pine bluff news continued…

November 2016 Volume 8, Issue 1

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Pine Bluff news continued….

October 24, 2016 Kimberly’s daughter

Kimerra Handley was inducted into the

National Honors Society at Watson Chapel

High School.

Pine Bluff Branch Sickness and Loss

of Love ones

Florentine Humphrey, Loss of mother

Bunia Baxter and Atty Pamela Johnson – Loss

of Sister and Auntie

Dr. Margaret Boyd-Owens – Loss of father

Tadzia D. Cooley – Sickness/Surgery

Cheryl Hutchins-James – Sickness/Surgery

Dr. Janette Wheat – Mother sickness/Surgery

Rayne Branch News---Beth Bernard,

reporting

Commitment: The sisters of the National

Association of University Women-Rayne

Branch would like to thank Dianne Granger for

her six years of service as President. Job well

done and we appreciate you.

Installation: On September 8, 2016, Rayne

Branch installed officers for 2016-2018 at Our

Mother of Mercy Convent. Congratulations to

Elaine Sias, President, Bethalun Bernard, 1st

Vice, Hilda Wiltz Wiltz, 2nd Vice, Laura Levy,

Treasurer, Dianne Granger, Financial Secretary,

Jazzmin Evans, Recording Secretary, Sydney

Edmond, Corresponding Secretary, mary

Figaro, Chaplin. Special thanks to Linda P

Armstrong for presiding over the installations.


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Rayne news continued…

NAUW Royalty: The 80th International Rice

Festival Children’s Parade was held on Friday,

October 19, 2016 in Crowley, Louisiana. We

were graciously represented by our 2015-2017

royalty, King Jordan Handy and Queen Gabrielle

Mouton. Thanks to their parents Mrs. Stephanie

Handy and Ms. Nicola Mouton for all their

support. Special thanks to Don Shelter

Chevrolet for allowing our children the use of a

vehicle for the parade.

New Member: Congratulations to Rayne

Branch newest member Ms. Krystal Chevis.

Ms. Chevis is an instructor at Southwest

Louisiana Community College. Welcome

sister.

St. Landry Branch news---Florence Milburn, reporting

Education and awareness!

Let the planning begin! Health ~A~Rama to

be held on July 9, 2016 at North Elementary

School. NAUW - St. Landry Branch joins the

Quad CSO (4 Community Service

Organizations). The group included St.

Landry Branch, Country Boys of Plaisance,

Agro-Men, and Masonic Youth Fraternity

(Prince Hall Affiliation).

The focus of the Health A Rama was to raise

health awareness in the local community at

high risk for Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity

and other health related illness and support a

local family in a Benefit Leukemia Walk for

their daughter, Sierra Randall, student at

Northwest High School. Below NAUW

sister support the Benefit Leukemia Walk by

purchasing and wearing T-shirts designed by

Sierra Randall.


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St Landry news continued….

Standing from left to right: (front row) Lillian

Charles, Theresa Frank, Dr. Julia Darbonne,

Celina Richard, President, Hazel Red, and

Heather Bob (back row) Florence Milburn, Dr.

Savyonne Williams, and Helen Williams.

Kneeling in front: Sierra Randall. (Not shown)

Alisha Vallien and Emma Guillory. Through T-

shirt sales and donations the QUAD 4 presented

the Randal Family with $4000.00. attendance at

the health fair and benefit walk involved over

300 people.

NAUW - St. Landry Branch was featured in

LIFESTYLE Newspaper. Member, Velma

Davis, was interviewed by the Lifestyle

reporter. The photo highlights the members of

the branch who attended the 57th South Central

Conference in Houston, Texas. Friday night’s

festivities focused on Elegance In Black!

Seated from left to right: Theresa Frank, Celina

Richard, President, Nell Joubert. Standing:

Wanda Faulk, Velma Davis, Heather Bob, and

Florence Milburn.

NAUW - St. Landry Branch members volunteered

at the Opleousas Civic Center to assist the victims

following the area wide flood. Seated: Lillian

Charles, Celina Richard, Pres., standing: Hazel Red,

Theresa Frank, Evavatta G. Rodney, and Madeline

Taylor. (Not shown- Emma Guillory, Florence

Milburn, Alishia Vallien, Helen Williams, and Dr.

Savoynne Williams.

Service to our Fellowman

For the 4th year in a row the NAUW - St.

Landry Branch members have taken part in

the St. Landry Parish 7th Grade Back to

School Youth Blast.


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Below, members are seen distributing bags with

information on nutrition and test taking skills.

Over 900 bags were prepared and issued to 7th

graders in attendance. Seated: Lillian Charles,

Celina Richard, Madeline Taylor and 7th grader

receiving his bag.

Members attending Youth Blast: Lillian

Charles, Madeline Taylor, Hazel Red, Helen

Williams and Celina Richard, president.

