Club News for July 25, 2012

Volunteers wrap books for United Way

Volunteers wrapped hundreds of children’s books in late June and early July to be used in the Capital Area United Way’s Season’s Readings program. More than 5,000 books were given by Barnes & Noble through customer donations during the 2011 holiday season.

The books are distributed throughout the year to CAUW partner agencies like Volunteers of America’s Partnership in Child Care. CAUW launched a 10-year early childhood development initiative last summer. Child-care providers receive training to have children ready to learn how to read when entering kindergarten.

The United Way website is http://www.cauw.org.

Bridge Club honors new Life Masters

Jan Galey hosted a potluck luncheon and bridge game at the Baton Rouge Bridge Club on July 1 to celebrate the achievement of Life Master by members Diana Thomas and Dorothy Harwell. Marjorie Bobbs was also recognized for recently achieving Bronze Life Master.

At the game following the luncheon, all honorees won places in the event and were awarded master points. American Contract Bridge League awards master points to members for winning bridge games at the local, regional and national levels. Master points are cumulative from year to year. ACBL recognizes members accumulating 500 points as Life Masters. An additional 250 points are required to obtain Bronze Life Master.

Baton Rouge Bridge Club President Gay Town and club manager Howard Nobles attended the luncheon and game. The overall game winners were Debra and Mike Falcon. Mickey McCall and Wilma Day were section winners.

BR’s Young elected UCT board chairman

International Past President Randy C. Young, of Baton Rouge, was elected United Commercial Travelers chairman of the board at the organization’s annual convention in Calgary, Alberta.

Steve Desselles, of Baton Rouge, was honored as a past international chaplain at the convention.

Young has been a member of Baton Rouge Council 499 for 38 years and is a third-generation member. He has served in local and regional offices and currently is Council 499 secretary-treasurer.

In 1991, he received a certificate of merit and a key to Jefferson Parish for his UCT-affiliated fundraising efforts on behalf of Special Olympics. In 2000, he was presented with the Voris King Award, the highest fraternal award given by the Mississippi-Louisiana regional council recognizing distinguished service to family, church, community and the local council.

Young has served on numerous international committees and has been recognized by legislators in Washington, D.C., as a UCT Fraternalist in Action.

Young is involved in fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, the Arc of Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Activities Training Center for the Mentally Handicapped, Court Appointed Special Advocates, Miracle League at Cypress Mounds and two Special Olympics bowling teams. He has helped conduct Easter egg hunts for children, assisted with the organization of junior golf tournaments and visited nursing home and homebound residents. He was involved with relief efforts following the 2005 hurricanes along the Gulf Coast.

He and his wife, Sandi, have two daughters, Ashley Walker and Courtney Young; a son-in-law, Nicholas Walker; and a granddaughter, Sophia Annace Walker.

Desselles has been a member of Council 499 since 1973 and is a second-generation member. He has served in local and regional offices and received the Voris King Award by the Mississippi-Louisiana regional council in 2007. He has also served on numerous international committees.

Desselles has volunteered with the Boy Scouts of America, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Louisiana, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, Baton Rouge youth teams sports and the Catholic School Athletic League. He has spent 22 years with the Baton Rouge Football Officials Association and 13 years with the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Desselles and his wife, Carolyn, have two married sons and two grandchildren.

Giving Quilt elects officers for 2012-13

The Giving Quilt elected 2012-13 officers at its annual meeting on July 3 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church: Carolyn Bacile, president; Linda Wiggins, vice president; Candy Bergeron, treasurer; Peggy Dunning, recording secretary; and Diane Parker, corresponding secretary.

Guild liaisons are Sherry Herringshaw, River City; Suzi Montague, Remember Me; and Carolyn Tidovsky, Stashbuilders. Chairwomen for the 2013 quilt show are Annette Lanoux, merchant mall; Renee Hoeprich, activities; Sherry Herringshaw, logistics; Noreen Mazzaroppi, door prizes; and Parker, publicity.

For information about The Giving Quilt, visit http://www.thegivingquiltinc.org.

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