VP Rotary welcomes LaCour as guest speaker

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Lifestyles Editor

September 22, Meeting
Rotarian Greg Vidrine invited Mark LaCour with the Gonzales Rotary Club to address the September 22, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. He previously served as district governor of Rotary District #6200 and is currently serving as the district fund raising chairperson. LaCour said that District Governor Mike Hayes asked him to chair the fund raising committee for the Rotary Foundation. He discussed the importance of Rotarians donating to the foundation, which helps assist the less fortunate worldwide. He said that members who donate $1,000 or more each year become Paul Harris Fellow members. A portion of those funds goes directly back into the district for various projects and programs. He encourages members to sign up and donate what they can through Rotary Direct. LaCour stated the Rotary Foundation is a 4-Star foundation and the money goes where it is supposed to go. He added that all Rotarians have a common goal and must work together to achieve that goal of helping the less fortunate. He stated that 92 percent of the monies raised goes to charity.
After speaking about the foundation, LaCour shared a video of his recent trip to Belize and India with his fellow Rotarians. He noted that, through the assistance from Rotary International, polio has been eradicated in India. He also shared how Rotary helped Belize with clean drinking water.
LaCour closed by telling Rotarians to be proud of what they have accomplished, saying that like-minded people must work together to do good in the world.
Rotarians also briefly heard from Eunice Rotary Club President John Pucheu. He invited the Ville Platte club to attend the first annual Experience Louisiana festival to be held October 17-18, at LSU Eunice. The event will feature bands, booths and native crafts. He encouraged the members to host a club booth at the festival, which is being sponsored by the Eunice club. He also asked members to borrow the club’s big Rotary wheel and place it out at the entrance to the planned Rotary Village, where several clubs from throughout District #6200 will be set up for the festival.