Madeline Taylor and Lillian Charles and 7th

graders from St. Landry Parish along with

Hazel Red and Dr. Julia Darbonne.

Scholarship!!

Shown above receiving her $200.00

incentive award from President Celina

Richard is our freshman student, Jada

Semien, who attends Baton Rouge

Community College. Other freshmen

students receiving $200.00 awards are

Makayla Savoie, McNeese University,

Braylon Bievenue, Southern University,

Derrick W. Boast, Southern University and

Zoie Semien, Northwestern University.

These are 5 of 8 awards to be given out.


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NAUW - St. Landry Branch members attended

the Planning and Training meeting on October

1st in Pineville, La. Those attending were

Celina Richard, President, Alishia Vallien, 1st

Vice President, Heather Bob, Secretary, and

members Nell Joubert and Velma Davis. The

meeting was informative, creative and

rejuvenating. Members left the planning

meeting with new ideas to bring back to the

branch. President Richard accepted the

certificate on the Opal Level for increased

membership in 2014-2015.

Green Learns Pink in October

Members of St. Landry Branch are educated on

Breast Cancer Awareness at the October

meeting.

St Martin Branch news---Stephanie

Minix, reporting

Something to Celebrate!

The St. Martin Branch celebrated its one-year

anniversary with a celebration dinner at the

historic site of Buck and Johnny’s in Breaux

Bridge, Louisiana. The Branch was chartered

on September 19, 2015. During the 2015-2016

session the Branch sponsored events and

activities that coincide with the National

Association. At the climax of the 2015-2016

session, eight (8) months after chartering; the

branch provided three (3) scholarships to

college-bound and undergraduate students from

area communities. From the Branch President,

Mary Gothe: I am grateful to our members for

their hard work, dedication and commitment to

making St. Martin Branch successful. We are a

strong group of women who are faced with

challenges trying to make a difference but

because of our strength and dedication to doing

the work, God has guided us throughout this

journey and he will continue to guide us to

making a difference. St. Martin Branch is a

dynamic Branch and our members are

awesome! I look forward to continued growth.

Happy Anniversary!


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St Martin news continued…

ST. MARTIN BRANCH ONE-YEAR

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

PHOTO (l-r – bottom/up) Stephanie Minix, Fredrika

Louis, Cora Siner, Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux,

Gwendolyn Cormier, Kim Vavasseur, Shirlene

Lodge, President Mary Gothe, Kerisha Martin and

Dorothy Ledet

ST. MARTIN BRANCH MEMBERS

CELEBRATING ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

2016 Sectional Conference

St. Martin Branch President, Mary Gothe;

First Vice-President, Stephanie Minix; and

Branch Treasurer, Kerisha Martin attended

the South Central Sectional Conference this

past summer in Houston, Texas. Kerisha

Martin delivered a recap of the convention at

the Award Luncheon during the climax of the

conference.

St. Martin Branch received recognition

certificates for participation in the South

Central Sectional 2016 Summer Youth

Conference held at Grambling University;

100% LINC submissions, and a Scrapbook

Certificate. Sectional Director, Betty

Wilkerson recognized Vice-Presidents of each

branch, and elaborated on the vital roles each

play in assisting branch Presidents.

Kerisha Martin -2016 Sectional Conference

Recap Speaker


(Photo) Branch President Mary Gothe,

Treasurer Kerisha Martin and First Vice-

President Stephanie Minix – joined by WeTV

Reality Show Cast of “Sisters-in-Law”


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First Vice-President, Stephanie Minix receives

recognition from Sectional Director, Betty

Wilkerson

70th National Convention Highlights

Branch President, Mary Gothe attended the 70th

National Convention held in St. Louis Missouri.

St. Martin Branch participated in the National

Journal Publication; received recognition

certificates for Volunteer Hours and Scrapbook

presentation, which was accepted by the

President on behalf of the Branch.

Photo (l-r) St. Martin Branch President, Mary Gothe

enjoying the Evening of Elegance at the 70th

Convention of the National Association of University

Women with Trina Proctor of the Atlanta Branch of

NAUW.

Forever Emerald Delores Owens and St.

Martin Branch President, Mary Gothe

Adorned in African Attire at the 2016 National

Convention

Lafayette Renaisance Academy

Food Supply Drive

Lafayette Charter Foundation

spearheaded a food and supply drive at

the Lafayette Renaissance Charter

Academy, which gave much needed relief

to residents devastated by the 2016

historic flooding in Louisiana. Residents

of the communities were provided free

clothing, school supplies, non-perishable

food, and toiletries; and recipients were

served gumbo for lunch. St. Martin

Branch members were attendance for

service, which included; Dr. Louella

Cook – President of the Lafayette Charter

Foundation, St. Martin Branch President,

Mary Gothe; and branch member, Anchell

Chevalier, a teacher at the academy.


