LARC Swears in Board of Directors

LARC swore in board members and officers at its annual installation ceremony on July 22 in the Fernand Stutes Building at Acadian Village. 
 
Officers include President, Steve Jankower; Vice President, Lonny Melancon; Immediate Past President, Terry McFillen; Treasurer, Mike Baumbach; Secretary, J.D. Morein.

Re-elected and new incoming members of the Board of Directors include Ricky Bonin, Donna McCardell, Dr. Virgel Fulcher, Gus Rodemacher, Mark Melancon and Don Royer.

Members remaining on the Board with unexpired terms include Larry Lemarie, Lloyd LeJeune, Larry May and James Simmons, Jr. CAA.

Departing board member Mary Jane Kellogg was presented with a plaque of appreciation for her 13 years of service on the LARC board. Outgoing board members, Jim Leach and Dr. Luke Elliott, who were unable to attend, were also recognized for their service on the Board.

Executive Director Glenn Weber was the Master of Ceremony.  Opening ceremonies also included LARC clients Dayne Estilette and Gregory Richard who sang the National Anthem and offered the invocation respectively.  Dayne and Greg expressed their appreciation of LARC and its services ranging from their instructors to the board members. The evening’s meal was catered by Fezzo’s, and entertainment included a slide showcasing “LARC Celebrations” and a skit performed by the LARC Management Team.

Stone Energy & Acadian Ambulance joins LARC for United Way Day of Caring
June 2008

LIVE UNITED is the new slogan for the United Way campaign for 2008 and Stone Energy and Acadian Ambulance demonstrated that concept Friday by volunteering for Day of Caring at LARC. Both organizations took on rigorous projects that took plenty of preparation and planning. 

Employees from Stone Energy laid down four new landscaping beds and brought back to life an exiting 156 foot landscaping bed.  The project warranted a truck load of plants, four truck loads of top soil, drainage rocks, drainage pipes and plenty of shovel work.  The temperature was high, but that did not disturb this hard working crew of more than 20 employees that completed the seemingly endless job in less than five hours.  

About a dozen employees from Acadian Ambulance flexed their carpentry skills while building a large gazebo with a diameter of 24 feet across.    The new structure is equipped with benches and wheelchair accessible areas for people to sit and relax during breaks.  This gazebo is a replacement from the one that was destroyed during hurricane Rita.  “It is a joy to see a place for the clients to sit and visit again during their breaks and lunch time, says Glenn Weber, Executive Director for LARC.”

Lunch was provided to Stone Energy and Acadian Ambulance by members of AT & T Pioneers Volunteer group.     

LARC Director of Marketing Ashley Bertrand said, “Our agency is very appreciative of the hard work from both of these wonderful organizations that care so much about our community.  These projects will surely enhance the environment of our campus not only for those we serve, but for staff, family and visitors.” She added, “We hope the project aesthetics will make an impact on the quality of life for anyone that travels our campus.”

LARC Welcomes Vocational Services Director
June 2008

Marty Davis has been named Director of Vocational Services for LARC. As Vocational Director, Marty will oversee the various aspects of the LARC Vocational program. This includes Day Habilitation services, Community Integration crews, and the Supported Employment program. 

 “My mission is to get more contracts for our clients, as well as secure more community-based jobs to further integrate our clients. We want our Vocational program to be the best it can be.”

Marty will be working closely with the Director of Marketing, Ashley Bertrand, and the Director of Development, Susan Nini, in an effort to utilize all the resources that LARC may benefit from.

 “The idea of the Vocational program is to teach our clients work skills, and then place them in jobs they want to do. We can teach them very basic skills for those who need much supervision, up to more advanced skills where they basically do the job on their own. We have supervisors on each crew who monitor and assist the clients as needed for each task. Once we are satisfied that they are ready to work with less supervision, we look at our Supported Employment module. We set them up with an employer, make them a regular employee, and then we do follow up services to periodically check on their status and assure that everything is going well. ”

 LARC Client Celebrates 10 Years of Employment at Chick-Fil-A
May 2008

Kevin Melancon, a client of LARC (Lafayette Association for Retarded Citizens) celebrated 10 years of employment today with Chick-Fil-A located on Ambassador Caffery.   He was presented with a plaque, a Chic-Fil-A watch, an employee pin and a cake from his coworkers to show their appreciation of his efforts and dedication.  “Kevin is the most dependable team member that we have.  He is loved by the customers as well as other team members,” says Chick-Fil-A owner John Arton.  

Kevin was also presented with a Certificate of Achievement from LARC congratulating him on his accomplishment.   LARC Executive Director Glenn Weber said, “Nothing has been more fulfilling for the LARC family than that of witnessing the type of personal and workplace success that Kevin has achieved over the past 10 years with the Chick-Fil-A organization.  We are very proud of him and what he has exemplified as a role model for those in the community who aspire to greater things.”

Kevin served cake to friends, family and customers throughout his shift.  His favorite gift was his new employee pin which carries his years of service under his name. 

Judice Riders Tee Off in the Name of LARC
May 2008

Seven teams including members of the Judice Riders recently teed off at Spanish Trail Golf Club in an effort to raise funds for LARC. The event was the first of its kind for the small group from Duson who meets regularly at Tookie’s Lounge on Ridge Road.

Members from Port Metal Components won bragging rights along with a $200 gift certificate for each member to the Spanish Trail Golf Pro Shop.  Guidry’s Welding came in second receiving each a $100 gift certificate to the Pro Shop followed by Premier Rotors. Members of that team received a $50 gift certificate to the Pro Shop.  

Tookie, organizer of the event said, “We’ve been holding cook-offs for the past nine years in the parking lot of the bar with all the proceeds going to LARC.” Tookie said the cook-offs are labor intensive because their group is comprised of about 12 active members. The group, made up of employees and “regulars,” decided to try their hand at a golf tournament. Members of the group said it was just as much work but more fun.

LARC Director of Marketing Ashley Bertrand said the organization is very appreciative of the proceeds and even more so of the community support from the Judice Riders. She along with LARC Director of Development Susan Nini will assist the riders next year for a returning golf tournament in hopes of raising more dollars but more importantly awareness.

Sponsors of the event include: Tookie’s Lounge, Ivan Jennings, Premier Rotors and Dean Guidry.