St. Mary Chamber of Commerce 2011

St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce, 2011, Page 1

Page 2, St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce, 2011


Chamber board chairKarl Young sets goalof innovative outreach

Karl Young

Continued on Page 4

When Karl Young takes the helm of the St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerceboard of directors this week, his main goal will be outreach.

“The staff and the board, the previous board members and the five new ones, arewhat make me feel really good,” Young said. “They have a wide background in allkinds of businesses spread from Baldwin to Amelia. So I’m looking forward to a livelydebate.”

Young has been a board member since early 2009, and says he sees his role as thenew chairman of the board to “get all the board members together and kick stuffaround, come up with a consensus on where we want to go for membership.”

He says he hopes to utilize the chamber’s Web site more fully, and survey member-ship more via online resources. “Ask them, what do you want from us?” Young said.“Then bring that before the board and see if that’s where we want to go, and how.”

Getting more involved with civic and community leaders is also a factor in hisupcoming chairmanship. Young said he’d like to go “to the council meetings, havemore face time with members. To maybe dividing up the 600-plus people we have andany new members and try to visit them all face-to-face. Tell me what we’ve been doingright, what we’ve been doing not quite so right, what would you like to see your cham-ber do for you, if we can.”

Then the board could take those suggestions and work on the issues, Young said.He says he has strong persons heading up the various chamber committees. “To me

that’s the key,” Young said. “I just want to facilitate and make this thing work for usall parish wide.”

Young said he knows board members past and present have “put everything theyhad into this, to help the parish. If we help as much as we can, it helps us all. Smallor large, I just want our parish to get better and if we can help in some kind of waywe will. I’m sure the mayors and council members have some ideas what they want to


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do in their areas, and that’s why I want us to get out more.”He said he would utilize the Web site to help get the chamber’s goals and endeavors

out more. Young said e-mails and surveys are valuable tools for reaching out to mem-bers and non-members alike in the electronic age.

“Whether we get positive or negative feedback, it keeps us going,” he said. “I thinkthe board members will work really hard.”

Membership has declined since the BP oil spill, Young said, with companies affect-ed in the industry cutting back expenses, such as memberships.

But the annual banquet set for Thursday has been a ticket sales success, Youngsaid, a hopeful sign for the organization.

Young said the staff and membership are “a big resource, and if you don’t use them,you lose them. I’m hoping to encourage all that, keep everyone engaged. If you don’tdo that, people start to get disinterested. I’m just going to try really hard, along withthe board’s help.”

The chamber is constructing a new building near the Morgan City Municipal Audi-torium, with staff expecting to move in this month.

They have been in the current facility for some 40 years, he said.“We’re trying to get the building where the Tiger’s Den used to be in Franklin,”

Young said. “We’d like to get a bigger presence, and I don’t think we’re going to giveup on that.”

The St. Mary Parish Council owns that building, and the chamber has been negoti-ating with the council for it for some time.

“I would like to see us more visible on this end,” Young said. “I think Parish Presi-dent Paul Naquin and some of the other folks are trying to help us, and keeping theireye out for something else that might come up to help us.”

Continued from Page 3

Chairman Karl Young...

Jeremy Callais

Vice-Chairman Callais: “Help business prosper”By LEE HUDSON

Helping businesses prosper is what St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce ViceChairman Jeremy Callais wants to help foster in 2011.

“Our goal would be as a chamber to enhance the offerings we have for the localbusinesses in St. Mary Parish. We are going to reach out to the business communityand see what we can do for them, what we can do for their businesses because thebusinesses are who support us,” Callais said.

This is Callais’ second year on the board. Last year he served as treasurer.“We have a rotation. The first year you hold an officer position, you are the treasur-

er, then you go to vice chairman, then you go to chairman and then past chairman. So,I’m in the second year of that,” Callais said.

He said he has learned how to work with professionals who may have different per-spectives than he does. At MC Bank and Trust he works in the financial and opera-tional side of the bank. Callais was able to bring his skills from the bank and applythem to his position on the chamber board.

