Norwich Rotary Club
November 10th, 2021
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: President Andy Nollman
Invocation: Gary Young
A moment of silence as we bow and pray
Remembering that tomorrow is Veteran’s Day
We give the Vets thanks, especially those in the grave
Knowing we live in freedom because of the brave
Whether soldier, sailor, pilot or Marine
You’ve helped us be a leader on the world scene
Yes things could be better-that would be real nice
But we still thank you for your service and sacrifice
Fast forward to the present with a lot of yes votes
Rotary is ready to hand out some warm coats
And there’s a bunch of young kids who have it made
A dictionary for everyone in the 3rd and 4th grade
Now let’s give thanks for the usual stuff
For the food and fellowship always more than enough
And until we get together again
Let’s Praise the Lord and say AMEN!
Fellowship: Bob Farwell
Birthdays: None
Anniversaries: None
Visiting Rotarians: Cal Lord – Westerly, RI
Guests: Mary Richardson introduced Deb Monahan and Alexis Kahn
Bob gave a timely fellowship for Veteran’s day telling the story of Henry Wirz, commander of the infamous Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia. Wirz was hanged on November 10th 1865 in Washington D.C., the only Confederate office to be executed as a war criminal. In 1863 Confederate officials selected Andersonville as the site of a new prison which was needed to contain the growing number of Union prisoners. Heinrich Wirz was assigned to command the prison. Under his command 45,000 prisoners were kept in unimaginable conditions without adequate food, shelter, potable water and without medical supplies. 13,000 died there. Bob then read a very moving poem by A.E. Housman titled “Soldier from the wars returning.”
Soldier from the wars returning,
Spoiler of the taken town,
Here is ease that asks not earning;
Turn you in and sit you down.
Peace is come and wars are over,
Welcome you and welcome all,
While the charge crops the clover
And his bridle hangs in stall.
Now no more of winters biting,
Filth in trench from fall to spring,
Summers full of sweat and fighting
For the Kesar or the King.
Rest you, charger, rust you, bridle;
Kings and kesars, keep your pay
Soldier, sit you down and idle
At the inn of night you aye.
Announcements:
*Andy Nollman had the following announcements:
*Andy thanked both Mike Matera and Rodney Green for their efforts ordering and packaging over 800 winter coats that were distributed to needy children throughout our community. Andy also thanked Rotarians who showed up last Wednesday to help sort and bag up the coats.
*Also, last Wednesday Rotarians worked on landscaping the flag pole and Peace Poles at the Rotary Park on Norwich Harbor. The new Rotary flag will be ready to fly after some work on the flag pole is completed by the public works department.
*There will be no Rotary Meeting on November 24th the day before Thanksgiving! President Andrew said that everybody should get a good start to be with members of their families for the holiday!
*The No-Show Gala is still happening between now and the end of the year. Be sure to donate. We are currently at 40% of our $10,000 goal. Be sure to donate on-line at the Norwich Rotary website and share with your friends to donate too!
*Madonna Place Trivia Night will be held on November 12th. The Rotary will be entering a team. See Nancy Gentes for details on entering a team or getting on the Rotary team.
*Today is the final day for the Thanksgiving Challenge for Swartz Manor. Next week someone from the Norwich Housing authority will come to our meeting, collect $2,000 in Gift Cards and distribute to the residents of Swartz Manor.
*Andy reported that the Board Meeting that took place before today’s meeting approved Molly Bruno for membership. Any member who would object to her membership has 2 weeks to make his or her objections known to the Board.
*The Rotary Carnival will take place on the Wednesday before Memorial Day through Memorial Day. Location will either be at Three Rivers College or the viaduct parking lot downtown. Stay tuned for further updates.
*If any member has any information on fellow Rotarian Larry Fowler please Contact Andy Nollman.
Happy Dollars: Jen Granger
*Jen gave thanks to her staff at UCFS for all their help preparing the Dictionaries for delivery! Over 750 Dictionaries were delivered to area 3rd and 4th graders before today’s meeting! Jen thanked all who helped.
*Jim Daly said he had great fun delivering the Dictionaries. He also welcomed Deb, Cal, Alexis, Joel and Roz.
*Gary Young welcomed Roz, Joel, Cal and Deb. Gary was also sorry that the schools he delivered dictionaries to would not let him into the classrooms due to the Covid guidelines. Gary said he wanted the kids to be sure to look up the words Truth, Fairness, Goodwill and Beneficial and maybe we will realize a few new Rotarians in the future!
*Kathryn Tracy read a letter from Bill Champagne who donated the $69.00 he won in the lottery two weeks ago plus $11.00 for a total of $80! The $11.00 is in honor of selling Manny Kadish’s house that has been on the market for 11 years and Bill had the listing. It finally sold and Bill was happy that Manny honored the agreement and he got his commission!
*Barry Shead heard from his daughter in LA and she’s ready to move back east! Barry will be flying out and they will drive across the country together back to New England!
*Mike Matera gave $20.00 to welcome Deb and Cal to the meeting. He also had a busy weekend celebrating the 40th Anniversary of his family business “Surplus Unlimited as well as attending his son’s soccer tournament. Also he had been experiencing extreme pain in his calf and after a few days decided to seek medical attention. He was glad he did as after a CAT scan and ultra sound it was discovered he had a blood clot in his leg and lung! Scary stuff! 30 years ago he had the same thing. Looks like a life with blood thinners from now on!
*Bob Farwell said it was good to see everyone! He said the schools he delivered Dictionaries to he got into see the kids and credited Roz for making it happen!
*Deb Monahan was happy to be back visiting the Rotary Club and was relieved that so many familiar faces! She also said it’s so important to see kids getting actual books!
*Cal Lord was happy to see everyone and said it was 30 years ago in April he joined Rotary!
*Jeff Brunig was happy to report that his son ran in the State Cross Country Tournament and placed 48th out of 250 runners! He was more proud that his son was awarded a Leadership Award at the end of the season! His boat is finally out of the water for the winter, so it’s on to skiing!
*Andy Nollman gave a heartfelt THANK YOU to members of the club who have helped out over the past 2 weeks! So much has been accomplished!
Auction: Nancy Gentes donated $20.00 to the effort.
Lottery: Kathryn Tracy: Barry Shead drew a card to no avail. Next was Mary Richardson and she drew a loser. Final try was Bob Reed and the 10 of hearts didn’t do the trick! Thus the pot grows!
Program: No Program.
At 1:00pm Cal Lord led the club members in the 4 Way Test and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter