Norwich Rotary Club
December 14th, 2022
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Susy Hurlbert
Invocation: Terry Congdon
Fellowship: Nancy Gentes
Birthdays: None!
Anniversaries: Molly Bruno-1 year!
Visiting Rotarians: None.
Guests: Alexis Kahn introduced Marrelle Winkleman and Kathryn Tracey introduced Joe DeMayo.
Nancy told the story of CNN’s 2022 Hero Award winner Tyrique Glasgow. Tyrique Glasgow’s life has always revolved around his South Philadelphia neighborhood, and gun violence has always been a part of it. When he was just 8 years old, he heard his grandmother’s screams after she was told that his uncle had been murdered. He lost multiple cousins and friends in shootings. At 15, he got sucked into street life – selling drugs and eventually controlling a specific block of his neighborhood. Over the next few years, he was shot 11 times, he said – in his head, back, legs and arms. In 2006, he was sent to prison on drug charges where, eventually, he had a change of heart. When Glasgow returned home in 2011, he was trying to find a new path when a local boy asked him for help with a flag football team. Glasgow ultimately agreed to be the coach. Soon he found himself organizing a girl’s dance team, and by 2012, he’d started the Young Chances Foundation to help give young people a chance for a better life. Over the next decade, his work grew to include summer camps, holiday events and afterschool activities. Three years ago, Glasgow opened a community center that’s become a source of support for the whole neighborhood. Now, on the block where he once sold drugs, he provides food, necessities, and resources to hundreds of local residents every week.
Announcements:
*Susy Hurlbert had the following announcements:
*Next week’s meeting there will be a “Yankee Swap” for the holidays. Members are asked to bring a wrapped gift ($10 to $15 in value) to participate. The gift can be home-made or new, nothing used please.
*There will be no meeting on Wednesday the 28th!
*The “No Show Gala” will be returning in January! Plan on donating so you can spend a wonderful evening at home and not showing up to a gala!
*13 Rotarians are delinquent for the dues that were sent out last July. Please pay your dues as another dues bill will be coming out in January.
*The Rotary Carnival hopes to return this spring. Stay tuned for more details to come.
*Mary Richardson & Andrew Nollman want to hear from you regarding the Nominating Committee and succession for officers and Board Members of the club.
*Rotarians are encouraged to please invite prospective members for lunch and introduce them to the world of Rotary.
*Andy Nollman reported that the Blackmar Fund Trustees (Jerry Lowney, Bob Reed and himself) distributed $10,000 to St. Bernard High School to aid in supporting 8 students from Ukraine that were taken in to study here in the United States while the war continues in their country.
*The club is looking for speakers. Should you know of an appropriate guest speaker contact Bob Farwell or Kevin Wickless.
*Kindness gardens are now available for purchase on the Rotary Website. $150.00 for small, $250.00 for large and $500.00 extra large
Happy Dollars: – Nancy Gentes
*Nancy started things off with thanking Bonnie Johnson for all the wonderful cookies she brought to the meeting!
*Gary Young was happy to have visited with Joel Etra this week as well as playing tennis with Stan Lucas. Gary also said that his Invocation Committee needs members as he’s down to 4 people.
*Andy Nollman says he up for the “Best Husband of the Year” Award as his surprise birthday dinner for his wife Lona went on without a hitch. Chef Trish put on a gourmet dinner that was second to none!
*Mike Cooney said he was not up for the “Husband of the Year’ Award as his wife helped host 23 Cub Scouts at a camp out over the weekend! The kids had fun, but left both he and his wife exhausted by the end of the weekend!
*Alexis Kahn apologized for not having today’s auction item but promises to have a gift basket of goodies for next week! She was happy to welcome Marrelle Winkelman to today’s meeting. She was also happy that 3 horses she was caring for at her horse farm went back to their owners so she no longer has to care for them. Alexis then presented the club with a giant check from the Chelsea-Groton Foundation for $5,000.00.
*Jeff Bruning said he was not Husband of the Year either. He hoped for Father of the Year as he and his daughter just spent time at Lake George skiing and enjoyed the cold 13 degree weather. He said it was actually warmer at the top of the mountain due to temperature inversion.
*Marrelle Whinkleman was happy to be a guest today and thanked Andrew for the Chef idea for a birthday present.
*Roz Etra via zoom thanked Gary Young for his assistance this week getting Joel to a doctor’s appointment as she had an appointment at the same time and couldn’t be in two places at the same time!
*Susy Hurlbert was happy that the ECAR Raffle was hugely successful and over $20,000 was raised. She also said that her son who had been living in South Korea is now living in Croatia and may be looking for a job in Paris soon. She also had fun making cookies over the weekend with her daughter.
Auction:
Alexis Kahn will bring in a gift basket next week!
Weekly Rotary Trivia: Terry Congdon reminded Rotarians to read their Rotarian magazine as there will be a test on the first Wednesday in January!
Lottery: – Kathryn Tracey
3 tickets were drawn that were believed to be Susy Hurlbert’s as she could not find her tickets and no one else in attendance had the numbers. Susy drew 3 cards and the Ace of Spades was not found!
Program:
No program today.
President Susy led the Club and all recited the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 12:50pm
Respectfully submitted,
Bob Reed – RONE Reporter