“It was really an active year. At my first board meeting they asked me to be treas-urer. I was a little hesitant but it has been fun ... We improved the budgeting processa bunch for the chamber. The incoming treasurer, Barbara Watts, she’s going to do aphenomenal job. She thinks things completely through, she is open to suggestions,she is just fun to work with. I have worked with her on other projects besides thechamber, and she’s great,” Callais said.

Last year Callais was a member of both the finance and the building relocationcommittees.

“We knew we had to find someplace to go, had to build a building or find one to

Continued on Page 5

The coveted “Citizen of the Year”award, a staple of the former West St.Mary Chamber of Commerce since 1986,honored seasoned citizens who havemade outstanding contributions to thearea.

The recipient of the award is honoredfor unselfish deeds in improving the areaand making it a better place to live andraise a family.

The criteria for the award calls for anindividual who over a period of time, “hasconsistently demonstrated excellence incommunity leadership; has made, or ismaking, significant contributions to thewelfare of the community throughinvolvement and participation and hasgiven freely of their time and energy forcommunity betterment.”

Former award winners were:1986 Richard McCloskey1987 The Rev. O’Neil Landry1988 Tanos Joseph1989 Alfreda Laws

1990 Rodger Robinson1991 Leo Lasserre1992 Donavan Pontiff1993 Col. (Ret.) L.B. Wiley1994 David H. Stiel Jr.1995 Dr. Thomas Kramer1996 Aubrey Boudreaux

1997 Louis Nesom1998 Ross Little1999 Linda Kidd2000 Marion Melancon2001 Bill Moore2002 Glenna Gillespie Kramer2003 Renee Vanover

2004 Marguerite Robinson2005 Dr. Alice Pecoraro2006 Larry Callais2007 Damon Robison2008 Marshall Guidry2009 Didi Battle2010 Parker Conrad


Morgan City • Lafayette • Bayou Vista • Ameliaw w w. m c b t . c o m

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Morgan City • LafayetteBayou Vista • Ameliaw w w. m c b t . c o mand the

community

The Carillon Bell Towerstands high above our

community as a symbol ofgreat achievement and greatstrength. M C Bank has also

proven to be representative ofgreat success and strength in

our community as we are consistently named one of the

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we’re reaching great heights.

REACHING

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buy...We are currently building a cham-ber building. So hopefully, that is a stepin the right direction, a new updatedfacility. We should be moving in some-time during the month of February,”Callais said.

Callais said he believes this year’sboard is extremely diverse.

“We’re represented from all areas ofthe parish, all different businesses withthe incoming members. We have peoplein the financial sector, we have someonewho is in accounting, an attorney, some-one in human resources, we have theeconomic director of the parish,” Callaissaid.

As vice chair Callais plans to step inwhenever the chamber president needshim to be there. “I appreciate the oppor-tunity that I have been granted to serveon this board,” Callais said.

“As far as being vice chairman, I amreally just there to help out Karl. Any-thing the chamber needs, I think thechamber is great.”

Callais...Continued from Page 4

Banquet’s highlights includes ‘Citizen of the Year’

St. MaryParish

ChamberEdition2011


Your St. Mary Parish

Sheriff’s Office

Motor Pool/Repair

Inmate Labor

Water Patrol


Moving Forward toBetter Serve You

The new 300 bed correctional facility is expected to provide a major boost in the fight against crime.

Other additions include the conversion of the Sumpter Williams School to a substation.

St. Mary Parish deputies also provide instructional classes to law enforcement personnel throughout the Acadiana Region.

St. Mary Parish

Sheriff’s Office

New Jail

Morgan City Substation

Instructional Services


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Barbara Watts

Treasurer Barbara Wattsbrings financial expertise

By GEOFFREY STOUTEPardon St. Mary Parish Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Barbara Watts if

she examines financial situations like an auditor.It’s what she does for a living. It’s how she thinks — about financial mat-

ters in and out the office — and chamber members can expect nothing lessin her new position as treasurer.

