Date of Meeting: December 13, 2022

Venue: The home of Betty Ballantyne

Attendance: 19 in attendance: 9 members and 10 guests

MEMBERS AND GUESTS:

Laconia Kiwanis Club Members:
Betty Ballantyne
Phil Bonafide
Ray Chambers
Zach Dea
Bill Gile
Steve Loughlin
Don Nelson
Kara Stanley
Bob Willey
Brian Winslow

Guests:
Jackie Bonafide - wife of Phil
Paula Chambers – wife of Ray
Aidan Coulette – son of Kara Stanley
Roger Dargy - Guest of Betty Ballantyne
Paulette Loughlin - wife of Steve
Rosemary Murphy - Honorary Member
Lauren Murphy- daughter of Rosemary
Sue Nelson – Honorary Member and wife of Don
Sue Willey – wife of Bob
Jennifer Winslow – wife of Brian

Jackie Bonafide		Paula Chambers		Aidan Coulette		Roger Dargy
Paulette Loughlin		Rosemary Murphy		Lauren Murphy		Sue Nelson
Sue Willey		Jennifer Winslow
Photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

Invocation & Pledge:
Invocation: Read by Brian Winslow
Pledge of allegiance: Led by Bill Gile
Jingle Bells: Led by Don Nelson

To hear Don Nelson lead the group singing Jingle Bells, "click" on Don's picture below:
CHOW TIME
Photo by W. Stephen Loughlin

THE GIFTS

Phil Bonafide explains the rules of the Yankee Swap.

Pick #1
Jackie Bonafide
Jackie drew the #1 pick and got a Hickory Farmhouse cheese and dried sausage assortment.
Pick #2
Zach Dea
Zach gets a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream
Pick #3
Paula Chambers
Paula grabs a bag and immediately heads over to Zach where she exchanges her gift for Zach's Bailey's Irish Cream.
Zach opens his new gift and finds a 2 in 1 shaver & trimmer
Pick #4
Brian Winslow
Brian Winslow was pleased to draw a bottle of Liqueur De Limoncello..
Pick #5
Bob Willey
Bob grabs a colorful box...		...and peels off the wrapping paper.
Bob holds up a bottle of Nighthawk Black Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
Pick #6
Betty Ballantyne
Betty trades her unopened gift for Brian's bottle.		Betty shows off her bottle of Liqueur De Limoncello.
Brian opens the gift traded by Betty..		Brian's gets two travel mugs.
Pick #7
Jennifer Winslow
Jennifer opens her present and finds a snowman decoration with three lottery tickets.
Pick #8
Bill Gile
For the second year in a row, Bill was pleased to get a bottle of Grey Goose vodka.
Pick #9
Phil Bonafide
Phil opens his present and finds a bottle of Kahlua.
Pick #10
Sue Nelson
Sue decides to keep her present.		Sue opens her present to find a blanket and two lottery tickets.
Pick #11
Steve Loughlin
NOTE: At last year’s Yankee Swap, Steve Loughlin ended up getting Big Mouth Billy Bass which is pictured above. This year, he had Paulette re-wrap Billy Bass so he could return the “gift” to someone else. Steve was very excited about getting a different gift this year.
Steve shows the box containing his present.
Steve's face reflects his emotion on getting a new Big Mouth Billy Bass this year.
Making his debut: Meet the new Big Mouth Billy Bass.
Big Mouth Billy Bass catches the eye of Aidan Coullate.		Billy Bass puts a smile on the face of Aidan Coullate.
Pick #12
Paulette Loughlin
Paulette intentionally grabs the present she brought and swaps it for Betty Ballantyne’s Liqueur De Limoncello.		Betty opens her exchange from Paulette and finds last year's Big Mouth Billy Bass.
Pick #13
Kara Stanley
Kara's gift: Absolute Vodka
Pick #14
Lauren Murphy
Lauren took her unopened gift and traded it with Jennifer Winslow for the Snowman decoration and three lottery tickets.		Jennifer Winslow opens her new gift.
Jennifer Winslow opened her new gift and finds a bottle of Bailey’s Original Irish Cream.
Pick #15
Don Nelson
Don Nelson takes his unopened gift and trades it for Jackie Bonafide’s Hickory Farmhouse cheese and dried sausage assortment.
Jackie opens her new gift which is two bottles of wine.
Pick #16
Rosemary Murphy
With the suggestion of her daughter, Rosemary Murphy trades her gift for Sue Nelson’s blanket and two lottery tickets.
Sue shows her new gift: a bottle of merlot.
Final Pick
Jackie Bonafide
Jackie Bonafide, who drew ticket #1, gets her choice of any gift in the room.
Jackie exchanges her two bottles of wine for Kara Stanley’s Absolute Vodka.
ADDENDA
Subsequent to the conclusion of the Yankee Swap, Steve Loughlin gave his new Big Mouth Billy Bass to Aidan Coulette.
Kara switched her wine for Sue Nelson’s bottle of merlot.		Sue and Kara are happy after the exchange.
Happy mother and Happy son
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL
All of the above photos by W. Stephen Loughlin except photos of Steve Loughlin by Paulette Loughlin
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:00 PM
THANK YOU BETTY BALLANTYNE FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY !

OTHER KIWANIS NEWS:

SHOPPING FOR THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PANTRY:

On December 3rd, Kiwanis members: Bill Gile, Phil Bonafide and Bob Willey along with LHS Key Club Advisor Jilli Paul met at Market Basket in Tilton to purchase food for the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry. The Club spent $492.85 of which $300 was funded with a donation by the LHS Key Club and the $192.85 balance from the Kiwanis Club. Below are a few memories:

Bob Willey (center) unloads the groceries for the cashier while Jilli Paul (left) loads the bags into the carriage
L to R: Bill Gile with McKee Jack, St. Vincent de Paul volunteer		L to R: Jilli Paul and Bob Willey with several carriages of food
Market Basket photos by Phil Bonafide

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

On December 6th, the Laconia Kiwanis Club held a special event of the Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S Program during the Children’s Auction at the Belknap Marketplace. The event was organized by Zach Dea and Tara Shore.

