News

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - The Rotary Club of Lafayette South teamed up with Special Olympics Louisiana for the 4th Annual Golf Tournament on April 27, 2009 at Acadian Hills Country Club.  At their regualr Wednesday morning meeting held at City Club of River Ranch, the club presented a check in the amount of $18,348.81 to Bambi Casillas of Special Olympics Louisiana.  At this golf tournamant, there were many local volunteers from not only the Rotary Club, but from Special Olympics Louisiana, Superior Energy and Lofton Staffing Services.  "This golf tournament is our biggest fund raiser of the year", said club president Nick Simoneaux, "and we're very proud to have Superior Energy and Lofton Staffing Services as major sponsors of this year's tournamant." (see picture in Photo Gallery)

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - Club President Nick Simoneaux received The Rotary Foundation Award for his support of the programs and initiatives sponsored by the Foundation.  This involves such programs as the Group Study Exchange (GSE), the Ambassadorial Scholars, and Polio Plus campaign.  Nick was one of ten Rotarians in the District whom The Rotary Foundation chose to honor. The award was presented to President Nick by Frank Bradshaw, club director of Rotary Foundation (see picture in Photo Gallery under "Awards")

 

Thursday, June 18, 2009 - The four (4) Lafayette area Rotary clubs got together to raise funds for a new sign at the Rotary Point park and boat launch.  Today, they re-dedicated the sign with many Rotarians involved in the project in attendance and inviting the Lafayette Mayor-President Joey Durel to say a few words at the program.  (see pictures in Photo Gallery)

 

Thursday, June 24, 2009 - Rotary Club of Lafayete South held it's 2009-10 Installation Banquet at the KC Hall on Rena Street.  New Officers and Directors are: President - Ken Stansbury, Immediate Past President - Nick Simoneaux, Pres. Elect - Jerry Carlson, Secretary - Brandon Hyde, Treasurer - Mike Leatherman, Seargeant-at-arms - Jay Rosenweig, Club Membership Director - Bob Landry, Club Administration Director - Liz Duhon, Rotary Foundation Director - Frank Bradshaw, Club Service Director - Tracy Richardson, Public Relations Director - Sal Diesi, Jr.     Out going president Nick Simoneaux led members in the introduction of guests and presented the Awards to Directors and Rotarians with perfect attendance.  He also presented the club's "Rotarian of the Year" Award to Rotarian Bob Landry.  After Nick's out going remarks, Rotarian Frank Bradshaw installed Incoming President Ken Stansbury. Ken spoke to the club members about his vision for the upcoming year...how we all have the Future of Rotary in our hands.  (see pictures in Photo Gallery)

 

September 16, 2009 - Rotary Point was the site of today's Dedication of the Guardian Angel Memorial. A sad reality...Louisiana's Infant death rate.  The time has come for our communities to take action.  The future of Louisiana's babies and the overall health of our state are in peril.  We understand the need to hear the voices of our most vulnerable and acknowledge our loss.  When a family loses a child, it is also a loss for the entire community.  There is now a special place that acknowledges our lost children and offers a site for reflection and consolation.  See pictures in Photo Gallery under Rotary Point.

LIVE OAK MEMORIAL DEDICAITONS: Also on September 16, 2009 there were two Live Oak Memorial Dedications.  One live oak was dedicated to Lynn J. Desselle, Govenor, Rotary Internaitonal, District 6200 from 1999-2000.  This live oak tree is located on the left enterance of the boat ramp at Rotary Point.  The other live oak was dedicated to Robert A. Stander, Governor, Rotary International, District 620 from 1982-1983.  This tree is located on the right enterance of the boat ramp.  See pictures of the Live Oak Memorials in Photo Gallery under Rotary Point.

 

October 21, 2009  - In recognition of World Polio Day, October 23rd, the Rotary Club of Lafayette South is donating $1,750.00 to the Rotary Foundation for polio eradication (see picture in Photo Gallery under Donations). At the same time, Rotary International is celebrating a major milestone reached in its global fundraising campaign to eradicate polio – nearly $100 million raised toward its $200 million challenge.