“Any set of financial statements I look at, I look at from an auditing andan analytical perspective,” the licensed certified public accountant said.

“I’m always looking out for the most efficient way to maintain fiscalaccountability for the chamber,” she added.

In doing so, she said she wants to make sure the chamber continues itsgrowth, while also covering its necessary operating expenditures. “We’re anonprofit organization and we’re not geared to making a profit, but we wantto make sure everything’s covered and that anything excess we can use forother necessary items such as scholarships and the continued promotion ofeconomic growth in St. Mary Parish,” Watts said.

Watts, who is entering her second year on the chamber board, said shelooks forward to working with the new chamber board members. She saidthe board is both diverse and dynamic.

“I think it’s a board that will get some goals accomplished in the nextyear, which would be a win-win for St. Mary Parish as a whole,” Watts said.“The synergy between our board members is very good. We all work togetherwell. We get along together well. We all have the same goals and thoughtprocesses for the future of the chamber.”

One of its goals, Watts said, is to reach out even more to its members.“We want to get on a one-to-one basis with the general business public so

that we can encourage more people and more businesses to join,” she said.Another goal she said she would like the chamber to accomplish this year

is to encourage more business leaders to get involved in St. Mary Parish’seconomic environment.


Rose Arceneaux

Arceneaux leaves chair,dedicated to parish unity

Parish unity is what St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Immediate Past Chair RoseArcenaux wishes to continue this year.

After serving two years as chairwoman, Arceneaux is currently serving as immedi-ate past chair. She is to advise the current chairman, Karl Young.

“He and I are like-minded that our parish is one. We’ve worked very hard for thelast two years to unify the parish as far as the chamber is concerned. He is going tocontinue on that same path. I can honestly say I haven’t heard the phrase east orwest anymore than maybe two times at a chamber meeting in the past year. It used tobe two or three times a meeting. It has really come together.

“We made a conscious effort as a board not just to talk the words but act the act. Touse the words east and west was a division. Even though it was a physical descrip-tion, it also put a mindset of a mental division. We just didn’t want it so we used thewords of section of or area of. Whatever you do for the parish, it only makes the wholeparish stronger. We have a very unique area, we have everything you could possiblywant except snow and mountains. We have farming, we have industry and we mesh,”Arceneaux said.

During Arceneaux’s tenure, the board knew they had to take proactive steps to pro-cure office space.

“This the first time in forever we’re going to have a note to pay as opposed to norent. It is going to be ours. It is like your home. It’s going to be in an area that hasbeen long planned to be a focal point within the community for both local people andtourism, in that it is across from the auditorium, right behind the police station kindof centrally located in there. The petting zoo is right there,” Arceneaux said.

The chamber office will have additional duties in its new space.“I think the chamber being the one full-time, open five days a week, eight hours a

day is going to be the anchor for that area. We’re going to have a strong presence.There is the little tourism house there. It used to be open full time. Like everyone elsethe city has been impacted by the economy. It is only open a few hours a week now.Well with the chamber being there, we can open the building. We can make sure thereis the availability of feed for the animals. We can reopen that little area again,” Arce-neaux said.

Continued on Page 10


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In the same vicinity is the Gathright House, which is the second oldest home inMorgan City and it could be a new focal point in this new enclave.

“We are working with the Gathright committee to refurbish it and open it up for ause for the community either as a museum or as a small retail facility. Somethingthat’s going to benefit the community,” Arceneaux said.

Arceneaux hopes the blending of old and new will be welcoming to both tourists andlocals alike.

“Where the Swamp Gardens were, it is going to be walking paths and a little parkarea and the baseball diamond. It is going to tie everything together,” Arceneaux said.

Another project Arceneaux tackled during her tenure was revising the bylaws,strategic plan and policies and procedures. She hopes this will benefit the new board.

