Monthly Archives: November 2012

Thibodaux Rotary Club | Ben Bernard “What They Saw In WW1”

November 13, 2012

By: Ken Gros

 

Ben Bernard-world war 1Ben Bernard returned to the luncheon Tuesday with another interesting edition of “What They Saw” – World War I.  He gave us a very brief history of the war and once again with the help of uniforms, equipment and weapons painted a portrait of the ordinary American and German soldiers.

 

For those who missed Ben’s previous presentations, “World War II – The German Soldier” and “What they saw – Vietnam”, Ben is a native of Cut Off and now lives in Thibodaux with his wife Lara and son Logan.  He is a sales representative from Hyundai of Houma and Living Historian.

 

Ben is a historian and teaches through living reenactments for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, Regional Reenactments, and visiting area schools teaching children about the life of the soldier in wars from the American Revolution, the Civil War, Vietnam and everything in between. 

 

Ben has appeared in several History Channel programs based on World War II and the Vietnam War and assisted with the development of World War II Video games such as the popular “Call of Duty”.  Ben’s grandfather was a Major in the Korean War and he became interested in war history at an early age.  Ben has spent many hours with our fighting soldiers gaining an understanding of how war feels, and what is life really like for the men on the front lines.

 

Previously, Ben stressed the importance of detail, no matter how small, for reenactments to be successful.  Participants “become” the soldier they are portraying and the more realistic the presentation the more informative it is.

 

Ben gave us a brief history of World War I.  It was the first “Global War” and was different than any other conflict ever seen.  It was a complicated war.  Multiple nations were involved and were assembled in two opposing alliances, the Allies (France, Britain and Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy). 

 

America entered the war with the Allies in 1917 and fought until it’s conclusion in 1918.  New technologies including aircraft, tanks, machine guns and chemical weapons were used.  Because of these advancements in technology – and lethality of the new weapons, World War I was one of the deadliest conflicts in history.

 

Although both sides had plenty of new, impressive weapons, the soldiers in the field looked pretty ordinary.  Ben was outfitted as an American GI or “Doughboy” including his brown wool uniform, low booties and a soft hat.  He also donned a typical knapsack with usual implements including blankets, shovels and mess kits. 

 

He explained how surprisingly, countries were just beginning to realize it was important for their fighting men to be comfortable in battle.  GI’s standard rifle was the Springfield 1903 bolt-action 30-06.  Select GI’s were issued the Winchester 1897 12-gauge shotgun which was very effective for trench warfare, however those who wielded it were shown no mercy if they were captured.  Ben also showed us a standard issue “turtle shell” steel helmet with a crude camouflage pattern.

 

Next up was the German soldier.  As usual the Germans appear to have one the fashion war.  They donned a field grey wool uniform, leather boots with hobnails and a steel stahlhelm helmet – affectionately dubbed the frankenstien helmet by the allies because of two studs on its sides for attachment of a steel shield. 

 

The helmets continued to be used throughout World War II.  Soldiers used the Gewehr G-98 bolt-action mauser – the predecessor to the famous K-98, 8mm.  Similar to other wars, the quality of uniforms and equipment was diminished by the end of the war as resources became scarce.  Ben tried on a crude German gas mask; a grim reminder of the brutality of war.

 

When asked which soldier he prefers to reenact, Ben said the German soldier and went on a long explanation of why.  I think it’s because the Germans seemed to have cooler toys than the Americans.  Thank you Ben!   

 

Mandy and Shay Holloway-The Non-Profit Organization, Refuge 127

November 6, 2012

By: Amy Connor-Flores

 

Mandy and Shay Holloway-Thibodaux Rotary ClubOur guests on November 6th were Mandy and Shay Holloway, owners of Mandylens Photography and founders of the non-profit organization, Refuge 127.

 

Shay, the son of Skipper and Sandy Holloway, graduated from Thibodaux Christian Academy in 1996.  He attended NSU and received an undergraduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in Industrial Design in 2002. 

 

Mandy is the daughter of Tom and Ann Buisson.  She graduated from E.D. White in 1999 and received her undergraduate degree in Art from NSU in 2004.  The two have received acknowledgements for their work including the Bobby Jindal

 

Community Support Award in 2011 and have been named the Best Photographers in Lafourche Parish in 2011 and 2012.  Mandy and Shay have three children and two foster children.  Mandy is an active community volunteer and Shay leads Dave Ramsey classes which assist families and finances. 

 

They also volunteer photography services for children who are up for adoption in our area as well as those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

 

Mandy and Shay spoke to us about their organization, Refuge 127, on which they both serve as Board Members and Shay serves as Treasurer. 

 

Refuge 127 Ministries is a Christian-based organization located in Thibodaux that reaches out to local orphans and foster children of the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility since 2009.  It’s name is inspired by the bible verse James 1:27 regarding visiting and helping to care for orphans. 

 

They provide skills training, bible studies, visitation resources and foster care for children that have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or the death of parents or guardians.  “127 Kids” is a program under Refuge 127 that links church families with children in the Juvenile Justice Facility and encourages them with notes, letters and treats that are delivered on Monday nights.

