Snapshot of a Kiwanis family:
Colebrook, New Hampshire

This glimpse at a small town with a big heart was submitted by Lindy Falconer, advisor of the Colebrook Academy Key Club and member of the Kiwanis Club of Colebrook, and Carolyn Foss-Monson, president of the Colebrook Kiwanis club.

The town of Colebrook in the Great North Woods Region of northern New Hampshire is located in a very rural area and provides a special place to live, work, and play. It takes an hour and 15 minutes to get to the nearest Wal-Mart, the closest traffic light is 60 miles away, and we are only 20 minutes from the Canadian border. 

Colebrook is by no means a wealthy area. In fact, our local economy is supported by old, traditional industries such as logging and paper mills, which are both in decline. Tourism is important to us—many people come here for fishing, hunting, hiking, and snowmobiling. We love it when the snow piles up! It means the economy will do better; and it is time for the Kiwanis Club of Colebrook’s Winter Carnival and Snow Bocce, which is great fun.

The Colebrook Kiwanis club helps make this a special place. For a small town of 2,500 people, the Kiwanis club has more than 50 members. Our Kiwanis club sponsors three Key Clubs: Colebrook Academy Key Club (59 members out of possible 180 students), Canaan Memorial High School Key Club in Vermont (50 members out a possible 115 students), and Pittsburg High School Key Club (15 members out of a possible 46 students). As anyone can see, we have a great percentage of students participating in Key Club. And that’s not all. The Builders Club at the Errol Consolidated School has 10 members where the total school enrollment is only 20!

Our Kiwanis club is supportive and generous—working with and supporting the youth in these special programs. In fact, it takes several fundraisers and about a year for our Kiwanis club to raise enough money to help send about 60 students and six chaperones to district convention each year. When Key Clubbers attend local Kiwanis breakfast meetings, the Kiwanians treat them to breakfast. They also pay for all the advisors’ breakfasts—whether Kiwanians or not. Kiwanis also pays for the chaperones and advisors who attend International conventions, and give each Key Clubber $50 toward his or her registration fee.

As a Key Club advisor and Colebrook Kiwanian, I know the importance of this strong relationship between the sponsored youth and Kiwanis. For instance, Kiwanians meet us when we leave for conventions and when we get back home—complete with a fire truck escort into town when we win awards. Kiwanians often go to Key Club meetings, and many attend our Division Eight installation of officers for Key Clubs. They loan us money and help us raise funds. They have a separate line in their budget just for Key Leader and always are encouraging the students to attend.

The Key Clubs in turn help with many Kiwanis events. The Colebrook Kiwanis club’s Bike Rodeo, Santa Comes to Town, and Halloween Party are a few examples. The students learn public speaking skills by presenting their Key Club’s Report at the regular Kiwanis club meetings each week during the school year. Their report is a weekly agenda item at the Kiwanis meeting. Some Key Clubbers even attend regular Kiwanis meetings throughout the summer months—even taking the lead on the songs. Sometimes, Kiwanians take Key Clubbers with them on inter-clubs to other Division Eight Kiwanis meetings. The Key Club members have a wonderful relationship with the Kiwanis club.

There is a lot of pride that comes with living in a small town. The students do not wish to disappoint the town. If you disappoint Kiwanis, you disappoint the town, because everyone either knows you and/or is related to you. The Kiwanis club has a sign in its  park, which always wishes Key Clubbers well during convention time. The kids want to come home proud. They want to make the Colebrook Kiwanis club proud to support them.

The relationship between Kiwanians and sponsored youth is special. It’s strong. And it’s what makes Colebrook what it is today.

The Colebrook Kiwanis club is not only the parent group to these Key Clubbers and Builders, but also their hero.