Christy Naquin – BCCM – September 16
Christy Naquin – Executive Director of Bayou Country Children’s Museum
By: Vera Holloway
Christy Naquin came to Rotary Club of Thibodaux to give an update on the Bayou Country Children’s Museum. On Sept. 28, 2014 the Museum celebrates its one year anniversary. She reported that they had a great first year. Before opening the board set a goal of 45,000 visitors to the Children’s Museum for the first year. As of this month they have had 43,890 visitors to date and they are expecting to meet the goal of 45,000 before the end of September.
Since the opening they have hosted 216 birthday parties and 72 field trips. St. Mary’s Parish residents has shown the greatest amount of support to the Children’s Museum over this last year.
The Museum has partnered with various organizations over the last year and will continue to expand partnerships in the future. They have recently partnered with CASA of Lafourche. This partnership will allow children who are in state custody and in the CASA program to be able to access the Museum at no charge. This will give children who otherwise would not have had access to the Museum an opportunity to experience it at no charge. The Museum has also began working with St. Joseph Manor residents and recently hosted a craft day at the Museum for the residents. In the future, Museum employees will begin visiting St. Joseph Manor and interact with the residents by engaging in crafts and activities with them. The Museum will also give the residents the opportunity to volunteer at the museum.
Over the Museum’s first year they have partnered with Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to create Safety-Ville. Safety-Ville is a guided tour led by a uniformed deputy. The tour includes a severe weather simulation, fire stimulation, and other exhibits, simulations and demonstrations on safety in the home, biking, and cars. The Museum has also done Sensory Days for children with Sensory related problems and once every other month they open the museum early for these children and their families on Sundays. They have Mom and Me Programs and also have once a month they have Half Day school programs for children who are school aged. These Half Day programs are hosted on days that the children in Lafourche parish are out of school early.
Some upcoming events at the Museum is the 1 year Anniversary Celebration and the 6th Annual night at the Boo-seum. The 1 year anniversary Celebration – Coco’s Birthday will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28th 10am – 12noon for members only. General admission is from 12 noon – 4pm. This year the 6th Annual night at the Boo-seum will be held at the Thibodaux Fireman’s Fair Grounds on October 24th at 5:30pm – 8:30pm. Tickets are $6 per person in advance and can be purchased at the museum and $8 per person at the gate. The Thibodaux Rotary Club is going to partner with the museum for the Night at the Boo-seum by selling and collecting tickets at the event. More information will be coming forth, so stay tuned.
The Thibodaux Rotary Club also gave a check of $2,000 to the Bayou Country Children’s Museum to fulfill its commitment of support over the last few years.
Thibodaux Chief of Police, Scott Silverii Ph.D | Thibodaux Rotary Club Event
May 7, 2013
By: Amy Connor-Flores
Our rotary group was visited last Tuesday by Thibodaux Chief of Police, Scott Silverii Ph.D., who informed us first that the Thibodaux Fireman’s Fair was a large success, with great presence by the Thibodaux Police Department.
He then spoke with us on a topic he often discusses with law enforcement audiences – Public Perception and Managing Your Message, or what he likes to call “Media Matters”.
Silverii related to us a story in which he was recently asked about a situation that occurred in a particular local neighborhood. Unfortunately, the Police Chief realized during the curse of the conversation that the information had been horribly misconstrued after circulating through many individuals – a common problem that the Police Department faces as they attempt to relay accurate information to the public and manage public perception.
Sometimes national perception of law enforcement can be a little less than altruistic. Many people believe that traffic tickets are administered to generate revenue for the department, when the reality in Thibodaux is quite different.
These are written with discretion for traffic safety concerns. The department also enforces a high-visibility program which helps to achieve a high level of social compliance in traffic safety
The department does make many traffic stops since they are aware that criminals are vehicular in nature, usually taking a vehicle from point A to point B to commit crimes. Through systematic and methodological analyzing of maps and data, making such strategic stops increases the likelihood of catching these criminals, but more than half of all traffic stops are precautionary in nature and result in a verbal warning.
Even with such a high level of discretion practiced, the department is able to maintain a high level of reduction in social harms related to crashes and crimes. The department also seeks to achieve the optimal level of self-initiated policing activities to maintain crime suppression without going overboard to a level of diminishing returns, or over-policing.
One of the biggest Mayor’s goals over the past two years has been to truly implement community policing. This includes implementing the first ever full-time bicycle patrol. Also, every officer, every day upon arriving at work, patrols on foot for at least one hour, allowing them to meet people, making them accessible and more human to the public.
