2013 salute profile

Salute To VolunteersA look at the

people who give of themselves in the Teche Area

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BY HOPE RURIK

THE DAILY IBERIAN

She’s losing sleep and spending more time away from home, but

Mercede Boutte said the long-term possibilities of the West End Health and Wellness Project are worth it.

Boutte, 32, lives in Abbeville, but has been teaching in New Iberia for seven years.

She said she always jumped at opportunities to knock on neighbor-hood doors for can drives and other community outreaches through the school, but when local agencies received a $1 mil-lion Blue Cross and Blue Shield grant for the West End Health and Wellness program, Boutte took her commitment a step farther.

She said she went to a meeting for new organi-zation AYTOI — Activate Your Time Outdoors and Indoors — to get informa-tion about a garden for Anderson Middle, where she teaches.

While at the meeting, she heard there was a post for an activities director.

Boutte applied and was appointed.

Now, she said most days she goes from Ander-son, where she teaches earth and life science, to meetings to fi gure out the logistics of doing things like getting 300 gardens throughout the West End growing.

“Sometimes I get home at 8 or 9, but that’s the price you pay,” she said.

As activities director,

Boutte is also in charge of fi nding ways of encouraging the com-munity to be more active from walks to bike rides to obstacle courses.

She said she is defi nitely in her biggest community role so far.

“There are many hours of not sleeping to fi gure out how we’re going to do what we do,” she said.

But, Boutte said she’s not alone.

Sharon Williams, 49, a West End resident, is AYTOI’s nutrition coor-dinator and is leading the charge for gardens throughout the commu-nity.

She said Boutte’s pas-sion and energy stand out.

“She’s defi nitely full of energy,” Williams said. “She’s so committed to seeing this mission brought forth and mak-ing it manifest.”

Williams said Boutte’s role as a teacher also has been a two-fold asset.

She said Boutte has a unique passion to see children become healthier because there’s a greater potential for classroom learning when pupils are at there best, but Boutte also has established trust in the community by working with kids and parents in the West End.

Boutte said when she

walks down the street and through neighbor-hoods, people don’t think, “Who’s that lady?” They say, “Hey! That’s Mrs. Boutte. What’s going on? Do you need help?”

She said that makes a big difference when they’re going around tell-ing people they want to plant gardens around the neighborhood.

“They’re very receptive because of who I am as a

teacher,” she said. “It’s not hard to trust some-one you already have a re-lationship with.”

And that’s important, she said, because West End residents need some-one they can trust.

And although Boutte’s husband and three kids are in Abbev-ille, she said she’s committed to seeing kids in the West End succeed so she tries to bring her family with her as much as

possible.She said her children

help set up for events, like the Martin Luther King Day event AYTOI hosted at West End Park, and pro-vide feedback on ideas for the wellness program.

“I don’t want to neglect my job or my family so when I can combine them, I will,” she said. “It’s hard juggling it, but you feel fulfi lled when you’re fi nished.”

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Page 8 / Thursday, February 28, 2013 / The Daily Iberian salute to volunteersProfi le 2013 / Celebrating Our Community

Boutte: Someone they can trust

HOPE RURIK / THE DAILY IBERIANMercede Boutte, shown at West End Park, has been instrumental in getting gardens growing throughout the West End community.

salute to volunteersa look at some of the people who give of themselves

a special section of The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 28, 2013

Profi le 2013

Celebrating Our Community

‘A creative thinker’A Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce says Mike Armen-tor brings energy, ability and direction to the Cham-ber. He says his goal is to improve the quality of life.

INSIDE

•

Seizing the opWhen Mercede Boutte learned their was a need for an activi-ties director for a local program, she applied and was appointed. The match was

a good one.

• Page 8

Balancing his timeGrand Marais native Felix Jeanminette has found numerous ways to enrich the lives of people in his community and Iberia Parish. He chooses his volunteer opportuni-ties wisely and it shows.

• Page 4

Teaching outdoors lore

Dupre shares knowledge with YHEC membersBY SARAH BLANCHARD

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Scott Dupre has turned his passion for the outdoors into a career, and now the Jeanerette resident is teach-

ing children in the community how to be better hunters.

Dupre, 33, is a an enforce-ment agent in St. Mary Parish for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, but he also volunteers with the Acadiana Youth Hunter Educa-tion Challenge, a program that teaches children hunter safety and responsibility.

The YHEC program is similar to an advanced hunter education program for chil-dren, Dupre said.

“It teaches the kids to be safe, respectful and ethical hunters when they’re out in the fi eld,” he said. “It teaches

them to be respectful to others and also to respect the animals they’re after. You don’t just go out there and shoot animals, so it teaches them a lot about

responsibility about being in the outdoors.”

Dupre, a former participant in the program, began volun-teering six years ago when his oldest son Elijah entered the program at age 10. Partici-pants in the program must be 10 to 18 years old, Dupre said, because they are required to complete hunter safety courses.

“Every one of the coaches involved is a hunter safety instructor,” he said. “That’s something we teach, the hunt-er safety and hunter education courses.”

Dupre said the group practic-es all year in preparation for a state-level competition in May when participants compete against other parishes and other YHEC programs.

The participants compete in archery, .22-caliber rifl e, muzzleloader and shotgun

events, all of which are hands-on competitions, Dupre said. Participants also compete in the map and compass, wildlife identifi cation, hunter responsi-bility and hunter safety events, which are paperwork competi-tions.

“It really feels good when your efforts pay off as far as the competition,” he said. “It’s a very prestigious competition and whenever one of your kids does come out, just to see the smile on their faces is worth it.”

The wildlife identifi cation event requires the partici-pants to identify 30 specimens, Dupre said, which can range from an animal track to an animal fur or skull. Dupre said he often uses specimens from animals he has harvested to teach the participants, and he said he is preserving the skulls

and hides for a coyote and a skunk.

“I tan the hide, that way they can look at the hide and I bleach the skulls to preserve them. That way they can look at the animals and use that for practice,” he said.

Sandra Verret, co-founder of the Acadiana YHEC program, said she believes Dupre volun-teering to collect specimens is important for the program.

“He brings a lot of stuff to the kids attention that they wouldn’t normally see or be able to touch in a textbook,” she said.

Dupre said he is so passion-ate about displaying specimens for the participants that he has preserved road kill animals. No matter the origin of the specimen, he said the children are always interested in seeing the animals.

“They like it, they really think it’s neat,” he said.

Verret said Dupre’s experi-ence as an enforcement agent enhances his ability to collect specimens, which sets him apart from other volunteers.

“Being an agent with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries really helps him to educate the kids and some of the adults,” she said.

When Dupre is not working as an enforcement agent, he said he enjoys taking children hunting to give them hands-on experiences in the outdoors.

“Believe it or not, a lot of the kids in the program have par-ents who don’t hunt or fi sh,” he said. “We try to take kids hunting who are less fortunate, and sometimes we take them out on a camping trip to show them what it’s all about.”

Dupre said seeing a partici-

pant harvest his or her fi rst animal when they are hunting is rewarding, but his favorite part of volunteering in the program is working with the children on something that he shares a passion.

“I like knowing that when-ever the kids do grow up and they’re on their own in the outdoors, knowing they’re going to be safe and ethical,” he said. “They’re going to be somebody that you would want to encounter while out-doors.”

The preservation of wildlife and the environment is the key to enjoying both in the future, Dupre said. He said he hopes his volunteering in the program teaches that to the children.

“It’s important,” he said. “You want it to be around for your kids and their kids and so on.”

THE DAILY IBERIAN FILESScott Dupre, left, of Jeanerette, goes over compass and map reading last year with AYHEC members Katie Monnin, center, and Elijah Dupre.

Dupre

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INDEX■

Gentle, Christ-like determinationOdessa Ryes-Anthony helps run the Our Lady of Vic-tory Catholic Church Food Pantry. The cancer survi-vor’s efforts help many people, especially children.

— PAGE 3

‘Super enthusiastic’ volunteerSix years ago, Connie Francis started volunteering her time with the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center. She says it has been ‘a very humbling thing to do.’

— PAGE 5

Becomes part of something biggerWhen Patty Lancon eventually landed in a small town from the big city, she rolled up her sleeves as a vol-unteer for multiple organizations and places.

— PAGE 7

Takes commitment a step furtherAbbeville resident Mercede Boutte sees the long-term possibilities of the West End Health and Wellness Project in New Iberia.

— PAGE 8

BY NEAL MCCLELLAND

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Being involved in something has always been a part of Mike Armentor’s life.

Whether it was working in his fam-ily’s business, Armentor Jewelers, or helping make the city better as a mem-ber of the Chamber of Commerce, Armentor always has felt a desire to serve others to improve the quality of life in the area.

“I’ve always considered myself a hard worker,” said Armentor. “I like to be involved and not sit on the sidelines and think that there are things that I could be or should be doing. So I do as much as I can.”

Serving at chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, he brings energy, ability and direction to the Chamber.

“He’s a creative thinker,” said Janet Faulk-Gonzales. Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce President/CEO. “He is able to cut through a lot

of distractions and get to the heart of the matter.”

Armentor, 37, the operating man-ager of Armetor Jewelers, has been a part of the Chamber for many years. He learned from his father that it is necessary to give back to the commu-nity.

“I’ve always felt that way,” said Armentor. “I got involved in the leadership program that the Chamber sponsors. It allowed me to see certain aspects of the community and how things function.

“It showed the kind of opportuni-ties we have here and what kind of businesses thrive here and how individuals can get involved and make a difference.”

Making a difference has been a big part of what drives Armentor.

He said believes that people make a difference in making the community they live in better and being a part of the Chamber of Commerce keeps him involved in the community.

“It keeps me involved in what’s go-ing on and how I can have a possible

impact on improving life for all of us,” said Armentor, who is married and has four children. “I want my children to grew up in a thriving New Iberia and Iberia Parish.”

Armentor has a vision for the future of the parish.

“We need to be able to embrace the beauty and good things and potential we have in this parish,” said Armen-tor, who with the chamber has started the Operation Progress which is a document that lays out challenges that the community can identify and address.

“It involves taking advantage of some of our gems in the parish, the airport, the port, the downtown and the people,” said Armentor. “So we can encourage others to move here and take advantage of what we offer as a community to make it better.”

But it’s not only through his work with the Chamber of Commerce that Armentor feels he can make a differ-ence in the parish and the community.

He also is involved in several other areas in the community. He is on

the board of the United Way and was helpful in starting the On Tap Group, which involved getting young professionals more involved in the community.

“That was done with the mindset of getting the movers and shakers and getting some of the younger professionals in the area more involved in the community,” said Armentor, who added that he thinks that it is important to have younger professionals more involved into the area.

“I think that it’s no longer enough to sit of the sidelines. Younger peo-ple may not have the awareness that they can be involved. It’s not a mat-ter of a lot of work, it’s just being able to bring their opinions to the table and finding out what would be better for the community.”

A sense of community and a sense of how to make the quality of life in the area better, that’s what drives Armentor and what fuels his ability to give service to for as long as he can.

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIANYou won’t fi nd Mike Armentor, operating manager at Armentor’s Jewelers, sitting on the sidelines in this com-munity. Armentor, a vol-unteer with the United Way and leader of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce’s On Tap Group, is one of the mov-ers and shakers and is hopeful younger people follow him and make a difference.

Armentor driven to make a difference

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BY KARMA CHAMPAGNE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Lancon, who grew up in the small town of Asheville, N.C., always wanted to be a big city girl, travel the world and teach young children.

Her plans changed fast.Lancon was 26 years

old and well on the way to fulfi lling her dreams. She landed a job with Ted Turner Broadcasting in At-lanta after graduating from Western Carolina Universi-ty. She had fi nally become a big city girl, but along came a Jeanerette soldier enlisted in the U.S. Army. It was then, she met her husband, Louis Lancon, and life took a different turn.

“I wasn’t looking for a soldier. I was a big city girl who had plans, but that all changed,” she said.

Little did she know that her husband would even-tually make military a career, she would become an Army wife and later re-turn with her husband to his native town of Jeaner-ette to fi nish raising their fi ve children and renovate a historic home.

His military career brought the family to eight different states and

Germany. Lancon said she learned quickly that home is where you make it and volunteerism become a big part of her life, especially during the time her husband served

two tours in Iraq.“I didn’t know any-

thing different. When you are a military wife, you can either become a part of something bigger or stay in your house,” Lancon said.

She became a volun-teer member of Army Family Team Building, an organization dedicat-ed to helping empower Army spouses. Her vol-unteer efforts were also extended to the Army Community Services where she volunteered her time to food pan-tries and taught the acronyms of the U.S. Army to other soldiers’ wives. She later served as a mentor to help guide other wives to teach the class.

