Topic: School Facilities Master Plan
Mr. Domingue's firm, Architects Southwest, is one of several firms involved in developing a School Facilities Master Plan for the Lafayette Parish School System. A facilities master plan is a document describing a strategy to address the need for facility improvements and for capital investments to support current and future educational programs. The plan covers a 20 year horizon.
Architects Southwest has completed a physical survey of the 46 [47?] school campuses and support facilities that comprise the Lafayette Parish School System. He discussed the planning process and the ongoing community dialogue where survey results are presented to interested members of the Lafayette community at a series of public meetings.
More information about the Lafayette Parish School System's School Facilities Master Plan is available at this location:
http://lpss.csrsonline.com/Home/tabid/38/Default.aspx
Program Summary - November 23
Speaker 1: John Forcade
Topic: Lafayette Wildcatters Arena Football Team Mr. Forcade, a former University of Mississippi quarterback and New Orleans Saint is involved in launching, and coaching, a new arena football team in Lafayette: the Lafayette Wildcatters.
Arena football is played with 8 men teams on a converted ice hockey rink. The ice is covered with a mat and the boards are padded. Compared to regular football, the games tend to be higher scoring, there are usually fewer running plays because of the narrow playing field, and no punts (ceiling constraint).
The Wildcatters will compete in a 10 team league including teams located in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Texas and Louisiana. The season runs from March through July. The Wildcatters will play in Blackham Coliseum.
Speaker 2: Dennis Hayer, Jim Chance
Topic: Volunteer Opportunities with the Salvation Army this Christmas Season
Cadet Dennis Hayer provided an overview of the Salvation Army's Lafayette operations with facilities on 6th and 3rd Streets. The Salvation Army ministers to the down and out and homeless by providing food, clothing and shelter. Salvation Army seminarians are ordained to this ministry and their hope is to change a life for the better.
The Salvation Army is an efficient charity with 82 to 86% going directly to provide services for the needy. The Salvation Army Thrift Store is currently being remodeled.
Because individual's situations vary, they don't have a time limit on how long someone needing help can stay in their facility. They also offer comprehensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in larger cities.
Salvation Army also provides disaster recovery services, for example, they have portable kitchens pulled by tractor trailers. Available for state and national declared disasters. They aren't typically the first responders, but they can mobilize within a week and are equipped to stay and help as long as necessary.
Salvation Army Christmas programs include visits with senior citizens and toys for kids. A relatively new development is the “counter” kettle - a donation kettle designed to be placed at local businesses, perhaps near cash registers. Several Lafayette-area banks participated last year and the Salvation Army is hoping to recruit additional businesses this Christmas.
Regarding volunteer opportunities, Cadet Hayer provided this list:
1. Bell Ringers - a civic organization or group can volunteer to man a kettle for a period of time. Typical locations: Walmart, Sam's Club, Hobby Lobby
2. Phone Crew - Help coordinate volunteers by contacting them to remind them of assignments, coordinate schedules, find substitutes, and react to problems. Phone volunteers will receive a list of frequently asked questions.
3. Drivers - within Lafayette and a six parish area
4. Counter Kettle - Assist in placing counter kettles with reputable businesses, adequate controls.
5. Cash Donations - also graciously accepted.
Salvation Army is also recruiting speakers to tell businesses and civic groups about their programs.
Jim Chance is coordinating volunteer efforts for the Salvation Army. Their Christmas fund raising season runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.
Rotarians interested in volunteering can contact Jim at C&C Technologies Survey Services: Direct: 337-735-3737 Office: 337-261-0660 Cell: 337-344-8004
