Date of Meeting: September 24, 2025

Venue: Laconia Historical & Museum Society

Attendance: 24 in attendance: 10 members and 14 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Kiwanis Members:
Betty Ballantyne
Phil Bonafide
Ray Chambers
Zach Dea
Steve Loughlin
Don Nelson
Tara Shore
Kara Stanley
Abby Teichert
Bob Willey

Guests:
Paula Chambers – wife of Ray
Joe Collie – former member and former President of the Laconia Kiwanis Club
Greg LaFoe – President of the Laconia Rod & Gun Club and fiancée of Kara Stanley
Sharon Najem – wife of scout leader, David Najem, and mother of scout members: David, Joseph & Sam from the Moultonborough Scout Troop 142
Sue Nelson - Honorary Member and wife of Don Nelson
9 members from the Moultonborough Scout Troop 142

Paula Chambers		Joe Collie		Greg LaFoe

Sharon Najem		Sue Nelson
Front row L to R: Dave Najem, Joseph Najem, Amanda Fullerton, David Najem, Scout Chambers
Back row L to R: Ben Fullerton, Dave Najem, Will Fullerton, Herschel Chambers
Above photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

President Betty Ballantyne called the meeting to order at 6:01 pm.

Invocation, Pledge and Song:
Invocation: by Bob Willey
Pledge of Allegiance: by All
My Country Tis of Thee: by Don Nelson

The Pledge
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

A SPECIAL DONATION:
Kara Stanley, a fellow Kiwanian and an Auxiliary Laconia Rod & Gun Club member, and Greg LaFoe, President of Laconia Rod & Gun Club, discussed the many community events supported by the Laconia Rod & Gun Club. During our meeting, that organization was pleased to add its support to the Laconia Kiwanis Club by presenting a donation of $1,000 which will be used to sponsor our Bike & Board Safety Day.

Many thanks to the Laconia Rod & Gun Club for their generous donation!

Laconia Rod & Gun Club President, Greg LaFoe (center), presents two checks totaling

$1,000 to Kiwanis Club President Betty Ballantyne and Kiwanis Club Treasurer, Zach Dea.

Above photo by Kara Stanley

GUEST SPEAKER:

Tara Shore introduced our guest speaker, Herschel Chambers.

Herschel Chambers is the committee chairman for Scout troop 142 out of Moultonborough NH. His parents are Ray and Paula Chambers. Despite his dad’s dislike of uniforms and the outdoors, Herschel played in the high school jazz, concert, and marching bands while also attaining Eagle Scout and attending Philmont when he was 17.

Herschel and his friends had a garage band named the Peppermints (and on occasion, the Peppermints became Funky Ray and the hot mix when his dad wanted some microphone time). He met his wife, April, in 11th grade on a German club trip to Germany, and they headed off to undergraduate school at Valdosta State University, where Herschel earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts.

Herschel got a job with the UGA soybean genetic research lab and worked there for 14 years, releasing many of the soybean varieties farmers around the world use today. Herschel, April, and their two children (daughter Paisley and son Scout) moved to New Hampshire in 2011. Since moving to New Hampshire, Herschel has spent a lot of time volunteering at the kids’ schools as well as with the Boy Scouts for the past eight years as his son makes his way through the ranks.

He created a nationally recognized butterfly garden for the kindergarten classes at Moultonborough Central School, as well as an outdoor classroom at the end of their nature trail, and works with the student-led eco squad, collecting tons of recyclables from the central school. Herschel now works at the Melvin Village post office and from time to time helps at post offices all around the lake.

The presentation included a PowerPoint on Scout Troop 142 hosted by Herschel. In addition to Herschel, several scouts from Troop 142, working on their public speaking merit badges, assisted in the presentation by speaking individually in front of the Club.

Below are a few of the slides in the program:

Many thanks to Kiwanian Ray Chambers for bringing his family together for the presentation!

MEET THE CHAMBERS

L to R: Paula, Ray, Herschel and Scout Chambers

Above photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

KIWANIS EVENTS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST

FUEL RAFFLE 2025:

Betty updated the Club on the 2025 Fuel Raffle. For further details and to purchase tickets, click here.

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

Betty handed out a KARES AGENDA for the 2025/2026 Calendar School Year. It includes the list of the schools, dates and times that we will be needing volunteers for as well as those who have currently signed up (through 10/8/25). For details, “click” here.

LACONIA HIGH SCHOOL – KEY CLUB NEWS:

Betty was pleased to report that the Laconia Key Club has co-advisors: Karen Abraham and Pan Pradachitch. Karen, a former Key Club advisor, is employed at LHS as a Media Specialist. Pan is a 2015 graduate of LHS and former Key Club member. He works at LHS as a Behavior Specialist.

HOOKSETT KIWANIS CLUB NEWS:

Bob Willey reported the Hooksett Kiwanis Club is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. The club was charted on September 26, 2000. Three major things are being planned:

1. A 15 month Calendar (October 2025 through December 2026. For more information and to purchase a calendar, “click” here.

2. There will be a 25th Anniversary Celebration Day on 10/22/25 at the Derryfield Country Club in Manchester. For details, "click" here.

3. As a special service project, the Hooksett Kiwanis Club will be funding and collaborating with the Town of Hooksett to construct a Pavilion at Peters Brook Park. Estimated completion date is late April or early March 2026.

LACONIA PUMPKIN FESTIVAL 2025:

The Laconia Kiwanis Club will be participating at the Pumpkin Festival on October 25th at 11 am. The Kiwanis Club will be teaming up with the Laconia High School Key Club and The Belknap House at the Kids Corner located on Canal Street with a royally fun activity – make your own princess or prince crown. During the meeting, Honorary Kiwanian Sue Nelson showed off her creative design and inspiration for a crown.

Sue Nelson shows off her crown.

Above photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:02 pm.

During the month of September, your bulletin editor received the following email from Chick Smith, son of former Kiwanian, Charlie Smith, regarding the Smith Memorial Scholarship. The Laconia Kiwanis Club handles the administration of the Smith Memorial Scholarship, which was established in honor of Charlie Smith, a Laconia Kiwanis Club member from 1965 to 1997. Chick Smith wrote the following: “I want to thank you and all the members of the club for your continued support of the scholarship. Dad certainly enjoyed his involvement with the Kiwanis Club and had a great love for the greater Laconia community.” “I received some very nice notes from this year’s recipients. I just wanted you and the club members to know how much I appreciate what you have done to continue to honor him. He would be very proud.” Below are the thank you notes received by Chick Smith from Smith Memorial Scholarship recipients: Emma Winslow and Haley Greenwood. To read their thank you notes, “click” on the respective pictures below:

Emma Winslow

Haley Greenwood

We also received a thank you from the Laconia Historical & Museum Society for our recent contribution to assist them with the repair of their roof. To read their thank you, please “click” on the picture below:

Laconia Historical & Museum Society

THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Joe Adrignola, Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Ray Chambers, Tara Shore, and Kara Stanley for their assistance with this bulletin.

Wednesday - October 1st: Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday - October 15th: Venue: Patrick's Pub - 18 Weirs Road, Gilford
5:30 pm - SPECIAL INSTALLATION MEETING

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