Episode #128: Feeney Talks with Patrice, Victor & Kyle (Rotary Club of West Hartford)

Show Notes

#BeAGoodFriend and check out episode #128 of #FeeneyTalksWithFriends featuring Patrice Taffe, Victor Gonzalez and Kyle Egress! 

It was great to talk with my #friends, Patrice, Victor and Kyle! 

The trio are Rotarians for The Rotary Club of West Hartford. Their 13th Annual Vines of March event is on Saturday, March 1, 2025. 

We talked about:

The Vines of March event (minute 1)

The Rotary Club Dictionary Program (minute 2.30)

What makes Diane Barber a good #friend? (minute 3.30)

Local vendors attending the event (minute 4.30)

Celebrate West Hartford in June (minute 7)

Dr. Rick Liftig (minute 9.30)

Bowling for Books fundraiser hosted by Bennett (minute 10.30)

West Hartford is a great community! (minute 12.30)

THE HAPPY FINE! (minute 13.30)

How to join The Rotary Club (minute 15)

Adam from Harvey’s Wine & Liquors (minute 17.30)

Food from West Hartford at the event (minute 18.40)

Podcast sponsors (minute 20)

9 Keys (sponsored by West Hartford Lock) to being a good Rotarian (minute 22)

#BeAGoodTeacher / #FriendsOfHudson tee shirt! (minute 28)

Cricket Press (minute 30)

Favorite movies (minute 32)

Rotary Club Events: First, Last, Best, Worst (minute 34)

Super Bowl and Saquon Barkley (minute 36)

Feeney’s drive to Conard (minute 38)

Favorite teachers (minute 41)

Favorite Superheroes (minute 45)

Nate Bondini (minute 48)

Wine Tasting (minute 50)

Friends of Fox  (minute 52)

Victor’s twin brother (minute 54)

Patrice’s closing remarks (minute 55)

Thank you to Westfield Bank (minute 56)

Does John Decker pass the basketball? (minute 57)

Victor’s closing remarks (minute 59)

Podcast Sponsors: 

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West Hartford Lock - www.westhartfordlock.com

Keating Agency Insurance - www.keatingagency.com

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Luna Pizza - www.lunapizzawh.com/lunas-menu

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Maximum Beverage - www.maximumbev.com

Creators and Guests

Host

Eric Feeney

After teaching for nearly a decade at his alma mater in Waterbury, in 2014, Eric Feeney began teaching at Wolcott Elementary in West Hartford. Shortly following, Sam Sohn, the father of one of his students, passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He left behind four beautiful children and a loving wife, Nancy Wallace-Sohn. Eric saw first-hand the toll this took on the family as they navigated their way through this unthinkable tragedy. The following year, Rashad Collier Sr., another father of a student in Eric’s class, passed away in Hartford as a result of gun violence. Rashad left behind two fantastic children and a loving wife, Denise Villegas. The impact of these tragedies weighed on Eric and motivated him to build an organization that could provide assistance for similar situations. With that, Friends of Feeney was born. In 2019, Friends of Feeney Inc. became an official 501©(3) nonprofit organization, allowing more funds to be raised and expanding the range of services provided to children and families in need. Today, over a decade since Eric’s idea to build a community organization dedicated to supporting our friends in need, Friends of Feeney has burgeoned into a reputable and recognized organization capable of providing financial and resource support to numerous families and individuals across greater Hartford and beyond. Through this work, an incredible community of children and families has been recognized, who care for and appreciate each other’s kindness.

Producer

David Chmielewski

David started his video career in the early 1990s working on video crews as an independent contractor for such companies as Martha Stewart Living, IBM and Xerox. After graduating Southern Connecticut State University with the degree in Corporate Communications, David continued his video production career and accepted a position at WFSB in Hartford, CT. Within a few years the news and production studios became his charge and David designed, installed and maintained the televisions sets for the various programs at the station. At the end of 2013 David founded DirectLine Media, a video production company that specializes in creating memorable and compelling video content for businesses.

Editor

Stefania Sassano

Stefania's acting journey began as early as the fourth grade, where she took on the role of Scarlett O'Hara in a stage production of Gone With the Wind. This early experience sparked a lifelong passion for the arts. With a background in musical theater fueled by her love of music and singing, Stefania stepped into larger roles, such as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret during her sophomore year at the University of New Haven. This performance earned her a nomination for the prestigious Irene Ryan Acting Award at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival—an honor she would receive again in her junior year.

What is Feeney Talks With Friends?

Eric Feeney talks with #friends! Eric is the founder of the nonprofit organization Friends of Feeney. Their mission is to help children and families who need assistance after heartbreak and tragedy. www.friendsoffeeney.com

All right, all right.

Feeney talks with friends. Episode 128.

This is a big one.

I got my friends from the Rotary Club
of West Hartford.

How are you doing?

Great. How are you?

Patrice.
How's everything? Kyle? Fantastic.

Great to be with you, Victor.

I'm not sure I can be.

Thanks for finally getting here, Victor.

20 minutes later. Victor.

I'm just a dedicated banker.

And I stay with my my my clients
for as long as I possibly can.

We still love you. Victor's hair.

Go back and check out episode 115.

Almost 120 views, Victor 115.
Check it out.

We had a great conversation.

Lots of laugh with Victor, but
we're here to talk about the Rotary Club

and all the wonderful things that you do
in West Hartford and in Connecticut.

You have a big event coming
up, vines of March,

Saturday, March 1st, 7 to 1030.

Who wants to talk first on that?

How about president elect,

your honor, how are you doing?

I am madam.

I am fantastic.

Yes, it is a fantastic event
that we're going to have on March 1st.

It's our 13th annual Vines of March.

And it's our signature event.

This beautiful event,
we use it to support the community.

One of the larger organizations
that we support is,

the food pantry here in town.

And, you know, this past year, last year,

we gave $10,000 by doing the food caravan.

And that is through the efforts of vines
and everyone supported and helping us.

We have great beverages, there.

And food to have fantastic auction items.

Lots of fun.

And. Yeah. That's it.

Anything like that.

Who hosts that event?

Who's the MC?

So, Patrice and I will be missing.

It's a listen, I think number one.

Right.

I think West Hartford is blessed
with so many amazing organizations.

And so we're one of those organizations.

And I think

what makes our club really unique
is that we can pick who the money goes to.

So Patrice shared that last year
we did $10,000 from the, the,

the money that we raise to the town

that cares and we caravan from New Britain
and Costco to the town hall.

We loaded up 8 to 12 different trucks
and really powerful to see that money

go back to our friends and neighbors
and those that are need.

And that's that's one thing that we do.

We give a scholarship to a senior
at Conard for $2,000, for Hall

for $2,000, American School for the deaf,
and a couple vocational schools.

So $8,000 of scholarships to students
that are community minded

with with the success that we have
for vines.

We give every third grader in West
Hartford a dictionary for the last

20 years.

I think this past year
we handed out over 700 dictionaries.

Yeah.

Let's check it out.

Hold on. Oh, wait.
Who's that dictionary for.

Mr. Feeney?

Third grade class.

At school.

Awesome. Awesome. No.

Yeah. I've been a teacher for 21 years.

12 in West Hartford,
ten of them in third grade.

And we got a dictionary every year.

The kids are thrilled.

We do a dictionary scavenger hunt.