As part of a $355 million challenge grant awarded to Rotary by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary clubs worldwide are aiming to raise a total of $200 million by 2012. The funding will provide critical support to polio eradication activities, including the distribution of a new, more effective bivalent polio vaccine that was recently approved for use in the coming months, for countries still battling the disease in parts of Africa and South Asia.
Since 1985, eradicating polio worldwide has been Rotary’s top philanthropic goal. In addition to the funds announced today, Rotary has contributed more than $800 million and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than two billion children in 122 countries. The disease remains endemic in just four countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Nigeria – although other countries remain at risk for imported cases. “Our club goal was $1,000 a year for the next three years” said club president Ken Stansbury, “but we all know or remember someone afflicted with polio and we wanted to do a little more.”
Polio is a highly infectious disease that causes paralysis and is sometimes fatal. As there is no cure, the best protection is prevention. For as little as 60 cents per vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. After an international investment of more than $6.22 billion, and the successful engagement of over 200 countries and 20 million volunteers, polio could be the first disease of the 21st century to be eradicated. 

 

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”)
 
 
January 23, 2010 - This Saturday several Rotarians met at the Rotary 6200 district office and purchased 500 pairs of socks and 100 pairs of shoes for our district simplified grant (see pictures in Photo Gallery under District Simplified Grant).  We also seperated the socks to match 5 pairs of socks with each pair of shoes.  Each Rotarian Saturday worked hard on this project and we want to thank each of you that participated.(Karin Viator, Mike Leatherman, Mike Blanchard, Cecillia Blanchard, Jerry Carlson, Jason Lopez, James Boustany, Brenda Boustany, John Coleman, Sal Diesi, Liz Duhon).  Club members are volunteering to bring the shoes and socks to  Mary Speyrer (Coordinator of the Homeless Education Program) Friday at 1:00pm. 
 
March 23, 2010 – Today the golf tournament committee met for breakfast at Acadian Hills Country Club to discuss the plans for the biggest fund raising event of the year for our club -The 5th Annual Rotary Club of Lafayette South Golf Tournament (see picture in Photo Gallery under Golf Tournament). Attending the meeting were Rotarians John Guilbeau, Charles Trent, Karin Viator, Jerry Carlson club President-elect, Ken Stansbury – club President, Brandon Hyde and Sal Diesi, Jr. also attending the meeting was Katie Bird – Special Olympics Louisiana.  Committee chairman John Guilbeau informed the committee members of the current status and goals for sponsorships and teams, prizes, food and beverage, player/team registration, volunteers, communication, the golf course, Olympian games/entertainment, the opening ceremony, tournament rules, closing ceremony, Special Olympics Louisiana and the financial-bookkeeping support. The tournament will be on Monday April 26th with a noon shotgun start. Our goal for this year is to net $42,000 and we are currently at $32,000. The club donates 60% of the net profit from this golf tournament to Special Olympics Louisiana while the remaining 40% is donated to various area charities. 
 
 
April 20, 2010 - The Lafayette Area Rotary Wheel Project - (see picture in Photo Gallery under General)  Ken Stansbury, President of Rotary Club of Lafayette South; Harold Domingue, Assistant Governor District 6200 and member of Rotary Club of Lafayette North; and Andrew Shenkan, member of Rotary Club of Lafayette discuss the final touches on the Rotary Wheel. The Rotary Wheel is a joint project funded by all Lafayette area Rotary clubs.  It will be used by the area Rotary clubs for any club events.  The Wheel is expected to be completed soon and its first use will be for the District 6200 Conference the weekend of April 22-24, 2010. From there, it will be at Acadian Hills Country Club for The Rotary Club of Lafayette South’s 5 Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, April 26, 2010.  
 
 
April 26, 2010 - The Rotary Club of Lafayette South held its 5th Annual Golf Tournament today at Acadian Hills Country Club. See pictures in Photo Gallery under Golf Tournament.  The club partners with Special Olympics Louisiana to raise funds.  Special Olympics Louisiana receives 60% of the revenues from the tournament and the remaining 40% goes to area charities given by the club. 
The tournament began with a noon shotgun start after opening ceremonies involving an olympic torch run, color guard, and welcoming speeches by club president Ken Stansbury, Lafayette city/parish Mayor/President Joey Durel, and Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux.  Plenty food and beverages were provided by the City Marshal's office (BBQ burgers), Prejean's Restaurant (gumbo), Otter's (chicken tenders) and Schilling Distributors (beer). 
A special thanks goes out to the Title Sponsers of this tournament...Lofton Staffing, Superior Energy, and Abacus Restaurants of Dallas, Texas
 
 
May 6, 2010 - Today the annual 4-Club Crawfish Boil was held at Acadian Village. Members of all four Rotary clubs in Lafayette and their guests got together for good food and  fellowship.  Rotarian Terry Huval from the Rotary Club of Lafayette with the Jambalaya Cajun Band provide the music for all to dance and enjoy.  (see pictures in Photo Gallery under 4-Club Crawfish Boil)