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Meeting Highlights 2009-10 Qtr 2 (Oct - Dec)
October 7, 2009 – This morning our club installed a new member, Gordon Schoeffler who was sponsered by rotarian Nick Simoneaux (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings).
Today’s guest speaker was our very own Rotarian Frank Bradshaw (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Frank gave the club an update on the Rotary Foundation. The projector was not cooperating, so Frank had enlighten the club without his powerpoint presentation. He told us of the World Health Organization report of good news on the spread of Polio. It is down to 4 to 5 cases of Polio a week, mostly in the PAIN (Pakistan, Aftganistan, India and Nigeria) region of the world. This is good news…but Rotary’s goal is the erradication of Polio in the world. We are very close it its end. Rotarians have negotiated a truce with the Taliban to go into their regions to administer the vacinations.
Membership in Rotary is down but EClubs have caught on well. RI’s Council on Legislation has plans to vote on changes to the Rotary Constitution, possibly do away with attendance requirments, dues increase of possibly $1 per year, Urban clubs, control of funds at district level, and more long range planning.
Bill Gates originally pledged $200 Million to the foundation if Rotarians pledge $100 Million. This challenge was met so well that Mr. Gates has increased his pledge to $400 Million if Rotarians pledged $200 Million. Our club has already met this challenge. The Rotary Club of Lafayette South, along with Lake Charles Rotary Club, are now the only clubs in our district that are 100% Paul Harris Fellows.
October 14, 2009 – Today’s guest speaker was John Stege, President and CEO of Louisiana System Built Homes (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). LASBH is located in St. Martinville. John informed the club that in 2006, soon after hurricane Katrina, a group of investors from all areas had the idea of building affordable, energy efficient, quality homes built to a higher standard of construction than previously offered in factory-built or site-built homes. They believed that homes could be built “Better, Stronger, and Faster” with the technology available today. In January 2007 the company Louisiana System Built Homes was born and in March, the first production home rolled out and stands as a model on their site in St. Martinville.
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are high performance building panels used in floors, walls, and roofs for residential and light commercial buildings. These panels consist of a foam core of rigid insulation (EPS) laminated between two sheets of 7/16” Oriented Strand Board (OSB) with an industrial adhesive to form one solid structural member. These SIP panel components serve as your exterior wall and roof systems that result in a building system that is extremely strong, energy efficient and cost effective.
The advantages of working with SIPs are primarily economical and environmental. SIPs can reduce a build time by 30-40%, save 30-40% in energy cost after completion, and are made with materials that have a lesser impact on the environment than some conventional building materials.
The insulation of the walls, roof and floor are designed and built into the home in such a manner that "insulation voids" and "air infiltration" are restricted. In other words the insulation of the house ensures that unwanted hot or cold air will not sneak into the home and give the occupants greater power to control the house's internal temperature while using less electricity to run the heater or air conditioner.
The air conditioners are fitted with state of the art air filtration system that will ensure that the whole family can breathe in clean air and minimize the chance of catching air borne infections and illnesses while in the home.
In 2008 LASBH began building their homes to the “Institute for Business & Home Safety” (IBHS) standard allowing them to display their “Fortified…for a safer living” logo. “We are proud to say we are the first manufacturer in Louisiana building to these standards.”
The fortified program is designed to do the following:
Raises home's overall safety above minimum code requirements
Pays extra attention to areas that are vulnerable (windows, doors, roof construction, foundations & landscaping)
Provides a package of affordable code - + upgrades that help reduce a home's exposure to disasters
Added connectors aid in transferring forces from roofs and walls to the foundation
Thicker roof deck sheathing than required by code
Independent inspector, trained by IBHS verifies critical steps were taken in building your home
Allows for savings on home owner’s insurance through ANPAC
LASBH are dedicated to building houses that are designed and constructed with minimal negative impact to the environment, while providing occupants of the house with dramatic cost savings on their energy bill and providing them with a healthy and comfortable interior environment. Their homes are capable of being powered with renewable energy sources and will soon be producing the first factory built home that is powered by...Solar Energy. They are being kind to our planet and save money at the same time. Solar energy is "Free"! The future home owner could run their entire house solely on solar power and never pay for electricity again. Another power saver is the tankless water heaters that come standard to every home which provides heat on demand when needed.
October 21, 2009 – Today’s meeting was filled with a lot…Rotarian James Boustany, who has volunteered for many years at the Special Olympics Louisiana, was this year’s honorary chair of the 2009 State Fall Classic. James gave the club a short report of the event and the joys of volunteering for a great group like the Special Olympics Louisiana (see pictures in Photo Gallery under 2009 Special Olympics Louisiana).
