Women For A Better Louisiana

Please join us for the general meeting on November 16, 2011. The meeting will be held at Lake Marina Towers at 11:00 a.m. See the calendar page for more information. Our guest speaker will be Allen Dejan, an Instructor at The Roots of Music (a free music education program for middle-school students in New Orleans area)

Many, many thanks to Rose Mogabgab for accepting the position of Membership Chair.

Nancy Simoneaux, our long term Chair, will continue to help with membership, but will certainly appreciate the lightening of her many duties.

Margaret Ransone is recuperating from surgery. Please keep her speedy recovery in your prayers and thoughts.

Our Sincerest Sympathy to our Member and Friend Betty Van Norman on the death of her husband, Gene, who was also a friend and often helped with WBL projects.

Thanks also Gwendolyn LaNasa, Kevin O’Sullivan, Chevron Matching Gift Program, Joyce Adoue and Rose Mogabgabour special donors this year for making it possible for us to help so many needy children’s programs in our area, and Pam Rogers for donating her time using some of these funds to shop and keep the pantry at NOCAC filled.

Remember our Troops and their Families in your Thoughts and Prayers and Good Works! Happy Thanksgiving to ALL and Thanks for all that you do!

To view the newsletter, including Thank You Letters for some of our recent activities/donations, click here.

The 2011 Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair,
Region IX of Louisiana

The 2011 Science and Engineering Fiar was a rip-roaring success. In spite of a shortage of volunteers and some had to work triple shifts, everything went off like clock work. The students were enthusiastic and well behaved and the projects were outstanding. Hats off to Fair Director Annette Oertling, and her Volunteers for their hard work, preparation organization and expertise; our WBL volunteers - Christine Trevett, Margaret Ransone, Myrtle Dubea, Lois Lanier, Rosemary Clark, Pam Rogers, Nancy Simoneaux, Linda Kraus, Diana Bolt, Judy Callaway, Barbara LaNasa and WBL Chairman, Harriet Aguilar-Netto joined by our friends Marie Gaudet, Pat Duplantis, Judy Exsterstein, and Jay and Aline Reynolds of the original Metairie Telephone Pioneers, for efficiently controlling the students, being their friend an dhelper, and keeping everything moving forward from project setup, to judging, to project viewing to safe removal of projects.

Our one regret with regards to this year's Fair was our limited number of volunteers. Since Katrina our numbers have been dwindling, but our student participation has continued to increase to pre-storm numbers. We are sorry we had to ask volunteers to serve so many shifts, but as true WBL'ers they rose to the occasion.

Our sincere thanks and Hats Off To All Of Them. One doesn't have to be a WBL member to volunteer. Invite your friends, family or other acquaintances to join us next year. They will meet some really nice people and great teenagers.

To view the May 2011 Newsletter, click here.

Thanks to our Child Advocacy Committee Special Cash Donors: Gwendolyn LaNasa and Kevin O'Sullivan, Chevron Humankind, Rose Mogabgab and Joyce Adoue for their continued support.

Remember our Troops in your prayers and thoughts, as we enjoy this lovely weather and our speical activities.

General Meeting for Women for a Better Louisiana
Wednesday, September 11, 2011
Lake Marina Towers, 300 Lake Marina Drive, New Orleans, LA

The following members were at attendance:

Diana Bulot

Alicia Davis

Myrtle Dubea

Maria Falco

Charlotte Felt

Francois Hocevar

Linda Kraus

The meeting was called to order at 11:30 am. Minutes of the last board meeting, held on January 26th, were accepted as distributed by Nancy Simoneaux and seconded by Alicia Davis. Myrtle Dubea read the Treasurer’s report. She advised we made $268 on the raffle at the May Luncheon which has been placed in the hospitality account (as agreed at the last meeting). There is $8,425.70 in the Child Advocacy Account, $5,451.49 in the General Fund, and $429.89 in the Hospitality Account, which provides a total of $14,307.48 in the bank.
The following topics were discussed:

Nancy Simoneaux advised that she would like someone to take over the duties of the Membership Chair. Rose Mogabgab graciously accepted the position.
Linda Kraus reminded the members to look over the information Nancy brought to the meeting and placed on the coffee table. The information covered such things as past accomplishments of WBL, pamphlets developed by WBL and news articles.
Nancy Simoneaux reviewed the current and future expenses for Child Advocacy. For details please download the minutes.
Charlotte Felt read an article regarding a book written by Richard Bernstein, "Duped America: How Democrats and the Main Stream Media Have Duped the American People And Are Harming Our Country".
Members were shown a copy of a proclamation given to Women for a Better Louisiana by the Council of the City of New Orleans on August 4, 1994 an e-mail from Emile "Peppi" Bruneau thanking Nancy and Margaret Ransone for recognizing him and John Hainkel in their efforts to change the law regarding unlawful disposal of a human body; thank you letter from NOCAC for donating “Teen and Child Witness” pamphlets and “It’s OK to Tell” activity books; thank you note from Girls First for our donation last May.
Developed calendar for coming year. See the Calendar page.
Members were asked to think of projects that WBL could be actively involved, preferably legislative issues. We will discuss further at the November meeting.
Charlotte advised the next legislative session for Louisiana State government is in April. Members agreed we should start attending these sessions again. We will discuss further at the January meeting.
Discussed donations for the raffle at the December Tea. Linda requested that each member attempt to get a donation from the restaurant(s) that they frequent. Linda also suggested that members make a centerpiece for each table which can be raffled at the Tea. Will be discussed further at the November meeting
Myrtle suggested creating a tent-like card that can be placed on the table of those restaurants that provide donations to WBL. The writing on the card would thank the establishment for their donation to WBL. It should also include a short version of WBL's mission. Diana and Christine will create some to be brought to the meeting in November.
Christine will make copies of WBL¡¦s By-Laws and bring to the November meeting.
Nancy will coordinate the May Installation which will be held Wednesday, May 23rd at the Southern Yacht Club.
Nancy advised that Josh Long with NOCAC has a one hour presentation called "Darkness to Light". At the November meeting we will coordinate a date for members to attend this presentation at NOCAC.
Myrtle requested volunteers to audit WBL's books. Diana volunteered to review the tax forms; Christine to review the invoices and checks.

The meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm.

To see the complete minutes of the meeting, click here.

Women for A Better Louisiana Meeting January 18, 2012

Women for A Better Louisiana Meeting January 18, 2012

Women for a Better Louisiana November 2011 General Meeting