L to R: Tara Shore, Zach Dea and Betty Ballantyne (Co-chair of Kiwanis K.A.R.E.S.)

In addition to Kiwanians, three members of the LHS Key Club were on hand to support the event.

L to R: LHS Key Clubbers: Alexis Wilson, Haley Richter, and Gracie Lewis

Guest readers read a variety of children’s books that had a holiday theme setting. Several of the readers were the authors of the book that they read. Readers included: Rosemary Robichard (local author), Robbie Prescott-Neylon (local author and Woodland Heights Elementary School Media Specialist), Cecillia “Cece” Comolettie (local author and 4th grade student at Pleasant Street School), Alexis Wilson (from the LHS Key Club) and Bill Gile.

Rose-Marie Robichaud reads from her book Dee's Extraordinary Rooster.
Dee's Extraordinary Rooster written by Rose-Marie Robichaud
Photo and story submitted to the Laconia Daily Sun by Bob McCarthy
Robbie Prescott-Neylon shows an illustration from the book she read to the group.
Cecilia “Cece” Comolettie, 4th grade student at Pleasant Street School, reads her book to the group.
This is the book written by Cecilia “Cece” Comoletti when she was in kindergarten. To read more about Cece and her book, "click" on the above picture.
Alexis Wilson, LHS Key Club member, reads from the book, The Real Me, written by Robbie Prescott-Neylon.
Betty Ballantyne captures the moment.		The Dea Family enjoy the moment.
Santa Gile reads with a smile.
All KARES photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

The Laconia Kiwanis Club extends its sympathy to Kara Stanley on the recent passing of her mother, Carol I. Murray.

During the month of December, we lost two long time Kiwanians: Priscilla Breton and Carroll Stafford, Jr.

Priscilla Breton passed away on December 16, 2022.

Priscilla was the wife of long time Kiwanian Dick Breton. Dick had been an outstanding Kiwanian for over 50 years. In addition to being Kiwanian of the Year twice (1977-78 & 1991-92), Dick was a former president of the club during the 1971-72 term and Lt. Gov. of Division 18 New England District (1976-77). Priscilla was more than just the wife of Dick Breton, she was a very active supporter of the Laconia Kiwanis Club. Along with her husband, Priscilla took an active roll in supporting Kiwanis projects and causes. She also lent her support of the Roger’s Ride event which ran from 2008 through 2018. In recent years, Priscilla made sizeable financial contributions to the Laconia High School Key Club. In recognition of her many years of dedication to the Club, Priscilla was named an Honorary Member of the Laconia Kiwanis Club in 2019. To read more on the life of Priscilla Breton, “click” here.

Carroll Stafford, Jr. passed away on December 29, 2022.

Carroll had been an active member of the Laconia Kiwanis Club for 44 years.

A memorial service for Carroll Stafford will be held on Wednesday January 11th at 11:00 am at the Gilford Community Church with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall of the church. More details on Carroll’s involvement with the Kiwanis Club will be included in the January 2023 bulletin. To read about the life of Carroll Stafford, Jr. “click” here.

RING THE BELL FOR THE SALVATION ARMY

Annually, on December 23rd, members of the Laconia Kiwanis Club, together with family and friends, ring the bell in downtown Laconia for The Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. The Red Kettle Campaign helps raise money for those who need it most in the community providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs.

During December 2022, more than a dozen groups rang the rang the bell in downtown Laconia and approximately $26,000 was collected.

This year, the Blacktop Saints finished in first place by collecting $1,778.40. The Laconia Rotary Club finished in second place by collecting $1,430.70. The Laconia Rotary Club barely nosed out the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department who came in 3rd place by collecting $1,383.97. The Laconia Kiwanis Club came in 4th place collecting $1,208.26. Last year the Laconia Kiwanis Club collected $1,488.91 and came in 5th place.

It should be noted, this year the weather conditions were very challenging. On the day that the Laconia Kiwanis Club rang the bell, it rained throughout the day, often very heavy at times, with winds gusting to 40-50 miles an hour. For a brief video of the weather conditions when Bill Gile and Brad Geltz were doing their shift, "click" on the picture below:

Below are some pictures of the Kiwanis members, family, and friends of Kiwanis who volunteered their time on December 23, 2022.

Missing from the pictures is Phil Bonafide.

L to R: Brad Geltz and Bill Gileile
L to R: Scott Beane, Brad Geltz, Betty Ballantyne and Bill Gileile
Betty Ballantyne waves to another car.		Scott Beane is happy to net another contribution.
L to R: Sue Nelson watches the kettle as Don Nelson receives another contribution.
L to R: Don and Sue Nelson		L to R: Brian Winslow III and Brian Winslow, Jr.
L to R: Steve Loughlin and Kara Stanley
Above photo by Brian Winslow
THE LAURENT FAMILY HANDLE THE SUNSET SHIFT
L to R: Grace, Zack, Emma and Scott Laurent
L to R: Zack collects a contribution while his sister, Emma, looks on.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Salvation Army photos by W. Stephen Loughlin

THANK YOU
Many thanks to Joe Adrignola, Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Kathy Calvin, Bill Gile, and Brian Winslow for their assistance with this bulletin.

Tuesday - January 3rd - Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday - January 17th : Venue: The Belknap Mill
6:00 pm - Regular Meeting - Guests from the Laconia Public Library will discuss their Telescope Program as well as new happenings at the library.

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