Someone dresses up as Noah
Webster comes in and carves plays.

Diane Barber,
your current president came in.

Wonderful person.
Put on a great presentation.

So great with the kids.
So thank you. Diane.

She's a great person. Yes. She is.

Speaking of which, our motto.
Be a good friend.

Hold the door,
pick up trash, be charitable.

What makes Diane a good friend?

Well, one upside of
just being a fantastic president.

She is dedicated.

She's dedicated
to each of the members of the rotary.

She's always check in
and she is always giving our time.

She is also on several
of the different committees.

And one of them for vines.
For the auction.

She's just always given out
rather than just taking in.

Nice.

We got really lucky
because Diane was a president

in the Stratford Rotary Club,
so she moved to West Hartford.

She joined our club.

And so the fact that we have, president
from another organization

in another town to come to West
Hartford was pretty special.

And as we're going to pop up the picture,
Steph.

Boom.

There's Feeney in his class
and Diane posing with our.

Library earlier today. That was. Awesome.

I sent that so I wouldn't forget to share.

So you put that on your chat.

And both of you guys,
you guys first part it.

Yeah. Then you really loved it.

This is awesome. So thank you.
Thank you Diane.

Thank you Victor and Kyle and Patrice
for being here.

And thank you to the Rotary Club for
giving all the third graders dictionaries.

It's really cool.

So thank you.

We should look up friend.
What's friend? Me.

I do want to add to to piggyback off
of what Patrice said earlier,

a lot of our vendors are all local vendors
from West Hartford.

From the food, the to the drinks
that we are going to have their

the mocktails having, that's all West
Hartford community based organization

that also support the rotary
and as well as giving out,

auction items for us to be able
to give to the community.

So it's a full circle thing.

And I was telling Kyle and Patrice before,
you know, before I even joined rotary,

the two events that I did was the caravan

and, and I and I participated at The Pines
last year.

And as soon as I was done
with these two events,

I was one of the things that kicked me off
of being coming a Rotarian

because of the community outreach
and the, you know,

the selfless act of the rotary,
you know, and it's, you know,

I encourage people to check us out,
come join us.

Come see me at my branch at NBT Bank,

or come see Patrice, at Westfield Bank.

We can definitely give you directions
on how to become a rotary member as well.

Yep. Will pop up.

And another one. Stef. Boom. Flier.

Right on the screen.

Watch this. When we show these clips,
she puts it right here.

Put it right here. Boom, boom. Holding it.

I hope you get the boom boom.

You know, the little comic book.

This is direct line media booming.

Anything happen?

I think I also just add to
is that not only are Patrice and Victor

Branch managers their respective branches,
but they also have volunteered

graciously with the bank.

So Patrice is from Westfield
Bank, Victor is from NBT Bank

and her friends at People's Bank.

Those community banks have really come out
in a really big way to support local.

And we thank you both for your time,
for your donations.

And right now we're a little less 18 days
away.

We've raised over $20,000.

The large majority of that
has come from our community banks.

So thank you.

Let me shameless ask her on the podcast.

But when good friends of Feeney benefit
from some of your events,

or when can we collaborate on an event
or a fundraiser?

We'd be happy to.

I've been here maybe 3 or 4 times, right?

I mean, what one would be great
would celebrate West Hartford, right?

So rotary does hot dogs and hamburgers.

And if you come to a meeting,

we meet on Mondays at 1215
at the pod house, most Mondays.

And you'll notice that our group is lean
and mean.

There'll be 15 to 20 people there.

Per for per week.

And an event like Celebrate West Hartford,
where we're cooking hot dogs

and hamburgers for thousands of people.
We can't do it just ourselves.

So one of the things that I think you do
great with John is John does a great job

with is getting volunteers outside of
the organizations to help on the day of.

And so I think it's June 7th and eight,
and I'd love to have your friends

and partners be with us and share some of
the money that we bring in with you.

I think great.

And speaking of which, I was asked

to be a speaker, Mary Silverberg,
right now call.

You know, Mary Silverberg.

That's my wife.

Nicole just walked in. Hi, Nicole.

Mary Silverberg,
we sat with her, humblebrag.

I got the ambassador of site
from the Lions Club.

I sat with Mary Silverberg and Diane.

Barbara. That's when I first met them.
And she wanted me to be a speaker.

So I want to hopefully,
hopefully that opportunity

is still available
to come speak at your event

and talk about being a teacher
and being running a nonprofit.

It didn't work last summer.

I work at a can't,
but my summers are now for camp.

Summers are from eight weeks to four,

so I have more room and time,
so I'd love to come speak.

I think one of the things you could
teach us,

Eric, is how to get your message
across. Right.

And so again, West Hartford
has so many amazing organizations.

And there's 20 of us.

And you look at your company,

your charity golf events or just in town,
you're everywhere.

And it'd be great to be everywhere too.

And I think sometimes we struggle
a little bit with getting people

there on Monday for lunch
or even come to our event for the caravan.

And, you know, we always talk about
many hands make light work.

And we're doing such amazing work
with a group of 20 on Mondays.

And how powerful will be was 20
was 40, 40 was 50.

And so that's you know,

we have to kind of pick your brain
and how we can kind of grow the volunteers

and membership, which you seem to do such
a wonderful job at.

Well, thank you for the compliment.

And yeah, we'd be happy to share,
but we just

I don't know how we mentioned, like,

you don't know how many people
are going to show up.

You know, we asked for the parade
on Saint Patrick's Day.

Do we have people coming? We don't know.

It could be 50. There could be five.
We just wish.

We wish people would RSVP.

We wish we could get that clear.

We're coming.

But then it all seems to work out.

So your event again
you have how many sold now?

Out of how many?

Hot off the press 117.

Which is ahead of where we were last year.

So we'll be well over 200 people.

Our ask
is that if you're going to come register

at West Hartford rotary.org
as soon as possible, we make sure that

we have enough food, beverages
and, surprises for the night off.

Very nice. Yep.

And at 75 bucks ahead and it's at the West
Hartford Town Hall from 7 to 1030.

How many times have you how many times
have you been to this event?

How many how long is.

Has been a rocky number? 13.

13. Victor.

This will be my second event. Patrice.

This will be my third.

I think I'm at like 4 or 5.

Yeah, you guys are great.

Doctor. Lift, lift.

Let's take lift.

Take doctor. Rick. Doctor. Rick.

Doctor Rick's a great guy.

That's president.

And he's our, sponsorship chairperson.

So if you're looking to sponsor,
if you have a business in town,

West Hartford rotary.org.

Rick will be happy to take your money.

And know that the money goes
right back to our community.

Yes. Elmwood guy.

Elmwood guy.

He lives. Right.

Worked retired.

Now, we got lucky that he's retired
because he has more time to help us. Yeah.

Nice. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that. Is true.

Doctor Rick helping out. And then there's,

bowling for books event with Bennett.

How's Bennett doing?

Bennett's a good guy.
Yeah, yeah, doing very well.

Yeah. Ben. It's great.

Past president.

You know, it's, he's been in the club
for probably about a decade or so.

He's chaired Celebrate West Hartford.

He's chaired, the book drive.

Even before
we had a Beatlemania event for two years.

He ran with that band.

It's, great friend and amazing Rotarian.

Very good Rotarian.

And you guys help out with
I see that there's a dental clinic

in Uganda.

