Norwich Rotary Club
June 26th, 2024
Location-Bella Fiore
THE RONE – Change of Command
Presiding: Stan Lucas-Master of Ceremonies
Invocation: Mandy Crispim
WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING THANKS, WE CERTAINLY OWE A TON
TO OUR OUTGOING PRESIDENT MARY RICHARDSON
SHE DID A GOOD JOB AND GOT A LOT DONE
AND EACH WEEK SHE MADE SURE WE HAD A LOT OF FUN
BUT NOW THINGS ARE CHANGIBNG IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
THIS COULD BE THE FUNNIEST YEAR OUR CLUB HAS EVER SEEN
HE’S GOT A SOUTHERN ACCENT, HE’S SMART AND REALLY KEEN
LET’S GIVE IT UP FOR OUR PRESIDENT-OUR BUDDY RODNEY GREEN
NOW LET’S GIVE THANKS FOR THE USUAL STUFF
THE SMILES AND FELLOWSHIP ALWAYS MORE THAN ENOUGH
AND UNTIL WE GET TOGETHER AGAIN
LET’S PRAISE THE LORD AND SAY AMEN
Fellowship: Ray Baribeault
Birthdays: Paul Gaffney-6/26, Jerry Lowney-6/27 & Jen Granger-7/1
Anniversaries: Susy Hurlbert – 6 years & Lottie Scott – 21 years
Guests: Kelly Whipple introduced Kiana O’Brien, Rodney Green introduced is wife Lucille Green and Mike Matera introduced his son Jonathan.
Visiting Rotarians: None
Ray’s fellowship was another round of his famous puns! “A man took his airline to court about his missing luggage. He lost his case!”
Membership Minute: None this week.
Announcements:
September 9th will be this years “Celebrate Cultural Diversity” event. Mark your calendars now! Volunteers needed!!
Please bring spare clean egg cartons and give them to Bonnie Johnson.
If you know of a speaker for one of our meetings, please contact Kevin Wickless or Alexis Kahn to get on the schedule.
September 4th will be the Annual Golf Tournament! Go get sponsors, raffle items and golf teams! Mark your calendar now as it will be here before you know it!
Happy Dollars: Barry Shead
Barry Shead had happy dollars for Mary and Rodney. He also has enjoyed watching his 4 year old granddaughter swim in the pool during this hot weather.
Bill Champagne said he is usually in Chautauqua, New York this week but changed the dates so he could attend today’s meeting. He gave kudo’s to all past presidents and praised both Mary and Rodney for the hard work they have put in serving the club. It’s a lot of work.
Andy Grant gave $60.00 Happy Dollars in honor of Rodney and the hard work he does for the Annual Coat Drive. He also just returned from his daughter’s wedding in California!
Mike Goldblatt matched Andy’s $60.00 in honor of Mary and Rodney. He also had happy dollars to say that at car shows in Gettysburg and Saratoga his automobiles won 1st place in both!
Mike Matera gave for Jen Granger’s birthday! He also thanked Mary and Rodney. He said he has known Rodney since 1985 and he’s considered family. He also told a funny story from 1992 traveling to Aruba with Rodney and telling a bald joke!
Paul Gaffney gave happy dollars for Mary and Rodney. He also had fun playing golf with Stan earlier in the week. He closed his remarks saying how happy he is to belong to Norwich Rotary!
Pat Marshall said the AC was broken in the building she works in and it got to well into the 80’s. Lots of fans tried to keep up but it was hot!
Rodney Green told that he was in Las Vegas and went to a theater that featured AI interactive robots. $140.00 for a half hour!
Jen Granger thanked Mary and Rodney for their service to the club. She is also recruiting members to join the Happy Dollars Committee. She also said that today’s happy dollars and all the happy dollars during the month of July will go to the Tommy Toy Fund Christmas Project run by Mike Matera. That announcement was greeted with applause!
Mary Richardson had $10.00 Happy Dollars. One sad dollar for leaving the presidency of the club and nine Happy Dollars for not being president anymore!
Kelly Whipple thanked Rotarians who helped with the cooking and this past weekend’s Relay for Life at Dodd Stadium.
Andy Nollman thanked Kelly for her work with the Relay for Life event. He thanked both Mary and Rodney for service to the club. He also gave for the great deserts served at today’s meeting!
Mandy Crispim had happy dollars in honor of her daughter’s 29th birthday! She also said she will miss the next couple meetings as she will be having her 7th and final surgery and be done!
Molly Bruno had $60.00 for Mary and Rodney. Then she also announced the great news that she is engaged to be married and flashed a beautiful ring!
Gary Young said he is still looking for a few volunteers for this Saturday’s Rose Arts Festival Rotary Booth.
Jay Waitte was at Arlington National Cemetery last week at a friend’s funeral. He said that a few strings were pulled and a Missing Man Flyover was arranged during the service.
Stan Lucas had a few funny stories about his dog Stella eating a bunch of stuff she shouldn’t eat, one being Stan’s favorite Rotary hat!
CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY
Stan begun the Change of Command by asking all former Presidents of the Club to stand and be recognized. He also asked all Paul Harris Fellows to stand. Stan then called of Past President Susy Hurlbert to present outgoing President Mary Richardson with some gifts that included a pair or Rotary earrings and coaster with her name embossed on them. She asked Mary to say a few parting words about her Rotary year. Mary started off by thanking Bella Fiore for working with her over the year and giving the club a great place to hold our meetings and with great food. She gave a brief “Year in Review” highlighting a few of the things that were accomplished over her year. These included the Annual Golf Tournament, many good guest speakers, Pop-up Service Projects, the lunch meeting at the home of Mike Goldblatt, The Dictionary Project for 3rd graders, The Coat Project, the Happy Dollars Thanksgiving Match that benefited the Schwartz Manor residents, Membership Mingle that netted 12 new members, Service Person of the Month, Participation in the St. Patrick’s Parade and the Trivial Pursuit for Madonna Place, the many grants awarded in the community, Rotary Day of Service, The Native Son/Daughter Luncheon and collecting egg cartons for St. Francis Hospital. Mary thanked all members and committees that made all the aforementioned things happen. A rousing standing ovation followed Mary’s remarks!
Stan called all the new Officers and Directors forwards to be sworn in for the 2024-25 Rotary Year.
Newly installed President Rodney Green said a few remarks stating he wants to keep up all the good things Norwich Rotary does going. He would like to see more “hands-on” activities this coming year as well as more Rotary Awareness in the community. Rodney also said that he has written a new Norwich Rotary “Welcome Song” that would be our own since we are currently singing the New London Club’s song. Rodney sang the new welcome song and it was received with huge applause and shall be instituted! He then banged the gavel and bell and adjourned the meeting!
The 4-Way Test was led by Bonnie Johnson and the meeting was adjourned at 1:08pm.
