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Meeting Highlights 2009-10 Qtr 3 (Jan-Mar)
January 6, 2010 – Continuing what has become our annual tradition of January meetings with guest speakers updating our club of the financial and economic outlook of Lafayette, Rotarian Gene Fortier introduced Rusty Cloutier, President & CEO of Midsouth Bank & Book Author(see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). He is also the former director of the Federal Reserve's New Orleans branch and former chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America. Rusty told the club “we have strong banks here in Louisiana and the financial future of “Lafayette is gonna be good.” We have it much better than those in the state of Michigan (and several other similar states). Louisiana learned its lesson from the "bust" of the 1980's and has been very prudent in recent "boom" years.
Rusty began seeing signs of trouble in 2002 while serving as chairman of the advisory committee of Fannie Mae. He explains the crisis in his first book, Big Bad Banks, a self-published book detailing how big banks led to the current economic downturn. “I can tell you right now what caused it: pure greed and ego," he said.
He spoke of the “top 10 Financial Institutions,” major banks taking bigger risks in lending practices all for the quest for profits, and federal regulators quickly backing up those considered “too big to fail.” It’s like playing Government Black Jack…the government puts up the money, if you win, you keep, and if you lose, the government keeps putting more money up for you…”Want to play?”
January 13, 2010 – Today’s guest speaker was Bill Fenstermaker, Chairman and CEO of C. H. Fenstermaker and Associates and Chairman of the Board of IberiaBank(see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Bill informed the club members on how he thinks of the economic situation in Acadiana. He described how the 1980’s shaped him. In the 80’s, we learned leverage was not good. Today, our economy is more diverse, although the Lafayette economy is still driven by oil. Now it is the mirror image of the 80’s. Banks today must re-appraise their collateral with some banks (in other states) being capital deficient, and resulting in failures.
He said that 70% of oil consumption is used in Auto/Transportation. The government intends to increase the price of oil until alternative fuels make sense without government subsidy. His idea: to take the LNG Port (off shore in Louisiana) and reverse the process to sell our natural gas. This would increase the price of natural gas. Approximately 60% of all pipeline oil is from Louisiana. The bright spot in Louisiana is the Haynsville shale find, but there are lawsuits to stop fracking and forces in Washington, DC to repeal tax breaks for producers.
January 20, 2010 – This morning we opened our meeting with a report from Rotarian Dr. Pat Magee on his planned Medical Mission trip to San Cristobal, Mexico. It is scheduled for February 13 – 20, 2010. They will be seeing patients every day, serving the urban poor. We wish him well in this wonderful mission.
We also had a report on the Haiti Relief effort by Rotary International. Members asked how they could help and were told they could write a check to the District 6200 foundation or they could request a specified amount added to their next membership statements.
Today’s guest speaker was Dave Welch, CEO of Stone Energy & 2010-11 Chairman of the Board of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce ( see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Dave retired from BP a few years ago, but the Lafayette culture kept him here. He gave the members highlights of Stone Energy, a leading independent Gulf of Mexico producer where they have a diversified commodity mix – approximately 50% oil and 50% natural gas. They are well-positioned in the Deep Water GOM (Gulf of Mexico) – their Pyrenees discovery was the first prospect for Stone’s new deepwater exploration team. Stone has a significant position in the NE Pennsylvania and West Virginia prospective for the Marcellus Shale (~30,000 net acre).
Their Strategy and Tactics are to “Survive and Thrive”, to remain liquid, hedge to protect the downside and access external capital. They will focus on the GOM and Marcellus Shale while building a multi-year prospect inventory. While they optimize production, they will focus on controlling costs and mitigate hurricane risk – something we all must do here in South Louisiana. You can go to www.stoneenergy.com for more information.
