Student Government Day | Thibodaux Rotary Club
March 18, 2013
By: Kevin Gros
The Thibodaux Rotary Club is proud to sponsor the 2013 Student Government Day in Thibodaux, LA and Lafourche Parish. Each years students spend one day assuming the role of an elected official. Here they learn the ins and outs on how government operates on a city-wide and parish-wide basis.
The Thibodaux Rotary Club was fortunate to have Louisiana Lieutenant Governor “Jay” Dardenne, Jr as the guess speakers for this year’s student government day. You will find his talk timely, insightful and inspirational.
PART 1 – 2013 Student Government Day
PART 2 – 2013 Student Government Day
Danny Cavelle introduced his friend, Lieutenant Governor and former Secretary of State, Jay Dardenne to speak to the group about Leadership. Mr. Dardenne reminded us of the importance of public service and shred his thoughts about what makes and effective leader. He identified six characteristics that all successful leaders must possess:
Confidence – Those who aspire to be in a leadership position must be confident in what they do. It enables them to step up to a challenge and take it on. It’s important for others to be confident in their leaders and he distinguished between confidence and arrogance.
Honesty – It’s important for those in leadership positions to be honest with themselves to know they really want to step up into a leadership role.
Optimism – Mr. Darden talked about the inspiration he got from his early work with the MDA and told us about a child named Matthew Brown whom he met in Atlanta who showed him what it means to be truly optimistic how it can allow one to overcome tremendous challenges.
Integrity – A difficult word to define but an essential quality in a leader. Thomas More had it and it allowed him to stand up to Henry VIII during the protestant reformation when the King, in his effort to have a son to succeed him petitioned Thomas More the Lord Chancellor to change the law and allow the King to legally divorce and remarry. When Thomas More refused he was imprisoned and ultimately lost his life. What a good example of someone doing the right thing no matter how difficult the consequences are.
Communication – Especially listening is a quality of leadership often under-utilized by important to learning and growth. Good leaders recognize they don’t know all the answers and sometimes they can learn a thing or two by talking a little less and listening a little more.
Enthusiasm – Passion for something is important and leaders who possess this important quality will find it is contagious.
The first letter of each of the six leadership traits above spells C-H-O-I-C-E. We are reminded of the great opportunities afforded to us here in America and that all great leaders must make a conscious choice to offer themselves up for service.
The program continued with introductions of all the students participating in the program by Thibodaux Mayor Tommy Eschete, Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph and Floyd Benoit with the Lafourche Parish School Board. The house was packed and despite running low on chicken and additional tables being set up, the presentation went smoothly and concluded on time.
Special thanks to Justice Weimer, Mayor Eschete, President Randolph and Superintendant Matthews for helping to make this event possible.
Dr. Jim Barnidge – History Of The Catholic Papacy – Thibodaux Rotary Club
March 12, 2013
By: Jamie Gros
On March 12th, 2013 Dr. Jim Barnidge spoke to Thibodaux’s Rotary Club on the history of the Catholic Papacy.
Barnidge is a retired history professor from Nicholls State and has spoken to our Rotary club in the past. In fact he was voted speaker of the year for his wealth of knowledge of the crisis in the Middle East. He is also known for attending Europe trips with students and community members for 40 years now.
Given the Catholic Church is going through a change in the Papacy, Barnidge greeted the rotary club with a brief, but entertaining knowledge of the History of the Roman Catholic Church.
Jesus Christ, only taught his teachings, which the Catholic Church is based on for three years. The teachings of Christ were not put onto paper until 3o years after Christ was dead.
It was repeated by word of mouth at first. He set the foundation for his disciples to spread the Word, one of his main disciples Peter is known to have start the church. He actually started churches in several other areas before coming to the main city Rome, where his is ultimately crucified
Peter is not actually crucified in the coliseum, where most events went on in this day and age, he is crucified in what is known as the Circus, which is what Nero the Roman emperor of the time called it. The circuses were literally graveyards, which is what is known today as THE VATICAN, which was the Roman god of the dead.
During this time in the church, before converting to Christianity Peter wanted an individual to become Jewish, it was not until Paul, who was not a Jew, who changed this for the church.
The church slowly developed, its followers waited and waited for the second coming of Christ before they realized the Church needed some organization. There were no real priest at first, but to take care of the needs of their follows they appointed deacons, to take care of the sick and needy.
They also needed someone to take care of correspondence, which was the presbyter, and then someone need to see over them, which were the bishop, above them were the arch bishop and so on and so forth.
The real popularity of Christianity did not start until around the year 300 A.D. Constantine and Maxentius went to war over the Roman Empire. One group of follows was for Maxentius, were sun god worshippers and the other side were followers of Christ; even Constantine was not a Christian himself.
Constantine wins the war and makes December 25th the birth of Christ to deemphasize the sun gods because this was on the winter solstice, the darkest day for these people by also igniting the Birth of the SUN or SON. In many churches today the Saints are depicted with a ray of light behind them or a halo. This was taken from the sun god worshippers.
Constantine saw all the fighting going on and he came up with the Nicene Council to declare the beliefs of Christianity, which is the Nicene Creed, which Catholics still use today in mass. Constantine remained a pagan his whole life until his deathbed, which then he converted to Christianity.