“We did a complete makeover of our bylaws, all of our policies and procedures, ofour strategic plan. We used these two years to do a complete relook, rethink, remod-ernize our entire train of thought as long as our documentation and our plan to moveforward. That was a big challenge. We used it for the remainder of the year and sawwhat did work and what didn’t work and rewrote some more. It literally took two

years to completely work out. And this will be the first year with Karl (Young) as chairwith all of the revisions, and we will see how it works,” Arceneaux said

Each new board spends a full Saturday in training for their new positions.“They learn about policies and procedures, committee responsibilities and the

strategic plan. We literally just go through it. We have a book that has everything in itthat we give to all the new board members. Every year now it is written down that wehave to do that. The members of the board come together as a group and take owner-ship as a team for the year,” Arceneaux said.

She said she believes all of the new board members are committed to the communi-ty and are committed to doing.

“I have no doubt that Karl is going to be a great leader and he is going to continueto make sure that the parish is united, and continue to put forth the effort that every-thing we do as a chamber is good for the parish as a whole. And if he continues onthat path, everything is going to work out. You can’t do for individuals or do for sec-tions. You have to do for the whole. You have to be willing to compromise a little bit. Ireally think that the chamber is going in a great direction. Even in these very bleakeconomic times our community has supported us,” Arceneaux said.


Arceneaux takes post of immediate past president...

The 2011 Committee Chairs for the St. Mary ParishChamber of Commerce have been announced.

—Board of Directors, Marilyn Davis, Scott Berry, GregYoung, Frank Fink, Bob Lewis, Robert Judice, Jason Bailey,Joseph Tabb, Khary Gaylord and Raymond “Peety” Wade II.

—Chairman, Karl Young—Vice Chairman, Jeremy Callais—Treasurer, Barbara Watts—Past Chairwoman, Rose Arceneaux—Finance committee, Barbara Watts

—Education committee, Dr. Marilyn Davis—Scholarship committee, Charlene Gaddis—Legislative review committee, Frank Fink—Fundraiser committee, Scott Berry—Speaker committee, Adam Crappell—Ambassador committee, Nelson Cortez—Ambassadors, Karla Byron, Elaine Gussman, Alfreida

Edwards, Jack Blank, Nelson Cortez, Laura Mott, DeloresStuart, Cherie Laiche, Sandi Guillory, Emily Berry, EuginaPrice and Sheila Jones.

2011 Chamber Officers, Comittee Chairs, Ambassadors


Fr af nO ky lt ii nC Fr af nO ky lt ii nCIs Proud To Salute Our

St. Mary ParishChamber of CommerceSt. Mary ParishChamber of Commerce

MAYOR:Raymond Harris, Jr.

COUNCIL:Joe Garrison

Eugene FoulcardLester LevineDale RogersChuck Autin

Donna Meyer

Economic developmentof parish Meyer’s priority

By GEOFFREY STOUTEEconomic development — while not humming at the rate of years past — is evident

in St. Mary Parish.The progress of current projects as well as a few new ideas for 2011 leave St. Mary

Chamber of Commerce President Donna Meyer optimistic about the upcoming year.While great progress has been made on InterMoor’s Morgan City facility on the

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Meyer noted other progress, such as recent contracts byConrad Industries and Swiftships Shipbuilders, both Morgan City businesses.

It’s not just in Morgan City, either.On a recent trip to celebrate the opening of a new restaurant in Amelia, Meyer had

a moment to see just how prosperous things were in that area.“It was unbelievable,” she said. “All the boats I see them working on … it looks

really busy over there, which that’s probably a good thing.”Although things have been tough across the country and in some respects locally

because of a moratorium on oil and gas drilling following the BP oil spill, Meyer saidshe thought things were improving.

As for the chamber, Meyer said the goal is to look at the whole parish.Meyer said there is a need for new housing for those who work here so St. Mary can

keep those employees here who leave for homes in other communities at the end ofthe workday.

“I know that housing has always been a big issue, and it will continue to be untilwe can figure out a way for somebody to step up and say, ‘I’m going to work on that,’”she said.

That, along with workforce development and job training are goals the chamberplans to assist with this year.

