The Kiwanis Club of Mt. Washington Valley owes its existence to the determination of Mr. Harold “Hal” Kenney. Having served as president and a long-time member of the Kiwanis Club of New Canaan, Conneticut, for 22 years, Hal relocated to North Conway in 1973. Not finding a Kiwanis Club in the area, he attended the Fryeburg-Lovell Club in Maine. While impressed by the community service efforts of the well-established North Conway Rotary Club, he felt there was room for another service organization to further support the community.
Motivated to fill this gap, Hal set out to gather 20 like-minded men from the local area to form a Kiwanis Club. With the help of the respected local newspaper, “The Reporter,” Hal spread the word, encouraging those interested to reach out to him directly. The first to respond were Bill Botsford and Jon Bell of Yield House, followed by Richard Webster and Russ Stauffer, a former Kiwanian from Massachusetts, who was instrumental in recruiting new members from Jackson. Richard Luciano, owner of Merlino’s Restaurant, joined and generously offered his upstairs dining room as a meeting place.
The club received invaluable support from Herb Roode and George Mieux of the Kiwanis Club of Brunswick, Maine, who frequently visited to share their expertise. John Morton, then Governor of the New England District of Kiwanis, also played a key role in assisting with the club’s formation.
On June 17, 1976, the original 20 members gathered at Merlino’s Restaurant to receive their charter, with the charter fee covered by the Kiwanis Club of Fryeburg-Lovell. The ceremony was attended by Kiwanis members from near and far, providing support and guidance for the fledgling club. The charter presentation included a flag, a bell, essential literature, and a copy of the “Spiritual Aims.” The club’s first street sign, a beautifully handcrafted piece by Jon Bell, marked its presence. Officially becoming a part of Division 23 of the then global Kiwanis network of 300,000 members, the division at the time included clubs from Auburn-Lewiston, Brunswick, Gray, Kezar Falls-Cornish, Norway-South Paris, Standish, and Fryeburg-Lovell.
Russ Stauffer was appointed the first president, Hal Kenney took on the critical role of secretary (a position he held for over 22 years), and Bill Botsford served as the first treasurer (a role he held for over 30 years), earning the Hixon Award for his dedicated service. The first vice presidents were Bob Weiss and Larry Wilkes.
Initially meeting at Merlino’s Restaurant for about a year, the club then relocated to the Red Jacket, where it remained for over a decade. Later, the club moved to various locations before settling at the Sheraton (North Conway Grand Hotel) in 1989, where it stayed for over a decade before moving to the Tuckerman’s at the New England Inn.
Realizing soon after our club’s formation that we needed funds to support community organizations in need and assist individuals less fortunate, our first fundraiser was the raffle of a boy’s bicycle. We were thrilled to have raised over $150 that we could use for community service. Following that, we sold bags of peanuts, standing on street corners and at traffic lights, with Hal (our founder) dressed in a tiger suit to make sure people noticed us. We had so much fun in the beginning, just trying to make a few dollars to give back to the community. Over time, we became much more successful in raising larger amounts of money through creative methods. This led to Pancake Breakfasts, July 4th Wheel of Fortune, Newspaper Ad “Tabloid” supplements, Circus sponsorships, Keystone Cops at the Mud Bowl, Golf tournaments, TV auctions, and many other inventive fundraising ideas.
In the early days, we also realized that despite being strapped for funds, our greatest service might come from hands-on projects. Our first job was erecting a sign in front of the newly established Gibson Center for Senior Services. Whether it was building handicapped ramps for senior citizens, repairing roofs on the playhouse, or helping with community center projects, we looked forward to helping the community in any way we could.
In 1990, the Kiwanis Organization began welcoming female members. The club was fortunate to induct Dotti Daley and Eve Broncato as its first female members. Dotti later served as club president and went on to become a Lt. Governor overseeing multiple clubs. Other distinguished Lt. Governors from the club include Richard Check, Frank Suprenard, Paul Weld, and Charlie Mallar.
A significant milestone occurred in 1980 under the leadership of President Forrest Simmon when the club established the Kennett High Key Club with approval from the high school administration. H. Gardner “Sandy” Smith, a social studies teacher and Kiwanis member, played a pivotal role in founding and mentoring the Key Club for 19 years until his unexpected passing in May 1998. His legacy was continued by Past President Charlie Mallar, who dedicated over 20 years to advising the Key Club. Charlie’s service was recognized with the Kiwanis “Leader of Leaders” award and the Rotary International “Paul Harris” award.
In 1995, we started a Builder’s Club at Kennett Junior High. Under the guidance of former Presidents Emily Beaulieu and Eric Bossidy, the club grew to over 30 members. Additionally, a need was identified for a K-Kids club, which allows elementary students to engage in goodwill projects here in the Valley. All of these children’s service clubs remain very active in the community.
This rich history underscores the club’s ongoing commitment to community service and the spirit of volunteerism that continues to thrive today.
Charter Members
Russell Stauffer, President
Robert Weiss, Vice President
Larry Wilks, Co-Vice President
William Botsford, Treasurer
Harold “Hal” Kenney, Secretary
Fred Albert*
Jon Bell
Ernest Brown*
Donald Chase, Jr.*
Mario Chiaravellotti
James Dunwell
Raymond Franchina
Roger French
Paul Gagnon
Herbert George
Richard Luciano
Peter Mahoney
Gary Peacock
William Sparks
Mark Thivierge
Richard Webster*
Directors *
