The Rotary Club of Ville Platte today (Tuesday) heard from Shelby Santiago with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes. CASA volunteers represent the interest of abused and neglected children during court and child protection proceedings. They are appointed by a local judge to serve as a child’s voice in court.
CASA is in need of additional volunteers in both of Evangeline and St. Landry Parishes. In Evangeline Parish there are 80 foster children and only 10 CASA volunteers while in St. Landry parish, there are 105 foster children and 23 volunteers in neighboring St. Landry parish. CASA has a local office at 721 West Lincoln and their phone number is 337-506-2272. Also attending was Lorenzo Richard of CASA. They were the special guests of Rotarian Mable Forman.
In other business, Club President Wayne Vidrine announced that the Installation of Officers banquet will be held June 12 at 6;00pm at the La Veille Banque location.
The club also approved the following:
Approved naming Peter Strawitz as Vice President;
Naming Fr. Mitch Guidry as honorary club member;
Approved a motion of $125 to the Ville Platte Boys and Girls Club;
Appoved appointing a committee to look at re-establish a scholarship fund for students attending the Coreil Campus at Louisiana Technical College.