Through a Fam-ily Readiness program,

Lancon volunteered her time to offer support to military wives who received the devastating news that their husbands would not return home. She often found herself with the task of describ-ing to a soldier’s family members the injuries of the serviceman’s severe-ly distorted body after a combat casualty. In addi-tion, she found time, to visit the injured soldiers who were hospitalized to offer added support.

Louis Lancon, a retired major, had been deployed to Iraq a second time and served as a company com-mander in Ramadi, when she was faced some of her toughest volunteer work.

“Eighteen soldiers lost their lives from Louis’ battalion and many were severely

injured,” said Lancon. “When the phone was

passed to me and I had to tell the family the result of the injuries, I would often start by telling the family what parts of the body were still actually there and then I would say what parts they were not coming home with. It was hard, but I didn’t see it as volunteer work. I felt it was something that I needed to do because my hus-band couldn’t be there.”

Lancon described her years of volunteer work with soldiers and their families as the most rewarding. “I feel like I got to be around the best of hu-manity and I’ll never forget that. I guess that is why I am so passionate over politics. I witnessed so many soldiers’ lives coming to an end so I know the cost of freedom.”

Now, Lancon divides her time between home-schooling three of her children who have not reached the high school grade level and volunteer-ing in a community whichshe has grown to love.

She serves as a member on the Jeanerette Bicen-tennial Museum board, Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Jean-erette Historical Society. She devotes some of her time to the Home School 4-H Clover Buds, teaches a home school co-op class, teaches Sunday School at First Baptist Church in Jeanerette and helps her husband, who serves as director of First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School, with activities for the children. She has worked along the side of her husband, who serves aspresident of the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce and is a JROTC instructor at Jeanerette Senior High School, in helping to get the Jeanerette Farmers Market organized.

“The volunteer work that I do in Jeanerette is not less meaningful, but it is different. Jeanerette has grown on me and its home — it is defi nitely home. I feel at peace here. It’s a new chapter of my life surrounded by good people. Now I feel I am part of making the com-munity even better. That’s what you learn in the military,” said Lancon.

“All my plans for my lifewere fulfi lled, but I guess you can say it was in Plan B — it was God’s plan. I had the chance to travel as a military wife and teach, only I’m not gettingpaid for it. God brought my life to a full circle.”

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The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 28, 2013 / Page 7salute to volunteers Profi le 2013 / Celebrating Our Community

Lancon fulfi lling her dreams

KARMA CHAMPAGNE / THE DAILY IBERIANJeanerette’s Patty Lancon, shown in the Jeanerette Bicentennial Museum, says she has come full circle in life.

‘Big city girl’ goes to small city, volunteers time & loves every minute of it

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‘We have

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Loreauville native Odessa Ryes-Anthony has compassion for the less fortunate in her community. Ryes-Anthony

is a tireless volunteer with the Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church Food Pantry.

Ryes-Anthony helps through church’s food pantryBY JEFF ZERINGUE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

LOREAUVILLE — The goal of a Christian, it is taught, is to become Christ-like in their everyday lives.

That could describe what Odessa Ryes-Anthony tries to do.

Ryes-Anthony, 66, a Loreauville native who has been a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church since its founding almost 60 years ago, helps run the church’s food pantry. In a month’s time, she and 12 regular volun-teers will have shared sustenance with about 150 families.

“As long as they qualify and are from Iberia Parish, we’ll try to help,” Ryes-Anthony said.

Our Lady of Victory Church Food Pan-try uses standard federal guidelines that determine poverty levels as a basis for whom they can help. It is likely, however, that if the pantry’s resources were unlim-ited, Ryes-Anthony would fi nd a way to help more people, especially the youth.

“My passion is for the children,” she said. “They don’t ask to be born, but we have to take care of them.”

That gentle determination stems from

a life that has seen its challenges. In the 1988, Ryes-Anthony worked as a teacher’s aide for the Iberia Parish School Board, she said. She and her husband, John Calvin Anthony, had six children, the youngest 2 years old. In addition to the challenges of rearing a large family, Ryes-Anthony was diagnosed with breast cancer. The prognosis was not good as the cancer was in an advanced stage.

After surgery, chemotherapy and radia-tion therapy, she said God got her through the darkness of the disease and soon she realized that God was calling her to help people. The food pantry at her church would begin in 1992 and Ryes-Anthony was there from the beginning.

A spiritually guided woman, Ryes-Anthony’s family would continue to deal with trials. In 2011, she would lose the love of her life, John Calvin, after 46 years together. Since then, a son who had just earned a master’s degree was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a con-dition in which the bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells. He is unable to work.

The reasoning for the trials, Ryes-An-thony said, is that God allows hardship for the people whom He knows will be

able to handle it.“I don’t question it,” she said. “Some

people go through much more than that.”That realization also allows Ryes-Antho-

ny to give compassion to the people who go to the food pantry and might not immedi-ately show the appreciation for the help.

“She just keeps a smile on her face and keeps doing the work of the Lord,” said Herman Mitchell, one of Ryes-Anthony 12 regular volunteers.

Mitchell said Ryes-Anthony roped him in to helping at the food pantry about 15 years ago. He has been there ever since.

“I try to help out whoever I can,” he said.

Ryes-Anthony is like a second mother to him, Mitchell said, so when there are times families on the receiving end might not be gracious about the help they get, he is a staunch supporter. Ryes-Anthony simply smiles through it. Mitchell said that is what makes the food pantry a ministry for the volunteers of Our Lady of Victory Food Pantry.

“You never know what they are going through,” Ryes-Anthony said. “Some-

times that kind word will change their disposition and put a smile on their face.”

The sustenance is the draw for which others in the Loreauville community have joined with Ryes-Anthony to help. Although most of the food for the pantry comes form Second Harvest of Acadiana, there also is help from the Food for Family Drive, donations from her church and neighboring St. Joseph Catholic Church and the schools in the close-knit community, Loreauville El-ementary and Loreauville High schools.She said also the Corner Grocery helps with donations of food and the Diocese of Lafayette offers monetary assistance.

All are needed to provide food for an increasing clientele as the food pantry could see an additional three or four families each week.

So long as she is able, Ryes-Anthony will be at the helm of this ministry, leading the way for other volunteers to provide some sustenance for families in Iberia Parish and setting an example of service to those who will follow in her footsteps.

