Date of Meeting: October 18, 2021

Venue: The Belknap Mill, downtown Laconia

Attendance: 13 in attendance: 8 members, 5 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Kiwanis Members:
President Meredith Michaud
Phil Bonafide
Zach Dea
Bill Gile
Steve Loughlin
Don Nelson
Tara Shore
Brian Winslow

Guests:
Sue Nelson – Honorary Member and spouse of Don
Officer Alyssa Raxter- guest speaker (SRO from the Gilford Police Department)

Sue Nelson		Officer Alyssa Raxter
Photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

Key Club Guests:
Ella Muller, LHS Key Club President
Katie Westcott, LHS Key Club Treasurer
Cam Whitty, LHS Key Club Bulletin editor

L to R: Katie Westcott, Ella Muller, Cam Whitty

Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

President Meredith called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm.

Invocation: performed by Brian Winslow
Pledge of Allegiance: led by President Meredith
God Bless America: led by Don Nelson

The Pledge
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

GUEST SPEAKER:

President Meredith introduced our guest speaker, Gilford Police Officer Alyssa Raxter, School Resource Officer of the Gilford School District.

Alyssa grew up in Meredith and graduated from Inter-Lakes High School in 2010. She then went to the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a dual bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Justice Studies. Two weeks after graduation she began her career with the Gilford Police Department and graduated the police academy in December 2014. Alyssa served as a patrol officer until January of 2019, and was subsequently assigned as the School Resource Officer.

Officer Raxter discussed her duties and responsibilities as the School Resource Officer including challenges faced by students today.

She reported her duties included engaging the public in conversations for the purposes of providing transparency, educating citizens on topics related to criminal justice & law enforcement, and to build lasting community partnerships.

Officer Alyssa Raxter addresses the group.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

GAMING INCOME REPORT:

Phil Bonafide reported that the Laconia Kiwanis Club grossed $10,651.20 as a result of our relationship with the Lakes Region Casino in Belmont. The net income to the Kiwanis Club, after various expenses (including $5,000 in costs to the Casino), was $5,352.95.

Phil Bonafide has been handling this fundraiser for the Laconia Kiwanis Club for many years. Thanks, Phil!

Phil Bonafide makes his report.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

KEY CLUB NEWS:

LHS Key Club President, Ella Muller, reported on current and future activities of The Laconia High School Key Club:

The Key Club has been raising money to support UNICEF’s water, sanitation and hygiene efforts in Haiti. The LHS Key Club set a goal to raise $375. For more information, “click” here.

The Key Club has been working in the concession stand during the Soccer championships (which ends November 5th), however, they will be also working on the upcoming football championship game in November.

The Key Club also has other activities on their schedule as follows:
• November 20th: The Key Club will be involved with the Festival of Lights. Members of the Club will help put up and string lights on trees at Rotary Park for people to buy and decorate.
• November 22nd: The Key Club will make a meal for the Belknap House.
• December 3rd and 4th: The Key Club will be involved with The ESSence of Giving. (This involves the Key Club helping students of Elm Street School select and gift-wrap Christmas gifts for their family members and loved ones.

Food Pantry: $49 was collected

Happy Dollars: $15 was collected

$3 from Phil Bonafide because we had three Key Club members present.
$3 from Steve Loughlin: $1 in honor of the Key Club doing a great job at the Community Fest; $1 for Bill Gile organizing and running the Kiwanis booth at the Community Fest; and $1 for Tara Shore who organized the Community Fest.
$1 from Sue Nelson in honor of Don’s upcoming special birthday (#80) on October 30th.
$3 from Brian Winslow who attended UNH the past weekend and his son, Brian, is adjusting well.
$2 from Zach Dea because his children, who attend Elm Street School, started band for the first time and are going to learn saxophone.
$3 from Bill Gile: $1 in honor of the great job by Tara Shore, $1 for the Key Club being present and $1 just because.

President Meredith adjourned the meeting at 7:17 pm.

NNNNNN

Belknap Mill’s Community Fest and Riverside Duck Derby:

Members of the Laconia Kiwanis Club and the Laconia High School Key Club participated in the Belknap Mill’s Community Fest which preceded the Belknap Mill’s 5th annual Riverside Duck Derby. Both events were held in downtown Laconia at Rotary Park on October 16th.