Food pantry,

7500 bucks to the food pantry
in collaboration with Liberty Bank.

That was last year.

Do you guys want to speak on any of those?

So the $7,500, was

we we Liberty.

Liberty Bank
basically matched what we did.

And the benefit of it was the food pantry.

We came together, and it was great.

Just like how Victor and I,
you know, we're both bankers.

Liberty Bank is another bank in town.

It doesn't matter what the business is.

We're coming together for one main cause,

and to help people, which was fantastic.

And it was great to bring that big check

to the town and take a picture
with the mayor and present it and.

Love the big check.

Yeah, big happy Gilmore. Exactly.

I drive around him with my in my car,
just like he did to on the show.

It's extremely humbling
having other bankers in the group and

and again, to to piggyback off of what
Purdue said, it's just it's just nice

because we all are here for the greater
good of West Hartford, for the uplift and,

the growth of the town
and our passion is for the community

to come together
and be able to give to the rotary

and for us
to give the money back into community.

Yeah. So now I say that all the time.

I'm so honored to live in West Hartford
and teaching and teaching West Hartford,

and then to have my daughters
attend the same school that I taught.

It was like a dream come true.

So it was it was it's really cool. West
Hartford's a great place.

Yeah, that's my wife.
We lived in New Haven.

She got pregnant with twins,
and she was like, we got to move.

We got to move. And I was like,
I don't want to go to West Hartford.

Boat shoes.

And you know, then I'm like,
it was the greatest move I've ever made.

Yeah, right.

I made so many friends.

I've joined the JCC over
men's, over 30 men's league

and just it's a wonderful place
and I'm just thrilled to be here.

It's a wonderful community. They care.

Can I join that? Am I too young?

30. Are you 30 yet?
I mean, I'm not going to tell them my age.

I don't. Think you're even. 30.

You know, I'm thinking I'm over 30.

If you wait till for the games like

that.

One minutes, Victor.

Yeah, yeah,
just tell them. The wrong time.

He'll show up on time.

So we talk. About happy. Right now.

Patrice is the the Queen giving us
fines, and me and, Kyle both are.

Guilty as. Charged. Guilty?

Yeah. Notorious
for being the most fined people.

And. Yeah, let's go into that
because it's hilarious.

The Rotary Club of West Hartford
has something called the happy.

Fine. Correct. Please
explain and elaborate.

So he's happy once he gives it to me.
I just look at that smile.

I look at look at that.

So, like, it's time. For the happy
find today.

Especially just about who started it.
When did it start?

So, there was always the happy
find, you know, there were always finds.

But I found out about that
through, other Rotarians,

and we really weren't doing it.

So I, I'm also currently
the sergeant at arms,

so I get to do the happy dollars
into the attendance.

So I was like, oh, let's have some fun
and, and tax our members some more. So,

so I was like, let's do some happy.

Fine.

So I find for everything
that I feel like it.

So it could just be if you're late,
you get fined.

If you take if you leave for a phone call,
if you leave early,

if you wear some funky socks, you know,

if you know, whatever, have you, you know,

I will be happy to, to dish out some happy
fines.

Kyle did save, Officer Stevens on Monday
because I was going

to give him a happy fine for for,
double parking or what.

Was it on Dunkin Donuts?

Yeah, yeah, really.
Really excited. To get it.

You don't see parking
to. Spot you, did he?

Did you, Kyle job.

Did it pay for it. It's wide.

So there you go I love it.

And I found out about these fines
when I started getting invoices from Rick.

And I'm looking I'm like, why?

Why am I getting all these increases?

These all this stuff.

And then I was like,
this is my name tag, you know?

Yeah, I came in super early,
but it turns out that I was super late,

you know? Yeah.

I mean, I'm
sure you're wearing funky socks.

I don't mind your. Funky. Stuff.

That's fine. Just now
he's like five fines, right? Yeah, yeah.

One day
he walked it and left with five fines.

Yeah.

I love that.

I think that's a low key
the banker rivalry as well.

Yeah.

You know I think I'm going to incorporate
that into our meetings.

I like to happy. Fun I did. Fired. Yes.

And one thing Eric we get asked
all the time is that it.

So if I want to be a Rotarian
what is the cost. Right.

And so I mean it's your time
but it's also we're meet for lunch.

Right. And so we go to the pound house
and do amazing lunch.

It's the lunch.

It's a dessert and coffee
and it's a $20 charge or $21 charge.

So if you we have separate meetings,
a quarter, it's about $250

a quarter,
which is your lunches, your dues.

And so it's pretty fair. Yeah.

And one of the things I think
that's creative that we do is like NBT

Bank and Westfield
Bank are corporate memberships.

So Patrice can go, with with Matt Cuddy
or Victor can go with Andreas.

And so it's a way
where you might not be able

to get there every week,
but in your branch or in your office,

you could probably figure out.

All right, we have three meetings
in the month of March.

Who's going.

And and we're trying to be creative to
to reach out to the businesses

in town and have a corporate membership
for the same cost.

So we're trying to be innovative,
flexible.

We want people to show up
because we do amazing work.

And when people hear
all the good things that we do, like,

how do I get started in it?

Maybe I'll, I can't go on Mondays
or I can't go for dinner.

And so, you know,

we're trying to be just again,
we want to grow, and we want to be,

accessible to, to.

Ever think of doing maybe like one
because that's during the work day.

Do you guys ever do a after work meeting
for those that can't make the lunch?

Last year we did a breakfast.

Nice.

And, in past years,
we have done a happy hours.

And so we're looking we've been talking
about incorporating that again

because we know not

everyone is able to steal away time
during the middle of the day,

so maybe they can come for breakfast,

in the morning
or they can do an evening for a.

Yeah,
we just, to break it up for everyone.

Yeah. No.

And for more information,
check out the website.

I was I got a lot of information
from your website.

There's so many things of group
photos and check presentation.

So you guys are doing great things.
So I would encourage everyone to go back.

And if you're interested,
check out the website.

I think it's Rotary Club,
West Hartford Dot.

West Hartford rotary.org. Dawg.

Yep. So you heard it here.

Now it's going to be a great event.

And how about Harvey's house?

Harvey's involved.

We couldn't do the event.

I mean, obviously
we here at Max and beverages,

but we couldn't do the event without Adam.
He's an amazing partner for us.

He's the one that gets the 12 to 8, 15
different,

distilleries, the beer, the spirits.

And he has,
you know, it's a Saturday night.

So these these businesses
and these, sponsors are being there

and donating and pouring from seven
to about 830 788 45.

And what's great about Adam is his every,

bottle that sold some of the proceeds
goes back to the club.

So maybe it's 10% of the proceeds,
goes back to, to drinking.

Wine that night.

Exactly right.

Exactly right.

And one of the things that Adam does,
he'll make it available.

He'll do it to your home, your business.

And I'll have it available at his store
within the week.

So it's another way.

Where's Harvey's located?

Bishops corner, bishops corner, right
across the street on the corner.

Where? Next to, staples.

All right. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Oh, you. Oh, McDonald's.

Which is going to be Chipotle,
I guess. June. Right? Or chick fil A, a,

Chick fil A, chick fil A.

Chick fil A, chick fil A.

Yeah, yeah, it's still good regardless.

All right. We'll shout out to Harvey.
So that's cool.

