GENERAL MEETING

Date of Meeting: Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Venue: Virtual via Zoom

Attendance: 8 in attendance: 6 members and 2 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Kiwanis Members:
Betty Ballantyne
Phil Bonafide
Ray Chambers
Bill Gile
Steve Loughlin
Kara Stanley

Guests:
Matt Canfield - Laconia Police Chief- guest speaker
Zach Dea - guest of Meredith Michaud

Screen Shot Photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

MEET OUR GUESTS: Not pictured in ZOOM
LPD Chief Matt Canfield	Zach Dea

In the absence of President Meredith Michaud, Vice President Bill Gile called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

Invocation & Pledge:
The invocation was performed by Bill Gile and the pledge of allegiance was led by Steve Loughlin.

GUEST SPEAKER:

Steve Loughlin introduced our guest speaker, Laconia Police Chief Matt Canfield.

Chief Canfield joined the Laconia Police Department in 1997 as a patrolman. In 2003, he was promoted to Sargent. In 2008, he was promoted to Lieutenant and subsequently became Captain. In 2014, he earned a certificate in criminal justice at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. In 2017, he was promoted to his current position as Laconia Police Chief.

Chief Canfield began his presentation by discussing the police department over the last year in the wake of Covid. The following are some of the points that were discussed:

• At the outset of the virus, the department took an abundance of caution by having much of the support staff work from home. Patrol officers were re-assigned to 12-hour patrol shifts. Detective officers were pulled out of their regular functions and put on patrol.

• During the first four or five months of the virus, there was a significant drop in crime. At this point, however, the amount of crime is now higher than normal especially domestic violence.

• The 12-hour shifts remain, due to better coverage at peak times when in need and studies have shown that a two day off shift for their men & women to decompress was not adequate due to the job stresses. They now have three-to-four-day breaks from their 12-hour days and a 40-hour week.

• Chief Canfield presently oversees 45 officers and 12 support staff. It was noted that seven of the 45 offices are female.

• About half the department came down with Covid. While some were very sick, the majority of the cases experienced by the officers were very mild.

• The LPD officers are still providing security at the old state school which is presently housing homeless people from throughout the state who contracted Covid. The number of sick homeless people at any one time range from 10 to 15. Police personnel are being funded by federal funds and not coming from the city of Laconia budget. The men and women of the police department volunteer for that coverage in addition to their regular duties.

• With respect to the drug problem in Laconia, opioids are down along with deaths associated with Opioids. Unfortunately, fentanyl and methamphetamine have increased. These drugs can create agitated and violent crimes. Recently they had an arrest with a major drug distributor that originated from Lawrence MA to Laconia.

• Recently, there has been a rash of vehicle break-ins and other crimes in Laconia. With respect to curtailing crimes, our guest, Zach Dea suggested, groups of people who have security cameras make it known to the police in order to assist them in solving crimes by providing the police with video footage when needed. Chief Canfield appreciated that comment and will look into implementing that idea.

• Skateboard Park has been successful. Walking and biking patrol is back patrolling downtown and the WOW trail. They have portable cameras to assist patrols and move them in placement of concerns.

• A special needs program and training is nearly complete. This is to be set as a registration for people diagnosed with autism, the elderly, dementia, and other special needs. The patrol cars all have computers to assist in identifying and understanding the special needs awareness.

MANY THANKS TO CHIEF MATT CANFIELD FOR HIS INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION!

If you would like to hear an audio of Chief Canfield's presentation (which lasts about 41 minutes), click “here.”

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 pm.

Bike Rodeo Details:
Bike Rodeo will be held on Saturday, May 8th, from 11 am until 2 pm at the Laconia Middle School Parking Lot.

"Click" on the above picture to view a larger picture.
Photo by: View From Above NH

LPD Patrol Officer Megan DeNutte and members of the Laconia Police Department will be assisting us with the event. Officer Megan and her associates will be overseeing the disbursements of the helmets, the fitting of the helmets, and setting up the cones & barriers in the parking lot. The police will secure the area of the parking lot and use their generator for the large inflatable Kiwanis blowup.

We have the support from Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools who will assist us to in the communication of Bike Rodeo to the parents and the students. Betty Ballantyne is working with Patrick Bolduc of Piche’s Ski & Sport Shop to secure a bike technician for the event.

We are also anticipating support from the Boys & Girls Club, Key Club, and the Laconia Fire Department. Kiwanis members signed on at this time are Don & Sue Nelson, Steve Loughlin, Kara Stanley, Bill Gile and Meredith Michaud. We will also be reaching out to friends of Kiwanis to assist us.

