Upper Lafayette On the MOve

Volume 63 March 2014 www.upperlafayette.com

Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Volume 63 • March 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com

Published byUpper Lafayette Economic Development

Foundation

Printed byLafayette Economic Development Authority

Board of DirectorsDavid Welch, President

Cherie Hebert, Vice PresidentTodd Citron, Secretary/ Treasurer

Adrian BaudoinJulie DronetDon Dupuis

Brenda FoulcardDonna LandryKirk LaCourBeau Phares

Dwight “Bo” RamsayHerbert Schilling

Bryan TaborJerry VascocuMonty Warren

Honorary Advisory BoardDon DupuisEd Krampe

Dwight “Bo” RamsayHerbert Schilling

StaffJan Swift, Executive Director

Lauren Rabalais, Communications Director

Mailing AddressP.O. Box 53107

Lafayette, LA 70505

On the Webwww.upperlafayette.com

Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is an association of proactive individuals and business leaders joined

together to be a catalyst for change. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance and direct the positive, planned growth of

Upper Lafayette, focusing on quality of life, while participating in the overall development of the Greater Lafayette

Metropolitan Area.

For membership information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Jan Swift at jan@upperlafayette.com

or 337-769-7649

March 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com

A Letter from the President

We are proud to announce that Nelson Warner, Bridge Ministry of Acadiana, will be the recipient of our Fourth Annual Philanthropist of the Year Award. Nelson has dedicated his life to bridging the gap in Acadiana between those who have much and those who are under-resourced, through his work with Bridge Ministry of Acadiana. Please join us as we honor Nelson on Wednesday, March 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Oakbourne Country Club, 3700 E. Simcoe Street. We are also pleased to welcome Raymond Hebert, Community Foundation of Acadiana, as our guest speaker.

Tickets are $35 each or $300 for a reserved table for eight. You may register online at www.upperlafayette.com under our Events section or mail payment to ULEDF, P. O. Box 53107, Lafayette LA 70505. Please contact lauren@upperlafayette.com or call (337) 769-7649 for more information.

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, Lafayette Airport Commission/Fly Lafayette Club, and our Supporting Sponsor Dupre Logistics. Without their generosity, this meeting would not be possible!

Our year has started off with a bang. We have started a new Citizens Advisory Council which comprises luminaries from Upper Lafayette and which is creating a deeper connection between our organization and the issues we are trying to address.

We retain our focus on our three strategic fronts of promoting our member businesses, infrastructure and education. One area we have been helping to set the agenda on is the beautification of Upper Lafayette and beyond.

We have been engaged in a broader group with parties such as government, LEDA and ourselves. We participated in a large discussion at the Convention Center and are taking a leading role in advancing the aesthetics of our community. This effort will address issues such as removal of blight, stoppage of litter, and improving the appearances of our homes and businesses.

We heard from a nationally renowned landscape architect just how urban and suburban can be transformed into economic engines through proper green design principles of runoff water, drainage streams and water of all sort as well as the creation of beauty

through the usage of the right trees and plants and hard scape.

How does this Utopian dream tie back to the strategy of our organization? It certainly promotes member businesses by creating a more attractive and more economic environment. Also, one of the difficult issues of litter can lay many of its roots back to our strategic focus on education.

People that are not taught skills to earn a place in our society are on the outside looking in. This is a contributor to deplorable litter situation we face. Those that are disenfranchised and living in either poverty or ignorance are the most likely litterers. Improving education and giving everyone skills doesn’t just help those who learn the skills, it uplifts our whole community

I hope you will engage fully in the meaningful work in our organization. You can contact Jan at jan@upperlafayette.com if you wish to serve and get more fully engaged. We need you and you will feel great being an active part of the solution.

Philanthropist of the Year Luncheonto be Held March 19

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David WelchStone Energy

Nelson WarnerBridge Ministry

www.upperlafayette.com • March 2014

Upper Lafayette Forms Citizens Advisory Council to Solicit Community Feedback

Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is focused on promoting Upper Lafayette Parish (North Lafayette, Carencro, Duson, Scott and the unincorporated areas of the region) as a wonderful place in which to live, work and invest. We have established a Citizens Advisory Council which is chaired by Mary Morrison (South Louisiana Community College Student Success Advisor and First Lady of the City of Scott).