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Welcome 6 New Members

Growth represents a change in investment! The

St. Martin Branch is growing, as six new

members are now investing in the successful

future of the branch, and have pledged to

support the purpose and concepts of the

National Association of University Women.

The Branch welcomed: Tanya Martinez,

Shirleen Lodge, Victoria Johnson, Michaela

Mallory-Orebeaux, Dorothy Ledet, and

Gwendolyn Hill.

Photo (l-r) St. Martin Branch President, Mary Gothe

, New Member Gwendolyn Hill, First Vice-President

Stephanie Minix, and Financial Secretary Kim

Vavasseur

Photo (l-r) Newly Inducted Members: Tanya

Martinez, Shirleen Lodge, Victoria Johnson,

Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux, and Dorothy Ledet

2016 Annual Planning/Training

Meeting South Central’s Annual Planning and

Training Meeting, held in Pineville,

Louisiana was attended by the St. Martin

Branch President – Mary Gothe, First Vice-

President – Stephanie Minix, Recording

Secretary – Fredrika Louis, Financial

Secretary – Kim Vavasseur, and Treasurer –

Kerisha Martin.

Branch President – Mary Gothe accepts South

Central Sectional Donations for

Historic Flood Victims in St. Martin Branch


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Voter Registration Drive

Voter registration is fundamental to elections, as

“…voting is the most powerful instrument ever

devised by man for breaking down injustice and

destroying the terrible walls which imprison men

because they are different from other men.” Lyndon

B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States.

On Saturday, October 1st and Sunday, October 2nd,

the St. Martin Branch partnered with the Black

Catholics Mens Conference Group of the St. Francis

of Assisi Church in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana for a

Voter Registration Drive. Members attending the

registration were: Dorothy Ledet, Cora Siner, Dr.

Diana Perkins, Shirleen Lodge, Mona Gordon,

Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux, Kerisha Martin, Kim

Vavasseur, and Branch President- Mary Gothe.

Photo (l-r) Dorothy Ledet, Shirleen Lodge, Mona Gordon,

and Dr. George Diggs, Sr.

Photo (l-r) Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux, Kim Vavasseur,

Branch President-Mary Gothe and Kerisha Martin

Business as Usual

The Executive Committee of the St. Martin

Branch held its first planning meeting on August

28, 2016 to prepare a tentative “plan of action” for

the new year. All officers were in attendance.

The branch held its first general business meeting

for the 2016-2017 session on September 6, 2016.

Hamilton Academy of the Arts

Branch President – Mary Gothe and branch

member/founder of the Hamilton Academy of the

Arts – Grace Hamilton-Mayfield were guests on

Z105.9 radio, in a live broadcast with Host, Joe

Dupre; promoting the St. Martin Branch of

NAUW and the branch sponsored event, “Make A

Difference Day.” President Mary Gothe provided

the listening audience with information about the

National Association of University Women,

particularly the St. Martin Branch. Member,

Grace Hamilton-Mayfield spoke on how the arts

provides an outlet of expression for kids.

St. Martin Branch “On The Air” With Host Joe Dupre

(Z105.9 Radio)


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St. Martin Branch President, Mary Gothe And

Member/Owner/Founder Of Hamilton Academy Of

The Arts –Grace Hamilton Mayfield On Air At

(Z105.9)

“Make a Difference Day”

St. Martin Branch of NAUW was a proud

sponsor of the Hamilton Academy of the Arts

“Make A Difference Day” for the youth, helping

to make a difference in giving them an

opportunity to explore the Arts in the form of

dance. The branch provided Gatorade and Water

for the event. The youth learned dance routines

and at the climax of the event a “Hip Hop Dance

Battle” prevailed. Members in attendance were

President Mary Gothe, Kim Vavasseur, Shirleen

Lodge, Kerisha Martin, and

member/owner/founder of Hamilton Academy of

the Arts – Grace Hamilton-Mayfield.

St. Martin Branch/Hamilton Academy Of The Arts

2016 “Make A Difference Day”

For The Youth (Hip Hop Dance Batte Preparation)

Photo (l-r seated) Kerisha Martin, Kim Vavasseur,

Shirleen Lodge President Mary Gothe

and Grace Hamilton-Mayfield

“The Fight For The Cure” During

Breast Cancer Month The St. Martin Branch members joined in on

inspiring hope for the cure during Breast

Cancer Awareness month. In support of the

campaign “Fight for the Cure,” members

wore pink every Thursday during the month

of October. Ja’les Henry inspired the idea

for members to take a “selfie” and post it to

the branch Facebook timeline. A special

thank you to all members who particpated in

this inspirational venture.