The Thibodaux Police Department uses social media to its advantage, posting videos introducing members of the law enforcement team to the public and putting us on a first-name-basis with them. The videos are unscripted and allow us to relate to these individuals and understand where they’ve come from and how committed they are to working for us. The department understands how critical social media networks like Facebook are for providing accurate information to the public in a timely fashion.
Crime data is pulled off of the record management system daily and is repopulated visually onto crime maps that are accessible to the public via a Thibodaux Police Department smartphone app that was developed with Apple. It allows individuals to anonymously submit photos and tips to the department and actively assist in keeping the city safe.
YouTube videos are also created and uploaded for all press releases, engaging people from all over the country with the City of Thibodaux. The Department strives to fulfill the Mayor’s mandate of being accountable, transparent, and true public servants by pushing out a consistent message. They try to engage with the humanistic side in headlines in stories while maintaining these essential principles. This allows them to go before local and national audiences and represent themselves and our city well.
Cop Talk is another example of the department’s use of media to reach the public with a positive message. It is a local television program segment explaining various law enforcement terminology, discussing mapping or other technology, or highlighting a unit of the police department. It has been very successful in installing pubic confidence in our law enforcement.
For up-to-date-information, The Thibodaux Police Department can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ThibodauxPolice and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ThibodauxPD.
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.
CASA For Children!
Speakers:Carla Landry, Tammy Gibson, and Brooks Hebert, from CASA
History and objectives of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children. .
In 1976, Superior Court Judge David Soukup of Seattle, WA, saw a recurring problem in his courtroom. To ensure he was getting all the facts and the long-term welfare of each child was being represented, the Seattle judge came up with an idea that would change America’s judicial procedure and the lives of over a million children. He obtained funding to recruit and train community volunteers to step into courtrooms on behalf of the children.
This unique concept was implemented in Seattle as a pilot program in January 1977. During that first year, the program provided 110 trained CASA volunteers for 498 children in 376 dependency cases.
In 1978 the National Center of State Courts selected the Seattle program as the “best national example of citizen participation in the juvenile justice system.” This recognition, Continue reading
Mike Naquin – Fire Chief for the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department -Thibodaux Rotary Club
September 27 Meeting
Mike Naquin - Fire Chief for the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department
Mr. Mike Naquin, Associate Vice President of Finance at Nicholls State University, was the guest speaker on September 27, 2011. Mike is the Fire Chief for the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. He provided a broad range of information about the Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department. A summary of his talk is given below.
Mission Statement
To provide our citizens with the best Fire and Rescue services possible with a fire department that is well equipped and members that are properly trained.
Department Information
Fire Chief: Mike Naquin
Assistant Chiefs: Randy Pate;
Chad Mire; and Robert Riviere.
Board President: Joe Ayo
The Fire Department Maintains a total of 21fire
apparatus, 8 Pumpers and 1 Ladder truck. 11 specialty vehicles (Rescue, 3 Salvage, Command, Air, Hose Tender, Fire Prevention, 3 Chief’s Vehicles), and 1 Reserve Ladder Unit
Facilities
9 Fire Stations, 1 Central Station, 1 Training Facility, and the Firemen’s Fair Grounds and Warehouse. In 2010, Responded to 322 calls consisting of 275 Fire Calls and 47 Rescue Calls.
Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department protects a population of about 17,500 citizens.
Rising Cost
In 1980 the price of a new fire truck was $65,000 and 20 years later in 2000 a new fire truck cost $177,529. In 2011 a new fire truck cost approximately $300,000. A Rescue unit on order cost $334,572. In 1983 a new ladder truck cost $261,450 and in 2009 our ladder truck cost $733,000. In 2011 a new ladder truck would cost approximately 800,000.
Types of Expenditures
Replace as needed and maintain current fleet of apparatus, rebuild and remodel fire stations. strategically relocate fire stations to meet City growth, maintain state of the art training facilities, acquire new and maintain current fire fighting equipment. Hose, Nozzles, Fittings, Electronic Equipment, and Personal Protective Clothing.
Cost of daily operations includes the cost of fuel, insurance, vehicle and building maintenance, and high band Communications system, 700 MHz system. :Fair grounds: Maintain and improve with self generated funds.
Fire Prevention: To provide funding for materials and supplies used in the delivery of fire safety educational programs.
