The Ville Platte Rotary Club today (Tuesday) heard from newly installed Club President Wayne Vidrine share his vision for the new club year.

     He told club members that he wants to continue with the current fund raisers for LSU-E and other groups and to promote additional members to become Paul Harris Fellows through donations to Rotary International. He also wants to follow through with the club sponsored “Choices” program in public schools to encourage students to stay in school.

    Vidrine wants to bring in additional members by revising the club by-laws to permit larger companies to sign up as corporate members.

    Chicot State Park will be a high priority for the new club president. Due to cuts in state funding, Chicot State Park has been facing “challenges” in making needed improvements to the facility. Vidrine said his goal will be to have the club use its energies to work with local and state officials such as the Lt. Governor to restore funding to “the crown  jewel of Evangeline Parish”. He cited a recent statistic that the tourism tax funds collected for the Tourism Commission from the park had dropped by one third of its former level. The Ville Platte Rotary club and Prof Lafleur were  instrumental in the establishment of Chicot State Park. Vidrine has plans to bring the Rotary District youth group known as Ryla to have summer camp at Chicot State Park in the future.