Check it out. And then people's Bank.

Great.

Their sponsor of this podcast,
meat Bank there.

All right.

I'm only messing with you,
Victor and Andre.

They're wonderful people over there.
Matt on the board.

He works there too.

And I think too I think some for
some people that don't drink, right?

I mean, obviously West
Hartford is known for their food.

And so we have a sampling
of West Hartford restaurants.

And so just to name

a few of Fleming's will be there
and they'll do Swedish meatballs.

Our friends at Rockledge,
thanks to Chip in an alley and team

and Jeff, are, doing corned beef sliders.

We have a carving station.
Thank you to Chris. Prozac.

Who is the executive chef
of an American school for the deaf.

We have spring rolls from Blue Elephant
sushi from one of the local sushi places.

Joey's always does, Penny Allen vodka.

I mean,
we really have an amazing flair of food.

That will be there that night.

So, you know,
those are just a few restaurants

we have close to 15
that will be donating and donating food.

So we thank all of them.

Which is really pretty neat.

Yeah. Food has always been
pretty good there.

I mean, it's spectacular, actually.
I like the sliders.

I was hoping they did kitchen sink smoked
wings.

But, you know, we'll. Talk to Chip.

Come on.

You know, good stuff going on.

Yeah that again I'll say the date.

March 1st you said 18 days 18 days.

And Countdown's on.

And this will be out
maybe in a week or two.

So by this time this comes out,
maybe say eight days.

So get on it, people.

Eight days,
give or take ten days for production.

All right.

So I got some sponsors too.

I want to shout out, again,
this is Feeney talks with friends.

My name is Eric Feeney, founder
and president of Friends of Feeney.

Our mission is to help

children and families that need assistance
after heartbreak or tragedy.

I use this podcast,
Feeney talks with friends,

and I talk to wonderful people in
the community that are doing great things.

And I have three right in front of me.

And some sponsors.

Again, Direct Line Media.

Thank you, Steph and Dave.

We're here at Maximum Beverage
at 340 North Main Street.

We have Keating Agency insurance float 41
The Fix five Luna Pizza, golf law Group,

people's Bank
Parkville Market and West Hartford lock.

So which was with West Hartford Lock.

What are three keys
that make you a great Rotarian.

What are three key factor?

Why did you start I would say community.

That's, I like it.

One key,

selflessness,

doing things, you know, for the greater
good of every,

And then. Yeah.

Why did you put me on the spot?

Kyle? You're late.

That's a happy find at the time.

Okay.

In a sense of belonging.

Gives you a great sense of belonging.

You got to hop on real quick.
Come on. Hold it. Sorry, Victor.

No, no.

No, this is the first time
I'm. On the calling.

Wife of Feeney real quick.

Your wife is very lovely.

She is truly your better half.

Just say the time's up, man.

I think what makes Eric Feeney
a good friend?

Oh, he's always up for a good joke.

Makes you laugh.

All right.

Do you need a good friend?

Everyone's gonna make you smile, man.

I'm gonna go.

All right. See you later.

Thanks for coming. By.

Like three cheese. What are the three?

My 1st of March.

Very much. Myspace. Myspace?

She'll be there.

Hundred 18 people.

Look at that, John. Done

three keys.

Community, selflessness. And.

I said a sense of belonging.

Sense of belonging. I like I like it.

Do you guys want to piggyback add change.

Service above self? That's our motto.

See? That's why you see the first.

Person.

Happy father person. Hi.

Of course.

I like this shoes.

Service over. Self.

Service above self is our motto.
I like it.

That's number one. Number two. When we.

When I moved into West Hartford in 2008
with my wife,

Brittany,
we didn't have any girls at the time.

And we're trying to join an organization.

And, you know, rotary seemed like a really
great, so it's been since, oh, nine.

So it's been a great ride.

Really happy to be a, West Hartford
Rotarian.

And I joke all the time it's
it we're giving back to the community.

And so we're all very blessed
to be able to do this.

And it makes you feel pretty good, too.

And there's a lot of people that are in
our community that really need our help.

And, you know, we did last year,

we did two events for the caravan
or for the town that Cares.

So we did the 7500 Liberty Bank food
drive over Thanksgiving

and think about Thanksgiving.

Time is the time to give money to
or give food, to those that are in need.

Right.

To make sure they have a turkey dinner

or Thanksgiving
dinner is coming with family.

So that was number one.

And we came back again in April,
May with a $10,000 caravan.

So last year we had 17,500.

That went right back to the Town
That Cares, which is West

Hartford's food pantry,
a direct result of irons.

And so we can't do it without the support
of the community coming to the event,

buying tickets, sponsoring our event.

Or even just bidding on auction items.

We have amazing auction items at finds.

And with all that,
we allow us to do some really great work.

And so it feels good
to give back. And so it's,

I'm happy to be a member.

I'm happy to work with you.
I have some great friends in rotary.

I can take a victor,
and it's great friends.

They've stepped up.

It's it's not easy, right?
I mean, they have families there.

They've they're they're working
and they're, again,

figuring out
time to get back to the community.

So thank you, for for stepping up
and being on the board and the president

elect.

And it's nice to see, you know,
some younger business owners

that are kind of growing
and giving back to the community.

So it's, it's, pretty special.

And how many,
how many times have you been pres.

Four times.

Four times. Four quarters were over.

No. Over time.

What's the term limit? It's a year.

So I was at first time was 2015 or 16.

And then it came back after Covid,
went to double header.

And then I guess I guess once
and for a third year, third time.

So happy that Rick stepped in
to get me off the chain.

And then Diane's there now, and Patrice
and maybe Victor or Victor or someone

else following Patrice. And,

we need a newer

membership to help continue to grow.

So. All right,
let me say hi to my friend over

here, fellow West Harvard teacher. Yes.

How you doing?

You want to pop around
and say hi to the camera? Come on.

How is love?

Cuz this is the Feeney Talks with Friends
podcast.

The friends? Yep.

Wonderful.

Well, that's a really amazing cause.

So that's so exciting
that you're being interviewed for it.

Good for you.

Thanks. Great to. See you.

Yeah.

I'm being interviewed.

Okay.

Thanks. On the hot seat.

So we did the three keys.

You are in the middle of something.
Three keys. I do have one. Sorry.

That's okay. One of them is partnership.

And the reason why I thought about
partnership and they were talking is,

we also partner

with other nonprofit organizations,

that are right here in town,
like the Nora Webster House.

Was school.

We were a sponsor of the Black Business

Expo, a couple weekends ago.

Which was a great event.

So partnership is huge.

Compassion is another one
because just to understand

what other people may be experiencing
so that we can give out,

and the other one is, is humble,

you know, it humbles you when you're able
to do something for someone else.

You know, it doesn't like we had like Kyle
said, you know, we have our own lives.

We have our own responsibilities.

But when you take time to stop
and give out to help

someone else, it's it's huge.

It does feel great.

No, I'm with you.
Those are all great answers.

We had nine keys today.
We usually do three.

The nine keys and a Rotarian
I love it and what what would you.

How would you, say someone's new?

Do you guys mentor Rotarians or like.

Yeah, sure.

And what if we
only did if what if you wanted to do one?

All right, so here's our ask.

Our asks would be
if you have to have lunch on Monday

at 1215, come and join us at the pond
House and just see what we're about.

Gotcha. We won't charge you for lunch.

You can learn about the organization
if you like what you saw, come back again,

and we still only charge you.

And if you say, this is something for me,
then we'll talk with someone on the board

and tell you what
the financial commitment is,

what time it is,
and see if it's a good fit.

But you got it.
You got it to learn a little bit more.

I mean, it's so powerful just to come to
one meeting like, wow, we did all of that.

You know, it's 1215 to 130.

The food's great, great fellowship.

And again, we're giving back
to our community, and we need your help.

Yes. And you don't have to be involved
in everything that we do.

We have some members
that they come to the meetings

when they can
because of their their schedule.

And then they volunteer
for maybe one of the bigger events.

Some only are you only able to volunteer
for Celebrate West Hartford?

Some are only able to volunteer for vines,
but that's still huge.

That's a help.

You're still being a part.
You still given out.

You still put in your input in.

When you come to the meetings, your voice
is still heard, is still a part.

All right.

And and then being

the one of the newer members of the group,
I've been on again for about a year.

And I have to say it was just hand-holding
throughout the whole process.

It was just nice

getting my feet wet, learning about rotary
and does it really get involved?

I mean, it's a group effort.

You know, you never feel lost
if you have a question or you need

you tap one of these guys. They're great.

They're knowledgeable.

They've been in here longer
and they're just very welcoming.

And I'll even do one better with Kyle.

He said, you know,
you'll get two free lunches.

I'll personally pay for the third lunch
out of my my lovely daughter's

college fund. Who's coming over right now?

So I see.

Okay.

Hey, kid.

No college for you, kid.

That's got a picnic lunch.

No, I love it.

Well, speaking of kids, I got to do
a quick shout out for my guy Hudson.

Look at this Christmas gift I got.

Be a good teacher.

That's our motto. Is be a good friend.

So he re-created the magnet and says,
like Mr. Feeney.

And it says Friends of Hudson. Wow.

So thank you, Hudson.

It's a great shake the shirt.

It was like he took
something that I've done and he mixed it

to what I do, you know, friends of Feeney
and teacher collaborated on one shirt.

I told my, wear it.

I'm honored and proud.

Thank you, Hudson,
but I thank you for his,

Kristen and Amy,
his moms and his dad taught.

Where do you think Hudson's dad taught?

Waterbury. Waterbury?

Waterbury?

Mr. mayor Lenski taught in Waterbury.

The barre. Yes.

It all goes back to the barre.

And Kristen went to school on the barre,
too, so Victor's from the barre.

You ever been to the barre? Kyle
from. Cheshire.

So I know the barre well. Close enough.

So you black? He's hot dog
or Frankie's hot dog?

Hockey's a silly question.

Now, after
knowing that you're from Cheshire, it's.

Go on.

Russell's dogs too.

Martin Russell's made in New Britain.
They go to Cheshire.

They've been serving those for 100 years.

Wow. Great place.

Which is Frankie's are black is black is.

I gotta go black.

Patrice, where are you from? Well,
I live in Windsor.

Okay. Yeah.

So I haven't really.
I've drive through Waterbury.

That's smart.

Smart. Good. Keep going.

Don't stop.

Oh, watch.

Saddle train

or laptop, love or lock us away.

Lock as well as you.

All right, Waterbury?

Well, thank you, Hudson, I love my shirt.

Any shout outs you guys have for someone?

I do, I do want to sincerely,
just reiterate what I said.

So if you do come for the third meeting,
I would definitely pay for your

lovely seats.

So you have three free meals right there.

You come down to the rotary on Mondays
at the Pond House.

Was that time again.

12, 15, 1215.

Well, 15 to 130.

Well, you'll get on $30
fine if you come late.

Yeah.

Well, see, nice to. Yes.

I want them to keep coming back at.

Hello. You're nice. Yeah.

Nice.

Yes, yes.

Or they got another shot off.

Last one I got.

You reminded me to bring my pen
because I always borrow a pen,

so I've had to get my cricket
pen shot out.

The cricket press on Park Road.

This is an erasable pen,
and it really does erase.

And, there are numbers [phone].

And how do I know?

Because it's on the pen on the pad.
So great stuff.

And it erases good stuff and boom.

Cricket press print of these.

Thank you Cricket
press. And I was a donation from them.

So a great partner for rotary to.

Shout out to Dom and Greg Cricket press.

Yeah. Park road

236 Park Road.

They inspired me to get pads. Two
I got the Friends of Feeney pads,

Cricket press.

Great people. All right. So doubled up
and they help out with these.

Look at this.

Look at this. Good quality.

You hear that snap.

That's cricket press.

Keep. Look at it.

That flop.

Look at that flop.

And the other shout outs.

Okay I can't think of anything.

So our last guest was Max Markowitz.

He has a, a website.

It's the film
credits, film critics ticket.

So we talked movies.

Do you have a favorite movie

film critic ticket I met one.

My my favorite movie
is The Most Embarrassing Thing

I love, and it's a family favorite,
the Moulin Rouge.

I know every single word,
every single song in that movie.

Interesting.

We watched it one summer,
probably 100 times.

Geez.

I've never seen it.

I gotta put it on the list. Yeah, it's.

Rudy.

Rudy, Rudy, Rudy.

Rudy. Are you Notre Dame fan, too?

So, you know, growing up
before UConn, a football team,

I would watch Notre Dame religiously
and now UConn.

You can.

So I love the Huskies.

Love what Jim Moore is doing obviously
with the Hurley's doing you know.

And so I don't follow Notre
Dame as much as I used to.

But growing up I most certainly did.

I went to Assumption College.

But Worcester Worcester.

Nice.

My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice.

Yes. I've literally watched all variations
of it,

like even four countries. Really?

You should love it.

Yes, I've even read the book
several times.

But I have a zombie. Version. It did.

I stopped at the zombie.

You started the zombie version?
I had to have living somewhere.

I think that was

the only one I saw was a zombie movie.

Yeah, I've seen everyone read the books.

Like my daughter.

My husband read her the book, which was
kind of hilarious, which was the baby,

in all the different accents,
which was even better.

So, yeah. Fighting prejudice.

Interesting. What's. Yeah.

I like, you know, Dumb and Dumber.

John Brasco.

Carlito's Way, Goodfellas,
you know, classics.

Eric, I'm. I'm not surprised
I missed Mark.

Yeah. ING.

Yeah.

And used to wrestle my older brother
back in the.

Yeah. The Waterbury did.

My older brother. Yeah.

He's a wrestle.

The one Eric used to beat them up. I.

Used to feel bad, you know, beat up
these young Waterbury kids when.

I was.

Hung out with my brother. Yeah.

So come to find in his house, in my house
were separated by literally two houses.

No, but around the corner.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And I kind of moved out by the time
he moved in because college and army.

Yeah.

Very funny.

Yeah.

Love it.

Small world taught me how to swear.

Afraid of my mom hearing me

go swear.

Do it, do it. I'm a teacher, you know.

It's teaching the youth.

Know.

So we have first.

Oh, we do another game first.

Next, then, first.

Last best, worst.

Your first event.

Your last event.

Your best event. Your worst event.

Can you think of events or meetings
as the Rotary Club had?

This. Let's just do this year.

I'm assuming
this is going to be your best event.

I hope so
we're going to raise over 50,000.

