Norwich Rotary Club
July 19th, 2023
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Mary Richardson
Invocation: Barry Shead
Fellowship: Barry Shead
Barry announced that there were no birthdays or anniversaries this week. Barry then called upon Mike Cooney to introduce his guest Justin Travis. Justin is a former Coventry, CT Rotarian and now works for the CT Department of Social Services and is an area District Commissioner for the Boy Scouts of America. Barry then followed up with a timely fellowship due to the shot summer weather on the history of Ice Cream. Ice Cream was first recognized in America in 1744. Barry figured that Ice Cream must have been a cold weather food as there was no refrigeration back then. In 2022 over 1.38 billion gallons of Ice Cream was produced with over 13 billion in sales. 50 years ago the average price of a gallon of Ice Cream was $1.29. The largest producer of Ice Cream in America is Ben & Jerry’s.
Announcements:
President Mary said that the Saturday, August 5th BBQ at Dodd Stadium will most likely not take place due to poor response. The Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6th. Gary Young said golfers, volunteers, sponsors and auction items are still needed. So far there is $8,500 in sponsorships and 12 4-somes signed up. Gary welcomed the Greater Norwich Area Chamber for signing on as a major sponsor. If you want to volunteer contact Erin Gizio and look for details at the end of this newsletter for information. There will be no regular meeting that day. If you have a speaker for a weekly meeting that you wish to schedule contact Alexis Kahn or Kevin Wickless and a meeting can be scheduled. Bill Champagne had a Sunshine Committee report saying that former Rotarian Laura Hobart is at the Norwich Convalescent Home and a card was passed for all to sign and let her know she is in our thoughts.
Membership Minute: Molly Bruno
Molly reminded members to contact the prospective people they wrote down last week and invite them to a lunch meeting. Consider giving them a ride to lunch, buy them lunch, introduce them to other members and make them feel welcome. There are also printed invitations that members can use to invite prospects.
Happy Dollars: Andy Grant
*Andy started things off thanking Gary for all his hard work on the Golf Committee. He also shared a story about a friend who’s fathers boat sank and he was eaten by a shark back in 1989. There was a story in People Magazine about it and the guy’s girlfriend stayed in the life raft and was rescued 4 days later.
*Andrew Nollman was happy to report that his mother has been released from the rehab facility she was staying in and will now be ready for more health related work at the hospital.
*Mary Richardson welcomed Justin to the meeting. She said her office recently had no phone or power service. And if that was not enough there was a 4 foot Black Snake in the office closet.
*Bill Champagne said this would be his last report about his week at The Chautaququa Institution in New York. The Institute has a 9 week season and the theme of the week he was there was “Odd Friendships.” One of the featured speakers was Robert George who introduced his friend Cornell West. He said that Rotary was mentioned more than once during the lectures.
*Jeff Brining is still waiting to get his sailboat in the water. The heavy rains have caused the CT River to be unsafe to launch and that’s where the boat is. Jeff gave thanks to Andy Grant and the crew at Ace Hardware in Norwich for the great products and service and encouraged all to shop local.
*Susy Hurlbert said she spent some time at Harvard University attending a leadership conference. She was not happy with the hotel accommodations however as the room was freezing and caused her to have laryngitis and brain fog.
*Molly Bruno had some keys made at Ace Hardware and was pleased as well with the service. She complimented Susy Hurlbert for the ECAR Committees she serves on. Molly also took a trip to Maine last week and enjoyed time on a lake.
*Mike Cooney said that his guest Justin once had a turtle farm. He said he has missed the last few Rotary Meetings as he was spending time with his family. His daughter Katie spent time at summer camp and they also spent time in New Hampshire at Storyland. They also climbed Mt Pine and had a great view of Lake Winnipesaukee when they reached the summit.
*Rodney Green had very sad dollars to report that his good friend Atty. Michael Lahan passed away unexpectedly Sunday night. Michael Lahan will be sorely missed throughout our community and his wife Carol has served many years on the Board of the Chestnut Street Playhouse and she and Michael have been huge supporters.
*Barry Shead said he will miss next week’s meeting as he is leaving for Tennessee tomorrow!
