News That Concerns Kiwanians
and Their Families |
Date of Meeting: December 18, 2024
Venue: The home of Bill and Paula Gile
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THE GILE HOUSE |
Above photo by Bill Gile |
Attendance: 16 in attendance: 11 members and 5 guests
MEMBERS AND GUESTS:
Kiwanis Members:
Betty Ballantyne
Phil Bonafide
Zach Dea
Bill Gile
John Intorcio
Shawn Intorcio
Steve Loughlin
Don Nelson
Tara Shore
Abby Teichert
Bob Willey
Guests:
Jackie Bonafide - wife of Phil
Paula Gile – wife of Bill
Larry Lauze – friend of Betty Ballantyne
Paulette Loughlin - wife of Steve
Sue Nelson – Honorary Member and wife of Don Nelson
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Jackie Bonafide |
Paula Gile |
Larry Lauze |
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Paulette Loughlin |
Sue Nelson |
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Above photos by W. Stephen Loughlin |
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John Intorcio warms his hands. |
CHOW TIME |
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THE GIFTS |
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Pick #1 |
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Abby Teichert |
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Abby gets first choice of gifts. |
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Don, Abby and Zack all peak in the box and view.... |
... a wreath in the spirit of the season |
Pick #2 |
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Sue Nelson |
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Sue Nelson grabs a bag containing numerous gifts. |
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First Gift: Prosecco Italian sparkling wine |
Second Gift: Holiday Riches scratch tickets |
Third Gift: a box of fancy jellies |
Pick #3 |
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Bill Gile |
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Bill grabs a blue bag, and opens it to find..... |
...a bottle of Collective Arts gin. |
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Pick #4 |
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Bob Willey |
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Bob chooses a present wrapped in the same blue paper as Bill's present. |
Bob is excited to open his present. |
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Bob proudly shows off his bottle of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante. |
Pick #5 |
Phil Bonafide |
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Phil opens his gift and finds.... |
... a bottle of Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon |
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Pick #6 |
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Zach Dea |
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Zach opens his gift as Jackie Bonifide looks on. |
Zach shows off a very practical gift. |
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A close-up of Zach's gift |
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Pick #7 |
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Betty Ballantyne |
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Betty is excited to open her present. |
It feels awfully heavy (because it's loaded with decoys). |
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We all know what that is! |
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Big Mouth Billy Bass is back! |
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Pick #8 |
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Don Nelson |
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Don chooses a pretty red box. |
Don opens his gift. |
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Don's gift is a Nostalgia Retro Pop-Up Hot Dog Toaster. |
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Pick #9 |
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Paula Gile |
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Paula looks in the bag and finds.... |
Christmas wine bottle covers. |
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Pick #10 |
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Jackie Bonafide |
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Jackie grabs a present and gets.... |
...a warm snuggly blanket. |
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Pick #11 |
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Shawn Intorcio |
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Shawn grabs a box that is filled with.... |
... Christmas place mats. |
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Pick #12 |
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Paulette Loughlin |
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Paulette picks up a bag and.... |
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...exchanges it for Jackie's blanket. |
Paulette is happy with her snuggly blanket. |
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Jackie opens the bag that Paulette traded. |
Jackie greets her bottle of Hornitos Tequila with a big smile. |
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Pick #13 |
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Tara Shore |
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Tara opens her gift bag and finds... |
... a gift basket of Ghirardelli chocolate treats. |
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Pick #13 |
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John Intorcio |
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John picks up a bag and immediately exchanges it for Tara's chocolates. |
Shawn enviously eyes John's basket of chocolate treats. |
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Tara looks in the bag handed to her by John and finds... |
...two scratch tickets and a Milwaukee multi-tool screwdriver. |
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Final Pick |
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Since Abby Teichert drew the lowest number, she gets to trade her initial gift with any person she chooses. |
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Amy chooses Bill's gift and ... |
...gladly hands over her Christmas wreath to Bill. |
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FOLLOWING THE YANKEE SWAP.... |
The evening concluded with a group sing-a-long of Jingle Bells led by Betty’s friend, Larry Lauze. To view a video of the performance, “click” here. |
Betty Ballantyne and Larry Lauze |
THANK YOU |
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Many thanks to our hosts: Paula and Bill Gile |
All Christmas party photos by W. Stephen Loughlin |
The party concluded shortly after 8:15 pm.
