2025 Annual Meeting - President's Address

The Mill City Park at Franklin Falls Annual Meeting took place on May 8th at The Elks Lodge in Franklin, NH. This is the opening address from the President of Mill City Park, Jeremy Laucks.

"Good evening. Welcome to the 2025 Annual Meeting of Mill City Park at Franklin Falls. My name is Jeremy Laucks, and I have the honor of serving as the President of the Board of Directors for Mill City Park. As a whitewater kayaker, my interest in being involved in this organization is obvious. I’ve been splashing around rivers in silly little plastic boats for nearly 30 years. It feels like it’s flown by, but thinking back, it is an admittedly long time for such a pursuit.

Whitewater paddling can be temperamental. There are plenty of warm, sunny, glorious days by the river, but also the cold and wet ones, droughts and floods. Whitewater can be unforgiving by its very nature. We do everything we can to mitigate the risks, but sometimes the risks become all too real.

I’ve been reflecting on why, after nearly three decades, I keep going back to the river. Certainly the thrill of lacing a clean line down a hard rapid or landing a big trick on a wave never gets old, but I’ve realized that what really keeps me returning is the people.

I’ve found paddlers to be some of the most kind and generous people I’ve ever met, and there’s a sense of community among them that’s as strong as any I’ve encountered. It’s not unusual to lend a piece of forgotten gear to a complete stranger at the put in, help them out on the river, or give them a shuttle ride, even if it’s in the wrong direction.

As paddlers, we travel a lot, and I’ve had friends open their homes to me. Whether it’s an old friend I’ve known for 20 years, or a new friend I made on the river that day. It strikes me that in the time I’ve spent in this sport, I’ve made friends not just across the country, but around the

world; It’s a community that’s not bound by geographic or political boundaries or divisions, or even by language barriers.

In today’s world, it can be easy to forget that we can come together over something as simple as a common passion for playing in the river. I bring all this up because I’ve encountered a similar sense of community here in Franklin. The first time I came to Franklin was for the Winnipesaukee River, but I keep coming back for the community. All of us who are

here tonight, and many who are not, are passionate about this community. I see that passion and commitment in the help we get for our work days in the park, the countless volunteers at our events, the art and beautification work put in by volunteers. I walk into a restaurant or business here not as merely a patron, but as a friend.

We also see that passion for the community in the discussions of the best path forward for Franklin, even if we don’t agree on what that path is.

As an organization, it’s the passion for community that drives Mill City Park forward. Last year, we worked to expand our events to increase the community focus. First day has always been a popular event among the paddlers and locals alike, but we added the

Polar Plunge and Chili Cook Off as well. In October, we held our first ever Taco Fest; which could have only been more successful if we’d had more Tacos to serve. We also collaborated with the Franklin Opera House and Franklin Footlights Theatre to put on the first Haunted River Walk for Halloween. Those two events would not have been nearly as successful without another first - hiring our first true staff person. Sarah joined us in August, hit the ground running, and has been a phenomenal asset to us as we continue to grow the park and community around it. Which is good, because looking ahead, we have another busy

year. The funding and final pieces are falling in place to begin construction of the remainder of the whitewater park and associated trails this summer. We’re also in the planning stages of the remainder of the land based portions of the park to expand the opportunities for

members of the community who aren’t interested in getting in the river. Additionally, our events schedule is as busy as ever as we look to expand our relationships and partnerships with the community.

Let us get into all of that, and take care of some business tonight. I’ll go ahead and actually call the meeting to order."

Thank you to everyone that took the time to come to the 2025 Annual Meeting, ask engaging questions, volunteering, donating, supporting, and being a vital piece of our story.