The Catholic Church has been plagued by controversy for years and years. The voting will be done by a group of 115 cardinals, however it can be more but a cardinal cannot vote over the age of 80. There is however, global in balance.
The Latin Church makes up42% of the church population with only 16% of the cardinals; Europe is 24% of the church population and 53% of the population of cardinals, where Africa is 15% of the church population and only 9% of the population of the cardinals.
There is a language barrier located in this it is population. It is very unlikely for a cardinal from the United States become pope. There are many front runners to become the Pope of the Catholic Church; however any adult male who is baptized in the Catholic Church can become pope. But this is very unlikely.
On March 13, 2013 The Roman Catholic Church announced a new pope, First pope from the “New World”, a Jesuit priest, a man of the poor. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis I! The new pope will replace Benedict XVI, whose surprise resignation last month prompted the 115 Roman Catholic cardinals to initiate a conclave, a Latin phrase meaning “with a key,” to pick a new leader for the world’s almost 2 billion Catholics.
District Interact Convention 2013
Dear Rotarians,
Just in case you have missed a few meetings and not heard about it, the HLB Interact Club is hosting this year’s Rotary District 6200 Interact Convention. Since last spring, HLB Interact’ Club’s Sponsor, Carolyn Cowart-Elstheroth, has been working overtime to make this event a reality. She has enlisted the aid of her former co-sponsor Karen Ellender, who has come out of retirement to help her and the students.
The Houma Municipal Auditorium will not allow us to set-up until 8:00 AM on Thursday, March 7. This means we have lots to do before over 350 participants begin to arrive around 9:00 AM! You can earn a make-up meeting by showing up at 8:00 AM to help set out chairs and assist in getting everything ready for our convention guests.
Attached (SEE BELOW) is a list of Rotarian volunteers who have signed up so far to help. (NOTE: There is still always room for more volunteers!) Please consider coming by on Thursday, March 7 (8:00 AM – 10:00 PM), and/or on Friday, March 8 (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM). Not only will your presence reinforce your support of our youth, it will also count as a make-up meeting if you just stay and visit for about 10-15 minutes.
NOTE TO JUDGES: The judging may not take a full hour; however, we need for you to be present at least 5 minutes before your scheduled judging time to receive instructions.
To all who have volunteered so far, THANK YOU!! Your valuable time is appreciated as you support our HLB Interact Club in hosting this year’s convention.
Blessings,
Sybil
Sybil Webb
Cell# 985-856-1723
District Interact Convention 2013
Thursday, March 7 – All Day 8:00 am-10:00 pm
Friday, March 8 – Morning Only 8:00 am-12:30 pm
Hosted by H.L. Bourgeois High School ~ Houma Municipal Auditorium (HMA)
ROTARY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE
PROJECTS OF THE YEAR – BANNER, SCRAPBOOK & T-SHIRTS
FOUR JUDGES NEEDED ~ 10am – 11am ~ THURSDAY
NAME/ROTARY CLUB |
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PHONE |
Yolanda Trahan |
868-5881 – office 209-0982 – cell |
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Shannon Rhodes |
852-0002 |
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Rene’ Williams
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857-0033 |
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Billy Foster |
804-8094 |
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Mary Lynn Bisland |
209-6714 |
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Mike McKee |
860-917-0648 |
SKIT
FOUR JUDGES NEEDED ~ 1:30pm – 3:00pm ~ THURSDAY
NAME/ROTARY CLUB |
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PHONE |
Sherri Roach
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381-1863 |
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Monica Monk
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791-3346 |
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Karen Chauvin
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855-3857 |
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Mike McKee
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860-917-0648 |
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District Interact Convention 2013
Thursday, March 7 – All Day
Friday, March 8 – Morning Only
Hosted by H.L. Bourgeois High School ~ Houma Municipal Auditorium (HMA)
ROTARY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE
LIP SYNC
FOUR JUDGES NEEDED ~ 6:45pm – 8:00pm ~ THURSDAY
NAME/ROTARY CLUB |
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PHONE |
Michael Bergeron
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209-0250 |
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Karen Chauvin
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855-3857 |
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Clarke Currie
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850-6304 |
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David Tauzin
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226-6836 |
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INTERACT IDOL
FOUR JUDGES NEEDED ~ 10:30am – 11:30am ~ FRIDAY
NAME/ROTARY CLUB |
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PHONE |
Sam Hotard
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Samhotard1@gmail.com |
688-7111 |
Leslie Cheramie
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438-0514 |
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Jerry Ledet
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jledet@banksynergy.com |
851-3341 |
Rev. Craig Dalferes
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872-5057 – office 226-2887 – cell |
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District Interact Convention 2013
Thursday, March 7 – All Day
Friday, March 8 – Morning Only
Hosted by H.L. Bourgeois High School ~ Houma Municipal Auditorium (HMA)
ROTARY VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE
BACKUP / SUBSTITUTE
ROTARIANS / FRIENDS NEEDED
NAME/ROTARY CLUB DATE/TIME AVAILABLE |
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PHONE |
Michael Bergeron |
michael@mbergeron.net |
209-0250 |
Jude Lapeyrouse ? |
judelap@yahoo.com |
872-4511 |
Tracy Schwab |
ctschwablaw@gmail.com |
870-8010 |
Claiborne Duval |
cduval@ayeee.com |
876-5996 |
Ken McGowan |
601-4100 |
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