Date of Meeting: July 16, 2025

Venue: Weirs Community Park - under the pavilion

Weirs Community Park is located at 49 Lucerne Avenue in Laconia

Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Attendance: 10 in attendance: 6 members and 4 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Kiwanis Members:
Betty Ballantyne
Ray Chambers
Zach Dea
Steve Loughlin
Don Nelson
Tara Shore

Guests:
Amy Lovisek - Director of Parks & Recreation – presenter
Cari Lamontagne - guest of Betty Ballantyne
Paulette Loughlin - wife of Steve
Sue Nelson - Honorary Member and wife of Don Nelson

Amy Lovisek		Cari Lamontagne		Paulette Loughlin		Sue Nelson
Above photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

President Betty Ballantyne called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm.

Pledge and Song:
Pledge of Allegiance: by All
My Country Tis of Thee: by Don Nelson

The Pledge

Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

Betty introduced Amy Lovisek, Director of Parks & Recreation.
Amy is no stranger to the Club as she was our guest speaker at our September 2024 meeting. Amy was born and raised in Laconia.
A detailed background on Amy Lovisek was included in the Kiwanis Bulletin, dated 9/17/24 and can be viewed by clicking here.

Prior to eating, Amy took the group on a tour of Weirs Community Park.

Amy begins the tour through the Kids Playground

The Kids Only slide NOTE: The slide and base are all made of plastic!

Look who lives in the base of the slide.

Amy answers questions.

Amy points out a fork in the road.

Zach chooses to take the left fork and checks out the pavilion.

Amy and Betty enjoy a moment after completing the tour of Weirs Park.

Above photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

CHOW TIME:

Invocation by Ray Chambers

Food prepared by Betty Ballantyne
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

The group enjoys their meal.
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

KIWANIS EVENTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST

LACONIA PUMPKIN FESTIVAL 2025:

The annual Festival, which will be held on Sunday, October 25th, has a kid zone and the Kiwanis Club is considering participating. Sue Nelson suggested making Princess Crowns as an activity following a 90-minute live show of The Little Mermen and the Princess Pals sponsored by the Putnam Fund. That 90 minute show begins at 1 pm.

FUEL RAFFLE 2025:

Kara Stanley has agreed to set up the event. Betty expects the start date to be September 15, 2025 and an ending date of November 15th or sooner. We have set a goal of selling 300 tickets at $10 per ticket with a grand prize of $1,000. This would net the club a $2,000 profit. When the tickets are sold out, we will announce the drawing date. Betty asked Tara to send our link for Zeffy to Kara. (Zeffy is a 100% free fund-raising platform for non profits that operates on a voluntary donor-tip model, allowing organizations to keep 100% of the funds they raise without paying any platform or transaction fees. With Bill Gile’s input, we are signed in to Zeffy under his name.)

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

All three elementary school book orders have been completed. The Media Specialists should expect the books to arrive before September 1st. Betty reported she has had conversations with Holy Trinity and is optimistic to add them to this fine Program.

PINTS FOR A PURPOSE:

The event was held Sunday, August 17th in collaboration with the Mayhew & Circle Programs. The 50/50 drawings earned $585.00. We are awaiting the end results from Twin Barns Brewery beer sales and the Motorcycle Ride generated by the Circle Program. Betty thanked Bill Gile, Tara Shore, Ray Chambers, Zach Dea, John & Shawn Intorcio and Friend of Kiwanis, Robbie Prescott-Neylon, for volunteering for this event. During a discussion, Zach Dea, Ray Chambers and Tara Shore provided positive ideas on improving the event. Cari Lamontange, who attended as a motorcycle rider for the Circle Program, suggested including a Scavenger Hunt.

LACONIA HIGH SCHOOL – KEY CLUB ADVISOR:

Betty reported receiving an email from Laconia High School Interim Principal Michael Boyle noting the school has not yet hired a Key Club Advisor to replace Jilli Paul. After the start of school, he will reach out to Betty.

LACONIA HISTORICAL & MUSIEUM SOCIETY DONATION:

The Board voted to approve a one-time donation of $2,500 to help the LH&MS with their roof and HVAC repairs. It was noted that knowledge of Laconia history and the ability to actually see pictures and artifacts will provide important enrichment for many students, particularly at the high school level. She then thanked Steve Loughlin for the proposal. The club members were enthusiastic with our decision.

BULLENTIN/NEWSLETTERS:

Betty reported the Club needs two volunteers to take on generating the Kiwanis newsletter. Betty noted, aside of the value in sharing our club news to our members and the community, the newsletters provided nearly $3,000 a year to the Club through sponsorships. Steve’s final bulletin will be December 2025. Steve was thanked for his many years as the editor of the bulletin.

As the incoming president of the Laconia Kiwanis Club, Tara Shore noted that her goal is to grow Club membership. To accomplish mission, Tara noted it is necessary we understand: • How the community sees us • How we believe the Laconia Kiwanis Club can support the community • How we (as individuals) can support the Kiwanis mission

With that in mind, Tara handed out pens and paper and requested those present answer the following series of questions: 1. What do you think comes to mind for our community when they hear the name Laconia Kiwanis? In other words, how do you believe they perceive our mission? 2. What words would you use to describe the Laconia Kiwanis Club’s role in our community? 3. What words would you use to describe your personal role in Kiwanis? That is, what it is your role now? What would you like it to be? How do you see your role in the Club?

Tara plans to use the responses to the questions to determine how we, as a Club, will move forward.

Those who were not present at our August meeting, can respond to the questions by emailing Tara Shore directly by “clicking” here.

Your input is very much appreciated!

HAPPY DOLLARS: $21 was collected

FOOD PANTRY/SALVATION ARMY CHARITY BELL: $21 was collected.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 pm.

At the August 25, 2025 Laconia City Council meeting, Proclamations to community leaders were presented to: Charlie St. Clair (a former Kiwanian), outgoing mayor Andrew Hosmer, the Bank of NH, AND to Bill & Paula Gile. Bill and Paula Gile were recognized for their many contributions to the community and their work with the Got Lunch! Laconia program.

L to R: Councilor Tony Felch, Mayor Andrew Hosmer, Paula Gile and Bill Gile

Photo taken from the Laconia Links

To read the proclamation on Bill and Paula, “click” here.

CONGRATULATIONS BILL AND PAULA!

During the month of August we received thank you notes from three of the students who received a scholarships from the Laconia Kiwanis Club this past June. The thank you notes were from Shelby Luther, Ella Muller and Emma Winslow. To read their thank you notes, “click” on the respective pictures below:

Shelby Luther

Ella Muller

Emma Winslow

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Joe Adrignola, Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Nancy Brown, Zach Dea, Amy Lovisek, and Tara Shore for their assistance with this bulletin.

Wednesday - September 3rd: Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday - September 24th: Venue: Laconia Museum & Historical Society - 65 Water Street, Laconia For directions, "click" here.
6:00 pm -

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