Moving Forward

Though it’s about two months until spring training, we’d like to look at 2016 as a solid effort at “playing good baseball.”  In essence, this is nothing more than a focus on the power of teamwork to affect all parts of the game.

This year we had the opportunity to work with a number of great partner and businesses on projects from singles to a few big hits.  We certainly didn’t do this alone and we think that 2016 was a big leap in evolving and shaping the future of SLP.  Here’s a quick review:

In January we launched our bi –monthly LEAD Development Series, focused on growing professional development, which consisted of top Leaders within private and public sectors spanning across the Acadiana Region serving as speakers on the following topics:  Vision, Courage, Integrity, Humility, Strategic Planning, Focus and Cooperation.  Throughout the six month course we saw an excess of 100 individuals in attendance.

LEAD Development Series ‘Aha’ Moments:

• Professionalism is not how you feel, its how you act.
• You got to know you!

• Every problem starts and ends with “Leadership”.
• Have to have balance at ‘home’ and ‘work’ and know how to control both.
• Winners learn the ART of forming relationships and winning the support of the people who are their competitors.
• Avoid the NOISE!
• Values and Leadership go hand in hand.
• Everything in life is a business.

At the close of January, the organization was awarded funding through the Wal-Mart Foundation for a diverse range of SLP interests including entrepreneurship, community engagement/recruitment and mentorship programs. 

In February we began the first of our six bi-monthly rotating Membership Recruitment Socials held all through St. Landry Parish.  Each social was attended in the double-digits, demonstrating a steady growth in interests during the year. 

July marked the beginning of partnerships and project collaboration with our participation at the Women’s Empowerment Conference, hosted by the Family Strong Foundation, which was designed to showcase opportunities to empower women in areas such as health, entrepreneurship and much more.  In August we successfully held our first organizational fundraiser in collaboration with the Opelousas Kiwanis Club where we raised in excess of $500.00 with all proceeds going back into our organization.

In September we were thrilled to serve as co-sponsor for the Washington D.C. based National Association of Counties/NACo event.  The occasion was attended by over 100 individuals throughout the parish that included legislative and public officials as well as community and business leaders.  The outcome led to a stronger relationship between St. Landry Parish and the association on the federal level in the area of arts and culture.

October began on top through our co-sponsorship and support of the St. Landry Parish Superintendent Forum.  The selection of the “most qualified professional” of our next superintendent was considered by many to be one of the most important decisions the parish has made within the past 10 years in order to continue to keep our parish “moving forward”.  At the conclusion of October in partnership with the Girl Scout organization we once again

served as a co-sponsor for the 13th Annual Safe Halloween for Kids at Le Vieux Village in our best efforts to grow Girl Scout recruitment in our area building girls of courage, confidence, and character.

One of our most exciting projects came in November as we continued to work with the Family Strong Foundation with the 1st Annual Men’s Health Summit.  The summit was geared towards men of all ages from all backgrounds with its main purpose to provide health-related information and resources.  The event garnered heavy support from parish entities and organizations who served as sponsors as well as participants and plans have already begun for next year’s conference.

 December concluded with our participation at the Lighting of the Village which has been a favorite holiday activity of both children and adults, offering family friendly festivities in a unique setting.

 This year we had the good fortune to come to know some of the most dedicated and community-minded organizations, constituents and residents of St. Landry Parish.  These partners and businesses are a critical part of our playbook and we look forward to growing capacity within our organization and we look forward to another great year in St. Landry Parish.