“I could not do this without their help,” Ryes-Anthony said.

JEFF ZERINGUE / THE DAILY IBERIAN

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BY ZACK LASALLE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

“If we all pitch in, things work,” said Felix Jeanminette, a dedi-cated Teche area volunteer for

more than 30 years.Jeanminette, 59, said one of his

most accomplished volunteering efforts was with New Iberia’s Progres-sive Education Program Inc. (PEPI). He said he was honored to be intro-duced to the group and wound up serving two three-year terms on the organization’s board, including one year as the board’s president.

“That was one of the best organiza-tions in New Iberia with regard to furthering the education of individu-als who did not graduate from high school,” said Jeanminette. “PEPI’s main goal was to empower people and make their lives better by giving them the opportunity to acquire a GED. There are so many testimonials about how PEPI helped this parish also.”

Jeanminette, a Grand Marais native, said he’s been involved with social, civic and governmental programs his entire life. He said he just completed his sixth year of fundraising for the Louisiana PepperPlex. Every year he said he volunteers at the annual Top Rod Big Bass Classic, a fi shing tournament that raises money for the complex. He said the tournament raised more than $23,000 this year.

Jeanminette said he’s also a member of the Grand Marais Community and Development Board, which is working in conjunction with the Iberia Parish Recreation Department to acquire a razed plot of Iberia Parish School Board land in Grand Marais and turn it into park. Eventually, he said, the board aims to build a community center for the small area.

Jeanminette is married to Patrice Jeanminette. They have two children, Brandon and Kristen. He said life les-sons learned from his father Horace

Jeanminette instilled in him the desire to help those in need.

“My dad always told us that if we helped other people in their time of need we would get help if we ever would need it,” said Jeanminette. “Working in the school system as the chief accountant for 30 years, it’s not because of the pay I promise you. It’s because I like that kind of work. I like the people at the School Board.

A lot of the people at the School Board are very giving and working along with them it just matured into a thing where I wanted to do things for the community.”

In all his years of service, Jean-minette said he remains mindful of those who’ve considered him for the various organization of which he’s been a part. He said he’s proud of his accomplishments and those of his

community, where he said people are eager lend a helping hand.

“I consider every opportunity that passes me,” said Jeanminette.

“As the need arises I have decisions to make. A lot of time you’re asked to serve on various boards or commit-tees and you have to be able to balance that with family life, recreation and what you would like to see accom-plished.”

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When Jeanminettepitches in, ‘things work’Grand Marais man proud of volunteerism in community

Felix Jeanminette says it is important to balance his time among family life, recreation and what he wants to see ac-

complished in his Grand Marais community and Iberia Par-ish. ‘I consider every opportunity that passes me,” he says.

ZACK LASALLE / THE DAILY IBERIAN

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• Name may only be drawn once• Winner responsible for income tax if applicable

BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center on Bank Av-

enue has been providing emergency assistance to those in need for almost 40 years, with the help of community dona-tions, St. Peter’s Catholic Church and dedicated volunteers.

One of those volun-teers is Connie Francois, a St. Peter’s Catholic Church parishioner and assistant vice president of Community First Bank.

Francois has been volunteering for the nonprofi t for six years. She even lends a helping hand during her lunch break, Social Service Center executive director Carol Gaignard said.

The nonprofi t provides services for Iberia Parish families and residents such as clothing and aid to help cover funeral and utility costs.

One of the Social Service Center’s biggest needs are donated chil-dren’s coats for needy families during winter months, Gaignard said. This prompted Francois,

with the support of bank presi-dent and CEO Benny Menard and senior staff, to spearhead an em-ployee coat drive.

The response to the drive was greater than expected, Francois said, and the bank decided to expand it throughout the com-munity.

In December, the an-nual drive netted four SUV-loads full of new and “gently” used coats that were delivered to the center to be distributed to families.

Francois also heads several food drives for the nonprofit through-out the year, Gaignard said

“Whenever she sees a need here she takes the initiative to help,” the director said. “She’s super enthusiastic as a volun-teer and she also is a great liaison between the Social Service Center and Com-munity First Bank, which has been so generous to us.”

Francois said a bulle-tin posted at the church asking for Social Service Center volunteers is what led her to begin serving as a counselor for the organization.

Along with the food and coat drives, Francois also

assists clients each week with food, expenses and through prayer.

“We pray with each of our clients,” she said.

Employees at the bank are eager to participate in donating whatever is needed to help the nonprofi t from peanut butter and other staple food items to clothing for adults and children, she said.

“I do that all year with the wonderful help of the employees,” she said. “They are awesome.”

The reason she has remained a Social Service volunteer through the years, and plans to con-tinue to do so, is because of the great impact the organization makes in the community.

“It is just a wonderful organization and (there is) such a great need,” she said.

“By me doing this I am not only helping others, it is helping me tremendously. It is a very humbling thing to do.”

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THE DAILY IBERIAN FILESFrom left, Carol Gaignard, executive director of the Social Service Center, and Community First Bank employees Ly-nette Chaney and Connie Francois sift through coats do-nated for children by bank employees and local residents.

SARAH BLANCHARD / THE DAILY IBERIANWhen volunteer Connie Francois talks about the Social Service Center, she is all smiles.

‘I do that all year with the wonderful help of the employees (at Community

First Bank). They are awesome.’

Connie Francois

Assistant vice president of Community First Bank and dedicated volunteer

with the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center■

Francois integral part of Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center

Impact volunteerSeeing a need:

YELLOW

MAG

ENTACYAN

BLACK

BY ZACK LASALLE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

“If we all pitch in, things work,” said Felix Jeanminette, a dedi-cated Teche area volunteer for

more than 30 years.Jeanminette, 59, said one of his

most accomplished volunteering efforts was with New Iberia’s Progres-sive Education Program Inc. (PEPI). He said he was honored to be intro-duced to the group and wound up serving two three-year terms on the organization’s board, including one year as the board’s president.

“That was one of the best organiza-tions in New Iberia with regard to furthering the education of individu-als who did not graduate from high school,” said Jeanminette. “PEPI’s main goal was to empower people and make their lives better by giving them the opportunity to acquire a GED. There are so many testimonials about how PEPI helped this parish also.”