Community Fest, which ran from noon until 3 pm and included nearly 25 non profits and civic organizations, offered games and activities. It also gave the participants a chance to tell the public about their respective organization. The Laconia High School Key Club challenged children and adults to participate in their Gutter Duck Race. The Laconia Kiwanis Club, which was located next to the Laconia High School Key Club table, included information about the club as well as a challenge called Sink an Eye whereby the contestant had to toss a ping pong eyeball into a cup at the end of the table. Participants were awarded candy for their efforts. Also present at the Community Fest was Leonardo da Vinci (aka Larry Frates, the Belknap Mill Artist in Residence) who was in search of his Mona Lisa.

The 5th Annual Riverside Duck Derby followed the Community Fest at 4:15 pm. More than 1,425 ducks were dropped into the Winnipesaukee River at Rotary Park next to the Belknap Mill. The top ten duck sponsors won prizes donated by local businesses including a $250.00 cash prize, donated by the Laconia Kiwanis Club, which was awarded to the first duck to cross the finish line.

Below are some memories from the enjoyable afternoon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx bbbbbbbbbxxxxxx"CLICK” ON ANY PICTURE BELOW TO VIEW A LARGER PICTURE” ON ANY PICTURE BELOW TO VIEW A LARGER PICTURE.
A view of Community Fest looking north east.		A view of Community Fest looking south west.
Laconia Kiwanian Bill Gile welcomed visitors to the Kiwanis exhibit and invited them to play Sink an Eye.
Many thanks to Paula Gile who designed and produced this game/information display board for the Laconia Kiwanis Club.
Bill Gile watches as this young lady shows her form in playing Sink An Eye.		Brad Geltz, a friend of the Laconia Kiwanis Club, tosses his eye as Bill Gile looks on.
LACONIA HIGH SCHOOL KEY CLUB MEMBERS ARE READY TO HOST THE GUTTER DUCK RACE.
L to R: Katie Westcott and Cam Harriman		L to R: Cali Andriski, Aliyah Patten, Paxten Perley, and Hannah Lowell
Katie Westcott cheers on these contestants in the GUTTER DUCK RACE..		L to R: Aliyah Patten, Hannah Lowell, and Cali Andriski focus on the GUTTER DUCK RACE.
AND NOW, THE GUTTER DUCK RACE EVENT OF THE DAY...
Tara Shore, Laconia Kiwanis Club member and the Belknap Mill Programs & Operations Manager, challenges her son, Garrett,
in the GUTTER DUCK RACE as LHS Key Club Co-Advisor, Bonnie Ashworth looks on.
TO VIEW THE RACE, "CLICK" ON THE ABOVE PICTURE AND WAIT ABOUT 30 SECONDS FOR THE VIDEO TO FULLY DOWNLOAD.
MONA MOMENTS...
Mona Aliyah (aka Laconia High School Key Club member, Aliyah Patten))		Mona LuAnn (a friend of the Laconia Kiwanis Club))
Mona Bill (aka Laconia Kiwanis Club member, Bill Gile)		Mona Tara (aka Laconia Kiwanis Club member, Tara Shore)
A SPECIAL MOMENT...
Sid the Cockatoo
TO HEAR SID SPEAK, "CLICK" ON THE ABOVE PICTURE AND WAIT ABOUT 30 SECONDS FOR THE VIDEO TO FULLY DOWNLOAD.
x"CLICK” ON ANY PICTURE BELOW TO VIEW A LARGER PICTURE
Above photo by Karen Bobotas from The Laconia Daily Sun
Ducks surrounded by Ducks
Laconia Kiwanian and Belknap Mill Programs & Operations Manager, Tara Shore, announces the winner of the Riverside Duck Derby
All photos by W. Stephen Loughlin except where noted

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Phil Bonafide, Larry Frates, Bill Gile, Meredith Michaud, Ella Muller, and Tara Shore for their assistance with this bulletin.

Tuesday - November 9th - Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

Monday - November 15th: Venue: 3rd floor of The Belknap Mill - Downtown Laconia
6:00 pm - Installation Meeting

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