Above all else, though, is moving from the chamber’s eastern office on U.S. 90 nearthe Morgan City Municipal Auditorium to a new home across Myrtle Street from theauditorium.

The new modular facility will be constructed on land offered by the city on MyrtleStreet.

Meyer said she hopes to begin moving into the new facility by the end of January.Continued on Page 12


Showing Pride in St. Mary Parish

We Salute

St. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce!

The facilities and surrounding features will be completed in phases, which willrequire fundraising by the chamber.

Other projects the chamber hopes to focus on this year are the St. Mary ParishLeadership Council and a radio program called Chamber Chat.

“These are two things that I’ve really been talking about for awhile, and they’regoing to get going,” Meyer said.

The leadership council was planned for 2009, but stayed grounded because of soureconomic times, among other reasons.

The program seeks to prepare future leaders who will actively move the parish for-ward.

Meyer said participants, who will be recruited from all community business sectors,will complete a seven-month training program.

“Most of your chambers in the surrounding parishes have been doing this for 20years,” she said.

Meyer also is working with Howard Castay to broadcast a radio show called Cham-ber Chat on Castay’s radio station, KBZE 105.9 FM, in Morgan City.

Initially, plans are for a half-hour show to promote area businesses and chamberevents. Plans also are to include key speakers who will address their area of expertise.

Meyer said she is hopeful the show eventually can be expanded to a weekly show.Other goals Meyer has for the upcoming year are better unification among the

parish’s eastern and western ends, increasing membership and retention, and work-ing with the chamber’s newly formed legislative committee.

During the past year, the chamber also has networked regionally, specifically, byjoining the Acadiana Regional Alliance.

The alliance is a conglomerate of eight parishes representing 600,000 people whichworks to promote the Acadiana area’s interests.

It is comprised of Acadia, Iberia, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St.Mary and Vermilion parishes.

“If you think about what we can do with that many people behind us, it’s prettyamazing,” she said.

Meyer along with St. Mary Parish Director of Economical Development Frank Finkrepresent the parish on the ARA board.

“People don’t realize that the chamber does get involved, and we do work reallyhard,” she said.

Other progress Meyer noted included upgrades to the chamber’s Web site and thesuccess of the Chamber Burst, the organization’s short public service announcementthat helps local businesses inform the public of their offerings.

Economic development of parish Meyer’s priority...

Scholarships programawards local students

Scholarships amounting to $8,000 are awarded annually by the St. Mary Chamberof Commerce from the Charlie Roe Scholarship Fund.

Deserving students at the seven high schools across the parish in addition to theLouisiana Technical College, Young Memorial Campus, in Morgan City are presented$1,000 to help pay for their continuing education.

The scholarships are held annually at the end of the school terms during a SteakDinner and Education Appreciation Night held at the Patterson Area Civic Center.

Roe, a long-time businessman and owner of Lifesaving Equipment Co., created thescholarship fund to encourage local students to prolong their education.

The scholarship was created when Roe passed away in 1999.



2011 Chamber BanquetDiamond Sponsors

Gold SponsorsCabot Corporation

Phil Haney Community ProjectsColumbian Chemicals Company

Conrad Shipyard

Silver SponsorsT & M Boat RentalsDugas Oil Company

SLECARegions Bank

Franklin Foundation HospitalA & M Dockside Repair

FNB of JeaneretteMidsouth Bank

MC Bank & Trust CoLirette Ford Lincoln MercuryThibodaux Regional Medical

CenterARL– Acadiane Renovations,

Ltd.Cameron


Marilyn Davis Scott Berry Greg Young

St. Mary Parish Chamber Directors



337-828-4100 ext. 500 www.stmaryparishla.gov

St. Mary Parish Governmentis committed to providing

governmental servicesthat enhance the

ability of businesses and individual to succeed, grow and prosper.

St. Mary Parish Governmentis committed to providing

governmental servicesthat enhance the

ability of businesses and individual to succeed, grow and prosper.