January 27, 2010 – Today’s guest speaker was Bill Bacque, CEO of Van Eaton & Romero who penned a Prayer of the Who Dat Nation and read it to our happy Saints Fan/members(see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Bill gave an update on the state of the real estate market here in Lafayette. “In the end, it’s still a good market for the housing industry here in Lafayette” he said. In the rest of the country, we hear of a collapse in the housing industry. In 2005, we experienced an increase in residential sales due to Hurricane Katrina. In 2006, we still had an increase with no correction. But from 2007 to 2009, sales declined by 20.7% . From 2007-2008 average sale price declined by 4.8% but from 2008-2009 the average sale price increased by 4.8%. The number of home sales essentially stabilized between 2008-2009 at 2,268 sales. Since home sales peaked in 2007, they dropped by 407 over the next two years. That is a decline of 15.2% over the years 2008 and 2009 combined, but in 2009, sales were still 9.7% ahead of the pre-Katrina year of 2004. Median sales prices have remained unchanged over the past three years because there is much less demand for the upper end homes. What’s Hot? Bill says the homes valued between $150,000 - $299,999. In 2009, 56% of all sales in Lafayette parish were between $150,000 - $299,999. The factors that will have the greatest impact on the housing in Lafayette parish in 2010 are – Employment, Interest Rates, Credit Availability and the Economy. You can email him at bbacque@vaneatonromero.com to receive a monthly copy of the full Acadiana Residential Real Estate Report.
February 3, 2010 – Today’s meeting started with an update from Rotarian Dr. Pat Magee about his Medical Mission to Mexico where he and other doctors will spend a week in the southern most state of Mexico seeing mainly Mayan Indian patients in the town of San Cristobal. They will be leaving February 13and we wish him a safe trip.
We also got a report on the Mid Year Assembly by Rotarian Karin Viator – “It was the biggest one ever” and all had a good time.
The District Conference will be April 22, 23 & 24 here in Lafayette, so everyone should try to attend.
Our guest speaker was Steward Clark with Merrill Lynch. Steward is a former member of our club who will be returning as soon as he completes a few projects he is working on – (see his picture in the Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). He gave his Merrill Lynch stock market report which included a summary of the 2009 market and what to look for in 2010. The stock market itself was up – the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 22.01%, the S&P 500 Index was up 25.93% and international stocks were also up 27.75%. From March till the end of the year, the stock market increased better than 65%. Interest Rates (as of 21/31/09) for a 90 day Treasury Bill was at .06% and a 10 year Treasury Bond was at 3.85% (the 30 yr. T-Bond at 4.5%). Gold is up for 2009 at 25.72%. Crude Oil ranged from $43 to $74 and GDP was a negative (2.5%) – the first decline in 50 years. Inflation (CPI) increased 2.7%. Unemployment Rate in January 2009 was 7.7% and by December 2009 was 10.0%.
For the first time the government stepped in with stimulus packages and tripled the deficits which equaled 11% of GDP ( in 2008 the deficit was just 2% of GDP). Now we are over $13 Trillion in debt – which has doubled in the last 6 years. It is now as 100% of the total economy.
In the coming year, we should expect GDP between 3% - 4% with unemployment to remain at 10% for the next couple years. The savings rate used to be at 10% (20 years ago) is now at around 5% (was a negative number in 2005). Steward forecasts an up year for the market at 12% growth and earnings to grow 24% (due to cuts in business expenses and jobs). All in all, most people are positive about the economy for the next year.
February 10, 2010 – February 7, 2010 was our 30th Anniversary for Lafayette South. We had a short reflection/celebration of our club's impact in the local and international communities with each past president in attendance, saying few words about his/her tenure. Gene Fortier (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings) the club’s first president, said a few words on its formation.
Also, we had our district governor Greg Landry attending our meeting. He did the honors of inducting Mike Blanchard, Cecilia Blanchard and Lee Womack (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings).
Today’s guest speaker was Art Hawkins, Scout Executive for the Evangeline Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America (see his picture in the Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Art spoke on the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America. This is more than just a big birthday party. Art said, “It’s more than a celebration of our heritage as the nation’s largest service organization for America’s youth.”
BSA has been guiding young people along the Scouting trail since the decade when William H. Taft was President. And all during that time their founding principles have remained intact.
The strength of the Scout Oath and Scout Law has transcended that first century. From World Wars to Cold Wars. Automobiles to space travel. And from black and white TVs to global neighborhoods on the World Wide Web. They have guided millions through it all, and yet it is only the beginning.
The 100th Anniversary Celebration is coming to life! BSA is launching a number of 100th Anniversary programs to help get everyone involved. Those programs are designed to get everyone engaged in celebrating their 100th Anniversary – from the youngest Scout – to their oldest alumni.
The National Hall of Leadership - A national recognition of Scouts and Scouting volunteers who made a significant difference in the life of another by the extraordinary service they have given … and the Scouting virtues they have modeled. Art asked us to go to Scouting.org/100years and submit a nomination.