Photo (l-r top) Kerisha Martin, Fredrika Louis

and Dr. Diana Perkins

Photo (l-r bottom) Gwendolyn Hill, Kim

Vavasseur, Shirleen Lodge, Michaela Mallory-

Orebeaux and Cora Siner


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NOTE – SOME PHOTOS ARE DUPLICATES ON

THE COLLAGE

Photo (l-r top) Dr. Louella Cook, Gwendolyn Cormier

and Stephanie Minix Photo (l-r middle row) Attorney

Satricia Williams; Photo (l-r bottom row) Ja’les Henry

and Tanya Martinez

Photo (l-r) Dorothy Ledet and Mona Gordon

“Sharing Smiles For The Cure”

Members of the St. Martin Branch joined town

Mayor Kevin Kately and Parks, Louisiana

Community at the “Sharing Smiles for the Cure”

walk during breast cancer month, giving honor to

those who lost the battle, encouraging survivors,

and inspiring hope for those individuals who are

currently enduring this life-changing experience.

President Mary Gothe, a cancer survivor, Kim

Vavasseur, Dorothy Ledet and Michael Mallory-

Orebeaux were in attendance for this event.

Photo (l-r) Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux, St. Martin

Branch President-Mary Gothe, Parks, Louisiana

Mayor-Kevin Kately, and Dorothy Ledet

Photo (l-r) Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux, St. Martin

Branch President-Mary Gothe, Kim Vavasseur and

Dorothy Ledet

Stand Up Against “Domestic

Violence”

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During “Domestic Violence Month” branch

members wore some form of the color “purple”

and took a stand for action, bringing attention to

the issue of domestic violence. The battered

women’s movement in the United States began

in the early 1970’s; however, sadly enough

studies have shown that 1 in 3 women have been

impacted by intimate partner violence in some

form. We can all empower women to stand up

against domestic violence for themselves by no

longer living in silence.

Photo (l-r) Tanya Martinez, Kerisha Martin, Victoria

Johnson, Michaela Mallory-Orebeaux, Dorothy Ledet,

Shirleen Lodge, Stephanie Minix, President Mary

Gothe, Kim Vivasseur, Dr. Louella Cook, Gwendolyn

Hill and Ja’les Henry

Photo (l-r) Ja’les Henry, Fredrika Louis and President

Mary Gothe

Branch member, Dr. Louella Cook and

friends recently shared a private moment with

the infamous Patti LaBelle, which Dr. Cook

described as “truly a moment to remember!!

MESSAGE FROM ST. MARTIN BRANCH

PRESIDENT, MARY GOTHE (In Honor of

ALL Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence

Survivors)

“Cancer didn’t bring me to my feet, it brought

me to my knees” -Michael Douglas

“You may face many defeats in your Life, but

never Let yourself be defeated” -Maya

Angelou

CONTACT US:

Visit us on Facebook:

@NAUWSTMARTINBRANCH

Email: [email protected]

Branch phone: (337) 504-8087


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Shreveport Branch news---Tamika Edwards, reporting

Youth Conference

The Shreveport Branch Youth participated in the

Youth Conference this past June, held at

Grambling State University in Grambling, LA.

Nilah Pollard won 1st place in the talent

competition and Caleigh Lester placed 4th in the

essay competition.

SC Sectional Conference

The Shreveport Branch received several

recognition at the South Central Sectional

Conference this past June that was held in

Houston, TX.

Congratulations

Member Ms. Geneva Moore turned 101 on August

15, 2016. Member Trennica Holt entered law

school in August 2016. Member Terri Palms-

Moore received a Masters of Science in Education

from Arkansas State University on August 5, 2016.

Community Activities

Several members contributed items to send to

flood victims in South Louisiana. Teens

participated in a membership drive to help

recruit new members to Shreveport NAUW

branch.

Members Ida Edwards and Tamika Edwards participated in Dominate

Diabetes 5K on November 5, 2015.


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National Association of University Women

South Central Section, The Altitude Mrs. Betty Wilkerson, Sectional Director [email protected]

Evelyn L. Wright Southwest Section

National President

[email protected]

National Headquarters:

1001 E Street SE

Washington, DC 20003

Phone: (202) 547-3967

www.nauw1910.org

Wanda Faulk, NAUW SC Journalist

286 Mouton Rd

Sunset, LA 70584

Phone: (337) 692-1027

[email protected]

A Personal Touch:

Remember: Nobody’s perfect. That’s why

God put erasers on pencils. Everyone

makes mistakes so if I have omitted

something, please forgive me. Blame the

brain not the heart.

May God continue to Bless each of YOU!!!

To all my vanilla,

cinnamon and dark

chocolate brown

NAUW sisters,

welcome to the start

of another

wonderful year.

I am happy to continue in my position as

Journalist and will be looking forward to

all the wonderful work that is being done in

South Central.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.nauw1910.org/

pine bluff news continued…

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