Date of Meeting: March 19, 2025

Venue: Laconia Police Department – Community Room

Attendance: 10 in attendance: 7 members and 3 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Kiwanis Members:
Phil Bonafide
Bill Gile
Steve Loughlin
Don Nelson
Tara Shore
Kara Stanley
Keith Styles

Guests:
William Davies – friend of Kara Stanley
Chris Guilmett – guest speaker - Executive Director Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation
Karen Switzer - guest speaker - Director Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation

William Davies		Chris Guilmett		Karen Switzer
Photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

In the absence of President Betty Ballantyne, Bill Gile hosted the meeting.

Bill Gile convened the meeting at 6:05 pm.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Bill opened the meeting by thanking all in attendance and introducing our guests. This was followed by:
Invocation: by Phil Bonafide
Pledge of Allegiance: Led by Bill Gile
Song: My Country Tis of Thee led by Don Nelson

Bill advised the group of his plans to leave New Hampshire and move back to Vermont in the fall in order to be closer to his children. It is his intention to remain on the Board of the Club.

KIWANIS EVENTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST:
Bill Gile reported on recent and upcoming events:

• Free Throw Competition was held on Saturday, March 15th. Bill thanked the Co-Chairs: Keith Styles and Betty Ballantyne for helping make the event a success. (Scroll down the page for highlights from the event.)
• KIWANIS KARES- March 25th at Pleasant Street School
• Bond Beach Clean-up - April 12th at 9am with the Laconia High School Key Club
• Bike ‘N’ Board Safety Day – Saturday, May 17th at Opechee Park
• Key Club 100th Anniversary Celebration – Wednesday – March 19th at Laconia High School (Scroll down the page for highlights from the event.)

HAPPY DOLLARS:
A total of $20 was collected.

GUEST SPEAKERS:
Steve Loughlin introduced our guest speakers Chris Guilmett, Executive Director and Karen Switzer, Director of Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation.

Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit agency that was founded in 1956 to promote and encourage scholarships and opportunities for higher education among residents of the Lakes Region.

Karen Switzer addresses the group.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Chris and Karen presented a slide show that reviewed the history of the organization from 1956 through 2024. At inception in 1956, the Laconia Kiwanis Club was one of the eight original donors who collectively contributed $2,650 to a total of 17 students. At that time, the Kiwanis Club awarded a $100 scholarship to two recipients for a total contribution of $200.

Since inception in 1956, the Laconia Kiwanis Club has awarded scholarships to 343 students totaling $152,475.

Chris Guilmett points out the total number of Kiwanis donations awarded to date.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Over the years the number of donors, recipients and total contributions have increased substantially. From 1956 through 2024, 654 donors have awarded 6,269 students scholarships totaling $10,057,388.

Chris Guilmett points out the total number of scholarships donations awarded to date.

For additional information on the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation check out their website by “clicking” here.

Steve Loughlin (center) extends a special thank you to Chris Guilmett and Karen Switzer for their presentation.
Photo by Tara Shore

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 pm.

THIRD ANNUAL KIWANIS FREE THROW COMPETITION
EVENT CO-CHAIRS
Betty Ballantyne and Keith Styles
First Place Prizes
At far right, Betty Ballantyne addresses the group.
THE PARTICIPANTS
NOTE: Participants were divided into age groups: Each participant then got to take a total of 25 shots: 10 shots in the first round and 15 shots in the second round. The total number of hoops scored were then added together to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
HOOP SHOOT WORKERS:
L to R: Phil Bonafide and Brad Geltz		L to R: Robbie Prescott-Neylon and Zach Dea
Key XXXXXChris Noyes		Brad Geltz
L to R: John Walker, Phil Bonafide and Brad Geltz
Bill Gile		DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDanielle Millen
John Walker		Robbie Prescott-Neylon
Bob Willey
KEY CLUB MEMBERS Front Row: L to R: Haily McCarty, Abby Hayward, Kayla MacDonald Back Row: L to R: Jilli Paul (Advisor), Gracie Lewis, Kendall Myers
A view of the event
AND THE WINNERS ARE...
Keith Styles announces the medal winners.
H O O P SS H O O TS M E D A LS W I N N E R S presented by Zach Dea

GIRLS 8 - 9
Olivia Allen* 1st Place 13 hoops * Note: Olivia is only 7 years old
		BOYS 8 - 9
Mason Styles 1st Place 15 hoops		Benjamin Chase 2nd Place 14 hoops		Wyatt Crawford 3rd Place 11 hoops
Standing with Mason is his uncle, Keith Styles.
		BOYS 10 - 11
Mason Lenentine 1st Place 16 hoops		Chase Neal 2nd Place 14 hoops (plus 5 shots in tie breaker) for 19 hoops		Josiah Richards 3rd Place 14 hoops (plus 3 shots in tie breaker) for 17 hoops
		GIRLS 12 - 13
Oliva Adkins 1st Place 14 hoops		Ryleigh Millen 2nd Place 7 hoops
		BOYS 12 - 13
Landon Noyes 1st Place 17 hoops		Brody Andriski 2nd Place 14 hoops		Alex Dea 3rd Place 9 hoops
		SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
Alex Dea		Ryker Davio		Kroy Oliver