BSA Alumni Connection - A central hub for Scouting alumni, featuring access to a new centennial online scrapbook and other tools to help BSA alumni stay connected with Scouting
Generations Connection - Working in partnership with The Arbor Day Foundation, a look at Scouting’s family tree through a series of events that provide an opportunity to celebrate the ways that Scouting strengthens families and nurtures important bonds. Discussions are underway now to extend this program with the creation of a new, BSA Centennial Forest.
A Year of Celebration, A Century of Making a Difference - A series of awards developed to explore the values of Leadership, Character, Achievement, Community Service, and Environmental Stewardship as the BSA celebrates acentury of living by the Scout Law. This program offers a way for everyone, including Scouting alumni—to participate in the 100th Anniversary and demonstrate Scouting’s positive impact on communities.
Get in the Game! Geocaching Events - Fun, high-tech scavenger hunts will use GPS devices to find “caches” or treasures that have been hidden for the game. Non-Scouts will be invited to join their Scouting friends in these day-long events that show the adventurous side of Scouting.
Adventure Base 100 - This interactive tour will travel the country giving visitors an exciting view of the history and future of the Boy Scouts of America. With rock-climbing walls, experience kiosks, a ceremonial stage, and more, it is sure to both inspire and entertain.
Pitch for Scouting - Major League Baseball has partnered with the BSA to celebrate their centennial. They’re working closely to build a program that showcases the value and heritage of both organizations – emphasizing fun, fitness, and other shared values.
A Shining Light Across America - During one evening of the National Jamboree, they will use virtual hook-ups to connect millions of Scouts in communities across the country … bringing together the entire Scouting family for a single, nationwide opportunity to celebrate and reflect. As well as broadcasting out from the Jamboree, they will also bring in local participation from around the country.
In addition to these programs, they will be participating in major events – like having a float in the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade.
There will be local celebrations across the country.
Congress has commissioned a BSA Centennial Coin from the U.S. Mint.
And much, much more.
They are actively speaking out more and more to raise the awareness and public perception of Scouting.
Their legacy of instilling leadership, character, service, and a host of other values has kept Scouting vital and relevant for 100 years. They are off to a great start. Let’s make Scouting even greater.
You can be a part of the legacy Saturday February 20,2010 at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center in Butte La Rose for the Evangeline Area Council 100 Years of Scouting - Centennial Forest Good Turn. All Scouts and their families are invited to join them for their council’s “Centennial Forest” service project to plant 4,457 trees in honor of each Scout in Acadiana.
February 17, 2010 – Today’s guest speaker was Tony Robichaux, Head Baseball Coach at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Coach Robichaux (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings) told us the baseball and softball programs are off to a good start. The baseball program opens with its first game this weekend. They started practicing January 19th and they are looking forward to their first game against Nicholls State University. They will play a 3 game series with the first two games here in Lafayette and the third game at Nicholls. After this series they will play Southern Miss. After this season UNO will drop down to Division III and the conference will adjust by asking each team to play their closest rival twice. In our case, that’s UL Monroe. We have 33 home games this season. Due to the economy, they are trying to stay home more. Budgets are hitting home with all teams. In 2013, they will play LSU and Alabama, with Alabama being home and home.
This year we will hear more talk about the RPI – Ratings Percentage Index. Teams will be compared with this index which is calculated using 50% on your strength of schedule. 25% on your record against Division I opponents and 25% on the record of your opponent’s opponents. The only way a team with a low RPI can make it to the NCAA Tournament is to win their conference tournament.
There are 297 teams playing Division I baseball. The RPI and conference tournaments will reduce that number for the NCAA Tournament to its first field of 64. These teams have a combination of pitching, hitting, and defense. After the initial tournament play, the second field will be reduced to 16 and the final field is reduced to 8 for the College World Series with all teams having good pitching, hitting and defense.