 

Prayers are said for each child and gifts are sent on birthdays and holidays to show the children that there is a family that loves and cares about them.  “Michael’s Home” is another portion of Refuge 127 that provides an alternative for individuals to transition from foster care to a safe home rather than having to return to the harmful environment that they came from.   Their goal is to break the generational cycle of poverty and help these individuals to become successful while allowing God to heal them. 

 

Refuge 127 is also making an impact in improving the quality of life for the impoverished people of Mbale, Uganda in Africa.  The city has over 1600 orphans.  The organization is currently helping to build the HOPE REFUGE SCHOOL, which will ultimately include 25 buildings for the housing of orphans, medical facilities, and classrooms. 

 

A water well was recently completed which provides clean water to over 5000 people.  The first four buildings on the grounds have been completed thanks to recent donations by Refuge 127, which inspired the naming of the school. 

 

Various fund raisers are organized to help with the expenses of Refuge 127 Ministries including the annual Tour of Homes, a semi-annual Zumba event called Zumba Love, and Grace Dolls, which Mandy is currently patenting. These adorable plush dolls will include a children’s book written to educate about orphans. 

 

For more information on the programs above visit www.refuge127.org or find them on Facebook.  

 

Robert Travis Scott-President Of The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR)

October 30, 2012

By: Amy Connor-Flores

 

Robert Scott  - Thibodaux Rotary ClubRobert Travis Scott is currently the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR).  Before joining PAR, Scott worked for 14 years at The Times-Picayune. 

 

It was here where he received awards for his political, business and investigative reporting.  Scott also served as a business editor, columnist, and investigative journalist for a non for profit think tank based in Washington, D.C.

 

PAR (Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana) was founded in 1950 and is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan public policy research organization.  It focuses on the most pressing problems of state and local governments in Louisiana.  Through PAR’s research, the organization recommends ways of solving these problems.

 

Although PAR does not lobby, PAR’s research gets results. Many significant governmental reforms can be traced to PAR recommendations. Through its extensive research and public information programs, PAR contributes constructive ideas and solutions to the mainstream political thinking.

 

The primary purpose of PAR is to educate the media and public officials’ accurate and objective information on these problems and well as specific recommendations to solve these issues.

PAR differs from other organizations through the following:

  • PAR is an independent, unbiased source of information on state and local government issues.
  • PAR’s only business is research.
  • PAR does not lobby or have a PAC, believing that the best way to improve government operations in Louisiana is through an informed citizenry. Louisiana government will never be any better than its citizens demand.
  • PAR’s recommendations are not determined by its members or its board, but by the findings of its research studies. PAR’s research program is not designed to support a predetermined point of view but to find the truth.
  • PAR can and does tackle issues others can’t or won’t.
  • No other group does what PAR does the way PAR does it.

 

Louisiana has a significant number of far-reaching problems that require study. PAR has a full research agenda planned. Permeating the list are problems that have plagued the state for a long time: the tax structure, education and governmental ethics. Louisiana needs PAR today for the same reason it did 50 years ago.

 

PAR also prints out a guide to voting as well as information on the amendments being proposed for that specific election.  They also provide an updated handbook known as “The PAR Guide to Louisiana Legislature”

 

To order additional guides contact PAR at (225) 926-8414 and for more information on PAR please visit their website at

http://www.parlouisiana.com

 

PAR Guide to the 2012 Constitutional Amendments

 

1. Medicaid Trust Fund for the Elderly

2. Strict Scrutiny Review for Gun Laws

3. Earlier Notice of Public Retirement Bills

4. Homestead Exemption for Veterans’ Spouses

5. Forfeiture of Public Retirement Benefits

6. Property Tax Exemption Authority for New Iberia

7. Membership of Certain Boards and Commissions

8. Non-Manufacturing Tax Exemption Program

9. More Notice for Crime Prevention District Bills

Flip Out Over Uganda’s Hope Refuge Orphanage School | BCA’s Early Act Club

October 5, 2012

 

The Early Act Club is pleased to announce our first service project of the year. Our project is titled, “Flip Out Over Uganda’s Hope Refuge Orphanage School!” This is an international project that our club will take part in for the purpose of providing flip flops to the Hope Refuge Orphanage School in Uganda.

 

If you choose to participate, you may donate any new flip flops from now until October 31. Although we ask the flip flops to be new, you may prefer to purchase less expensive pairs, which we recommend. Stores such as Wal-Mart, Fred’s, and Family Dollar usually have inexpensive flip flops. Mrs. Sandy Holloway, our director, will travel to Uganda in January and bring all the collected flip flops to the orphanage.

 

We would like to inform you of the tentative service projects that we have  planned for this year. The projects are as follows:

 

September/October – Flip Flop Collection for Uganda Orphanage
November/December – Thibodaux Toy Drive Collection
January – Collection of Items for Children’s Hospital
February – Valentine Cards for Heart Patients at TRMC
March – Mardi Gras Bead Drive for Granier Industries
April/May – Hope for Animals Collection

 

As always, thank you for your support. With your help, we can truly live up to our motto, “Come to Learn. Learn to Serve.”

 

Thank you,
Mrs. Tabor, Ms. Prejean, Mrs. Bryan
Early Act Sponsors

 

BCA’s Early Act club is sponsored by the Thibodaux Rotary Club.

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