Page 14 - LaconiaMCWeek2021

Laconia Motorcycle Week® Association Gives Thanks!
Charlie St. Clair & Jennifer Anderson
As we said in our Greetings article at the beginning of the Rally News, this year was SOMETHING ELSE! We were happy to show 2020 the door and wel- come in 2021. We would be remiss to not start off this “thank you” with our sincer- est gratitude to the Laconia City Council, Mayor Andrew Hosmer, and
City Manager Scott Myers for their efforts to enable the 97th Anniversary of the rally to continue through a postponement in 2020. Every year, we are
indebted to our friends in the various city
departments, including licensing, planning, public works, and parks & recreation-
this year, they had their hands full and received (what seemed to be) endless ‘expert’ opinions regarding cancelling versus postponing the rally. The rally
is incredibly important to our local and
statewide economy and our businesses
have and continue to suffer during the
pandemic. Even though vendors were
limited to local nonprofits only, the city
could’ve tightened the reigns even more and
chose to instead, focus on increasing safety mea-
sures and empowering visitors to help KEEP NH SAFE!
The Laconia Motorcycle Week Association is a non-profit organization with a board of directors including: The Naswa Resort with Cynthia Makris serving as our President, Half Moon Enterprises, the Town of Meredith, NH Motor Speedway, the Weirs Action Committee, our rally historian and local rider, K. Peddlar Bridges (Road Poet!), and our rally’s hometown host and epicenter, the City of Laconia. Our sincerest gratitude is extended to our board of directors for their active participa- tion and support through the thrilling and often surprising rollercoaster ride that is Laconia Motorcycle Week.
As we enjoy the 98th Anniversary of the oldest motorcycle rally in the world and look back at where we’ve come from, we are reminded that we could not have come this far without the help of many. On behalf of the Laconia Motorcycle Week Association, we say, “Thank you!” to all of the riders and rally enthusiasts who have made Laconia Motorcycle Week ‘their rally’ over the years. Of course, all great legacies are a continued work in progress, but it is our hope that visitors and residents alike will work with us, more than ever before to keep Laconia Motorcycle Week the world class event that it is. Keep posting those selfies and scenic photos when you’re in town – we love seeing what you’ve been up to! #LaconiaMCWeek!
The challenge to meet our visitors with the same kind of support they give us, takes a year-round effort with many businesses, organizations, and partners throughout the
Lakes Region, the State of NH, and beyond. It is through this effort that we are able to provide so many motorcycle- related events in our rally schedule, entertainment, and vendor options that help keep our visitors coming back. Though we
cannot control every element
of the rally, it is with best intentions and the truest of hopes that when you, our visitor, arrives for the rally, that you feel welcomed and wanted – because you are. We thank you – our visitors, our riders, for helping to make Laconia
Motorcycle Week a rally that we are all proud to pass on to future generations.
Another ‘thank you’ is extended to the State of New Hampshire and our local and state representatives. The State of
NH’s Department of Business and Economic Affairs gives a large finan-
cial contribution to this Rally through a
matching-tourism grant because they recognize that supporting the efforts of the Rally in turn, supports the founda-
tion and value of the State of NH. Thank you!
Year after year, Kim Lakin of Point Positive Design has worked behind the scenes designing
this Rally News. Our Rally News is coveted by visitors all year-long and it’s no secret why – it’s the most valuable resource for planning your rally trip. Thank you, Kim for, once again, enabling us to provide our visitors with the nation’s best Motorcycle Rally News magazine! Additional “Thanks!” to our cover and ad designer, Luke Bouley of Pinion Designs for his endless creative eye and super-fast response rate!
Laconia Motorcycle Week began in 1916 with a group of people riding to the area to enjoy the beautiful scenery and riding. What has evolved over the years is truly a phenom- enon to behold. Continuing our ‘roots of riding’ is at the foundationofwhatthisRallyis. AHUGEthankyouto the dedicated tour guides, including our volunteer lead- ers and officers from the motorcycle units of the Laconia PD and NH State Troopers, for assisting with the numerous charity rides throughout the State of NH and the daily Gypsy Tours leaving from Weirs Beach. The evolution that this Rally has undergone is tremendous, but it couldn’t have happened without all of the people and organizations involved.
To all of you – our visitors – thank you! We know that there are hundreds of rallies to choose from for your vaca- tion and we thank you for picking New Hampshire. You are the reason this rally has been a success – because you know that what it’s really about is the riding and the great people you meet and ride with.
Enjoy New Hampshire and Ride Safely! H 12