UL has just put down a new artificial surface on the field. We’ll see more and more of this in college baseball. The biggest challenge is making it more like a real baseball field. There are no more carpet fields like in the first generation of artificial turf. They are more artificial stands of grass backed up with small rubber pellets. This still made baseballs bounce a lot. So for baseball fields, they use less rubber pellets and more sand. The field requires less maintenance. No more tarps, less rainouts and all that needs to be done is just cover the pitchers’ mound. Construction of the new field started with an extensive drainage system of pipes under catch basins which is under compact crushed limestone. The playing surface is laid on top of this with a warning track made of a harder surface for the players to feel the difference when they are on it, warning them of the impending wall. This new field, requiring much less maintenance, allows for more practice time for the team. The players love the new field, but they now must start their slides earlier because they slide longer.
Coach Robichaux says the number one problem for the team, is time management for the players. They must deal with school life, a social life and baseball – including practice and games. He says that communication is the key. The players must keep in constant communication with their coaches and professors, especially in the Spring semester. In the fall, they take a larger load of classes so that they can have a lighter class load in the spring.
February 24, 2010 - Our topic today was "How we reach out to our community and serve" The speakers were club president Ken Stansbury and Pat Carpenter Bourgeois, Special Olympics of Louisiana. Ken reminded us of how the Rotary Club of Lafayette South reaches out to our community with the help of the club’s biggest fundraiser- the annual golf tournament. Last year, our golf tournament raised over $30,000 for us to share with Special Olympics Louisiana. Of that money, we were able to donate over $18,000 to Special Olympics Louisiana and allocate the remaining amount to several charitable organizations in our area including (but not limited to) CASA, Ways to Work, Newspapers in the Classroom, the Good Behavior Program at Lafayette Middle School, The Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus, Boy Scouts of America, Junior Achievement of Acadiana, and several other worthy organizations. Ken reminded us of how important the golf tournament is to so many people and, like the motto for our District Governor… “the future of Rotary is in your hands.”
After President Ken spoke, he introduced Pat Carpenter Bourgeois to the club members. Pat is the President and CEO of Special Olympics Louisiana. She informed our members that Special Olympics Louisiana (SOLA) statewide has 17 paid employees with their area programs managed by volunteers. They conduct more than 100 competitions and 100 training schools annually and conduct 4 camps in the summer months. There are 12,000 volunteers who serve 13,000 athletes with 120,000 waiting to be served.
The Acadiana area serves 1,856 athletes and another 16,474 that could be served. It sent 346 athletes and coaches to state level events last year and will send 9 athletes and coaches to National Games. Our Special Olympians participate in athletics, track an field, aquatics, bowling, bocce, basketball, softball, power lifting and golf.
The Acadiana area budget is $37,000 (statewide is $2.7 Million) and the Fall Classic in Carencro which conducts the statewide softball tournament has a budget of $64,000. Pat thanked Rotarian James Boustany and our club members for volunteering in the food service department at the State Fall Classic. You can go to www.laso.org for more information about Special Olympics Louisiana. Mr. Fred Reggie, founder and CEO of Scholar Wise spoke to the club members about the $120,000 ScholarWise Scholarship giveaway program benefiting Special Olympics Louisiana. The winner of this Scholarship would be able to use the $120,000 funds at any private school (Elementary thru High School) and College. Golf Tournament Chairman Charles Trent purchased a ticket as soon as he could after our meeting (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings).
March 3, 2010 – at today’s meeting we heard from fellow Rotarian Dr. Pat Magee on his medical mission to southern Mexico. He had just returned from the town of San Cristobal where he and other doctors spent a week seeing patients every day from February 13-20 serving the urban poor, mainly Mayan Indian patients.
Fellow Rotarian Steve Horn, pastor at First Baptist Church discussed the Buckets of Hope program for the Haiti relief effort. The buckets are a 5 gallon container with a lid and instructions on what foods to purchase (a shopping list) and how to pact them in the buckets. The food purchased would cost approximately $20 per bucket. Rotarians who picked up a bucket can bring them back to our next meeting fully packed and Steve would get them delivered.
Rotarian Ken Meyers introduced our guest speakers Donald Sagrara – the Executive Director of the Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District and former Rotarian Don Kelley (see picture in the Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). They spoke on the history and benefits of the fresh water supply for the Teche-Vermilion basins and urged our members to vote for the tax renewal at the March 27th election. Historically, the Bayou Teche and Vermilion River were supplied water from the Atchafalaya River via that river’s connection with Bayou Courtableau but the construction of protection levees severed the connection resulting in a deterioration in water quality. The Teche-Vermilion Project was designed to help restore water quality and to provide additional water for irrigation. Congress authorized construction of the project in 1966. The Bayou Fuselier weir construction began in 1976 and the completion of the pumping station located 2 miles upstream from Krotz Springs in 1982 completed the project with a total cost of $39.7 million. Local participation in the project was created in 1969 by passage of Act #41 by Sen. Edgar Mouton creating the “Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District” which comprises Lafayette, Vermilion, St. Martin and Iberia Parishes. The first tax to fund the district was passed in 1970 and its renewals passed every 10 years after that.
