Volunteerism encouraged at Coalition meeting

Luke Dupre´, front and center, Michele Veillon, Southwind and Summerwood Senior Communities; Amanda Dupre´, SABS representative; and Paul Broussard, guest speaker on Volunteerism, were present for the July 17 meeting of the Acadia Adult and Senior Wellness Coalition.

Photo by: Katherine Miller

By Katherine Miller
THE POST SIGNAL

CROWLEY – The July meeting of the Acadia Adult and Senior Wellness Coalition was held recently. The group, which encourages senior citizen awareness and a better overall quality of life for seniors in our area, has been active for about one year, according to Amanda Dupre´, who works as a representative for SAABS and as a fundamental part of the group. Michele Veillon, of Southwind and Summerwood Communities, stands as well as an advocate for the group.
Paul Broussard was the guest speaker on volunteerism, who is himself a SAABS representative. Broussard is also an active advocate for senior citzens’ issues, and has worked closely with Congressman Moran regarding senior citizen issues.
As the coalition has been busy fostering ideas in its promotion of the organization, Veillon and Dupre announced that they would be honoring one person in Acadia Parish as “Friend of the year.” The public will be afforded the opportunity of submitting nominations which meet the following criteria: 1. Nominees must be a resident of Acadia Parish. 2. Nominees must be age 18 or older. 3. Nominees must show/have shown a consistent commitment, on a volunteer basis, in working towards enhancing the lives of the senior community of Acadia Parish. 4. Nominations submitted should include a short narrative (approximately 250 words), explaining why they feel this person should be honored as the Adult and Senior Wellness Coalition’s first friend of the year.
Nomination forms may be picked up at SABS Community Mental Health Center, Southwest Assisted Living, or Summerwood Nursing and Rehab. To have a nomination form faxed to you, please call (337-788-3600 or 788-1113. The deadline for submitting nominations is September 18, 2008. The selection will be made by a panel of judges selected from the community in early October, and the Friend of the Year will be honored during the month of November.