Paul P. Naquin, Jr.- President

Henry “Bo” LaGrange-CAO


St. Mary Parish Government

Council MembersCraig MathewsDavid HanagriffSteve Bierhorst

Kevin Voisin

Albert FoulcardCharles “Chuck” Walters

Charles Middleton

Glen HidalgoGary Duhon

Ken SingletonLogan Fromenthal



We Salute ourSt. Mary Parish


Keep UpThe Great Work!

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Frank Fink Bob Lewis Robert Judice



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St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Staff

Donna F. Meyer, President Gail A. Hinkle, Office AssistantChristal L. Carter, Business Office Mngr.


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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Lisa A. Rickard, president ofthe U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, madethe following statement regarding today’s release ofthe report Judicial Hellholes 2010/2011 by the Ameri-can Tort Reform Association (ATRA):

“I commend ATRA for shining a spotlight on some ofthe nation’s most troublesome jurisdictions for lawsuitabuse. This report outlines many problems in thesejurisdictions and should serve as a reminder to courtsand state legislatures of the continued need for action.

“At a time of high unemployment and sluggish eco-nomic growth, Americans are demanding policies thatwill lead to more jobs, not more lawsuits. Enacting pro-growth legal reforms in the nation’s worst problem liti-gation jurisdictions would be a good place to start.”

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform throughlegislative, political, judicial, and educational activitiesat the national, state, and local levels.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’slargest business federation representing the interestsof more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors,and regions, as well as state and local chambers andindustry associations.

U.S. Chambercomments onATRA report

No Photo Available:Board Member Khary Gaylord


CPAsCertified Public Accountants

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St. Mary Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors

Karla Byron Alfreida EdwardsElaine Gussman



Jack Blank Laura MottNelson Cortez


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Delores Stewart Sandi GuilloryCherie Laiche


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Business and community development, including traditional, new or expandedand proposed projects, are among the top priorities for the St. Mary Chamber ofCommerce.

Business After Hours, ribbon cuttings, Chamber Directory, Trade Show andbusiness seminars wrap up the traditional programs in business development.

New or expanded programs for business development since 2004 include busi-ness luncheons, Business Open House, Ambassador Program, Brown Bag LunchSeries with SLEC, 1-1 Business Counseling with SLEC, Chamber Gram, BusinessBlast, expanded Relocation Guide within the Chamber Directory and a new logo.

Business development proposed projects include Chamber “Business Leader-ship” Training Program.

Traditional programs for community development include St. Mary Charlie RoeScholarship Fund, Rental List, Relocation Services and Tourism Information.

New or expanded programs for community development include the RelocationGuide within the Chamber Directory,partnering with service agencies andmember businesses for fundraisers, suchas:

—Artist Guild Unlimited.—St. Mary Arts and Humanities Coun-

cil.—Boy Scouts.—Morgan City Power Boat Association.—Teche Regional Medical Center.—SLEC—Patterson State Bank—Morgan City Main Street Program.—Black Bear Festival.—Cypress Sawmill Museum Festival.—Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum

Festival—Community Concert Association

Series.—Louisiana Technical College.

—Louisiana State Museum.—Maison Jardin.—Franklin Main Street Program.—Harvest Moon Festival.Chamber operations also have expanded with a membership increase, more

equipment and funding and much more.Currently, there are about 580 members compared to 480 in 2004.Other additions include three new computers, computerized accounting proce-

dures, standard operating procedures for employees and business functions,health plan for employees, revision of the chamber policy and procedures and by-laws and the new board member training packet.

A new web site also has allowed members the ability to sign up for new cham-ber membership and make payments online, make function payments, purchaserental listing and present the chamber’s new image to the community.


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828-2496

Tax Service

300 Willow St. • Franklin

PROUD SUPPORTEROF OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE!