“Click” here to download a full-size yellow poster suitable for printing.
“Click” here to download a full-size white poster (to save yellow ink) suitable for printing.

READY FOR BIKE RODEO...

L to R: Taryn Limanni, Emma Horton, Abbie Horton, Laconia Kiwanis Club President Meredith Michaud, LPD Patrol Officer
Tyler Rouse, and LPD Patrol Officer Megan DeNutte
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

KEY CLUB NEWS:

Despite Covid, the Laconia High School Key Club continues to serve the community.

Since November, members of the Key Club have delivered dinner to the Belknap House every month.

Recently, the LHS Key Club organized a cleaning supplies drive to benefit the Belknap House. Lydia Tucker and Aidan Eldridge turned it into a district wide challenge with Laconia High School competing against Bedford High School, Kennett High School and two schools in Maine. At LHS, the Key Club encouraged each class to participate whereby the class bringing in the most donations would enjoy a pizza party sponsored by the Laconia Kiwanis Club.

In the photo below, members of the LHS Key Club stand in front of the tubs of cleaning supplies that were donated to the Belknap House by each class at Laconia High School. The Class of 2022 had the most donations and look forward to their victory party in May. Overall, LHS collected 86 products and won in the school competition.

L to R: Aidan Eldridge, Emina Ramic, Lauren McDonald, Cameron Whitty, Hannah Lowell, Ava Whitton, Ella Muller and Madison Brooks
Photo by Karen Abraham, LHS Key Club Co-Advisor

JOB WELL DONE!
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

In May, the LHS Key Club will serve the families at the Belknap House with a cookout and assist the Laconia Kiwanis Club at their Bike Rodeo on May 8th.

Upon return from school vacation, the LHS Key Club will be electing new officers who will serve the Club for the 2021 – 2022 school year.

OTHER KIWANIS RELATED NEWS:

The Laconia Kiwanis Club was pleased to donate $1,000 toward the Belknap Mill summer program Kids in the Park.
The Kids in the Park series, which returns to Riverside Rotary Park this July, focuses on interactive activities for Lakes Region children and their families.

Laconia Kiwanis Club President, Meredith Michaud (center), presents a $1,000 check to Belknap Mill Program & Operations
Manager, Tara Shore (right), while Kiwanis Club Vice President, Bill Gile (left) looks on.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Many thanks to Roger Landry for his kind donation to the Laconia Kiwanis Club. Roger was a member of the Club from 1994-2016. He was chosen as Kiwanian of the Year for the 2008-2009 year and he served as president of the club from 2011-2012. Roger and his wife, Pam, now reside in Wells, Maine.

Pam and Roger Landry
2017 File Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

IN THE NEWS:

Paula Chambers, wife of Kiwanian Ray Chambers, was featured in the April 29, 2021 edition of The Laconia Daily Sun.
To read that story, “click” here.

On April 26, 2021, long time Kiwanis member, Howard Bacon celebrated his 100th birthday. Howard had been a member of the Laconia Kiwanis Club for 62 years (1953 – 2015) and was President of the Club during the 1956-57 term.

Howard, who now resides at the Taylor Community, was joined in the celebration by his family and Taylor Community residents. One of the high points of the celebration was receipt of a proclamation from the Mayor of Laconia, Andrew Hosmer, which was read by Taylor Community CEO Michael Flaherty. The proclamation highlighted many of the accomplishments through Howard’s life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HOWARD!

"CLICK" ON ANY PICTURE BELOW TO VIEW A LARGER PICTURE.
Howard wearing his favorite hat		Howard admires his gifts
Photo by Caralyn Russell		Photo by Caralyn Russell
Michael Flaherty reads the mayor's Proclamation		The Proclamation
Photo by Caralyn Russell		Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin
A gift from the Board of Advocates		A Centenarian sweater
Photo by Gail Milliken		Photo by Gail Milliken
If this sweater is misplaced, please return to the name contained herein.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin
TThe birthday cake with Howard Bacon's favorite drink.
CHEERS!
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Karen Abraham, Bonnie Ashworth, Betty Ballantyne, Zach Dea, Aidan Eldridge, Gail Milliken, and Caralyn Russell for their assistance with this bulletin.

Tuesday - May 4th - Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting - members invited to attend

Saturday - May 8th - Venue: Laconia Middle School Parking Lot
11:00 am - 2:00 pm - Bike Rodeo - members encouraged to attend

Tuesday - May 18th Venue: ZOOM MEETING*
6:00 pm - General Meeting with Speaker: Dean Anson from 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

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