Jeanminette, a Grand Marais native, said he’s been involved with social, civic and governmental programs his entire life. He said he just completed his sixth year of fundraising for the Louisiana PepperPlex. Every year he said he volunteers at the annual Top Rod Big Bass Classic, a fi shing tournament that raises money for the complex. He said the tournament raised more than $23,000 this year.

Jeanminette said he’s also a member of the Grand Marais Community and Development Board, which is working in conjunction with the Iberia Parish Recreation Department to acquire a razed plot of Iberia Parish School Board land in Grand Marais and turn it into park. Eventually, he said, the board aims to build a community center for the small area.

Jeanminette is married to Patrice Jeanminette. They have two children, Brandon and Kristen. He said life les-sons learned from his father Horace

Jeanminette instilled in him the desire to help those in need.

“My dad always told us that if we helped other people in their time of need we would get help if we ever would need it,” said Jeanminette. “Working in the school system as the chief accountant for 30 years, it’s not because of the pay I promise you. It’s because I like that kind of work. I like the people at the School Board.

A lot of the people at the School Board are very giving and working along with them it just matured into a thing where I wanted to do things for the community.”

In all his years of service, Jean-minette said he remains mindful of those who’ve considered him for the various organization of which he’s been a part. He said he’s proud of his accomplishments and those of his

community, where he said people are eager lend a helping hand.

“I consider every opportunity that passes me,” said Jeanminette.

“As the need arises I have decisions to make. A lot of time you’re asked to serve on various boards or commit-tees and you have to be able to balance that with family life, recreation and what you would like to see accom-plished.”

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1102 E Admiral Doyle Dr, New Iberia, LA 70560 n 337-364-2150

¶If you discover an H&R Block error on your return that entitles you to a larger tax refund (or smaller tax liability), we’ll refund the tax prep fee forthat return. Refund claims must be made during the calendar year in which tax return is prepared. OBTP# B13696 ©2012 HRB Tax Group, Inc.

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PROJECT GRAD-2013; 5 in; 00083455; 3cols


When Jeanminettepitches in, ‘things work’Grand Marais man proud of volunteerism in community

Felix Jeanminette says it is important to balance his time among family life, recreation and what he wants to see ac-

complished in his Grand Marais community and Iberia Par-ish. ‘I consider every opportunity that passes me,” he says.

ZACK LASALLE / THE DAILY IBERIAN

AIR CONDITIONING& HEATING, INC.

1303 Jane St., New IberiaSt. Lic. #44169

(337) 365-3350

Heat Pump

Rely on Ruud

Hot or Cold - We’re Here For Our Customers

XNLV76053

$500per ticket

Sold at various locations

Grand Prize

IBERIA PROJECT GRADUATION 2013A Cooperative Effort of CHS/LHS /NISH/WHS Parents (License #G-3283)

Tickets can be purchased at Castaing, Hussey & Lolan, CPA 525 Weeks St., New Iberia

2nd Prize$4000

3rd Prize$3000

4th Prize$2000

5th Prize$1000

Drawing Held April 12, 2013• The winner need not be present to win

• Name may only be drawn once• Winner responsible for income tax if applicable

BY JESSICA GOFF

THE DAILY IBERIAN

The Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center on Bank Av-

enue has been providing emergency assistance to those in need for almost 40 years, with the help of community dona-tions, St. Peter’s Catholic Church and dedicated volunteers.

One of those volun-teers is Connie Francois, a St. Peter’s Catholic Church parishioner and assistant vice president of Community First Bank.

Francois has been volunteering for the nonprofi t for six years. She even lends a helping hand during her lunch break, Social Service Center executive director Carol Gaignard said.

The nonprofi t provides services for Iberia Parish families and residents such as clothing and aid to help cover funeral and utility costs.

One of the Social Service Center’s biggest needs are donated chil-dren’s coats for needy families during winter months, Gaignard said. This prompted Francois,

with the support of bank presi-dent and CEO Benny Menard and senior staff, to spearhead an em-ployee coat drive.

The response to the drive was greater than expected, Francois said, and the bank decided to expand it throughout the com-munity.

In December, the an-nual drive netted four SUV-loads full of new and “gently” used coats that were delivered to the center to be distributed to families.

Francois also heads several food drives for the nonprofit through-out the year, Gaignard said

“Whenever she sees a need here she takes the initiative to help,” the director said. “She’s super enthusiastic as a volun-teer and she also is a great liaison between the Social Service Center and Com-munity First Bank, which has been so generous to us.”

Francois said a bulle-tin posted at the church asking for Social Service Center volunteers is what led her to begin serving as a counselor for the organization.

Along with the food and coat drives, Francois also

assists clients each week with food, expenses and through prayer.

“We pray with each of our clients,” she said.

Employees at the bank are eager to participate in donating whatever is needed to help the nonprofi t from peanut butter and other staple food items to clothing for adults and children, she said.

“I do that all year with the wonderful help of the employees,” she said. “They are awesome.”

The reason she has remained a Social Service volunteer through the years, and plans to con-tinue to do so, is because of the great impact the organization makes in the community.

“It is just a wonderful organization and (there is) such a great need,” she said.

“By me doing this I am not only helping others, it is helping me tremendously. It is a very humbling thing to do.”

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We salute all of those who serve!!The sacrifi ces of our men and women in uniform,

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Our safety and freedom are due to them.The tireless work of the many volunteers in our

community is a testament to the fi ne area inwhich we are blessed to live.

THE DAILY IBERIAN FILESFrom left, Carol Gaignard, executive director of the Social Service Center, and Community First Bank employees Ly-nette Chaney and Connie Francois sift through coats do-nated for children by bank employees and local residents.

SARAH BLANCHARD / THE DAILY IBERIANWhen volunteer Connie Francois talks about the Social Service Center, she is all smiles.

‘I do that all year with the wonderful help of the employees (at Community

First Bank). They are awesome.’

Connie Francois

Assistant vice president of Community First Bank and dedicated volunteer

with the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center■

Francois integral part of Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center

Impact volunteerSeeing a need:

YELLOW

MAG

ENTACYAN

BLACK

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‘We have

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Loreauville native Odessa Ryes-Anthony has compassion for the less fortunate in her community. Ryes-Anthony

is a tireless volunteer with the Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church Food Pantry.

Ryes-Anthony helps through church’s food pantryBY JEFF ZERINGUE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

LOREAUVILLE — The goal of a Christian, it is taught, is to become Christ-like in their everyday lives.

That could describe what Odessa Ryes-Anthony tries to do.