The water is pumped from the Atchafalaya River into a six mile long conveyance channel that flows into Bayou Courtableau. From there 90% of it flows into Bayou Teche starting in Port Barre. The water then flows south to the intersection with Bayou Fuselier in Arnaudville. About 10% of the pumped water enters the Vermilion River through Bayou Fuselier with the rest flowing south in Bayou Teche. The major benefit of this is improved water quality in both the Bayou Teche and Vermilion River for Industry, Agriculture, Aquaculture, wildlife and tourism. Studies show that E. Coli is significantly reduced in both waterways when the pumps are running and water is flowing. This also aids in hurricane recovery by restoring water quality and helps conserve our ground water for future generations.
March 10, 2010 – Today’s guest speaker was Arlene Hebert, Author of Angeltale Adventure books (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Arlene grew up in Jeanerette, Louisiana and graduated from Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans in 1972 with a diploma in nursing and graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine in 1987 with a BS in Professional Arts – Healthcare Administration. She currently lives in Lafayette with her husband Lyon. She was a nurse for more than 23 years at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, starting in 1972 as an emergency room nurse before becoming the head of nursing for the last sixteen years of her career. While on her first medical leave of absence, she came up with the idea of writing children’s books the day after Mother’s Day, 1995. “I think very simply, this idea hit me and I saw these pictures in my head… two little angels sitting at God’s feet, and He is teaching them to be guardian angels” said Hebert. Those angels became the main characters in a series of children’s books called The Angeltale Adventures. Hebert said, “at first, I jotted a few things down with an ink pen and paper but really didn’t intend for it go anywhere else.” She said she continued to work in the health care industry until 1999, taking at least one day of work off a week to work on her new writing career. “The hospital was really great, they let me do pretty much what I wanted,” Hebert said. After a second medical leave of absence in 1999, Hebert decided to focus on her writing full-time with the aim of completing her first book called Angels in Training: Twin Angel School. Written by Hebert and illustrated by Peter Berchman DeHart, the books tell the tales of little angels whose adventures offer life lessons to young children. One hundred percent of the proceeds for the book go to support the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Her dream finally came true when her book was published in 2009 by her own publishing company, Miss Doll Publishing in Lafayette. Hebert said in the past three months, the book has raised more than $15,000 for St. Jude’s Hospital last year and another $7,000 so far this year. If people would like to purchase the book, Hebert said that it is available on her Web site: www.angeltaleadventures.com, as well as at Crossroads Catholic Bookstore in Lafayette, Southern Belle Boutique in Broussard, Cashway Pharmacy in Scott and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital’s gift shop.
Hebert said that she also has six other completed stories she will publish one at a time. She said that while writing was never an original goal of hers, she is glad it all worked out. “It never started off as a dream or passion of mine, but today it has become my passion,” Hebert said.
March 17, 2010 – Today’s guest speaker was Conrad Comeaux, Lafayette Parish Tax Assessor (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). Mr. Comeaux informed the club members of the issues involved in the consolidation of Lafayette parish and the city of Lafayette. When the city/parish first consolidated, 66% of the total population of the parish lived in the city of Lafayette. Today, it is at 60%. Of registered voters in the parish, 62.6% lived in the city when the city/parish first consolidated and today, that number is at 56%. Therefore, 44% of the voters outside the city dictate what happens inside Lafayette. “The city gave up its governance to the parish,” said Mr. Comeaux. The surrounding cities like Broussard, Youngsville, Scott, Duson and Carencro have opted out of the consolidation. At first, some thought they would eventually come in. But that did not happen. “It’s like taxation with more representation,” Comeaux said, “with the whole parish representing the city of Lafayette.”
At first, when consolidation was considered, people were saying “parish government is broke.” “Not true,” he said, parish revenues still pays for parish employees. We have not consolidated revenues and assets. There is a 70/30 split of revenues between the parish and city.