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Residential & Commercial Window Tinting,

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CongratulationsTo our


From everyone at

Breaux’s FoodlandBreaux’s FoodlandBreaux’s Foodland126 Charenton Rd. • Baldwin • 337-923-4402 Est. 1905Est. 1905

We Salute theSt. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce


Chamber of Commerce


Chamber of Commerce


Chamber of Commerce

Chamber seeks leaders to move parish forward


JARROD K. LONGMAN Assessor

CongratulationsSt. Mary Parish

Chamber of CommerceSt. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce

On ContinuedSuccess!



Republic Finance302 Willow St. • FRANKLIN • 337-828-4010

CASH WHEN YOU NEED IT!CASH WHEN YOU NEED IT!CASH WHEN YOU NEED IT!Congratulations To The St. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce On Another Great Year!Congratulations To The St. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce On Another Great Year!Manager: Seth Zirlott / Operations Specialist - Hollie Rogers

ZERO ’O SB1100 Iberia St. • 828-4546

Open 7 Days A Week 6 AM-10PM

No Time To Cook?

Grab A Pizza!

Chamber

Supporter!

Franklin Supply, Inc.PRICE • PRODUCT • SERVICE

FSI Salutes theSt. Mary Chamber of Commerce

FSI Salutes theSt. Mary Chamber of Commerce

Candy, Tobacco, Janitorial Supplies, Groceries, Paper Products,Automotive Supplies, Gloves, HBA, Concession Supplies,

Fundraiser CandyWE INVITE YOU TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.franklinsupplyinc.com

1-800-259-3208 Fx# 337-828-3413 Email: [email protected]

U.S. Chamber looks toward improving economyIn his annual State of American

Business address, U.S. Chamber ofCommerce President and CEO ThomasJ. Donohue was cautiously optimisticabout the state of the economy andoutlined a four-point plan to put job-less Americans back to work.

“We begin 2011 in a lot better shapethan we found ourselves last year. Thestate of American business is improv-ing,” Donohue said, pointing to expec-tations that the GDP will grow by3.2% this year. “While the recoverymay be picking up steam, it is fragileand uneven. There are many unan-swered questions that must beaddressed before companies will startaggressively hiring. Over the nextyear, the Chamber’s number one prior-ity will be to turn this economic recov-ery into a jobs recovery so that we canstart putting Americans back to work.”

“We face an array of potentiallyserious risks that at any momentcould send us back in the wrong direc-tion,” Donohue continued. His speechoutlined four immediate prioritiesthat the Chamber will address toboost America’s competitiveness in theglobal economy:

1. Regulatory restraint andreform—Work to reform the regulatoryprocess—to restore some badly neededbalance, restraint, and common sense.We will also stand up a new group to

tell the story to the American peopleabout the massive costs of excessiveregulations on jobs and their personaland economic freedom.

2. Expanding American trade—Workto pass the pending free trade agree-ments and launch a major initiative toeducate citizens and policymakers ontrade that will clearly link globalengagement to American jobs.

3. Rebuilding our economic plat-form—Rebuild America’s economicfoundation—the platform our societyruns on. Roads, bridges, rail and masstransit networks, airports, and airtransport systems must be modern-ized. Broadband capacity, power gen-eration, and water supplies must beexpanded. We can create jobs, reduceour trade and budget deficits, andincrease our own security by develop-ing all forms of alternative, renew-able, and traditional energy. We willalso commence a new project to out-line what our nation must do to createand secure a 21st century global sup-ply chain and logistics system.

4. Reducing deficits and debt—Sup-port congressional efforts to lowerspending. We will make the case forentitlement reform as any plan thatfails to tackle these runaway pro-grams is doomed to fail. We will alsosupport efforts by Republican andDemocratic governors to challenge

public employee unions and theirexcessive payroll, health, and retire-ment demands.

In order to deepen the understand-ing about our nation’s competitivechallenges, Donohue announced thatthe Chamber is going to undertake ananalysis of the American businesscommunity’s understanding of ourstrengths and weaknesses and thoseof our competitors.