The purpose of this council is to be an "on the ground" advisory team that can help us network and keep abreast of issues that we need to know to keep the foundation relevant to the greater community. It is a good way to hear discussion about what people think about the region

comprising Upper Lafayette Parish, what issues are important for improving the quality of life and economic climate, and how best to accomplish these desired ends. We are looking for involvement outside of our board of directors. We are looking for persons who are passionate about business and economic development, as well

as anyone who lives or has strong ties to Upper Lafayette Parish.

At our first meeting of the Council, the advisors stressed the importance of creating compelling marketing materials promoting the amenities, people and real estate located in Upper Lafayette. The ideas focused on the unique selling features Upper Lafayette offers people who are looking for a place that is quiet, open and extremely family-friendly. It was extremely gratifying to meet with such a group of dedicated and community-minded individuals who only want the best for their beloved community.

Interested persons should contact Jan Swift at jan@upperlafayette.com or (337)769-7649.

Mary Morrison, Chair

Kevin Faulk, Assistant Coach at Carencro High School and Citizens Advisory Committee member, spoke to KLFY-TV 10 about his involvement with

Upper Lafayette

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Front row: Jan Swift and Mary MorrisonBack row, Kevin Faulk, Cecile Hebert, Brenda

Foulcard and Buddy Guilbeau

March 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com

Welcome to New Board MemberBrenda Foulcard, SMILE

With great passion and conviction, SMILE Interim Executive Director Brenda Foulcard has been busy continuing the National Community Action Promise: “Community Action changes people’s lives and embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”

A Lafayette resident who relocated from Augusta, Ga., Foulcard is just as committed to enforcing SMILE’s tri-parish mission statement: “SMILE Community Action Agency empowers people and communities for economic independence through education, human and social services.”

Prior to her appointment to the top spot in 2012, Foulcard served as SMILE’s Finance Director, and

oversaw its $22 million budget for programs, which help the disadvantaged of St. Martin, Iberia and Lafayette Parishes to become more self-sufficient.

She was recently elected as state treasurer for the Association of Community Action Partnerships of Louisiana (ACAP-Louisiana), and also represents SMILE with the La. Association of Non-Profit Organizations (LANO) and the National Community Action

Partnerships. Foulcard also serves as a member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce’s Policy Committee and the Workforce Investment Board’s SOS Committee. She recently represented SMILE as a member of the Salvation Army Taskforce Commission, which completed its community strategic plan.

A graduate of USL, and University of Phoenix (MBA) have assisted non-profits in building stronger communities for over 20 years. She also has work for companies such

as General Electric, Georgia Power Company, and Augusta Bottling Company. Foulcard has been recognized by “Top Female Executives,” and received the “Hero Award” for outstanding innovative leadership.

She is married (Michael) with two sons, Brandon (29) working in Registrar Respiratory in New Jersey, and Michael (25) a recent UL graduate in chemical engineering.

Upper Lafayette is proud to welcome our newest board member, Brenda Foulcard. Thank you for your time and commitment to bettering the quality of life for all of our community!

Brenda FoulcardSMILE

Brenda and her team members for the LSU Internal Audit Program

Brenda with her son, Michael, at a ceremony in Franklin, La honoring her

father-in-law, city council member, businessman, and educator.

Brenda enjoying herself at a Celine Dion concert

in Las Vegas

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www.upperlafayette.com • March 2014

Upper Lafayette to Partner with Opportunity Machine to Host RockHabits Classes

Sixth Annual Upper Lafayette Crawfish Boil

Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is proud to partner with The Opportunity Machine (OM) to present RockHabits, the business planning curriculum that has accelerated the profitable growth of thousands of businesses around the world. This successful program is founded on the principles of Verne Harnish's "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits" with the addition of strategies from Tim Ferriss, author of "The Four Hour Work Week” and will be taught by OM Executive Director, Zachary Barker.

Introductory classes will be offered at no charge to businesses located in Carencro, Scott, Duson and North Lafayette, which area comprises Upper Lafayette Parish. Classes will be held on April 16, 2014 at the North Regional Library in Carencro at 5101 N. University Avenue from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. or 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. We invite business owners and managers to join Upper Lafayette and the OM staff as we provide the tools to assure your business is poised for rapid growth. Attendees will walk away with

an overview for business alignment via the RockHabits One-Page Strategic Plan. In order to adequately prepare for the class, attendees will be asked to complete the plan’s questionnaire on their own prior to attending so that learning may be accelerated and the highest benefit may be obtained.

