The weather couldn’t put a stop to our 2nd Annual Mix & Mingle at the Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion. The night was a huge success with great turnout. We had the opportunity to hand out the Irwin and Hurst awards to two community members that were more than deserving of the awards.
Warren Bailey, the recipient of last year’s Irwin awards, presented John Bancroft with this years Irwin Award. Warren introduced John as a do-gooder who “up until now” had spent “a lifetime flying under the radar screen.”
Among his accomplishments, John has been a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, was a founder of the Greater Laconia Crimeline, was President of the N.H. Graphic Arts Association and was a leader in raising money for arts scholarships.
He is a member of the New England Printing and Publishing Council and a past winner of the Chamber’s J. Bart Conners Award for Volunteer service to the Chamber.
John volunteers as a therapy dog handler at the N.H. Veterans’ Home in Tilton and is a veteran of both World War II and the Korea Conflict.
“Thank you, thank you ever so much,” said John, who promised that “I’m going to be around for another 25 years”
John said that the late Jim Irwin, for whom the Irwin Award is named, was a friend who “got me going, got me straightened out, got me interested in things” going on in the community.
Sarah Stanley, last year’s winner of the Hurst Award, presented Sandy Marshall, Director of Volunteers and Community Services at Lakes Region General Hospital, with this year’s Hurst Award.
“I am absolutely floored. I didn’t think it was legal,” said a shocked Marshall who just happens to be this year’s Chairperson of the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.
The City of Franklin, said Sarah, was “blessed with numerous caring and dedicated individuals” which made choosing Hurst candidates difficult, she continued, but ultimately, “we unanimously chose this year’s recipient.”
Sarah then listed some of Sandy’s many accomplishments, including her membership with the Franklin Opera House, Spaulding Youth Center Foundation, Franklin Rotary Club, N.H. Charitable Foundation, Choose Franklin, NH/VT Administrators of Volunteer Healthcare Services, Children’s Auction, Blue Star Mothers and the Peabody Home.
Congratulations again to John Bancroft and Sandy Marshall for the continued dedication to all of the Lakes Region.
