Venue: Belknap Mill, Downtown Laconia

Attendance: 6 members and 5 guests

Invocation: Muff Kruse

The Pledge of Allegiance...
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Guests:
Tara Shore – Operations Manager of the Belknap Mill
Sarah, Nathan, and Ian Cravenho – grandchildren of Betty Ballantyne
Rosemary Murphy - wife of Larry

Tara Shore
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Sarah, Ian and Nathan Cravenho
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

From the President:
President Bill introduced our host for the evening, Tara Shore, Belknap Mill Operations Manager.

Following dinner President Bill reviewed the meeting schedule for the month of September. The monthly Board meeting will be held at the Firehouse on the 10th, all members invited, and the monthly Club meeting will also be at the Firehouse on the 24th. Bill noted the first meeting in October will slide one day due to the Columbus Day holiday to Tuesday October 9th, and will be our annual Installation meeting.

IT SHOULD BE NOTED; THE FIREHOUSE TRAINING ROOM WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE TO US ON OCTOBER 9th. AS SUCH, A NEW DATE AND/OR VENUE FOR OUR INSTALATION WILL BE DISCUSSED AT OUR BOARD MEETING ON SEPTEMEBER 1OTH.

From the Members:
Betty Ballantyne reviewed the extremely successful 10th and final Roger's Ride that was held on August 26th. Emotions were terribly mixed as Betty noted that for her three grand-children and daughter, Andrea, Roger’s Ride has become a staple of their summers. The turnout was excellent this year and the bottom line will more than likely result in about a $6,500 net. John Walker chimed in with comments regarding the total class of this event, the organization, the planning and the participants. The Ride is over but the rewards and money raised will make a lasting impression and a difference in our community.

Pictures summarizing the event will be posted online in September. In the meantime, below are a few teasers:

Participants in the 2018 Roger's Ride
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Bikers getting ready to begin the 100 mile Roger's Ride
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Betty Ballantyne with her happy family
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

President Bill then asked John Walker to present the slate for 2019 and the vote. The slate was approved unanimously as follows:
• President - Bill Gile
• First VP - Meredith Michaud
• Immediate Past-President - Scott Laurent
• Treasurer - Kara Stanley
• Directors - Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, and Steve Loughlin

John Walker remains as Secretary at President Bill's request.

Food Pantry: $36 was collected

HAPPY DOLLARS:

$3 from Betty Ballantyne due to her three grandchildren being here with her until Wednesday
$3 from Bill Gile for Tara Shore being with us tonight and the upcoming tour of the Belknap Mill
$1 from Steve Loughlin for “Hoop, Hoop, Hoop!”
$2 from Larry Murphy for his being here and for Betty's grandchildren being here
$2 from Muff Kruse for her just completed college friend reunion and for Tara Shore being with us tonight

Guest Speaker:

Betty Ballantyne introduced our guest speaker, Tara Shore, Operations Manager at the Belknap Mill.

Tara shared some very interesting factoids before turning the tour over to two volunteers:
• The Mill is undergoing a recent resurgence, and is most welcome
• It is the designated NH Meeting House
• Oldest unaltered textile mill in the USA
• Peter Karagianis and Norm Weeks, both former Laconia Kiwanis Club members, were instrumental in the Mill's survival
• Known for socks production, peaking during World War II

Tara also took the opportunity to pitch for new volunteers to work in the Mill's premier program, the Industrial Heritage Program, for 3rd/4th grade children, Monday thru Wednesdays in May and June. Help is needed for 1 day per week, 1 hour per week, or more. The roles are scripted. Please consider volunteering.

Following her comments, the group received a tour of the mill by Buck West, in the character of Gedean Mayo, and Maggie Leary, Belknap Mill Administrative Assistant.

Buck West as Gedean Mayo		Maggie Leary
Photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

Gedean Mayo explains the workings of the water turbine.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Gedean Mayo captures the attention of the group.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Gedean Mayo explains how the mill made electricity.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Maggie Leary discusses the working of knitting machines.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Maggie Leary discusses Laconia's knitting mills of the past.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

For more information on the Belknap Mill, check out their website be "clicking" here.

L to R: Tara Shore, Belknap Mill Operations Manager; Betty Ballantyne;
and Maggie Leary, Belknap Mill Administrative Assistant
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Monday - September 10th Venue: Laconia Fire Department Community Room - 848 North Main Street, Laconia
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting - all members invited to attend

Monday - September 24th Venue: Laconia Fire Department Community Room - 848 North Main Street, Laconia
6:00 pm - Club Meeting -

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 BELOW TO VISIT OUR FINE PATRONS