Weekly Auction: Barry Shead had 4 Passes to the Cross Sound Ferry Lighthouse Cruises. He auctioned them off in pairs. Andy Grant took a pair for $50.00 and Andrew Nollman took the second pair for $40.00! Lottie Scott auctioned off signed copies of her books Waiting for Kitty and Deep North, Deep South. Molly Bruno was the high bidder at $40.00!
Lottery: Kathryn Tracey
Andy Nollman, Bill Champagne and Susy Hurlbert drew cards and still no winner. Barry’s ARC Cookies were won by….. Barry Shead!!
Program: No Program this week.
President Mary led the club with the 4-Way Test and the meeting was adjourned at 1:00pm See Below for important Golf Tournament Information!
THE ROTARY CLUBS OF NORWICH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 – NORWICH GOLF COURSE
VOLUNTEER NEWS!!
IF NOT FOR FRIENDLY AND WILLING VOLUNTEERS THIS ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT WOULD NOT EXIST. TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED IN THE PAST – THANK YOU! TO THOSE WHO ARE SIGNING UP FOR THE FIRST TIME – WELCOME ABOARD. THIS BRIEF NEWSLETTER WILL HELP EXPLAIN THE VARIOUS VOLUNTEER DUTIES AND PROVIDE OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY RAISED YOUR HAND TO VOLUNTEER ON SEPTEMBER 6, BUT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THE NUMBERS STRAIGHT AND ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, PLEASE – ANTYONE WHO WANTS TO VOLUNTEER – TAKE TIME TO DO THE FOLLOWING:
SEND AN EMAIL TO VOLUNTEER CAPTAIN ERIN GIZIO egizio@preston-ct.org AND CC TO GARY YOUNG, COMMITTEE CHAIR rgaryyoung@att.net. IF ANY QUESTIONS ARISE YOU CAN CONTACT ERIN AT 860-230-8006 OR GARY AT 860-608-3674. PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION AND MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL CLARIFIES “I CAN STAY ALL DAY” – OR “I CAN ONLY STAY UNTIL______”, OR “I CANNOT ARRIVE UNTIL _______” NOTE: ANYONE WHO SENDS A VOLUNTEER EMAIL AFTER WE HAVE REACHED OUR VOLUNTEER LIMIT WILL BE PLACED ON A LIST AND INVITED TO VOLUNTEER IN CASE SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO WITHDRAW
REGISTRATION, PUTTING CONTEST, SILENT AUCTION, SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS ALL START AT 9AM…SO, PLEASE ARRIVE AT NORWICH GOLF COURSE FOR A QUICK VOLUNTEER MEETING AT 8:30. ALL VOLUNTEERS WILL BE PROVIDED COFFEE AND PASTRIES TO START, A BOX LUNCH – AND IF YOU ARE STAYING TIL THE END, A GREAT TASTING BUFFET AT END OF PLAY.
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 20 +/- AND WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED
- ONE VOLUNTEER AT REGISTRATION TABLE TO HELP PAULA AND HER MOM
- TWO VOLUNTEERS AT PUTTING CONTEST
- ONE VOLUNTEER TO SERVE AS GUARDIAN OF SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS
- EIGHT VOLUNTEERS: TWO AT EACH OF THE FOUR PAR 3 TEE OFF AREAS
- EIGHT VOLUNTEERS: TWO AT EACH OF THE FOUR PAR 3 GREENS
VOLUNTEER DUTIES:
- REGISTRATION TABLE: ASSIST PAULA AND MOM BY MAKING SURE ALL GOLFERS RECEIVE A GOODY BAG; MAKING SURE ALL GOLFERS ARE REMINDED OF PUTTING CONTEST; MAKE SURE ALL GOLFERS ARE OFFERED A CHANCE TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS – AND POINT OUT THAT SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS ARE ON THE DECK JUST OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT; HELP MAKE SURE ALL GOLFERS ARE OFFERRED A CHANCE TO PURCHASE STRINGS/MULLIGANS. RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE 10 TICKETS FOR $10 OR AN ARMS LENGTH FOR $20. MONEY FROM SALE OF RAFFLE TICKETS SHOULD BE TURNED OVER TO JIM DALY. PURCHASED RAFFLE TICKETS ARE TO BE HANDED OVER TO VOLUNTEER WHO IS GUARDIAN OF SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS ON THE DECK
- PUTTING CONTEST: STARTS AT 9AM – ENDS AT 9:50AM. 3 PUTTS FOR $10. MEASURE ANY PUTTS THAT GET CLOSER TO HOLE THAN PREVIOUS PUTTS; WRITE DOWN NAME/PHONE NUMBER AND DISTANCE TO HOLE FOR EACH CLOSER PUTT UNTIL WE END UP WITH A WINNER. WINNER SPLITS THE POT WITH ROTARY. IN THE EVENT OF A TIE, ROTARY STILL KEEPS 50% AND REMAINING 50% IS SPLIT EVENLY. WHOEVER IS HANDLING THE MONEY – TURN IT OVER TO JIM DALY ALONG WITH WINNER INFO WHEN CONTEST IS OVER. NOTE: GOLFERS CAN PUTT AS MANY TIMES AS THEY LIKE AS LONG AS THEY KEEP PAYING THE $10 FOR 3 PUTTS.
