Ville Platte Rotary welcomes recent guests
February 12, Meeting
Rotarian June Ledoux invited newly-elected sheriff Eddie Soileau to speak at the February 12, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. He said he was supposed to take office July 1, but as outgoing sheriff Wayne Morein was accepted to a position on the state parole board, he said he would be sworn in March 1. He said everything was in good shape and he just wanted to “fine tune” and improve the office in regards to generating money and providing better service to the community. He noted right now, the budget is in the black, but you can’t know what to expect in the future, as the budget is very tight. He added hiring trustees for free labor is possible, but as of now, there aren’t enough certified officers to supervise them while they work. He also said the parish jail holds state prisoners and added the sheriff’s office could not operate without funds from both prisons. He added he and Morein would be going to Lafayette to speak with LCS about the Pine Prairie prison.
Soileau said the parish has a little over 2.5 million in the budget, which is not a lot to operate the department because we are a poor parish. As a result, he is looking at ways to generate funds, including instating the LACE program in Ville Platte.
In addressing the lack of juvenile facilities, he suggested it might be a good idea for four or five parishes to get together and support one centrally-located facility to hold juvenile offenders.
He said he would like to beef up patrol for visibility and security and he also would like to reinstate the DARE program sometime in the future.
February 19, Meeting
Dr. William Nunez, Chancelor at LSUE, made his annual address to the Ville Platte Rotary Club during the February 19, meeting. He gave an update on the school, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. He said plans are in the works for a $13 million community classroom/adult education building and construction should begin next year. Once complete, the building will house 3,000 students. He stated LSUE is the only campus in the LSU system to grow because of the increase of its service region.
To celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary, Nunez said a brick plaza is underway, and alumni and students are invited to purchase a commemorative brick.
Nunez discussed Louisiana’s shrinking high school graduation rate, which was exaserbated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He said a goal was to increase adult education through online education or getting them back in the classroom. He added the average age of students at LSUE is 24, with 73 percent 25 or younger.
He noted the school is well-accredited and received a high ACT/student satisfaction rating. He added the school has also been recognized for its winning “electronic” campus and its athletic and academic championships.
In concluding his presentation, Nunez thanked the Ville Platte club for its generosity with the LSUE scholarship presented each year. He also announced this year’s recipients, Ainsley LaHaye, Robert LaHaye, Kelly Deshotels and Emily Reed.
February 26, Meeting
Rotarian Greg Manuel invited Stephen Berzas with Mamou Patio Center to speak at the February 26, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. Berzas spoke about energy efficiency in the home and ways to improve it. He said “green” building is the way to go and told the group about a “going green” show to be held in New Orleans. He said all products must now meet the Energy Star requirements for the home and added the new light bulbs will soon be mandated and the old light bulbs will be a thing of the past. He added if the home is not meeting energy star regulations, it will be obsolete in a few years.
Berzas said he built his log home with structall, styrofoam squares that provide insulation and help preserve energy by reducing the use of the air conditioner and heater. He said this was a safe way to fortify your home and offset your electric bill.
March 4, Meeting
The Ville Platte Rotary Club welcomed several guests at its March 4, meeting. Rotarian Leonard Fontenot gave a brief history of the Paul Harris Fellowship and the Rotary Foundation, explaining the difference in the two. He said when Rotarians become Paul Harris fellows, the money goes to the Rotary Foundation. The foundation, which was started after Harris, the man who founded the Rotary organization, died, is a non-profit organization that does a lot of good works around the world. The foundation also supports cultural exchange programs and supports the Rotary causes.
Kay Thompson and April Soileau with Faith House addressed the club about the importance of stopping domestic violence and the work of Faith House. They said domestic violence is rampant in Evangeline Parish and they are here to help. They stated it is important to educate children at a young age that domestic violence is wrong. They also said a fundraising dance was set for March 28, at the civic center. They said $10,000 was needed to keep the Ville Platte office running. They also noted all of the funds raised stay in Evangeline Parish.
Gilbert “Winky” Aucoin also visited the meeting and discussed the upcoming Dewey Bolfa Cajun Culture and Creole Festival. Known as Folk Roots, the event was set for April 18, through April 25, at Chicot State Park. He said many artists and musicians will be attending the event to educate and help children and adults learn about the Cajun and Creole culture and history. He discussed the schedule of events and urged everyone to attend. He said many other events are held around the world, but there is something special about having the festival here in Ville Platte. He noted many of the participants come from within 90 miles of the area so its like being home.