Ryes-Anthony, 66, a Loreauville native who has been a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church since its founding almost 60 years ago, helps run the church’s food pantry. In a month’s time, she and 12 regular volun-teers will have shared sustenance with about 150 families.

“As long as they qualify and are from Iberia Parish, we’ll try to help,” Ryes-Anthony said.

Our Lady of Victory Church Food Pan-try uses standard federal guidelines that determine poverty levels as a basis for whom they can help. It is likely, however, that if the pantry’s resources were unlim-ited, Ryes-Anthony would fi nd a way to help more people, especially the youth.

“My passion is for the children,” she said. “They don’t ask to be born, but we have to take care of them.”

That gentle determination stems from

a life that has seen its challenges. In the 1988, Ryes-Anthony worked as a teacher’s aide for the Iberia Parish School Board, she said. She and her husband, John Calvin Anthony, had six children, the youngest 2 years old. In addition to the challenges of rearing a large family, Ryes-Anthony was diagnosed with breast cancer. The prognosis was not good as the cancer was in an advanced stage.

After surgery, chemotherapy and radia-tion therapy, she said God got her through the darkness of the disease and soon she realized that God was calling her to help people. The food pantry at her church would begin in 1992 and Ryes-Anthony was there from the beginning.

A spiritually guided woman, Ryes-Anthony’s family would continue to deal with trials. In 2011, she would lose the love of her life, John Calvin, after 46 years together. Since then, a son who had just earned a master’s degree was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a con-dition in which the bone marrow does not produce enough new blood cells. He is unable to work.

The reasoning for the trials, Ryes-An-thony said, is that God allows hardship for the people whom He knows will be

able to handle it.“I don’t question it,” she said. “Some

people go through much more than that.”That realization also allows Ryes-Antho-

ny to give compassion to the people who go to the food pantry and might not immedi-ately show the appreciation for the help.

“She just keeps a smile on her face and keeps doing the work of the Lord,” said Herman Mitchell, one of Ryes-Anthony 12 regular volunteers.

Mitchell said Ryes-Anthony roped him in to helping at the food pantry about 15 years ago. He has been there ever since.

“I try to help out whoever I can,” he said.

Ryes-Anthony is like a second mother to him, Mitchell said, so when there are times families on the receiving end might not be gracious about the help they get, he is a staunch supporter. Ryes-Anthony simply smiles through it. Mitchell said that is what makes the food pantry a ministry for the volunteers of Our Lady of Victory Food Pantry.

“You never know what they are going through,” Ryes-Anthony said. “Some-

times that kind word will change their disposition and put a smile on their face.”

The sustenance is the draw for which others in the Loreauville community have joined with Ryes-Anthony to help. Although most of the food for the pantry comes form Second Harvest of Acadiana, there also is help from the Food for Family Drive, donations from her church and neighboring St. Joseph Catholic Church and the schools in the close-knit community, Loreauville El-ementary and Loreauville High schools.She said also the Corner Grocery helps with donations of food and the Diocese of Lafayette offers monetary assistance.

All are needed to provide food for an increasing clientele as the food pantry could see an additional three or four families each week.

So long as she is able, Ryes-Anthony will be at the helm of this ministry, leading the way for other volunteers to provide some sustenance for families in Iberia Parish and setting an example of service to those who will follow in her footsteps.

“I could not do this without their help,” Ryes-Anthony said.

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INDEX■

Gentle, Christ-like determinationOdessa Ryes-Anthony helps run the Our Lady of Vic-tory Catholic Church Food Pantry. The cancer survi-vor’s efforts help many people, especially children.

— PAGE 3

‘Super enthusiastic’ volunteerSix years ago, Connie Francis started volunteering her time with the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center. She says it has been ‘a very humbling thing to do.’

— PAGE 5

Becomes part of something biggerWhen Patty Lancon eventually landed in a small town from the big city, she rolled up her sleeves as a vol-unteer for multiple organizations and places.

— PAGE 7

Takes commitment a step furtherAbbeville resident Mercede Boutte sees the long-term possibilities of the West End Health and Wellness Project in New Iberia.

— PAGE 8

BY NEAL MCCLELLAND

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Being involved in something has always been a part of Mike Armentor’s life.

Whether it was working in his fam-ily’s business, Armentor Jewelers, or helping make the city better as a mem-ber of the Chamber of Commerce, Armentor always has felt a desire to serve others to improve the quality of life in the area.

“I’ve always considered myself a hard worker,” said Armentor. “I like to be involved and not sit on the sidelines and think that there are things that I could be or should be doing. So I do as much as I can.”

Serving at chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce, he brings energy, ability and direction to the Chamber.

“He’s a creative thinker,” said Janet Faulk-Gonzales. Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce President/CEO. “He is able to cut through a lot

of distractions and get to the heart of the matter.”

Armentor, 37, the operating man-ager of Armetor Jewelers, has been a part of the Chamber for many years. He learned from his father that it is necessary to give back to the commu-nity.

“I’ve always felt that way,” said Armentor. “I got involved in the leadership program that the Chamber sponsors. It allowed me to see certain aspects of the community and how things function.

“It showed the kind of opportuni-ties we have here and what kind of businesses thrive here and how individuals can get involved and make a difference.”

Making a difference has been a big part of what drives Armentor.

He said believes that people make a difference in making the community they live in better and being a part of the Chamber of Commerce keeps him involved in the community.

“It keeps me involved in what’s go-ing on and how I can have a possible

impact on improving life for all of us,” said Armentor, who is married and has four children. “I want my children to grew up in a thriving New Iberia and Iberia Parish.”

Armentor has a vision for the future of the parish.

“We need to be able to embrace the beauty and good things and potential we have in this parish,” said Armen-tor, who with the chamber has started the Operation Progress which is a document that lays out challenges that the community can identify and address.

“It involves taking advantage of some of our gems in the parish, the airport, the port, the downtown and the people,” said Armentor. “So we can encourage others to move here and take advantage of what we offer as a community to make it better.”

But it’s not only through his work with the Chamber of Commerce that Armentor feels he can make a differ-ence in the parish and the community.

He also is involved in several other areas in the community. He is on

the board of the United Way and was helpful in starting the On Tap Group, which involved getting young professionals more involved in the community.

“That was done with the mindset of getting the movers and shakers and getting some of the younger professionals in the area more involved in the community,” said Armentor, who added that he thinks that it is important to have younger professionals more involved into the area.