- GUARDIAN OF SILENT AUCTION AND RAFFLE ITEMS: THE EASY PART IS KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS DURING TOURNAMENT PLAY. DURING PLAY ONE WINNING RAFFLE TICKET WILL BE DRAWN FOR EACH RAFFLE ITEM. WINNING TICKET NUMBERS WILL BE POSTED ON RAFFLE POSTER. NOTE: WHEN TOURNAMENT IS OVER THERE WILL BE A SHORT INTERVAL WHEN GOLFERS CAN CONTINUE TO BID ON SILENT AUCTION ITEMS – AT WHICH TIME THEY CAN REVIEW RAFFLE POSTER AND CLAIM THEIR PRIZE. IT WILL ALSO BE YOUR JOB TO REVIEW SILENT AUCTION BIDDING SHEETS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE WRITING DOWN THEIR BIDS, THEIR NAMES AND THEIR PHONE NUMBERS AS LEGIBLY AS POSSIBLE. AFTER BUFFET, ALL BIDDERS WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THEY HAD THE HIGHEST BID – AND WINNERS WILL PAY FOR THEIR AUCTION ITEM WITH CASH, CHECK OR CREDIT CARD
- VOLUNTEERS ON THE COURSE – TEE OFF AREA. YOUR JOB WILL BE TO THANK FOLKS FOR PLAYING TODAY AND SELL THEM A “HIT THE GREEN” TICKET FOR $5. IF A GOLFER WHO HAS PAID THE $5 LANDS HIS DRIVE ON THE GREEN, HE RECEIVES A TICKET AND WILL BE ENTERED INTO A DRAWING – WINNER SPLITS THE POT WITH ROTARY. TICKETS AND MONEY SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO JIM DALY AFTER PLAY IS OVER. NOTE: YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A GOLF CART FOR BATHROOM BREAK IF NEEDED
- VOLUNTEERS ON THE COURSE – AT THE GREEN: YOUR JOBS WILL INCLUDE: 1) GIVING A THUMBS UP WHEN A GOLFER LANDS HIS DRIVE ON THE GREEN(THIS WAY THE VOLUNTEERS AT TEE OFF AREA WILL KNOW TO HAND OUT A “HIT THE GREEN” TICKET); 2) THIS IS SUPER RARE – BUT KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ANY HOLE IN ONE; 3) EACH PAR 3 HAS A “CLOSEST TO THE PIN” PRIZE – SO, MAKE SURE GOLFERS WHO LAND CLOSE TO THE HOLE MEASURE THEIR DISTANCE TO HOLE AND WRITE DOWN THEIR NAME/CELL PHONE AND DISTANCE IF IT IS CLOSER THAN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED DISTANCE. A POSTER AND TAPE MEASURE SHOULD BE AT EACH GREEN; 4) THANK THE GOLFERS FOR PLAYING TODAY. YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A GOLF CART FOR BATHROOM BREAK IF NEEDED
THANK YOU!!