“The Chamber is examining, in afactual and objective way, the actionsby our government and the actions bythe business community that areeither moving us forward in the globaleconomy or holding us back,” saidDonohue. “We’ll then compare thisanalysis to what our competitors aredoing with the goal of identifying themajor factors that shape the decisionsof job creators, innovators, andinvestors—to pinpoint our strengthsso that we can build on them and ourweaknesses so that we can fix them.”

Donohue began his speech byexpressing the Chamber ’s shock andsadness over the tragic shootings inArizona. “Under any circumstance, theviolence, injury, and loss of life thatoccurred are an outrage to us all,”Donohue said. “We are specificallyoffended by the fact that this rampagewas directed at our democracy itself—striking down public servants as well

as free citizens who had come toengage in a dialogue and express theirviews. We are praying for a full recov-ery for Congresswoman Giffords andthe others who were injured. And ourhearts go out to the families of thosewho lost their lives.”

With President Obama scheduled tospeak at the Chamber on February 7,Donohue pledged to work with theadministration, the new House majori-ty, and Democratic legislators on theChamber ’s priorities over the nextyear. He also noted the new politicalrealities of getting things done in adivided government.

“No one should expect the Chamberto march in lock step with anyoneelse’s agenda but our own,” he said.“And our agenda is simple. We willcontinue to win important policy victo-ries for the business community; we’llsupport, protect, improve, andadvance the free enterprise system;and we’ll help create good jobs andpromising opportunities so the peopleof our country can reach the AmericanDream.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce isthe world’s largest business federationrepresenting the interests of morethan 3 million businesses of all sizes,sectors, and regions, as well as stateand local chambers and industry asso-ciations.


Fad’s Trophy

& Gift Shop

Congratulates the Chamberon their success.

Valentines & Mardi GrasBalloon Bouquets, Specialty Candies &

Lots of Mardi Gras to choose from!

613 Main Street • FRANKLIN • 337.828.2486

We SupportSt. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce

St. Mary ParishPresident,

Paul Naquin, Jr. PHONE (337)207-8948 -CELL (337)828-7111 - OFFICE

FOULCARD INSURANCEFOULCARD INSURANCEFOULCARD INSURANCEFOULCARD INSURANCE

320-A Willow Street• Franklin, LA

Auto & Homeowners Insurance

Congratulations to theSt. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations to theSt. Mary Parish

Chamber of Commerce

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is always on hand to welcome new busi-nesses in the area by sponsoring a ribbon cutting ceremony. This one was held

with Mayor Raymond Harris for Leatrice and Arnold Jenkins for their new busi-ness, LeeLee’s Floral & Bridal. Located at 1502-2 Main St. in Franklin.


We Support the St. Mary ParishChamber of Commerce!

Scotty’s Towing1600 Main Street

FRANKLIN

337.828.4940

Town of BaldwinCONGRATULATES THE ST. MARYCHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Wayne Breaux - Mayor

Thor Frederick - Alderman

Gene St. Germain - Alderman

Mike Lancelin - Alderman

Tony Gibson - Alderman

Clarence Vappie - Alderman

Gerald Minor - Chief of Police

RINCON JAROCHO, a new Mexican restaurant, held it’s ribbon cutting Jan. 11at Highway 90 East Frontage Road in Amelia. They are another example of theChamber’s continuing effort to promote, support and welcome new businesses

in St. Mary Parish. Owner Margarita Dimas cut the ribbon along with her daugh-ter Gladys Montes, friends and several local officials.


Toll Free 24/7 Automated Credit Approval HotlineBuy Any Car or Truck Even With Credit Problems.

800.207.8557

2017 West Main Street

866.806.7081www.franklincourtesy.com

(337)828-5520

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2011 Buick Enclave

2011 Chevy SilveradoCrew Cab

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2011 Chevy Traverse2011 Chevy Traverse

2011 Buick Lacrosse 2011 GMC Acadia

2011 Buick Enclave



2011 Chevy Malibu

2011 GMC Yukon2011 GMC Yukon




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St. Mary Chamber of Commerce 2011

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