“I think that it’s no longer enough to sit of the sidelines. Younger peo-ple may not have the awareness that they can be involved. It’s not a mat-ter of a lot of work, it’s just being able to bring their opinions to the table and finding out what would be better for the community.”

A sense of community and a sense of how to make the quality of life in the area better, that’s what drives Armentor and what fuels his ability to give service to for as long as he can.

LEE BALL / THE DAILY IBERIANYou won’t fi nd Mike Armentor, operating manager at Armentor’s Jewelers, sitting on the sidelines in this com-munity. Armentor, a vol-unteer with the United Way and leader of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce’s On Tap Group, is one of the mov-ers and shakers and is hopeful younger people follow him and make a difference.

Armentor driven to make a difference

Nobody covers the Teche Area

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The Daily Iberian.

Subscribe today! Call

321-6769.

BY KARMA CHAMPAGNE

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Lancon, who grew up in the small town of Asheville, N.C., always wanted to be a big city girl, travel the world and teach young children.

Her plans changed fast.Lancon was 26 years

old and well on the way to fulfi lling her dreams. She landed a job with Ted Turner Broadcasting in At-lanta after graduating from Western Carolina Universi-ty. She had fi nally become a big city girl, but along came a Jeanerette soldier enlisted in the U.S. Army. It was then, she met her husband, Louis Lancon, and life took a different turn.

“I wasn’t looking for a soldier. I was a big city girl who had plans, but that all changed,” she said.

Little did she know that her husband would even-tually make military a career, she would become an Army wife and later re-turn with her husband to his native town of Jeaner-ette to fi nish raising their fi ve children and renovate a historic home.

His military career brought the family to eight different states and

Germany. Lancon said she learned quickly that home is where you make it and volunteerism become a big part of her life, especially during the time her husband served

two tours in Iraq.“I didn’t know any-

thing different. When you are a military wife, you can either become a part of something bigger or stay in your house,” Lancon said.

She became a volun-teer member of Army Family Team Building, an organization dedicat-ed to helping empower Army spouses. Her vol-unteer efforts were also extended to the Army Community Services where she volunteered her time to food pan-tries and taught the acronyms of the U.S. Army to other soldiers’ wives. She later served as a mentor to help guide other wives to teach the class.

Through a Fam-ily Readiness program,

Lancon volunteered her time to offer support to military wives who received the devastating news that their husbands would not return home. She often found herself with the task of describ-ing to a soldier’s family members the injuries of the serviceman’s severe-ly distorted body after a combat casualty. In addi-tion, she found time, to visit the injured soldiers who were hospitalized to offer added support.

Louis Lancon, a retired major, had been deployed to Iraq a second time and served as a company com-mander in Ramadi, when she was faced some of her toughest volunteer work.

“Eighteen soldiers lost their lives from Louis’ battalion and many were severely

injured,” said Lancon. “When the phone was

passed to me and I had to tell the family the result of the injuries, I would often start by telling the family what parts of the body were still actually there and then I would say what parts they were not coming home with. It was hard, but I didn’t see it as volunteer work. I felt it was something that I needed to do because my hus-band couldn’t be there.”

Lancon described her years of volunteer work with soldiers and their families as the most rewarding. “I feel like I got to be around the best of hu-manity and I’ll never forget that. I guess that is why I am so passionate over politics. I witnessed so many soldiers’ lives coming to an end so I know the cost of freedom.”

Now, Lancon divides her time between home-schooling three of her children who have not reached the high school grade level and volunteer-ing in a community whichshe has grown to love.

She serves as a member on the Jeanerette Bicen-tennial Museum board, Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Jean-erette Historical Society. She devotes some of her time to the Home School 4-H Clover Buds, teaches a home school co-op class, teaches Sunday School at First Baptist Church in Jeanerette and helps her husband, who serves as director of First Baptist Church Vacation Bible School, with activities for the children. She has worked along the side of her husband, who serves aspresident of the Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce and is a JROTC instructor at Jeanerette Senior High School, in helping to get the Jeanerette Farmers Market organized.

“The volunteer work that I do in Jeanerette is not less meaningful, but it is different. Jeanerette has grown on me and its home — it is defi nitely home. I feel at peace here. It’s a new chapter of my life surrounded by good people. Now I feel I am part of making the com-munity even better. That’s what you learn in the military,” said Lancon.

“All my plans for my lifewere fulfi lled, but I guess you can say it was in Plan B — it was God’s plan. I had the chance to travel as a military wife and teach, only I’m not gettingpaid for it. God brought my life to a full circle.”

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Lancon fulfi lling her dreams

KARMA CHAMPAGNE / THE DAILY IBERIANJeanerette’s Patty Lancon, shown in the Jeanerette Bicentennial Museum, says she has come full circle in life.

‘Big city girl’ goes to small city, volunteers time & loves every minute of it

JEANERETTE — Volunteerism and Patty Lancon are synonymous.Volunteering comes natural to

Lancon, 44. The Jeanerette resident has been volunteering in one form or an-other most of her adult life. She often can be found out and about in Jeanerette working at the Jeanerette Farmers Market, promoting the Jeaner-ette Bicentennial Museum and Jeanerette Chamber of Commerce, helping to min-ster at her church or mentoring teens.

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She’s losing sleep and spending more time away from home, but

Mercede Boutte said the long-term possibilities of the West End Health and Wellness Project are worth it.

Boutte, 32, lives in Abbeville, but has been teaching in New Iberia for seven years.

She said she always jumped at opportunities to knock on neighbor-hood doors for can drives and other community outreaches through the school, but when local agencies received a $1 mil-lion Blue Cross and Blue Shield grant for the West End Health and Wellness program, Boutte took her commitment a step farther.

She said she went to a meeting for new organi-zation AYTOI — Activate Your Time Outdoors and Indoors — to get informa-tion about a garden for Anderson Middle, where she teaches.

While at the meeting, she heard there was a post for an activities director.

Boutte applied and was appointed.

Now, she said most days she goes from Ander-son, where she teaches earth and life science, to meetings to fi gure out the logistics of doing things like getting 300 gardens throughout the West End growing.

“Sometimes I get home at 8 or 9, but that’s the price you pay,” she said.

As activities director,

Boutte is also in charge of fi nding ways of encouraging the com-munity to be more active from walks to bike rides to obstacle courses.

She said she is defi nitely in her biggest community role so far.

