for the property, but Stan disagreed and thought the asking price should be higher. A bet was made between them for $10.00 as who would be closer to the ultimate sale price. Well, Stan won as the price was higher than Bill’s and he paid Stan the $10.00. Bill said it was one bet he didn’t mind losing!
Mike Cooney also mentioned the article in The Day newspaper and was somewhat chagrined he was not mentioned after also being interviewed! Over the weekend he took his kids to the sports arena where he went to college where many good memories were made. Sadly the place is scheduled to be torn down in the near future.
Stan Lucas reminded that the 1st female lawyer went to his alma mater Washington University in St. Louis. He was also happy to collect the $10.00 from Bill!
Andrew Nollman said he was sorry for Rodney’s loss. He welcomed Atalya to Norwich Rotary. Work has been super busy lately. He was happy to report that his father is celebrating his 82nd birthday!
Mike Matera welcomed Atalya. He is sorry for Rodney’s loss of his brother. He also welcomed Liz Cooke. Busy week coming up as his son has 3 soccer games he has to attend!
Gary Young said it’s never too early to start thinking of the Rotary Golf Tournament. Steve Martin passed out all the materials members need to solicit sponsors, 4-somes, raffle items and how to volunteer the day of the event. Tournament is on September 3rd so plan early!
Barry Shead gave credit to former Norwich Rotarian Maria Miranda as in a recent meeting with her Maria’s phone rang and she apologized for the interruption and thought she shut off the phone. The phone rang again and she threw the cell phone down the hall saying “Well, that won’t happen again!” Well done Maria!
Roz Etra said she had a nice time at the St. Patrick’s Parade and thanked Stan for the party afterwards. She also thanked all who purchased Girl Scout cookies.
Margarita Martins-Querido welcomed Atalya. She also said she was a woman of first’s. She is the first woman to head Op-Sail Connecticut which is a huge event with a job to match!
Auction: Bill Champagne filled in for Lottie Scott who was unable to attend today’s meeting. Lottie donated 2 signed copies of her books she wrote. Pat Marshall was the high bidder for Deep South, Deep North at $40.00! Mary Richardson took Waiting for Kitty for $20.00!
Lottery: Barry Shead
Pat Marshall, Bob Reed and Rodney Green could not find the Ace of Spades. Barry’s cookies were won by Roz Etra. Roz joked “Just what I need, MORE COOKIES!”
Program: No Program today. Rodney lead the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:04pm.