The RockHabits programming will align businesses with the 3 Pillars of Entrepreneurial Success:

1. Priorities: Does your company have objective Top five priorities for the year and quarter, and a clear Top one priority? Priorities matter because you’ll make faster progress by focusing everyone’s energies, including vendors, on one strategic area of importance.

2. Data: Does your company have sufficient feedback on a daily and weekly basis to provide insight on how efficiently your company is running and what the market is actually demanding? This will also help you predict the growth you may experience in the near term.

3. Rhythm: Does your company have an effective pattern of well-organized daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual meetings to maintain alignment and drive accountability?

RSVP by April 14 by emailing lauren@upperlafayette.com or call (337)769-7649 for details and to receive your strategic plan questionnaire to prepare for the class. We look forward to seeing you!

Please mark your calendar for our sixth annual Upper Lafayette Crawfish Boil on Thursday, April 10, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the beautiful campus of John Paul the Great Academy, 1522 Carmel Drive.

Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering will once again prepare its delicious crawfish, and we are grateful to Schilling Distributing Co. for generously supplying beverages.

We are especially grateful to our Presenting Sponsor, IberiaBank, and Supporting Sponsor, Beau Box Commercial Real Estate, for making this fun event possible.

Tickets are $35.00 for adults, $20.00 for children, and may be purchased online at www.upperlafayette.com/events. For more information, please email lauren@upperlafayette.com, or call us at (337)769-7649.

Roni and Bryan Tabor at the 2013 Upper Lafayette Crawfish Boil

Zachary Barker Opportunity Machine

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March 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com

Welcome to New MemberUniversal Sign & Manufacturing Company

Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company has long been regarded as one of the premier sign manufacturers in the area, tracing its history back to 1968 when it was founded by Kermit Boudreaux. Having spent years perfecting the craft of commercial sign design, fabrication, and installation, their expertise and experience have allowed them to remain an industry leader sought out by customers wanting to refine their image with a quality product. Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company takes pride in using state of the art materials and advanced manufacturing processes to produce signs which serve to provide our customers with the look they desire and the durability to persevere in our harsh southern climate.

With over 15,000 square feet of manufacturing space and a vast fleet of cranes and ladder trucks, Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company has the capability of fabricating, installing, and servicing even the most complex and hard to reach signs. Their outstanding customer service and attention to detail have long been the driving force behind their past successes and will continue to be the catalyst which will foster their future growth and customer loyalty.

Universal Sign and Manufacturing Company offers the following services to keep your signs looking new and in good working conditions: Complete lamp changing & testing, checking and changing transformers/ballasts, and sign washing.

Recently purchased by Chad Cole, the company has experienced phenomenal growth in the past sixteen months. Upper Lafayette enjoyed hearing Chad’s thoughts

on being a young entrepreneur at our November 2013 meeting, where he referred to one of his favorite books, “The Trust Edge” by David Horsager. Chad emphasizes this book’s message on trust in shaping his own success: “Trust has the ability to accelerate or destroy any business or relationship. Greater trust leads to greater i n n o v a t i o n , retention of good people, higher morale, better results, and a greater bottom line. Trust has become the world’s most precious resource.” This is a lesson worth remembering.

Universal Sign & Manufacturing Co. is conveniently located at 2745 W Willow St in Scott. For more information, call (337) 234-1466 or visit www.unisignco.com. Upper Lafayette is proud to welcome Chad Cole and Universal Sign & Manufacturing to our fold!

The Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company fleet of trucks

Chad Cole, Owner of Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company

Jan Swift and Chad Cole with Mr. Lopez, loyal employee of Universal Sign & Manufacturing Company

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www.upperlafayette.com • March 2014

Sarah Schoeffler Working to Beautifyour Community for All

Warm and engaging, Sarah Schoeffler has the uncanny ability to make you want to take up gardening, volunteer to help the less fortunate, or perhaps reach for one more warm biscuit she baked especially

for you! We recently had the pleasure of visiting with Sarah at the beautiful home she and her husband, Harold Schoeffler, built 35 years ago on a six acre plot of land situated adjacent to Oakbourne Country Club. Nestled on a beautifully landscaped property fronting the Vermilion River, the home has been the setting of many fundraisers for Family Promise of Acadiana.