“There are many hours of not sleeping to fi gure out how we’re going to do what we do,” she said.

But, Boutte said she’s not alone.

Sharon Williams, 49, a West End resident, is AYTOI’s nutrition coor-dinator and is leading the charge for gardens throughout the commu-nity.

She said Boutte’s pas-sion and energy stand out.

“She’s defi nitely full of energy,” Williams said. “She’s so committed to seeing this mission brought forth and mak-ing it manifest.”

Williams said Boutte’s role as a teacher also has been a two-fold asset.

She said Boutte has a unique passion to see children become healthier because there’s a greater potential for classroom learning when pupils are at there best, but Boutte also has established trust in the community by working with kids and parents in the West End.

Boutte said when she

walks down the street and through neighbor-hoods, people don’t think, “Who’s that lady?” They say, “Hey! That’s Mrs. Boutte. What’s going on? Do you need help?”

She said that makes a big difference when they’re going around tell-ing people they want to plant gardens around the neighborhood.

“They’re very receptive because of who I am as a

teacher,” she said. “It’s not hard to trust some-one you already have a re-lationship with.”

And that’s important, she said, because West End residents need some-one they can trust.

And although Boutte’s husband and three kids are in Abbev-ille, she said she’s committed to seeing kids in the West End succeed so she tries to bring her family with her as much as

possible.She said her children

help set up for events, like the Martin Luther King Day event AYTOI hosted at West End Park, and pro-vide feedback on ideas for the wellness program.

“I don’t want to neglect my job or my family so when I can combine them, I will,” she said. “It’s hard juggling it, but you feel fulfi lled when you’re fi nished.”

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Boutte: Someone they can trust

HOPE RURIK / THE DAILY IBERIANMercede Boutte, shown at West End Park, has been instrumental in getting gardens growing throughout the West End community.

salute to volunteersa look at some of the people who give of themselves

a special section of The Daily Iberian / Thursday, February 28, 2013

Profi le 2013

Celebrating Our Community

‘A creative thinker’A Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce says Mike Armen-tor brings energy, ability and direction to the Cham-ber. He says his goal is to improve the quality of life.

INSIDE

• Page 2

Seizing the opWhen Mercede Boutte learned their was a need for an activi-ties director for a local program, she applied and was appointed. The match was

a good one.

• Page 8

Balancing his timeGrand Marais native Felix Jeanminette has found numerous ways to enrich the lives of people in his community and Iberia Parish. He chooses his volunteer opportuni-ties wisely and it shows.

• Page 4

Teaching outdoors lore

Dupre shares knowledge with YHEC membersBY SARAH BLANCHARD

THE DAILY IBERIAN

Scott Dupre has turned his passion for the outdoors into a career, and now the Jeanerette resident is teach-

ing children in the community how to be better hunters.

Dupre, 33, is a an enforce-ment agent in St. Mary Parish for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, but he also volunteers with the Acadiana Youth Hunter Educa-tion Challenge, a program that teaches children hunter safety and responsibility.

The YHEC program is similar to an advanced hunter education program for chil-dren, Dupre said.

“It teaches the kids to be safe, respectful and ethical hunters when they’re out in the fi eld,” he said. “It teaches

them to be respectful to others and also to respect the animals they’re after. You don’t just go out there and shoot animals, so it teaches them a lot about

responsibility about being in the outdoors.”

Dupre, a former participant in the program, began volun-teering six years ago when his oldest son Elijah entered the program at age 10. Partici-pants in the program must be 10 to 18 years old, Dupre said, because they are required to complete hunter safety courses.

“Every one of the coaches involved is a hunter safety instructor,” he said. “That’s something we teach, the hunt-er safety and hunter education courses.”

Dupre said the group practic-es all year in preparation for a state-level competition in May when participants compete against other parishes and other YHEC programs.

The participants compete in archery, .22-caliber rifl e, muzzleloader and shotgun

events, all of which are hands-on competitions, Dupre said. Participants also compete in the map and compass, wildlife identifi cation, hunter responsi-bility and hunter safety events, which are paperwork competi-tions.

“It really feels good when your efforts pay off as far as the competition,” he said. “It’s a very prestigious competition and whenever one of your kids does come out, just to see the smile on their faces is worth it.”

The wildlife identifi cation event requires the partici-pants to identify 30 specimens, Dupre said, which can range from an animal track to an animal fur or skull. Dupre said he often uses specimens from animals he has harvested to teach the participants, and he said he is preserving the skulls

and hides for a coyote and a skunk.

“I tan the hide, that way they can look at the hide and I bleach the skulls to preserve them. That way they can look at the animals and use that for practice,” he said.

Sandra Verret, co-founder of the Acadiana YHEC program, said she believes Dupre volun-teering to collect specimens is important for the program.

“He brings a lot of stuff to the kids attention that they wouldn’t normally see or be able to touch in a textbook,” she said.

Dupre said he is so passion-ate about displaying specimens for the participants that he has preserved road kill animals. No matter the origin of the specimen, he said the children are always interested in seeing the animals.

“They like it, they really think it’s neat,” he said.

Verret said Dupre’s experi-ence as an enforcement agent enhances his ability to collect specimens, which sets him apart from other volunteers.

“Being an agent with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries really helps him to educate the kids and some of the adults,” she said.

When Dupre is not working as an enforcement agent, he said he enjoys taking children hunting to give them hands-on experiences in the outdoors.

“Believe it or not, a lot of the kids in the program have par-ents who don’t hunt or fi sh,” he said. “We try to take kids hunting who are less fortunate, and sometimes we take them out on a camping trip to show them what it’s all about.”

Dupre said seeing a partici-

pant harvest his or her fi rst animal when they are hunting is rewarding, but his favorite part of volunteering in the program is working with the children on something that he shares a passion.

“I like knowing that when-ever the kids do grow up and they’re on their own in the outdoors, knowing they’re going to be safe and ethical,” he said. “They’re going to be somebody that you would want to encounter while out-doors.”

The preservation of wildlife and the environment is the key to enjoying both in the future, Dupre said. He said he hopes his volunteering in the program teaches that to the children.

“It’s important,” he said. “You want it to be around for your kids and their kids and so on.”

THE DAILY IBERIAN FILESScott Dupre, left, of Jeanerette, goes over compass and map reading last year with AYHEC members Katie Monnin, center, and Elijah Dupre.

Dupre

2013 salute profile

Documents