Norwich Rotary Club
March 8th, 2023
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Susy Hurlbert
Invocation: Mandy Crispin
Fellowship: Barry Shead
Birthdays: No Birthdays
Anniversaries: Paul Blanchard-March 9th, 10 years. Erin Gizio-March 9th, 6 Years & Suki Lagrito-March 13th, 3 Years
Visiting Rotarians: Shelia Hayes-Rotary Community Corps & Ted Phillips-Norwich Rotary Lifetime Member
Guests: LaShawn Cunningham – Blooming Into Greatness & Janet Sauvageau from the Norwich Woman’s City Club
Barry in honor of International Women’s Day paid tribute to great women from Norwich. After giving accolades to our own Lottie Scott he gave a history lesson on another woman who hailed from Norwich Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Edith Kermit Roosevelt was the second wife of President Theodore Roosevelt and the first lady of the United States from 1901 to 1909. She also was the second lady of the United States in 1901. Roosevelt was the first First Lady to employ a full-time, salaried social secretary. She was also the first First Lady to travel abroad. She was also responsible for changing the name of the presidential residence from “The Executive Mansion” to” The White House.” Edith also enlarged the public areas of the White House as well as organizing the official portraits of the First Lady’s.
Announcements:
*Susy had the following announcements:
***The Board has approved the member application for Marielle Winkelman, Regional Sales and Service Manager at Chelsea Groton Bank. If any member of the club in good standing has an objection to her membership contact any member of the board or an officer of the club and make your objection known. Otherwise after two weeks of this posting we will gladly welcome Marielle into Norwich Rotary.***
*March 15th will be the “Serviceperson of the Month” program. Please make every effort to attend that meeting.
*March 29th will be the Rotary Business Lunch with the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce.
*May 3rd will be the Whiskey and Wine Event at Bella Fiore. $75.00 per person and tickets will be on sale right now on Eventbrite. Log on to the club’s webpage and follow the link to purchase tickets!
*May 20th will be a “Rotary Day of Service” and our club will be doing a joint project with other area clubs that day. It will most likely be packing meals this year. Location is 3 Rivers Community College.
*The City Council approved the Rotary Clock Project. The fundraising now begins with a 6 to 18 month timeline.
* ARC Film Festival is coming up on March 29 and will be at the Spa at Norwich Inn. Tickets at $50.00 and can be purchased at TheArcECT.org/film-tickets
*Bowling with the Ledyard Rotary Club will be Sunday, August 13th! Let’s get a team together and show em’ how it’s done!
*Golf Tournament will be September 6th this year!
*The Native Son/Daughter Lunch will take place in June 7th and our club will be sponsoring the event along with the Norwich Woman’s City Club. Nominations deadline is March 15th.
*ECAR will offer a Diversity Seminar on Fair Housing on April 19th. Contact Susy Hurlbert for more information.
*Rotarians are encouraged to please invite prospective members for lunch and introduce them to the world of Rotary.
*Speakers wanted for our meetings. If you have an idea for a good guest speaker contact Kevin Wickless or Bob Farwell to get one on the schedule.
Happy Dollars: – Jen Granger
*Jen started things off and welcomed Susy back after a few weeks away. She also gave for the founder of UCFS Edith Davis who founded what was then the United Workers in 1876.
*Ted Phillips came bearing gifts from Rotary Past. From deceased Rotarian Tom Ulrich he had Rotary Flags from around the world where Tom had done make-up’s. Also, from the late Judge Linda Salifia, our first female member and President as well as Assistant District Governor, a bag of pin’s from the many club’s she had visited.
*Stan Lucas gave to welcome Ted Phillips. Stan said he has just returned from a visit to Costa Rica where he said his son Mason was preforming at a music festival called Envision.
*Gary Young welcomed Ted Phillips. He also gave for Mandy Crispin’s invocation and welcomed her to the Invocation Committee. He also thanked God for all the women in the world whom without them we’d be nowhere.
*Mike Matera welcomed our guests and Ted. He also said his son was now in a soccer league and can move pretty fast but he still worried he might break a leg!
*Shelia Hayes thanked Gary Young and the RCC. She also recognized International Woman’s Day.
*Andrew Nollman welcomed our guests to the meeting as well as Ted, Mary Richardson and Susy Hurlbert back. Also, he reminded that the Whiskey, Wine and Cigar event will be on May 3rd. Get your tickets now!
*Jeff Bruning gave for International Women’s Day. He also said that he spent time last week in Utah skiing with his dad who is in his 80’s and his son. Lots of snow! 5 feet fell just while they were there.
*Lottie Scott was happy to be at today’s meeting and is happy to know most everyone in attendance.
*Bill Champagne said that the Race Equity event at NFA was a huge success and well attended. Bob Farwell was an excellent moderator and Rotary was well represented at the event. He also thanked Lottie for her vision a few years ago to have events to start conversations on race.
*Mary Richardson said she saw Rotarians Theresa Madonna and Larry Fowler.
*Ted Phillips told a very funny story about former Norwich Rotarian, the late Rev. David Cannon. Back in the old days our weekly lottery was for 3 bottles of booze. Dave won a bottle and the gentleman he is gave it to that day’s guest speaker. The speaker declined, but Dave insisted he take it as a gift. He did not realize the speaker that day was from Alcoholics Anonymous!
*Barry Shead gave to welcome Ted and our guests. He reminded of the ARC Film Fest on March 29th and said he had some super powerful ARC magnets at the head table!
*Susy Hurlbert said she is happy to be back after 8 days in the hospital with pneumonia and RSV.
Auction: Nancy Gentes donated $20.00!
Monthly Rotary Trivia: Stay tuned.
Lottery: – Bill Champagne
Jen Granger, Jim Daly and Susy Hurlbert drew cards and the Ace of Spades is still safely tucked away! Jim Dalywon Barry’s cookies!
Program:
Bob Farwell introduced LaShawn Cunningham. LaShawn is the founding and creative director of Blooming Into Greatness. Their mission is to provide free programming to marginalized and underserved youth in the Greater Norwich community. The program’s focus is mentorship, performing and creative arts. Blooming Into Greatness strives to provide a fun, educational, safe zone for youth ages 6 to 18 years of age. Currently the B.I.G. is fundraising for a trip for their young participants to take a trip to Washington, DC in April 12th to visit the Smithsonian African American Museum. Their goal to fund the trip is $7,300.00 and as of today they have about half the money they need. LaShawn requested a gift from Norwich Rotary to help bridge the gap. Following the meeting the Board met and approved a $500.00 gift from the club for the cause. If members would like to donate personally by writing a check to Blooming Into Greatness and mail to 575 Boswell Avenue, Unit 6, Norwich, CT 06360 or log on to https://bloomingin2greatness.org
Susy led the Club and all recited the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:02pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter