Laconia Kiwanis Club

Members in attendance at our March 2nd Board meeting, which commenced at 6:00 pm, were Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Bill Gile, Steve Loughlin, and President Meredith Michaud. Not in attendance were Scott Laurent and Kara Stanley.

Clockwise from top: Steve Loughlin, Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Meredith Michaud, and Bill Gile
Photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

• Distribution of Duties - Treasurer and Secretary: In efforts to assist Kara, Bill has agreed to take on certain duties of treasurer and Betty has agreed to assist with the writing of thank you notes and taking the monthly minutes.

• CASA Program: CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), a non-profit that serves as advocates for abused and neglected children in the NH Court system, would like to partner with our Club and share news through social media and more. It was discussed that we invite them to a future Zoom Meetings as a presenter.

• Potential New Member: Bob Willey, Lt. Governor, Division 6 (and member of the Hooksett Club), has asked to join our club. Kiwanis is now allowing members from other groups to join fellow Kiwanis groups with 15 members or less. Bob believes he can bring value to our group. All Board members were in favor of help from Bob and we will follow through with our normal protocol.

• Bike Week: Bike Week is still on for June 12-20, 2021. Board members agreed and are willing to participate for the week to sell water and soda.

• Bike Rodeo: It was decided to hold Bike Rodeo this spring. We have many items to put in place for final approval. They include: MC Cycle, Police, Fire Department, Helmets, Superintendent’s endorsement, Elm Street School property, procuring a Bike, and requesting support from the Key Club.

• Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S: Betty reported K.A.R.E.S. is still in place and active with all three local schools (Pleasant & Elm Street and Woodland Heights). New book stamps had been designed and delivered to the schools. Holy Trinity will be invited to join the group for this coming Fall.

• Laconia Conservation Board: Dean Anson of the Laconia Conservation Board has requested his organization work together with Kiwanis & LHS Key Club to collaborate and educate as they have many projects for the students. It was suggested by the Board that we invite Dean to be a presenter for our May program to be held on May 18th. Betty will follow through with this recommendation.

• Belknap Mill: Tara Shore, Operations Manager of the Belknap Mill, has requested donations from our Club as we have participated in many programs with the Belknap Mill in the past. It was thought best we choose one program rather than multiple programs and many small checks. A motion made and approved that the Club donate $1,000 toward the Belknap Mill summer program “Kids in the Park.”

K.A.R.E.S. (Kids and Reading Equals Success)
While COVID19, has temporarily prevented Kiwanis members from interacting with the 3rd grade students at the Laconia schools, the KARES program continues through the efforts our teachers.

On March 2nd and March 8th, 27 third grade students at the Pleasant Street School participated in a special reading party. According to Emily Giambastini, the PSS Library Media Specialist, “the party included coloring book marks, choosing their books (this party was all about non-fiction books), time to start reading their books, and a book read by me.”

“As it is Women's History month, we went along with this theme and read about the first female Boston Marathon runner, Bobbi Gibb in the book, Girl Running, and a famous woman in science, Eugenie Clark in the book Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist.

Emily noted “the students were so excited for their nonfiction animal books and are all very thankful for the opportunity you give us to celebrate reading!”

The K.A.R.E.S. program, which was started by the Laconia Kiwanis Club in 2002, has been motivating local children by making reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life.

The Laconia Kiwanis Club has been actively supporting the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation since that organization was founded 65 years ago.

The Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation promotes and encourage scholarships and opportunities for higher education among residents of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. When this not-for profit Foundation started in 1956, the Laconia Kiwanis Club was one of eight local donors to assist local students with scholarships.

Sixty-Five years later, the Laconia Kiwanis Club, in its mission of serving children, continues to partner with the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation in providing financial assistance to Lakes Region students in pursuit of higher learning. To date, the Laconia Kiwanis Club has awarded over $121,000 in scholarships to nearly 300 students in the Lakes Region.

In celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, City of Laconia Mayor, Andrew Hosmer, issued a Proclamation recognizing the Foundation for its achievements as well as the generosity of its donors since its inception in 1956. The Proclamation, dated February 16, 2021 mentions the Laconia Kiwanis Club as being an original donor and continued supporter of the Foundation. To read the proclamation, “click” on the picture below:

For several years, the Kiwanis Clubs in Division #5 of the New England Bermuda District (which includes the Laconia Kiwanis Club) has been lacking a Lt. Governor. However, last month, Bob Willey, the Lt. Governor for Division # 6 and the Membership Co-Chair for the New England Bermuda District, was pleased to inform us that Trevor Hustus, a resident of Hollis Center, Maine, has been appointed by Governor Denis Murphy to fill the vacancy. The appointment has been approved by the District Board.

Bob Willey reports “Trevor has experience not only as a Kiwanis Member but has been a past Key Club Officer and he understands and appreciates the value of community service not only with Kiwanis but with the Service Leadership Programs (SLP’s) we sponsor.”

In addition to being our new Lt. Governor, Trevor Hustus is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Portland, Maine where he currently serves as Club Secretary and Membership Development Chairman.

Trevor is also the Kiwanis Advisor to the North Yarmouth Academy Key Club. Trevor can be reached via email at: ltg5@newenglandkiwanis.org

Laconia High School Key Club members Lydia Tucker and Ella Muller are both represented in the 2021 Winter Edition of the YanKey magazine.

The YanKey is the New England and Bermuda District publication for news and information about the Key Clubs of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Bermuda. The 2021 Winter Edition includes a “Governor’s Greeting” from Lydia Tucker, District Governor of the New England and Bermuda District as well as a report from Ella Muller the Lt. Governor of Division 31. (Division 31 includes four Key Clubs in Connecticut.)

To read Lydia Tucker’s comments in the 2021 Winter issue of the YanKey “click” here.

To read Ella Muller’s comments in the 2021 Winter issue of the YanKey “click” here.

Included in the 2021 Winter issue of the YanKey is this picture (below) of the Key Club District Board members and the Executive Board from the 2019-20 Key Club year. During that time, Lydia Tucker was serving as a Lieutenant Governor.

Key Club New England District Governor Lydia Tucker was represented in the 2020 Winter Issue of the Yankiwanian.

The New England and Bermuda District Yankiwanian is the publication for news and information about the Kiwanis-Family clubs of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Bermuda. It includes various District reports as well as full page messages from the Kiwanis Governor and many of the leaders in the New England District including Key Club Governor Lydia Tucker.

To read Lydia Tucker's comments in the 2020 Winter issue of the Yankiwanian “click” here.

To read the complete 2020 Winter issue of the Yankiwanian, “click” here.

Annually, on December 23rd, members of the Laconia Kiwanis Club, together with family and friends, ring the bell in downtown Laconia for The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.

The Red Kettle Campaign helps raise money for those who need it most in the community providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs.

This past December, 12 groups rang the rang the bell in downtown Laconia. Once again, the Laconia Rotary topped all the volunteers by raising $3,628.40. Although the Laconia Kiwanis Club came in second place, receiving total donations of $1,697.56, this year’s total topped the amount raised the prior year by more than $525. In 2019, the Club raised $1,166.84 and came in third place among all participants.

Below are some of the Kiwanis members, family, and friends of Kiwanis who volunteered their time on December 23, 2020:


L to R: Bill Gile and his friend, Brad Geltz		Brad Geltz accepts a donation as Bill Gile looks on.

STOP! TOLL AHEAD

L to R: Bill Gile and Brad Geltz with Sue and Don Nelson


L to R: Steve Loughlin and Phil Bonafide		Phil Bonafide chases down a donation.
above picture by Betty Ballantyne


Meredith Michaud nets a donation.


Betty Ballantyne with her friend, Roger Dargy		Roger Dargy collects a donation.


L to R: Betty Ballantyne, Brian Winslow and Roger Dargy		Brian Winslow waives down an upcoming car.


Warren Mitchell and Kathy Calvin demonstrate the art of Social Distancing....NOT!		Warren Mitchell collects a donation while Kathy Calvin looks on.


Warren Mitchell collects another donation.


The Laurent family - L to R: Zack, Grace and Scott		Grace Laurent collects a donation while Scott and Zack look on.
Unless otherwise noted, all pictures by W. Stephen Loughlin

"Click" on the picture below to read the thank you we received from The Salvation Army.

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to the following individuals for their contributions in making this bulletin possible: Karen Abraham, Betty Ballantyne, Emily Giambastini, Bill Gile, and Lydia Tucker.

Tuesday - March 23rd - Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - General Meeting with Speaker: Steve Tucker, Laconia Superintendent of Schools

Tuesday - April 6th - Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting - all members invited to attend

Tuesday - April 13th Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - General Meeting with Speaker: Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield

Tuesday - May TBA - Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting - all members invited to attend

Tuesday - May 18th Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - General Meeting with Speaker: Dean Anson fromn Laconia’s Conservation Board

* NOTE: In order to get access to a ZOOM meeting, you will need the Zoom Application.
To get access to the Zoom App, “click” here.
For assistance with the ZOOM meeting, feel free to contact Kara Stanley at 603-520-3233.
Meeting ID# 603-520-3233 Password: 03246

WANT MAIL?
If you are not on the Kiwanis Bulletin e-mail list (and would like to be) please give Steve Loughlin your e-mail address. Also, if you are reading this bulletin and are not presently on the mailing list (and would like to be), “click” here.