OTHER KIWANIS NEWS: |
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The Kiwanis Club of Laconia proudly sponsored a U8 (under eight years old) soccer team in the Laconia Youth Soccer League (LYSL), the recreational soccer program serving the Laconia area. The team wrapped up their season with a final game on October 5th at Opechee Park. Laconia Kiwanis joined other local sponsors, including Finn & Finn, Foley Oil, Home Energy Products, Irwin Automotive Group, Melcher & Prescott, Rist Frost Shumway, and South End Pizza & Seafood, in supporting the U8 division. Throughout the season, the young players of the Laconia Kiwanis team had the opportunity to learn new skills, stay active, and embrace the spirit of teamwork and sportsmanship. |
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Photo by DC Sports |
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In addition to members and spouses from the Laconia Kiwanis Club, several members of the Laconia High School Key Club and Woodland Heights School faculty were actively involved. |
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Background: The Belknap Marketplace was crowded with participants of all ages who enjoyed Family Fun Night. Foreground: Tara Shore and Zack Dea enjoy the moment. Zach was involved in greeting and managing the holiday theme face painting. |
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At the Santa's Workshop Station, John Intorcio helps kids build wooden crafts from kits provided by Lowe's. |
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At the Santa's Workshop Station, Keith Styles opens the |
Keith reads the directions carefully as Harper looks on. To view the completed butterfly birdhouse and to find out if Harper liked it, “click” here. |
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The Laconia Kiwanis brought 300 books for children to take home. In the above picture, an eager reader looks on with Don and Sue Nelson. |
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The LHS Key Club was happy to serve cookies. L to R: Kathryn Beane, Jilli Paul (Key Club Advisor), and Sophia Downes |
Tara Shore is happy to receive a Christmas cookie from Jilli Paul. |
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Woodland Heights Elementary School librarian, Robbie Neylon, and kindergartner teacher, Liz Erickson, read Christmas-themed children’s books to kids in the Mattress Firm storefront.. |
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B E L I E V E R S…. |
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Bill Gile, Santa, Tara Shore |
Shawn Intorcio and Santa |
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KNEELING: L to R: Tara Shore with Key Clubbers: Sophia Downes, Haily McCarty, and Abigail Hayward SECOND ROW: L to R: Don Nelson, Keith Styles, Jilli Paul (LHS Key Club Advisor), Sue Nelson, Santa, Shawn Intorcio, John Intorcio, The Grinch, Bill Gile and Zach Dea |
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2024 Greater Lakes Region Children’s Auction photos by W. Stephen Loughlin |
RING THE BELL FOR THE SALVATION ARMY:
Although there was no precipitation, it was very cold as temperatures ranged from 9 to 22 degrees. Below are pictures of the Kiwanis members, family, and friends of Kiwanis who volunteered their time on December 23, 2024. |
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FIRST SHIFT (9:00 am - 10:00 am) |
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L to R: Betty Ballantyne and Brad Geltz |
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Betty and Brad on duty |
Brad nets a donation. |
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SECOND SHIFT (10:00 am - 11:00 am) |
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Second Shift volunteers, Shawn Intorcio & John Intorcio (center) are flanked by Betty (at left) and Brad (at right). |
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Shawn and John waive down the vehicles. |
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THIRD SHIFT (11:00 am - 12:00 pm) |
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Betty Ballantyne does a second tour of duty, this time with Jilli Paul, the LHS Key Club Advisor. |
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Jilli nets a donation. |
Betty nets a donation. |
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FOURTH SHIFT (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm) |
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Zach Dea relieves Betty and Jilli to handle the fourth shift. |
L to R: Jilli Paul, Zach Dea and Betty Ballantyne |
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Zach Dea nets a contribution. |
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FIFTH SHIFT (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm) |
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Betty Ballantyne is back to handle another shift. |
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SIXTH SHIFT (2:00 pm - 3:00 pm) |
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L to R: Phil Bonafide and Steve Loughlin |
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Above photo by Betty Ballantyne |
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Phil solicits a smiling motorist. |
Phil receives a donation. |
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SEVENTH SHIFT (3:00 pm - 4:00 pm) |
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Despite coming back for an additional shift in the sub-freezing weather, Betty Ballantyne demonstrates a big smile.... |
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...a goofy sense of humor and... |
... an upbeat attitude! |
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Betty receives a donation. |
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EIGHTH SHIFT (4:00 pm - 5:00 pm) |
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MEET THE LAURENT FAMILY Front: L to R: Ava, the dog, with Emma Laurent Rear: Zack Laurent, Amber Costa, Grace Laurent and Scott Laurent |
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AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY EMMA LAURENT For the second year in a row, six-year old Emma Laurent demonstrated her amazing ability to attract numerous donations. The pictures that follow show Emma collecting 14 donations in a time span of just six-minutes! |
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Emma takes a well-earned moment to warm herself next to the gas heater. |
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Unless otherwise noted, all Salvation Army photos by W. Stephen Loughlin |
REST IN PEACE: | ||
Paul, who retired from the Laconia Kiwanis Club in 2012, had been an outstanding member for many years. Paul served as Club president for two separate terms: 1991-1992 and 2004-2005. He was voted Kiwanian of the Year in 1990. To read a celebration of Paul's life, “click” here. |
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A FEW SPECIAL MOMENTS: |
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From 2004: President Paul Cotton presides over the meeting. |
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From 2004: Debbie and Paul Cotton |
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From 2004: Paul Cotton with Peter and Lydia Karagianis Paul had presented Peter with a Tablet of Honor for his 55 years as an active and valued member in the Laconia Kiwanis Club. NOTE: To view a close-up of the Tablet of Honor, "click" on the above picture. |
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from 2005: Paul shows off his plaque for outstanding leadership as club President.. |
from 2005: Paul passes the president's gavel to Joe Collie. |
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from 2009: the Dynamite Duet of Don Nelson and Paul Cotton |
from 2009: Biker Buddies- Warren Mitchell and Paul Cotton |
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from 2017: Past President Paul Cotton with Past President Phil Bonafide |
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Godspeed, Paul! |
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Above photos by W. Stephen Loughlin |
THANK YOU:
Many thanks to Joe Adrignola, Betty Ballantyne, Phil Bonafide, Kathy Calvin, Zach Dea, Bill Gile, John Intorcio, Sue Nelson, Jilli Paul, Keith Styles, and Tara Shore for their assistance with this bulletin.
Thursday -
January 2nd : Venue: ZOOM MEETING
6:00 pm - Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday - January 15th : Venue: WORK Lakes Region - 51 Elm Street Suite 107
6:00 pm - Jodie Gallant will make a presentation on WORK Lakes Region
Our January 15th meeting will be held at WORK Lakes Region located at 51 Elm Street Suite 107. |
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