You Could Be The WINNER!
You Could Win A Lifetime Membership!
The Thibodaux Rotary Club is auctioning off – 1 Exclusive Lifetime Membership to the new Bayou Country Children’s Museum. You could be the winner!
Click here to go to Thibodaux Rotary Club Facebook page and look for the Auction Post.
This Exclusive Lifetime Membership Provides…
- lifetime access to the museum for one person
- discounts in the gift shop
- and the ability to book the party rooms – right in the museum for events
But you’re not getting just a membership. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to BCCM.
The auction is now officially on… Click here to go to Thibodaux Rotary Club Facebook page and look for the Auction Post.
To place your bid in, just use the comment section below this post. Check back often to see how your bid is holding up. Feel free to bid as many times as you would like.
The Opening Bid, provided by Beau Brooks is $400.00!
What a great gift to give someone! But hurry…the auction ends 5PM, October 15th. The winner will be announced that evening.
Here’s your chance to contribute to the areas premiere children’s museum and win an exclusive Lifetime Membership. YOU COULD BE THE WINNER! Click here to go to Thibodaux Rotary Club Facebook page and look for the Auction Post.
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.
Thibodaux Rotary Club | Benjamin Bernard – WWII Reenactment
September 18, 2012
By: Kevin Gros
Tuesday’s presentation was by Benjamin Bernard, a sales representative from Hyundai of Houma and Living Historian. Ben is a native of Cut Off and now lives in Thibodaux with his wife Lara and son Logan.
Ben is a historian and when he’s not selling cars, he’s busy teaching history 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.
Thibodaux Rotary Club | Education: Roast & Toast | Diane T. Martin and Linda V. Thomas
August 21, 2012
By: Amy Connor-Flores
Tuesday’s speakers were Diane T. Martin and Linda V. Thomas, co-authors of the book Education: Roast & Toast: Anecdotes of 60+ years of Teaching. Martin and Thomas shared with us a light-hearted glimpse into their process of pulling together laughable stories and experiences from their years of teaching and ultimately publishing a book.
Martin attended LSU and received her B.A. from Nicholls State University. She studied rhetoric at Purdue University in Lafayette, in and completed a writing seminar in Copper Mountain, CO for Colorado State University. She is certified in English, composition, speech, and ESL. She has taught fourth graders through college freshmen in Louisiana and speech therapy for Onslow School District in North Carolina. She calls Morgan City and Napoleonville, LA home.
Linda V. Thomas received a B.A. from Nicholls State University and is certified to teach English, French, and ESL. She has studied French at UL Lafayette, Université Catholique de L’Ouest in Angers, France, and Université du Québec à Trois-Riviéres in Québec, Canada. She has also taught elementary, high school, and adult French classes. She lives with her husband, Deeda, in Berwick, LA.
For many years Martin and Thomas taught across the hall from each other, meeting at lunch and after school to “cuss” and discuss the backward evolution of education. Long before their retirement they set out to “write the book” on the hilarity that is seen in the world of education.
Over the course of 2 ½ years the two worked diligently (and sometimes not-so-diligently) to compile a book full of anecdotes highlighting the eccentricities, vulnerabilities, and imperfections of educators and students seen over their shared 60-plus years of experience. The book is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of the comical adventures, unpredictable mishaps, and baffling challenges that teachers encounter on a daily basis. 
It reinforces the notion that simple communication really can be stifled by misinterpretation. Education: Roast & Toast: Anecdotes of 60+ years of Teaching can be purchased from local booksellers as well as on Amazon.com.
Meet My Cousin – Dan Borne’
Thanks to the effort of Craig Stanga, past president and present Sargent-at-arms of the Thibodaux Rotary Club, the club was treated to a humorous, entertaining and insightful presentation by Dan Borne’. Dan is president of the Louisiana Chemical Association, and (as it would seem, an even more notable presence as the stadium announcer for LSU’s famed Tiger Stadium).
In addition to some very funny exchanges between cousins (Craig and Dan), Dan had some great stories about Tiger Stadium. And also spoke about one memorable encounter with LSU’s famed baseball coach and past AD, Skip Bertman. Skip Bertman and tubas???
Dan also offered some great insight into the promising future of manufacturing along the lower Mississippi river, which will greatly impact our bayou region.
The videos below are large, so be patient and give them a few moments to load.
This program is divided into 2 videos. One is Craig’s introduction. The other is Dan Borne’s presentation.
Craig’s introduction video (It’s a large file so give it a few moments to start loading):
Dan Borne’s Presentation
(It’s a large file so give it a few moments to start loading):
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.
Jim Letten US Attorney
September 20 Meeting
US Attorney - Jim Letten
Jim Letten, has served for over twenty-seven years as a federal prosecutor beginning with the U. S. Department of Justice Organized Crime and Racketeering Strike Force, and became Chief of the Strike Force in March of 1988 and remained Chief of the unit through that office’s merger into the United States Attorney’s Office in 1990, until being named First Assistant in August of 1994. While First Assistant, Jim served as a lead prosecutor in the investigation, prosecution, and successful conviction of former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards following a four-month jury trial in early 2000.
Jim was initially appointed by the U. S. Attorney General as the U. S. Attorney in April of 2001, until his Presidential appointment and subsequent Senate confirmation in July, 2005.
Jim was appointed in 2009 to serve as the Executive Director of the National Center for Disaster and Recovery Fraud, which has its National Command Center in Baton Rouge. Jim is a retired Commander in the U. S. Naval Reserve having served as NCIS Agent. Jim has been and remains active in the U. S. Department of Justice’s role in efforts to rebuild the New Orleans Police Department.
Jim has received numerous awards from federal, state and local enforcement agencies and civic institutions, including University of New Orleans Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2008.
He was awarded the United States Attorney General’s Medallion for Distinguished Service recognizing his leadership following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Most recently, Jim received the Anti-Defamation League’s 2010 Torch of Liberty Award for his leadership and contributions to counteractive bigotry and advancing civil rights. He also received the Southeast Louisiana Boy Scouts of America 2010 Citizen of the Year award.
Letten’s talk included the structure of his office consisting of about 130 employees. The Civil Division in his office brought back nine settlements last year including the 650 million dollars settlement from Merck. The Criminal Division is divided into different units. For example the Cyber Crime Unit is engaged with FBI and local law enforcements. He indicated that generally senior citizens and retirees are victims of cyber crimes. The heroin uses is way up in the city of New Orleans, and the City suffers from high capital rate of homicides.
Letten expressed his thanks to the local law-enforcements, Sheriff’s Office, Thibodaux Mayor’s Office, Police Department, and District Attorney’s Office. He thanked all those who help him behind the seen.
