Date of Meeting: January 18, 2022

Venue: The Belknap Mill, downtown Laconia

Attendance: 10 in attendance: 6 members, 4 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Kiwanis Members:
President Bill Gile
Betty Ballantyne
Phil Bonafide
Zach Dea
Steve Loughlin
Brian Winslow

Guest Speaker:
Jim Nute, Executive Director – The Mayhew Program

Jim Nute
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Key Club Guests:
Ella Muller – President
Camden Harriman
Katie Westcott

Camden Harriman, Katie Westcott, and Ella Muller
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Bill Gile called the meeting to order at 6:04 pm

Invocation & Pledge:
Invocation: performed by Brian Winslow
Pledge of allegiance: led by Bill Gile

The Pledge
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

THANK YOU, KIWANIS!

President Bill was pleased to read a “thank you” note he received from Kathy Calvin of the Salvation Army for our participation in the annual 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.

To read Kathy’s letter, “click” here.

Bill reported the Board has approved motions to make donations to the following organizations:
• The Belknap Mill: The Board voted to donate $1,000 towards the Bell Ringer Partnership with our support of the Duck Derby, Kids in the Park, and the Community Chest. The Partnership includes the Club having use of the 3rd floor of the Belknap Mill for our monthly member meetings. If there is a scheduling conflict with another group using the 3rd floor for another event, our meetings will be moved to the first floor.
• The Mayhew Program: The Board agreed to donate $500 towards their Program and to help in their spring clean-up at their camp located on Newfound Lake.
• Laconia Little League: The Board approved sponsoring a Kiwanis team at the 9–12-year-old level for $500 along with a $350 commitment to hang a Kiwanis banner at the Little League Park.

KEY CLUB UPDATE:

President Ella Muller reported the LHS Key Club is holding a Sneaker Drive Fundraiser to raise money for Camp Sunshine, which is located in Sebago Lake Maine. Camp Sunshine is a retreat for children with life threatening illnesses.

The Key Club will earn funds based upon the total quality of sneakers collected.

The collection boxes for the recycling of sneakers are located in the Library and Office at Laconia High School. The Kiwanis Club offered to provide another location in Laconia with the hopes of collecting more used sneakers. For more details on the LHS Key Club project, check the news story in the lower section of this bulletin.

In addition to the Sneaker Fund drive, Ella reported the Key Club plans to provide a meal to the residents at the Belknap House early in February.

KIWANIS K.A.R.E.S (Kids And Reading Equals Success)

Betty Ballantyne submitted the following reports:

Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S. at Woodland Heights School: On December 1st, Robbie Prescott-Neylon, Media Specialist of Woodland Heights Elementary School orchestrated our KARES celebration in December. Each student of all three classes enthusiastically chose their book to take home for the holiday. The students participated in doing a craft followed by having their snack while visiting the Media Room. Per Robbie, "the students love it".

Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S. at Woodland Heights School
Woodland Heights photos by Robbie Prescott-Neylon

Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S at Pleasant Street School: December 17th was our first KARES Program where we had the opportunity to participate with the 3rd grade students. We thank first year Media Specialist, Kathleen Grenier, for a job well done! Many para's assisted along with David Levesque, Principal and Sam Fortier, Music teacher. Kiwanians Brian Winslow and Betty Ballantyne were able to participate after nearly a two-year hiatus due to COVID. The children were thrilled to be able to participate in this year's KARES. The staff and students were enthusiastic and appreciative. Betty noted: "it was a pleasure to be back with the students".

Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S. at Pleasant Street School
Pleasant Street School photos by Betty Ballantyne

KIWANIAN REACHES OUT TO KIDS:

Our newest Kiwanis member, Zach Dea, reported that he and his wife, Sara, are running the Elm Street School Ski Club through the Gunstock Outreach Program this year. Zach noted they had 20 kids sign up for the program which has allowed them to sponsor two additional kids who otherwise would not have been able to participate. The kids are picked up on Friday afternoons on a bus chartered through VISTESS (Volunteers In Service To Elm Street School) and they are chaperoned with the help of parent volunteers for lessons and free ski time on the mountain.

GUEST SPEAKER:

Brian Winslow introduced our guest speaker, Jim Nute, the Executive Director of The Mayhew Program.

Jim Nute, who resides in Dover, is a graduate of University of Maine, Orono with a master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire. His career with The Mayhew Program began in 1991. Prior to becoming the executive director of the organization, Jim worked as a summer staff person, a year-round mentor, and program director.

The Mayhew Program challenges and helps at-risk New Hampshire boys to believe in themselves, work well with others, and find their best. It is the only all-boys program in the state that combines a residential summer program and school year mentoring for at-risk boys, tuition-free, through high school graduation. Jim reported the eight-year retention rate is 35% to 50%.

The recommendations for the boys come from their school counselors, a single parent, their mother, and more evidence indicate grandparents too. These are boys in need of a positive male role model.

During his presentation, Jim shared a video of the boys participating in the program.

At the conclusion of the program, on behalf of the Kiwanis Club, Brian Winslow presented Jim with a $500 donation to The Mayhew Program.

For more information on The Mayhew Program, “click” here.

Brian Winslow was pleased present Jim Nute our donation to The Mayhew Program.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Food Pantry: $32 was collected

Happy Dollars: $16 was collected

President Bill adjourned the meeting at 7:20 pm.

LHS KEY CLUB AND LHS KEY CLUB PRESIDENT IN THE NEWS:
Subsequent to our 1/18/22 meeting, Kiwanian Betty Ballantyne assisted the LHS Key Club with additional locations for their Sneaker Drive Fundraiser. Thanks to Betty’s efforts and the generosity of Christopher Irwin, Vice President of the Irwin Automotive Group, the Key Club will be able to place collection boxes for recycled sneakers at Irwin Ford Toyota and Irwin Hyundai.

For more details and to read the promotional story that was in the 2/2/22 edition of The Laconia Daily Sun, “click” on the picture below.

"Click" on the above picture for details on the Key Club Sneaker Drive Fundraiser.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

LHS Key Club President, Ella Muller, was recognized for her community efforts and for pursing a “Diploma with Distinction.” To read the story that appeared on the front page of the 1/22/22 edition The Laconia Daily Sun “click” here.

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Zach Dea, Bill Gile, Ella Muller and Brian Winslow for their assistance with this bulletin.

Tuesday - February 1st - Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday - February 15th: Venue: 3rd floor of The Belknap Mill - Downtown Laconia
6:00 pm - General Meeting - Guest Speaker: Laconia Fire Chief Kirk Beattie

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.

"Click" here to get back to the top of the page.

"CLICK" ON ANY GRAPHIC BELOW TO VISIT THE HOME PAGE OUR FINE PATRONS.