Touring with Billy

By News Staff on Monday, March 13, 2023
Rotarians visit with Lt. Governor Nungesser at Arboretum
  • Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser jots down ideas while peering over Lake Chicot from the pier located near the group cabins of Chicot Park. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
    Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser jots down ideas while peering over Lake Chicot from the pier located near the group cabins of Chicot Park. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
  • Lt. Gov. Nungesser (center) shares ideas with State Senator Heather Cloud (right) outside Cabin 3. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
    Lt. Gov. Nungesser (center) shares ideas with State Senator Heather Cloud (right) outside Cabin 3. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)
  • Prior to the Rotary Meeting, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungessor toured Chicot Park with State Senator Heather Cloud along with several Rotarians and State Park staff members. Pictured from left are Legislative Aide David Allen, Director of State Parks Brandon Burris, Rotarian Wayne Vidrine, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser, Senator Cloud, Rotarian Annette Johnson and husband, Mike, Rotarian Dr. Joey Soileau, Rotary President Larry Lachney, District Manager Katie Ardoin, and Park Manager Jessica Earles.
    Prior to the Rotary Meeting, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungessor toured Chicot Park with State Senator Heather Cloud along with several Rotarians and State Park staff members. Pictured from left are Legislative Aide David Allen, Director of State Parks Brandon Burris, Rotarian Wayne Vidrine, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser, Senator Cloud, Rotarian Annette Johnson and husband, Mike, Rotarian Dr. Joey Soileau, Rotary President Larry Lachney, District Manager Katie Ardoin, and Park Manager Jessica Earles.

    By: HEATHER BOGARD
    Associate Editor

    Rotarian Jimmy LeBlanc welcomed Senator Heather Cloud and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser as the guest speakers for the March 7, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club, which was held at the Louisiana State Arboretum. Members enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by Kelly Bolfa from Pine Prairie.
    Nungesser stated he loved working with Cloud, who is a great senator. He stated even though they are very short staffed, there is a great team working for the state parks across the state. Nungesser said it was the only agency to not get a raise in 15 years, but staff has stuck with it. A member of the Belle Chasse Rotary Club, Nungesser noted the founder of the Rotary organization, Paul Harris, had visited Plaquemine Parish and some of the ideas for Rotary came from that experience.
    Nungesser stated following devastating hurricanes, tourism in the state has had five record-breaking years, contributing $9.1 billion in taxes to the state. In 2021, 41 million people visited the state following the Covid pandemic. Nungesser said he is convinced 2023 will be a record-breaking year for tourism in Louisiana as we compete with other states coming out of Covid.
    In order to compete, Nungesser stated they are thinking outside the box for ideas to promote the state and what it has to offer. One way they did just that is by highlighting Mardi Gras with ads in Times Square in New York saying, “Get Ready, Louisiana is Coming” as a promotion for an appearance in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Nungesser also got the state involved in participating in the annual Rose Parade in California. A very colorful float depicting scenes from Louisiana was created, 22 festival queens representing various agriculture from across the state rode the float as Louisiana native and country artist Lainey Wilson performed on the float.
    With the success of those events, Nungesser said, “How do we outdo ourselves this year?” He said many ads across social media platforms have been released and more are coming, sharing all the state has to offer to those of various interests, from hunting and fishing, music, food and more. Nungesser stated they are working on international promotion to have a presence in places such as Italy, Spain and India, and encourage international travelers to visit and stay for a longer visit.
    Nungesser stated there are 67 music ambassador awards available for fairs and festivals to bring in more bands to draw larger crowds to their events and noted there is nothing too small to promote.
    In order to keep up and protect Chicot State Park, the largest state park located in Evangeline Parish, Nungesser asked Rotarians and other locals to make a list of what needs to be done in the park to improve it, such as road work. He said they will look and the money they have and what is needed to get projects done for the betterment of the park.
    Litter is another major issue Nungesser wants to stay on top of, and said the Keep Louisiana Beautiful campaign is a big help with groups volunteering to help clean up their local areas. Nungesser added grants providing trash cans to cities has been a big help, along with 50,000 bags donated by DARE and 1,000 trash cans donated by Coca-Cola.
    Rotary President Larry Lachney stated next week’s program will be a special one to celebrate the Ville Platte club’s 94th anniversary on March 14. He also reminded members about the District conference to be held in Lafayette April 21-23, and said the Rotary International Convention will be held May 27-31, in Melbourne, Australia.