Our guest speakers today were, Kay Couvillon and Virginia Robinson – International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinators for JW Faulk Elementary School and Moss Middle School (see pictures in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). This program began in Europe and now spreading throughout the United States. It is a multi-faceted, full circle approach to learning with problem solving at the core of every assessment. It is no longer memorization of material. Students are expected to be able to answer questions of…who, what, when where, why and how. In addition to regular subjects, they are to take a foreign language. The IB middle school curriculum focuses on the student’s areas of interests for each unit of study. Everything they do in the classroom will matter someplace else. It’s all part of the whole experience…Approaches to learning, Community & Service, Human Ingenuity, Environment, Health and Social Education. The technical classes focus on problem solving by identifying problems and researching to solve them. Any student can sign up for this program starting November 7th at the Cajundome. Students are chosen through a lottery selection. You can go to www.lafayettechoice.com for more information on the IB program.
Mary Speyrer, coordinator for the Homeless Children & Youth Education Program of Lafayette Parish School System inspired our club to apply for the District Simplified Grant (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). This program carries out federally mandated policies to ensure that homeless children and youth have access to a free, appropriate public education on the same basis as children and youth with established residences. Mary told us every school that receives the grant has someone to identify the needs of the homeless students. In our region, there are 15 shelters for women and children. From July 27th till now, they have identified 1,500 kids in need in our area. “There are a lot of frustrations with being poor, transportation is one of them” Mary tells us. People are cycling in and out of housing with important documents being lost. The Homeless Children & Youth Education Program’s first job is to get the kids in school and in a stable environment and keep them there. To break the cycle, we need to educate the kids. In this program, test scores are improving to grade level with children in stable housing.
Our club has pledged to help. We have applied for, and received a District Simplified Grant to purchase shoes and socks for needy children in our schools.
At the end of our meeting, those present gathered to take a picture for the World Polio Day press release. The club is sending a donation of $1,750 to the Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009 Club Donations).
October 28, 2009 - Today our club meeting was a Paul Harris Social at 6PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Rena Drive here in Lafayette. It was a pot luck social with the club cooking steaks and stuffed chicken breast. Rotarians brought side dishes and desserts. District 6200 Governor Greg Landry spoke to the club members about the Paul Harris Foundation program and how our club is one of a small handful of clubs that are now 100% Paul Harris members. Richard Churchman, District 6200 Foundation Chair and past District Governor, helped Greg hand out the Paul Harris medals and pins to our members. See pictures in the Photo Gallery under 2009 Paul Harris Social.
November 4, 2009 - Our guest speaker this morning was Dr. Sandra Bernard Dugas. She is a resident of Lafayette, an avid reader,a veteran traveler and dedicated life-long learner who enjoys a nationwide reputation for business success(see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009 Meetings). She is a professional executive coach, master trainer and group facilitator. Through her business, Dynamic Adventures, she helps managers maximize workplace performance in a wide variety of environments. She is in frequent demand as a speaker and trainer at workshops and conferences across the United States. With advanced degrees from Louisiana State University and a position as adjunct faculty in the graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulfport Campus, Sandra delivers an unmatched blend of educational excellence and business experience. She is co-author of The Savvy Manager: 5 Skills That Drive Optimal Performance, a handbook focused on the people side of managing.
Sandra told the club member to think about the word savvy! We use it to describe someone who is sharp, clever, shrewd, and perceptive with lots of “know how.” As a savvy manager, it means that you hit the mark on performance goals and show up grounded and focused as you effortlessly connect with your team, inspiring them to excellence. Does this sound like the person you’d like to be? She talked about how to harness five simple, savvy skills to grow your success -- not only in the workplace, but for life!
The five Savvy Manager skills include, self-managing, reflecting, acting consciously, collaborating and evolving. Each one builds an intrinsic foundation for extending your reach as a manager and leader.
Management is all about the relationship between people and work, making it more art than science. Savvy managers know the secret of how to create workplaces that stimulate and engage. Being savvy is an inside job requiring higher order skills and conscientious practice. It is all about developing strong, committed relationships throughout the organization. That is why becoming a Savvy Manager is absolutely essential! On her book website, you can find lots of info and a Savvy Assessment to download and take. Check it out! www.thesavvymanager.biz
November 11, 2009 – To start today’s meeting, in honor of Veteran’s Day, each Rotarian who also was a Veteran, stood and spoke of their experiences, doing their duty and protecting our great country while in the military. We thank them all.
Today’s guest speaker was John Landry from the Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Environmental Quality’s Compliance office (see picture in the Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). John gave the club a “Water Quality Survey” which enlightened the club of many areas of helping our environment, such as:
· Stormwater runoff is not treated before it reaches the Vermillion River
· What I do in my own backyard affects local waterways and its inhabitants
· It’s not ok if I litter because it harms the environment
· I can improve the condition of our waterways if I pick up after my pet when it uses the bathroom outside
· I should tell a neighbor that it is not acceptable to blow leaves or grass clippings into a storm drain
· Wetlands and buffer areas are important to protect because they provide habitat for plants and animals, protect water quality, and give us hurricane protection
· You should not fertilize your yard right before it rains
· Litter, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizer, sediment, and motor oil are considered non-point source pollution (and the biggest source of pollution in our waterways
· More people and increased development have a negative impact on the water quality of the Vermillion River and its waterways
· Automobiles should be washed on the grass or at a commercial carwash so the dirty, soapy water does not flow into our waterways
· I can reduce the amount of trash I create by reducing, reusing, and recycling things.