The overriding issue is governance. For example, “Carencro does not want Broussard to tell them how to spend their money,” said Comeaux.
The city of Lafayette is surrounded by growing cities blocking Lafayette in. Lafayette is not able to grow by annexing and is becoming the “Inner City.” “We all know what happens to inner cities,” said Comeaux….”older neighborhoods deteriorate, school districts deteriorate, people move out, the homes become rent homes.”
The LUS rate hike started most of this discussion…people outside the city want to tell the city how to spend its money. Originally, the 5 Lafayette council members within the city voted on LUS issues, but today all 7 council members vote on them.
Consolidation works when the city and parish all act as one, like the New Orleans parish government. “In order to solve these issues, what is needed is a revision of our city/parish consolidation charter,” said Comeaux.
March 24, 2010 – At today’s meeting, Mary Speyrer with the Homeless Children & Youth Education Program of the Lafayette Parish School System presented the club with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of our valuable contribution to their program. This contribution involved the club’s district simplified grant of shoes and socks for the homeless children in the school system. Those who volunteered their time to work on this project were asked to come forward to receive the certificate with club President Ken Stansbury (see picture in Photo Gallery under Awards).
The remainder of the meeting was a report from the Golf Tournament Committee chairman John Guilbeau (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings) with subcommittee reports from fellow Rotarians. This 5th Annual Rotary Club of Lafayette South Golf Tournament is the biggest fund raising event of our club. Our club teams up with Special Olympics Louisiana to raise funds for both organizations. Rotarian Charles Trent reported on the status of sponsorships and teams signed up for the tournament – we still need a few more sponsors. Rotarian Ron Gaubert reported on the prizes to be given out at this years tournament and Rotarian Brandon Hyde reported on the Food and Beverage plans he has in store for everyone this year – more prizes and more food. Club President-elect Jerry Carlson passed around the Volunteer sheet for everyone to sign up to help. We will have an opening ceremony with a torch run involving the Special Olympians, military, law enforcement, the fire department, Honor Guard, and a singer. The Special Olympians will have golf skill games and entertainment from Mitch the Magician. The closing ceremony will include music, recognition of special guests and dignitaries and more. “This year,” John reports, “will be more of an event than just a golf tournament.”
March 31, 2010 – Today’s guest speakers were Ken Arceneaux, owner of Oak Heart Farm’s Humic Compost “Pooyie” and their facilities manager, Brian Stanley (see picture in Photo Gallery under 2009-10 Meetings). At their 40 acre facility, raw product(horse stable waste) is trucked in and placed on site. After placement and row alignment, the composting begins. The process takes 8 to 12 weeks to achieve a finished and tested product. During the composting stage, compost accelerants (naturally occurring bacteria and microbes)are added, turned and blended with their state of the art composting equipment. Moisture, temperature, and carbon dioxide levels are monitored 7 days a week to assure optimum breakdown of the particles. As the temperature decreases and microbes cultivate and thrive, "HUMIC" acid forms and creates long chain polymers. Additionally, as the microbes breakdown the raw material, the castings create additional food for other beneficial bacteria. It is Nature working at its most optimum efficiency. “We just help it along” said Ken. This process delivers a finished product free of weed seeds, pathogens and any potential noxious chemicals. Their expert staff heats and turns the product to temperatures of as much as 160 degrees F. to ensure the highest quality product. They call it “Pooyie” Humic Compost…it’s good for plant life.
As the facilities manager, Brian is responsible for all phases of the composting process. They are able to custom blend the compost for things such as rose gardens while getting good feedback on these blends. As experts in breaking down waste, Brian gave the club a recipe for spraying fresh cut yards to break down the cut grass and insects. It is 8 ounces of lemon scented dish soap, 8 ounces of lemon scented ammonia and 8 ounces of coke (the drink) in a 20 gallon hose in spray with a garden hose. Soak the yard well with this and in 30-60 minutes you will see a big difference. He also told us to use cedar mulch in our flower beds. This is good for getting rid of mosquito larva. “You can go online to order milky spore powder to get rid of the grubs in your yard” Brian says, “grubs attract June bugs and armadillo.” Go to their website www.oakheart.info or call Ken or Brian at 337-873-6434 to learn more about or order their Humic Compost “Pooyie.”
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