So that's going to be best.

Yeah I could.
Definitely have a best event.

All right.

Did you have one that we need.

We need the community involvement
to be able to do it.

So when it didn't go according as plan or
something went wrong or missing,

or then your first one in your last one,
like what's your most recent one?

A recent event.

That's say the worst event, maybe not
this year was Celebrate West Hartford.

What? It rained. Right.

Because we're selling

hot dogs and hamburgers and it's Saturday
and Sunday and it's really busy,

thousands of people coming through.

But if the weather doesn't cooperate,
no bueno.

Yeah.

So there was a few years back
where we had a great Saturday.

It was pretty much a washout on Sunday.

And instead of bringing in 5 or 6000,
it was three.

So that would, you know, weather. Yeah.

Well, I remember yeah, I only volunteered
on the Saturday when it didn't.

Yeah.

Smart.

Like I'm good.

It's rain. Right.

That was the worst.

I will say, last event was, Benny,

the only for books.

For books? Yeah.

That was great. Yes. Did you guys go?

I went.

You definitely.

Dropped off book. Yeah. Great.

I didn't let Bennett know.

I thought I let him know,
but there were all the lanes were full.

I played mini golf and then went to J
for wings with my daughter and her friend.

So it worked out

one time. Oh.

Then two things my driving to work today
or Super Bowl.

Where do you guys want to go?

What direction?

The, the Giants fan.

Yeah, I'd rather
go. You're driving to work today, Eric.

So funny that you brought that up,
because I have this first ever,

Jersey burning on the podcast.

Oh, man.

Okay.

Oh, but

the get up in so many other videos,
I just got real.

Still wipe my tears

I love Saquon I miss you.

Yeah I have for these.

But for everybody in the family

it's.

A see him so successful and so happy.
Yeah.

But good for him I'm good for. Him yeah.

I would.

What do you think about the game.
Did you like. It was like an awful game.

It was an awful game.

It was.

The score was awful. All the commercials.

There was that one seal commercial
with the Mountain Dew.

Hilarious. I was the only one I like.

I like the Dunkin Donuts. Commercial.

That don't start off pretty good.

Awesome. No, I forgot about that one.

That was pretty good.

Yes, that was pretty good. Yeah.

But the score.

Yeah, they were just the

the front line of the defense of Eagles
were just humbling.

Yeah Patrick Mahomes running for his life.

Oh yeah yeah
I was really rooting for the Chiefs

because my team lost
very sadly to the Eagles.

I'm still the. Commanders.
Yes we had a great year.

They did though I tried to hang on
to the fact that they had a great year.

They did have a fantastic yeah.

See Giles is.

Unbelievable.

Amazing. Quarterback
Jack Daniels could have.

Been a giant. Could have been a.

Giant cry again I'll say.

Smith had a touchdown
for he should have been a giant.

Barkley should still be a giant.

I mean you know who shouldn't be a giant?

Daniel Jones.

You know who never should have been
a giant Daniel Jones.

Hurts me.

All right, new topic.

So I'm driving to work.

And, you know, there's the intersection.

And if you leave at 7:00, it's great.

But if you leave at 710.

Damnit, Conner,
it turns into Apocalypse Now, right?

Everyone's in a rush.

And I get to the stop sign and I'm going,
and someone turns

and they're like,
dad, that's my friend Bella.

Bella. Egress.

No way. Yeah,

but. And I go, that is her dad, Kyle.

I have a podcast with him today.

Today?

I didn't even know
my daughter's in your daughter.

I don't know that either. It's amazing.

It happened at the stop sign.

Hope she. Stopped. It was. It was on me.

I want to go on record. It was on. Me.

She had to right away.

But it was a miscommunication. Hesitation.

So, Bella, you're doing
great things on the behind the wheel.

But that was hilarious.

And I'm like, does she play field
hockey too? Like, yeah, she plays field.

Hockey and lacrosse.

I'm like,
I think that's her an egress so far.

There's so many egress is in town, but
I will what I will say to your daughters

is that we have an Interact Club
at concert.

And so it's rotary for high school kids.

And so Bella is part of it.

And there's 13 other Conard, students
that are that are participating.

Would love to have them. Okay.

And the club sponsors them
with $1,000 donation

to help them give back to the community
and causes that they support.

And they may see match, celebrate.

You may see them at the food caravan,
but it's it's awesome to have.

And then how do you say that
and is it an acronym for something.

So I think it's it's interact right.

Yeah.

Interact
club is rotary for high school kids okay.

Yeah. Interact. Yeah.

We also have a Rotary Club
which is for college.

It's 18 to 30
and that's at University of Hartford.

Oh, nice.

Nice. Yeah.

My daughter had, she had like four dozen
roses that she sold for student council.

So she does student council,
mock trial model, U.N.

unified theater, golf rivalry.

Then the other one does softball
and all the other things I think, and

just named busy, busy.

But they'll they'll hop on that.
Yeah. It'd be great.

To help Bella
to connect with Neil and Bridget.

We'll do make a heck, you

know, good school.

I love Connor,
but again, that's 710 to 720.

I don't think every kid needs a car.

You got all these single drivers.

Well, they're following the rules, Eric.

The first year they can't drive
with someone outside of their family.

Safety first. That's right.

Back in our day to be pilot by.

Just got my license.

Picking up all nine of my friends.

Yeah, 16 years old
with nine kids in the car.

Seven into a Honda Civic. In the trunk.

If you can't fit.

Wow. Okay, that makes sense.

Okay.

But I think they should offer a stipend
or some some sort of reward

for taking the bus.

Or we just stopped getting busses
because, I mean, no one's on these busses.

Oh, there.

That's why I thought it was like.

It's not a choice thing.

Interesting. Yeah.

My girls, I've driven I've driven
with them each three times since November.

So keep driving with them.

Right.

They need a little more practice,
but I'm all for it.

Where did the students park?

Is their student.

Parking lot is huge.
There's a front one in the back. Okay.

So I we think we know
like a little incognito way

in and I drop off by the cash in the back
room.

But again that's a zoo.

And then we pick up a friend
on the way here because it was too cold.

So we're like, pull over,
you hop in, she's got roses.

We get to the stop sign, I get cut off.

I'm not kidding.

I'm not totally.

Not totally.
Not while this teacher talk in school.

Talk. Do you guys have favorite teachers?
You like to shout out?

Any favorite teacher?

Like my favorite teacher of all time.

I always shout out Mrs.

Jerel from fifth grade Kingsbury School.

This time I want to shout out Mr. Krill.

Dave Krill was my freshman
chemistry teacher and my football coach.

And he
he was a pole vaulter for Dartmouth.

He was an amazing person,
and he just inspired me so many ways.

So Dave Krill, shout out to Dave Krill,

do you have a teacher that inspired you?

Did I ask you you remember
we started talking about Rose wise?

Yeah, we talked about.

Yeah. Was very cool.

Very cool.

I mean, I last time I said Mr.

Pose because this time I'll say Miss
Augustine,

down in Waterbury,
she used to teach in the theater

department at Wayne's,
where I went to graduated from,

my senior year of high school.

I couldn't,

you know, I came from humble beginnings,
couldn't afford the ticket to the prom.

And she actually ended up
paying for my prom ticket,

which I was completely shocked
and just completely floored.