John handed out the Lafayette Pride Guide, a comprehensive guide to waste knowledge, waste disposal, recycling, reuse, and environmental programs for a better community.
November 18, 2009 - Our guest speaker at today’s meeting was Jeffery Benton with Dale Carnegie Training (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Founded in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has evolved from one man's belief in the power of self-improvement to a performance-based training company with offices worldwide. They focus on giving people in business the opportunity to sharpen their skills and improve their performance in order to build positive, steady, and profitable results.
Dale Carnegie's original body of knowledge has been constantly updated, expanded and refined through nearly a century's worth of real-life business experiences. The 160 Carnegie Managing Directors around the world use their training and consulting services with companies of all sizes in all business segments to increase knowledge and performance. The result of this collective, global experience is an expanding reservoir of business acumen that their clients rely on to drive business results.
Headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, Dale Carnegie Training is represented in all 50 of the United States and over 75 countries. More than 2,700 instructors present Dale Carnegie Training programs in more than 25 languages. Dale Carnegie Training is dedicated to serving the business community worldwide. In fact, approximately 7 million people have completed Dale Carnegie Training.
Dale Carnegie Training emphasizes practical principles and processes by designing programs that offer people the knowledge, skills and practices they need to add value to the business. Connecting proven solutions with real-world challenges, Dale Carnegie Training is recognized internationally as the leader in bringing out the best in people.
As part of their ISO 9000:2001 certification and Dale Carnegie Training’s commitment to quality, they measure the effectiveness of their training. In an ongoing global survey on customer satisfaction, 99 percent of Dale Carnegie Training graduates express satisfaction with the training they receive.
The vast majority of Dale Carnegie Training local franchising organizations in the U.S have been accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). Recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, ACCET is a voluntary group of educational organizations dedicated to promoting the highest standards of continuing education and training.
November 25, 2009 – Today’s meeting was our annual Thanksgiving Basket meeting. Club members volunteered to bring all the necessary fixings for a complete Thanksgiving dinner (see pictures in the Photo Gallery under 2009 Thanksgiving Baskets). We put together 50 Thanksgiving baskets for donating to needy families in our community.
December 2, 2009 – Today’s guest speaker was Dave Baker, Meteorologist at KATC-TV3 (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). He gave the club an interesting update of our current weather conditions which included the possibility of SNOW for our area. This would be a historic event for our area as it has never snowed here two years in a row. All members remembered last year’s snow fall that was predicted not to accumulate. It did accumulate and caused a lot of travel problems for Lafayette. Dave told us this snow fall would be mixed with rain and not accumulate (just like last year). Dave answered several questions from the members about his job on meteorological conditions and forecasting.
December 9, 2009 – Today’s meeting was the first of two annual meetings where we recognize our area’s Top High School Students. At this meeting we recognized two students from four of our area high schools. The students recognized today were from Carencro High School, Episcopal School of Acadiana, Acadiana High School and The Academy of the Sacred Heart.
Rotarian Joshua Carlson was our Master of Ceremonies. Joshua introduced the respective schools’ counselor who then introduced their two top students. He also presented each student with a gift card and certificate of recognition. Each student was asked to say a few words on their accomplishments and their plans for the future. The students honored were:
Carencro High School - Walter Guillory & Garrett Darbonne
ESA - Carly Boudreaux & Alex Elkins
Acadiana High School - Brock Guidry & Hope Sprowl
Sacred Heart - Lexi Hubbell & Madison Tompkins
(see pictures in Photo Gallery under “Awards”)
December 16, 2009 – “Today’s speaker has been a member of our Rotary Club for the past seven years, and served as President in 2008-09. Before that, he was a member of the Kaplan Rotary Club where he served as President in 1998-99. He has a degree in agriculture from USL. He has been through Dale Carnagie business training courses, he participated in the LSU Agricultural Leadership Development program in 1996-98, and served as President of Ag Leaders of Louisiana in 2000-01. He also served as President of the Louisiana Turfgrass Association in 2007-09, and currently serves as vice president of the South Rayne Water Corporation. He owns two small businesses based in Rayne. Every week in Rotary, someone introduces our guest speaker.
Here to give us tips on How To Introduce A Speaker, please welcome Nick Simoneaux.”(…APLAUSE, APLAUSE, APLAUSE…STANDING OVATION… MORE APLAUSE…FANS FAINTING…ETC.)
Nick led our club in the Fourteen Introduction Tips as found at www.llrx.com/columns/guide8.htm with tips such as #1 – Know the Speakers name and how to pronounce it…, or #12 – Never use the old cliché that the speaker needs no introduction(see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings).
December 23, 2009 - No Meeting
December 30, 2009 - No Meeting
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