MANY THANKS TO OUR HOOP SHOOT WORKERS:
SET UP/OPEN: Betty Ballantyne, Bill Gile, Chris Noyes, Keith Styles, and Kayden Styles REGISTRATION: John Walker and Zach Dea HEAD SCORERS: Phil Bonafide and Danielle Millen ASSISTANTS TO THE HEAD SCORERS: Brad Geltz and Chris Noyes LINE JUDGES: Chris Noyes, Brad Geltz and Bill Gile Noyes REBOUNDERS: Abigal Hayward, Gracie Lewis, Kayla McDonald and Kendall Myers		RAFFLE TABLE: Robbie Prescott-Neylon and Zach Dea TALLY BASKETS: John Walker and Bob Willey CONCESSION STAND: Haily McCarty and Jilli Paul AWARDS & RAFFLE DRAWINGS: Zach Dea, Robbie Prescott-Neylon and Keith Styles PHOTOGRAPHER: W. Stephen Loughlin PIZZA DELEIVERY: Pat & Bob Ballantyne CLEAN UP: Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Zach Dea, Bill Gile, Jilli Paul, Robbie Prescott-Neylon and Keith Styles

T H A N KX Y O U !

The Laconia Kiwanis Club extends sincere thanks to our Hoop Shoot sponsors: Bank of New Hampshire, Irwin Automotive Group, FUNSPOT, Pizza Hut (Tilton, NH), Live & Local! Mix 94.1 FM, Pirates Cove, Smitty's CINEMA, and VISTA Foods

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Hoop Shoot photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KEY CLUB:

On Wednesday, March 19th, the LHS Key Club celebrated the 100th Anniversary milestone of the founding of Key Club International. On hand to celebrate were Jilli Paul, the Key Club advisor, Co-Presidents: Kathryn Beane & Shelby Luther, Secretary/Treasurer: Gracie Lewis and a dozen or more Key Club members.

L to R: Kathryn Beane, Gracie Lewis, Shelby Luther, and Jilli Paul

Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

During the celebration, Bob Willey addressed the group with information on the history of the Key Club. He closed his comments by reading a letter from Kiwanis International President, Lee Kuan Yong, who is from Malaysia. To read the President's letter, “click” here.

Bob Willey addresses the Key Club members.

Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Steve Loughlin made a brief comment noting that the Laconia High School Key Club was started during the 1948-49 school year and, at that time, the LHS Key Club was one of two Key Clubs in the state of New Hampshire.

KIWANIS K.A.R.E.S. (Kids And Reading Equals Success)
A Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S. was held on Tuesday, March 4th at Woodland Heights School.
Participating in the event were: Kiwanians Bill Gile, Tara Shore, Honorary Kiwanian Kathy Calvin, and Friend of Kiwanis Brenda Allen.
Below are a few highlights of the event:
L to R: Kathy Calvin, Brenda Allen, Tara Shore and Bill Gile
Above photo by Robbie Prescott-Neylon
Teamwork by Robbie Prescott-Neylon and Kathy Calvin
Robbie Prescott-Neylon and Kathy Calvin discuss book choosing rotation to the students and what they could do once they choose their two books.
Above two photos by Bill Gile
ThTThese students make trail mix and do coloring based upon items seen in Dr. Seuss’ books.
Above photo by Brenda Allen

A Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S. was held on Tuesday, March 25th at Pleasant Street School.

Participating in the event were: Kiwanians Bill Gile, Honorary Kiwanian Kathy Calvin, and John & Shawn Intorcio.

Below are a few highlights of the event:

L to R: John and Shawn Intorcio

With great enthusiasm, Kathy Calvin gives the students directions on choosing a book..
The students carefully choose their books.
HAPPY STUDENTS
Shawn Intorcio (at left) and John Inorcio (at right) captivate the attention of the 3rd grade students.
Students and Kiwanians
Above photo by Pleasant Street School Employee
Unless otherwise indicated, all Pleasant Street School photos by Bill Gile

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Joe Adrignola, Brenda Allen, Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Zach Dea, Bill Gile, Robbie Prescott-Neylon, Jilli Paul, Kara Stanley and Bob Willey for their assistance with this bulletin.

Wednesday - April 2nd: Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday - April 16th : Venue: Laconia Police Department Community Room
6:00 pm - Joanne Haight - Director of Development & Outreach for Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance will be our guest speaker.

WANT MAIL?
If you are reading this bulletin and are not presently on the mailing list (and would like to be), please send a blank email (subject and content are unimportant) to LNHK-All+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com.

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

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