And, yeah, that was one of the most giving
moments, because,

you know,
prom is almost like a rite of passage,

you know,
and and I felt I was, you know, crying

that I couldn't afford it because we just
we just didn't have the money.

My mom obviously raised six of us
on her own, you know, tough, you know,

you know, watch.

115 I just talked a little bit
about that, but,

yeah, it was just
it was just one of those special moments

where I just kind of was inspired
to, to give back.

And I always stuck with me
to always give back to the community.

Yeah, yeah, especially when I made it
and got to a level where I could,

Yeah.

The theme of today is definitely,
you know, service above self.

I love the above.

So giving back and being a good friend,
you know, I'm fortunate to have a house

and, and, a roof over my head.

So I would like to give back
to those that need assistance. And.

Yeah, I'm from a divorce family,

so I knew how it was
not to see my dad every once in a while.

I could never imagine
never seeing him again.

So that's why I empathize with families
that lose a loved one.

And since then, we've helped over
90 families and raised over $225,000.

So good for you.

That's amazing and all working
with wonderful people in the community

like you guys.

So you guys are doing great work and
we look forward to future collaborations.

And I will 100%,

March 1st.

Sounds good.

How about you?

How is your favorite teacher, Mr. Dudek?

I was going to say you can see me.

You know,
I. Could say you, but I. I say, Mr. Dudek.

So this did sixth grade.

Highland School,
Cheshire was just a phenomenal teacher.

Taught me a lot
about just kind of working hard and,

I would say, Mr.

Dudek.

I cannot remember and or pronounce

her married last name,
but she wasn't at the time.

And her name was Donna Cathy.

She was a faculty.

She wasn't an actual teacher.

She worked in a career center.

And she knew everyone at Manchester High.

And she was there for everything.

She gave us guidance, you know, she
told us when we were out of the pocket.

You know.

She she stood us in the right direction.

Shelters with college, with

everything you could think of.

She was there for.

And I never forgot her in every few years,
actually see her.

So it's it's fantastic.

Very nice.

All right. We got teachers.

Oh. An episode. Stephanie.

She's our production associate now,
but she was also on 123,

and she does cosplays and TikToks.

She's over a million views on TikTok
like Marvel.

So with that being said,
we have a special superhero.

We did. Favorite teachers.

Teachers are superheroes. Yes.

Who's your favorite superhero?

What's your favorite superpower?

Okay, so my favorite superhero is Thor.

It's always been Thor. Yes.

My husband is a huge comic book,

person.

It's best way I could say, right?

Comic book person. Yes.

So, he got me into it.

And Thor is my favorite.
I love Thor's hammer.

You bring
the hammer down with those happy times.

Do I do?

Let me tell you.

What I hit that God, I feel the power. To.

This all makes sense.

Like it. Does. It does?

Yeah.

This week

I'll say Spider-Man, because my daughters
are really into Spider-Man.

Into the Spider-Verse.

It's, like, really cool for me.

I don't think they really quite
grasped the plot lines yet,

but they like watching Spider-Man and,

yeah.

So I. Mean, I, I.

Have to say, I don't know if I have one,
but if I had to go on, I haven't.

I found a marvel that, that, that closely.

So this is going back
a long time to traditional to Superman.

Classic. Classic, yes.

Traditional is the name of the board
by day and saves the world by night.

Let's go, let's go.

There's the Amazon documentary
on Christopher Reeve.

Really? I haven't seen it yet. But.

Is it HBO?

Oh, Get your password.

Username to share.

What is it? What is it? Be a good friend.

I'll treat you to Hulu.

And Netflix for your HBO.

Be a good friend
and share that best friend.

I still use my mom's networks. Yeah.

I mean, Netflix account?

No. I'm honored to be speaking
with the Rotary Club of West Hartford.

There's a wonderful event on March 1st.

Vines of March.

I can't thank you enough
at being a third grade teacher.

I am personally,
I want to speak for all of my students

for the past 200 of them, 20 times ten.

So 20 students times ten years.

So there's 200.

I mean, it, and there's so many third
graders in West Hartford.

Do you know when
and where that started and how?

Why third graders? Why dictionaries?

Savannah, Georgia
I think it's where it started

and it's grown across the whole country.

That's so cool, I love it.

Any minute.

Are we on.

40, 48.

Anything? Oh, we got to do a toast.

We got to vines.

You guys got to get that met.

Do you want to grab those
that bottle, those glasses?

And then in the meantime,

again.

Thank you. Hudson, thank you for the.

Oh, Nate, what about my guy? Nate?

Nate will be here.

Nate hasn't signed up for his ticket yet.

And Nate,
you know, knows better than that.

You know another banker, TD banker.

Nate better be there.

We call him.

It's calm. Let's get him on the line here.

Live on here.

Let's get another man.

He was there last year.

He had a blast.

Are you calling him right now?

Call him right now. That is awesome. Yeah.

That's going to be great.

Calling him right.

Again. 118 again.

Need is while I'll be right
there. You 120.

We're going to put him on speaker.

Oh it's supposed to be a guess
who what it is.

Hello, Nate.

Pick up Nate. Be a good friend. Nate.

Let's see.

Usually a texter.

What if you call him
and he picks up. That would be.

Oh, I think you I think it's
he knew we were coming on today.

Oh, he did it.

Yeah.

She both call at the same time.

What we'll do, though, has been maybe.

Able to cheer.

The person you're trying to reach
is not available at the tone.

Please record your message
when you have finished recording.

You may hang up.

Nate live on the air.

Episode 128 Feeney talks with friends.

I'm here with Kyle.

Let's go, let's go is buy a ticket.

March 1st, 18 days away.

Be there. Be square.

We need your support. Thanks.

But if you don't call me back, I'm sharing
your cell phone number with everyone.

You two podcast.

All right.

Cheers. I'm sorry. Okay.

Did you see what it was?

I didn't say I don't know much about why.

I got a guest price.

Okay, we've got to taste it
first. Taste it?

Yeah, well, cheers.

Thank you for your support event

March 1st.
You want to try it? Matt? We got.

She's not out. Okay.

All right, so you smell it.

Oh, he's at the girls game.

Oh, yeah. What's the score?

Let's get the score first.

All right.

What do we got?

Bullock?

You got chickens?

Legs?

I was on two guys on a lot of one.

Shout out to two guys on a lot of wine.

We did a collaborative episode.

Check the legs.

It's a.

I thought you picked a bottle
because it was green.

Because. Imagine, Friends of Feeney.
It's all about. It's all about branding.

All right, so I it's a 2006 Merlot.

Classic red.

Red wolves up 2419.

I'm just making this up by the way.

2419.

All right, so how about.

All right, we'll start year.

What year do you think this wine is?

2018.

All right, 2021.

Whoa Kyle for. 2.0.

Two 2021 okay.

Well, now, what kind of wine is it?

I say mellow. Merlot.

We got one from our love.

You can guess 200.

Nothing about wine.

Wow. I'm going to.

If you said hello.

So I'm going to say a cab.

Two for two.

For. Two.

Cabernet Sauvignon. Okay. Oh, wow.

I'm in. Grace.

And now we need to know location.

I gotta go California, West Hartford.

This is an island.

I'll give you an a continent.
Oh, Australia.

Yeah. This is the wine of Australia.
Wow. There you go.

Heartland one spice trader,

Great car, great color.

