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Key Club International names 2024 Key of Honor winners!

By Julie Saetre 

Two volunteers for Key Club International recently received the organization’s highest recognition award, the Key of Honor. Barry Chisholm of New Hampshire, U.S., and Brian Egger of Washington, U.S., were recognized for their lifelong positive impact upon youth in general and Key Club specifically. 

The Key Club International Board presented Chisholm and Egger with their Key of Honor awards at the 2024 Key Club International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., in July. 

Barry Chisholm
Chisholm has served as an advisor for the Kennett High School Key Club in Conway, New Hampshire, U.S., since 2006. He first served as the club’s faculty advisor when he joined Kennett in 2006 as a special education teacher, after a lengthy career in the United States Air Force. Chisholm retired from Kennett in 2011 and then became an advisor representing the Key Club’s sponsor, the Kiwanis Club of Mount Washington Valley, North Conway, of which he is a member. 

A highlight of Chisholm’s Key Club experience is his involvement with Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine, U.S. Camp Sunshine provides respite, support, joy and hope to children with life-threatening diseases and their immediate families. Chisholm has taken Key Club members to camp sessions annually since he became a club advisor in 2006, stopping only during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, he received a “6 Who Care” award from News Center Maine for his work with Camp Sunshine. 

Molly DellaValla, 2023-24 president of the Kennett Hight School Key Club, wrote the letter of nomination for Chisholm.  

“As both a teacher and a Key Club advisor, his dedication is unparalleled, marking two decades of relentless efforts to foster a culture of compassion and community engagement among our students,” she wrote. “No one has done more to improve the lives of our youth than Barry Chisholm. 

“Under his guidance, the Kennett High School Key Club has achieved outstanding milestones, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for dozens of charitable causes domestically and internationally, and orchestrating countless hours of community service to innumerable beneficiaries. … Under his guidance, we’ve received over 100 awards from Key Club International and several Governor’s Commendations for Excellence in Service and Leadership.” 

Chisholm is the first Key of Honor recipient from New Hampshire in 70 years. He was nominated by his Key Club student members and fellow advisors. Their nomination packet featured nine letters of recommendation, including one each from the School Administrative Unit #9 school system’s superintendent and assistant superintendent. 

“As a graduate and Key Club member in Kennett High School in 2000, I can speak directly to the impact the club has had, and continues to have, on the world,” wrote Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dr. Aimee Frechette. “The club’s history is profound, and it continues to be one of the most recognized, decorated and active clubs in the region and beyond. Barry Chisholm has been humbly at the forefront of these accolades for the past 20 years, and he deserves the highest recognition.” 

Kiwanis dues consist of International dues, District dues, Club dues, plus two fees: Kiwanis Magazine fee and Insurance fees. Dues vary depending on membership type. Below is an overview for the most common dues scenarios for Kiwanis members in the New England and Bermuda District.

Member Type	Most Kiwanis Members	Life Members*	Family Members*	SLP Alumni (Years 1 + 2)*
International Dues	$77	$0	$38.50	$0
District Dues	$25	$25*	$12.50	$0
Magazine Fee	$8	$8	$0	$8
Insurance Fees	$22	$22	$22	$22
Subtotal (before Club dues)	$132	$55	$73	$30

Life Members – Kiwanians who achieve life member status pay $1,115 one time (15 times annual International Dues) and are then not charged International Dues from then on. A Life Member must still pay District Dues, Kiwanis International Fees, and Club dues. Please note, this only applies to the member’s primary Kiwanis Club. If a life member joins a second Kiwanis Club, they will be charged full dues for that second club.

*District Life Members – At the 2023 District Convention, the House of Delegates voted to create a District Life Membership option. The cost is $375 (15 times annual District Dues). More information is coming soon about how to apply for District Life Membership

Family Members – This program has been discontinued. However, Kiwanians who became Family Members during the trial period are “grandfathered in” and continue to receive the discount. Family Membership designates one primarily member in the household who pays full dues. Other household members may be designated as Family Members. They are charged 1/2 International Dues, 1/2 District Dues, full insurance fees, and no magazine fee.

SLP Alumni – Alumni of Key Club, Circle K, and other SLPs may join Kiwanis at a discounted rate. Their first two years in Kiwanis, both Kiwanis International and the District waive their dues, but not the fees (magazine and insurance). Total dues and fees for those two years are $30, plus your club dues if you don’t also waive them.

New Member Prorated Dues (effective October 1)

When a new member joins Kiwanis, their Kiwanis Club is charged prorated dues and fees based on the month they join the Kiwanis Club. On each subsequent October 1, all members will then be assessed the full annual dues and fees amount ($107 for most members).

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 *

We are proud to sponsor the Kennett Key Club, an exceptional group of young leaders dedicated to service and personal growth.

Kennett High School Key Club – 2022-2023 District Conference Results

This year, twelve Kennett Key Club members attended the New England and Bermuda District of Key Club’s Educational Conference, which brought together approximately 400 Key Club members for workshops, service fairs, guest speakers, and awards. Here’s a summary of the impressive achievements Kennett Key Club earned:

• Top Fundraiser: KHS was the #1 fundraiser for district charities, contributing $18,000—over 50% of the total funds raised by all participating clubs.
• Highest Per Member Fundraising: Recognized for raising the most funds per member for district charities.
• Annual Achievement Award: For overall club excellence during 2022-2023.
• Signature Service Award: For outstanding work supporting the Angels and Elves program.
• Outstanding Secretary Award: Presented to Autumn Verran for exceptional secretarial performance.
• Social Media Contest: Awarded to Sophie Saunders for the club’s engaging Instagram presence.
• Monthly Secretary Reports: Recognized for Autumn Verran’s consistent and excellent reporting.
• Essay Contest: Awarded to Shwe Win for her inspiring essay on the meaning of the Key Club Pledge.
• Talent Contest: Joseph and Molly DellaValla won for their bluegrass banjo and guitar performance.
• “Early Bird” Award: For timely submission of club dues.
• Service Fair Participation: Certificate for multiple service displays and projects.

Leadership Achievements:

• Kendyl Shackford: Installed as a district lieutenant governor.
• Autumn Verran: Elected and installed as the New England District Secretary, responsible for district reporting and mentoring club secretaries.

The Kennett Key Club extends heartfelt thanks to the Kiwanis Club of MWV and Kennett High School for their outstanding support and guidance throughout the club’s 42 years of service.