VP Rotary Club welcomes recent guests

By: HEATHER
BOGARD
Lifestyles Editor

January 19, Meeting
Rotarian Rob Eastin invited Senator Eric LaFleur to be the guest speaker for the January 19, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. LaFleur gave an update and recap of the recent legislative session. He announced he was named as the new chairman of the state senate finance committee. He said this appointment by his fellow legislators is a big responsibility and a testament to his hard work, as all tax and expenditure bills must pass through this most persuasive committee before getting to the governor’s office.
He stated that he and his fellow law makers have a major hurdle ahead in trying to overcome a $750 million dollar deficit. LaFleur said that Louisiana residents will soon see many cuts in state services and programs, as well as higher taxes to help the state overcome this major budget shortfall. He added that the Tops scholarship program will not be funded this year due to the budget cuts. LaFleur also said the state’s finances will be affected by the failing oil industry, but not quite to the extent of the impact in the 1980’s under Governor Buddy Roemer’s administration. He said that a special session of the legislature will be conducted in the next several weeks to discuss the state’s budget concerns.
LaFleur stated the election of Democrat John Bel Edwards was “the first election where character played a key role” in picking the new governor. He said that he had already met with him more times than he met with Jindal during his eight-year term.
He closed by saying that he was flattered by being considered to run for the seat vacated by Senator David Vitter. He admitted there is a lot to take into consideration before he makes a definite decision to run for the position.
During the meeting, President Mitch Fontenot announced that the club will pay half of the Paul Harris fee of $1,000 for two members and that the Shots for Tots program will be held sometime in April. He said that a clean up date for the Native Plant Heritage Garden will be held sometime in February. Fontenot also said that plans are in the works to replace the plaque listing past club presidents from 2000-2015. The plaque was lost in the Rendezvous fire a couple of years ago. Once obtained, Fontenot said that the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce had agreed to house the plaques for the club at the chamber office.
January 26, Meeting
Rotarian Mable Foreman invited Debbie Clark, manager of Chateau Des Amis, to be the guest speaker for the January 26, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. Clark stated that, translated from French, “Chateau Des Amis” means “house of friends,” and the residents and staff have formed a very close-knit, family atmosphere. She said the one bedroom apartment units are available to very low income family single or married residents, with the income requirments being $17,000 per year for a single resident and $19,000 per year for a couple sharing the apartment. Apartments are leased for a 12-month term and feature wall-to-wall carpeting, stove and refrigerator, central air and heat, emergency call system and smoke detectors. They are also cable ready. Residents are allowed to have pets in accordance with the facility’s pet policy. Clark noted the facility is professionally managed by the Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation (EHDOC). Clark said the staff takes pride in providing an atmosphere where residents can live with comfort, security, dignity and peace of mind. She emphasized, “The staff doesn’t just come to work for the paycheck. It takes special and dedicated people to work with the elderly and become friends and family.” Clark then went over some of the amenities provided for residents living at the facility, including handicap accessibility, activity room with kitchen, laundry room, library with computers and internet access, 24-hour emergency maitenance, meals on wheels and pharmacy delivery and transportation to and from appointments and for errands. Also, a service coordinator, Randy Thompson, is on staff to assist residents with anything they may need, from scheduling appointments to assisting with everyday chores, such as checking the mail.