Go green, go green. Top of the morning.

Be a good friend.

So thank you for hosting.

And the cost was the last.

One, right? Oh, cost.

What do you think this cost?

It's 1990. Nine.

Higher.

Lower.

Lower.

1899.

You said higher low I said lower.

So I wrote it down. Oh.

1499 14

so 5915 bucks out the door.

Well thank you to our hosts.

Maximum beverage.

Thank you to the Rotary Club.

Let's cheers again. Yes.

Thank you thank you sir.

Thank you, thank you. And please
like and share when this comes out.

This is episode 129.

What's your record reviews.

Riley Fox had.

Riley. Would that be Riley Riley. Fox.

The Bulldogs are 16 and 14

and six big game Valentine's day.

They they're playing Eupen at home.

Okay I went to the opening day.

Yeah I'm scores first bucket.

Yeah.

Then I went on Martin
Luther King Day to see him play Howard.

He had seven got on the floor
when in the locker room.

Friends of Fox we're going to do.

You did that I was there
yeah it was great.

Awesome.

Yeah he scored 2000.

We did the Red Friends of Fox.
And Coach was there which nice to say.

We're going to do blue Friends with Fox
I'll bet. Yeah.

So hopefully okay
we're going to pick a day.

They're going to go to the 14 point.

That's it's Valentine's Day off.

So I'm going to a game.

It's not going to work for New Haven.

We're going out to. Eat fancy restaurant.

Yo. We're going to see basketball.

All right let's go Riley.

My wife's like I

love Riley in a but but yeah.

No. Yeah.

Cheers. The friends of Fox
and then the Sherry twins.

You ever hear about the sherry?

Yeah. There's female. Sherry.

You're going to Georgetown.

Male twins.

They run at Stanford.

They were also on high numbers. Okay.

And then my buddy D locked it up. Music.

Banned after a thousand views.

Okay. Victor. Promise.

So hopefully this isn't
our worst performing brothers do.

And I'm sure.

You should do it when my twin brother.

You know, I'll be a good one.

I like it.

Yeah. Maybe your twin brother
would like to be a Rotarian.

Well, yeah. This. Yeah.

Pulling his arm on that.

Yes. Yeah. I mean, it'll be a little bit.

It would be. Confusing. That'd be great.

And if it would be a happy, fine Patrice
if she gets it wrong.

Right. Oh, gosh.

You guessed the twins wrong.

You get a happy. Fine.

I think I. Could figure them out, though.

I'm better looking.

What makes you better than your twin?

What minute are we?

So we could document this
and send it to little bro. Big bro.

Our little bro who's,
I'm. He's five minutes older, but.

Who could up who?

I. Remember who taught you.

No. I'm kidding.

I like a little bro.

All right.

Any closing remarks?

Yes. Thank you for this opportunity

for sharing about vines.

It is going to be a great event.

Come out.

The food is fantastic.

The company is great.

So lots of laughs and definitely visit
our meetings.

It's at the pond House.

Can't get any better than that.

And Victor's buying lunch too.

So of. Course.

When do you start your term president?

July 1st. July 1st? Yes.

Are you excited?

I am, I'm very excited.

I have a great group of people
who keep telling me

they're going to be right there
with me to help me out whenever I need it.

So I'm gonna hold them to it.

And if not, just fine.

Maybe
I gotta find some. To get fired later.

I know I'll probably do what.

I was thinking about.

I was thinking about asking you
if you wouldn't do it,

but then you might just retaliate.

So I don't know for what
that might be. A it's like.

A fine ticket.

You've been fined.
I'd be hunger with power.

But now you get the carbon copy. It's.

You be fine.

Pay it.

That was wonderful chatting
and get to know you.

I've seen you around and Westfield
Bank is very has been,

sponsored our friends affinity
golf tournament I think two years ago.

So I want to thank you again.

And before that made a donation, and,

one of their customers came in
and picked us for something. Yes.

So, yeah,
so much for your collaboration. And,

Yeah,
your thoughtfulness and your generosity.

So I appreciate it. And it's great
to sit down and talk with you, Patrice.

Thank you and good luck with being a pres.

Thank you. Thank you. Wonderful.

Yeah. Yes.

It's going to be great.

Anybody else closing remarks is Mike
is yours.

So no good.

Come on.

Yeah. Just, obviously,
Eric, you're a great guy.

We appreciate you see, everybody
there on the community need that.

Our girls kind of know each other.

It kind of hits, you know, John Decker.

Decker play basketball with him.

So I know John well.

But, you know, we're all trying
to do the same thing, right?

We're all trying to give back,
you know, service above self.

And, you know, our ask is
if you have no plans on March 1st, join us

if you'd like to join us for lunch.

On a Monday at 1215,
we'd love to have you as our guest.

And, let's make this community
even better than it is.

And, you know, thank you again
for hosting us.

We really appreciate it. Yeah.

John Decker episode 65.

It was his birthday, John, his birthday
on the podcast when we filmed.

Recent birthdays, February birthday.

I got him an Elmwood pastry cake.

Great guy. Also generous, wonderful guy.

He his company
sponsored the Friends of Fox t shirts.

So great.

Our BK are.

RBC. RBC, Royal Canadian
Bank, Royal Bank of Canada I think.

Yeah I know he's a good friend.

I know I'm all about him.

Who wins the arc?

You asked Victor a question
about basketball. Who wins?

You were Decker.

Oh, so two years
ago, Decker and I won it all.

The following year.

We didn't win a game,

so we went from heroes to zeros.

Here you go.

Oh, and 14.

First time in JC history
I was the captain loser. Me.

And then this year I start. I'm.

Oh and eight.

I just finally won my first game last.

So I was only 26 or whatever.

It was not good. But Decker is great.

He blocks my shot a lot.

Because he passed. When you're out there.

Does he pass? Do you?
Do you know? I know Decker well.

You say you ever play basketball?
I know. Decker well.

He went past a god.

Amen.

I love Decker, he's.

He catches, turns and shoots.

I love him to death.

And he's a great.

He won MVP one year a couple years ago.

Few years ago.
Probably a few years ago. Yeah. Like five.

He was chiseled.

He was he won MVP.

But now he's he's having knee surgery
right now.

So we wish you a speedy recovery deck.

You can get him out now.

I'm, I'm blocking your shot

from the couch.

Right. Thanks.

Decker, 65 and Victor.

What's up? Take us home. Victor,
what do you got?

What I got and.

No, I mean, thank you. Eric.

You know,
you're you're such a good friend and

and honestly,
a pillar to this website for community.

And to my fellow Rotarians.

And so everyone, please come out. Support.

You know, the Rotary Club.

We cannot do it without your support.

And I can't stress that enough. You know,

we do a lot in this

community and we want to see everyone
in this community succeed.

So, we're here.

We're here on Mondays at the pine House.

So please come out again.

I'll be happy to split the bill,
and I take.

I thought your. Buy. I'll buy it.
I'll buy it.

I'm not selling anything.

He offered to pay.

If she gives me a happy fine that day,
I'm going to be.

We're going to have to split it.

But let's do a selfie to send to Decker.

Get in, and then. Decker.

Is going to put this on the podcast
to end it.

We'll do what?

What say be a good friend on three, one,
two, three.

Be a good read.

It's awesome. Thank you.

Be a good friend.