Norwich Rotary Club
November 29th, 2023
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE
Presiding: Mary Richardson
Invocation: Gary Young
Fellowship: Barry Shead
Birthday’s: Mandy-Lynn Crispim – 11/24 & Bill Champagne – 12/3
Anniversaries: Kevin Wickless 11/17 – 12 years & the late Joel Etra 12/1 – 28 years
Guests: Andrew Nollman introduced Ryan Telford.
Barry’s fellowship was a list of the top 8 residents of Connecticut. #8 is none other than Barry’s neighbor in Woodstock actor Brian Dennehy. #7 is Danbury’s own, actor Jonathan Brandis. #6 is another Hollywood actor from Fairfield star of stage and screen Meg Ryan. #5 is (you’ll never guess) another actor Paul Giamatti from New Haven. #4 is another New Haven native, singer Michael Bolton. #3 is Waterbury’s Christopher Lloyd who is a producer and writer of TV comedies. #2 is musician John Mayer who hails from Bridgeport. And #1 (drum roll please) is Hartford and Old Saybrook’s native daughter actress Katharine Hepburn! And there you have it!
Membership Minute: Stan Lucas: Stan reported the “Jingle & Mingle” Holiday Potluck & Yankee Swap will take place at his home at 280 Broadway in Norwich on Wednesday, December 20th from 5:30 to 7:30pm. RSVP to Molly Bruno at 860-961-8627 or Stan at slucas@lucaslaw.comcastbiz.net if you want to come! Bring a dish and a wrapped gift ($20.00 max value) to swap! Bring a guest or prospective member to join in the fun!
Announcements:
President Mary read a few of the many thank you notes from the residents of Schwartz Manor who were very grateful for the gift card for Thanksgiving.
There was also a thank you note from Madonna Place for the clubs support for the Trivial Pursuit fundraiser as well as a thank you from ARC for the club being a Hero Sponsor of their annual road race.
The Rotary Community Corps invites one and all to their Christmas Kid’s Craft Night and Open House on Thursday, December 14th at the Sikh Art Gallery, 7 Clinic Drive in Norwich. The event takes place between 6pm-8pm. Stop by with your children so they can create a Christmas craft (or gift) to bring home. All materials will be supplied and the event is free! Space is limited so for more information look to the RCC Facebook page or email Norwich.RCC@gmail.com
If you know of a speaker for one of our meetings please contact Kevin Wickless to get on the schedule.
Happy Dollars: Mike Matera
Mike Matera gave sad dollars for the passing of Joel Etra. Mike also had a story about a high school friend who knew the actor who played Big Bird on Sesame Street. Mike had a great Thanksgiving with his family and was grateful that his sister was out of the hospital after a 2 week stay. His nephew also turned him on to so really good bourbon!
Jen Granger celebrated her 35th Anniversary over the holiday and being able to spend it with her 96 year old father. She was also sad to hear about Joel dying. Jen also thanked all the Rotarians who helped distribute the hundreds of dictionaries to all the 3rd graders in the Norwich Schools. The kids were thrilled! She ended with saying that her husband went to UConn with actress Meg Ryan and he said that she even got stood up for a date there!
Andrew Nollman gave $40.00 to say how saddened he is of his good friend Joel Etra’s passing. Joel gave Andrew his first job way back when. He said Joel taught him some good words of wisdom along the way being to “Always leave things better than you found them” and “Always follow your gut and stick with your first answer.” Andy said he passed exams with flying colors following Joel’s advice. Joel was Andrew’s Scout Troop leader growing up. Andy thanked the many Rotarians who came to Joel’s service at Beth Jacob Synagogue, especially Stan Lucas and Gary Young who spoke on Joel’s behalf. Andy had a good Thanksgiving holiday with family in Massachusetts and here in Connecticut. He plans on going to the Patriot’s game this Sunday against the Chargers. If it a total blow-out he’s going to leave early!
Kevin Wickless thanked Mike Goldblatt for hosting a Rotary meeting a few weeks back. As a result he sold his truck! He also told of being in Florida and seeing Katharine Hepburn’s car for sale. It was a beat up 1983 Chevy Caprice with numerous scrapes and dents, but was worth a lot seeing as the owner was Kate! Kevin also had a wonderful Thanksgiving skiing in Vermont with his family!
Susy Hurlbert gave for Joel and was sorry she was at a conference on the west coast and missed Joel’s service. She said the conference in Anaheim, CA was a busy one but she was able to find time to go to Disneyland and visit Rodeo Drive up in LA while there visiting there.
Bill Champagne had a good Thanksgiving holiday in Quechee, Vermont. Bill delivered dictionaries earlier before the meeting to the Montessori Discovery School and the Wildwood Christian Academy. He also reminded one of the organizations mentioned in Joel’s obituary to donate on his behalf was the Norwich Rotary.
Mike Goldblatt complemented Stan & Gary for their good words at Joel’s service. He also said he had something in common with Meg Ryan as he also got stood up in college!
Jeff Bruning gave in Joel’s memory and thanked Jen Granger for all her hard work on the dictionary project. He was happy to be the driver for deliveries earlier in the day. He had a great Thanksgiving in upstate New York with all his family.
Mike Cooney said he was unable to help deliver dictionaries as he was helping Roz Etra with some computer problems. He said he misses Joel dearly and Roz gave him Joel’s 1958 Scout Spirit Books that he will share with today young Scouts. He and his kids had fun marching in the Putnam Holiday Light Parade!
Pat Marshall said she loved her first foray into Rotary service projects delivering dictionaries to the 3rd graders. She was amazed how excited the children were to receive them. At work there was a puppy brought in to the Norwichtown Convelsent Home that was rejected by the mother. Pat certainly didn’t reject the pup as she fell in love with it and the pup ended up biting her lower lip!
Alexis Kahn said she had a great Thanksgiving and she and Mandy Crispim presented a huge $5,000.00 check from the Chelsea Groton Bank Foundation in support of the annual coat drive!
Mandy Crispim said thanks for the Happy Birthday Song sung earlier by the club membership. She was sorry to hear about Joel’s passing. She cooked a 27 pound turkey for Thanksgiving! Mandy said she will be undergoing surgery and will be unable to attend club meetings and hopes to return by February.
Mary Richardson told a story of driving with Joel and discussing religion and enjoying every moment and having some laughs at the same time. Catholic Guilt is not too different than Jewish Guilt!
Barry Shead gave for Joel and said he was sorry he didn’t know sooner about his passing. He also had a story about his son while at Ft. Benning attending services at the local synagogue. Seeing as he was from a Christian faith Barry asked him why? His answer was they were really friendly and they also served the best food!
Gary Young said the poem he wrote for Joel’s service was all true. He spent Thanksgiving in Henderson, North Carolina with family. In the south there are “Pie’s galore” and he gained some weight!
Stan Lucas spoke of a bucket list item of visiting Mongolia. If you go there you better know how to ride a horse. He’s taking his first lesson this week!
Weekly Auction: Jim Daly gave $20.00!
Lottery: Kathryn Tracey
Mike Goldblatt, Mary Richardson & Bill Champagne all drew cards and could not find the Ace of Spades! Mike Matera won Barry’s ARC Cookies and Stan Lucas won a box of chocolates!
Program: No program today.
The 4-Way Test was led by President Mary Richardson and the meeting was adjourned at 1:05pm
**New Member Posting – Stan Lucas is proposing Paul Gaffney for membership. If any member has an objection, please contact President Mary Richardson or any member of the board. 2nd Posting!