Sarah is well-known throughout Acadiana for her involvement in numerous organizations. Active as a board member of the Salvation Army and having first become involved with that organization since 1986, she is also an established figure with the Sierra Club, Trees Acadiana, Clean City and her beloved First Methodist Church where she currently serves as the Witness Outreach Chair. PlanLafayette is also high on her list of priorities as she has worked tirelessly for years to beautify our community. A master gardener with a flair for selecting plants for their beauty and function, her passion for gardening is truly inspirational.

Sarah and Harold are the parents of six children, all of whom live in Lafayette and whom are highly accomplished in their own right. With 11 grandchildren, Sarah joked that she has a “whole slew of cool kids and grandkids.” Her plans are to plant an oak tree on her property in honor of each grandchild, but with the extensive landscaping already in place, space for additional trees is a rare commodity.

Sarah wants to invite the community to join her at the upcoming Southern Garden Festival which will take place at her home on April 4 – 6, 2014. As a fundraiser on behalf of the Family Promise of Acadiana, there will be a catfish dinner under the stars on Friday, April 4, where Patsy Bienvenue will sing. On Saturday, April 5, there will be artisans and bayou tours conducted up and down the river. On Sunday, April 6, from 2 - 6 p.m., gospel groups from the Acadiana Ecumenical Choir will perform. For more information or to purchase tickets which are $100 per couple or $75 each, please visit www.familypromiseacadiana.org or call 233-3447. Sarah will be very happy that you did!

To Sarah Schoeffler: thank you for all you do and Upper Lafayette is proud to welcome you as one of our newest members.

A Benefit for Family Promise of Acadiana, a non-profit coalition helping families without homes to reach and sustain their independence.

Master Gardener Spring Project

Ask a Master Gardener | Speakers Bureau | Planting in Sarah’s Garden

Researching the monarch butterfly to set up an informational boothResearch on blueberries | Any other topics

VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR

I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN

Contact Sarah Schoeffler for more information at (337) 234-4042 or cell 288-0426FamilyPromiseAcadiana.org

Facebook.com/FamilyPromiseAcadiana

The gardens of Harold and Sarah Schoeffler | 3502 E. Simcoe St., Lafayette, LA (near Oakbourne Country Club)

Harold and Sarah Schoeffler in their lovely garden

Lafayette Ballet Theatre Fairies during the Southern Garden Festival

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March 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com

Plan Lafayette Engages Community to ReEnvision Itself

On February 5 – 12, 2014, a series of meetings were held throughout Lafayette with thought provoking presentations on how our community can reach its full potential by developing a master plan for growth and

sustainability. Four big ideas comprised the topics discussed:

• Refine Government: Make the best use of tax dollars building a smarter, more efficient government;

• Revitalize Neighborhoods: Strengthening neighborhoods, increasing housing choice and supporting business

• ReEnvision Natural Resources: Finding opportunity in our environmental challenges; and

• ReInvent the Hub City: Investing in community assets that define the Hub City of the future.

Much of the Plan Lafayette focus is on improving areas of Upper Lafayette Parish. There is a renewed interest in beautifying the gateway to our city and parish which encompasses the arterials surrounding I-10 and I-49, and the need to create a comprehensive strategy for addressing the impact on neighborhoods surrounding the potential I-49 connector through Lafayette. Also on the table are plans to create a Redevelopment Authority which will eliminate blight and adjudicated properties which weigh down many North Lafayette neighborhoods. On Upper Lafayette’s wish list for years, it is gratifying to see greater numbers of people realize the value in preserving and enhancing this all-important core of our community.

Plan Lafayette’s goal is to balance community goals with private interests. The outpouring of people attending the various events was staggering. Planners anticipate needing to accommodate our community’s growth by an additional 90,000 new residents in the next 20 to 30 years.

LEDA hosted the ReEnvision Natural Resources breakfast on February 6 where we were proud to have two board members of Upper Lafayette, David Welch and Jerry Vascocu, serve as panel members discussing the benefits of improving our community’s aesthetics. Both David and Jerry emphasized that while our community is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family, the litter problem does not leave a positive first impression. It was suggested that our local school system can teach students that they can each do their part to reduce and eliminate litter, and also bring those lessons home to their families. The audience was challenged to each do their own part to curb the litter problem by picking up trash they come across. Harold Schoeffler offered the mind-boggling statistic that 55% of litter comes from males between 15 and 30 years of age. By educating our 5 to 10 year olds to stop littering, this statistic can be reversed almost overnight.

For more information on the work being done to develop the comprehensive plan, please visit www.PlanLafayette.com.

David Welch, Greg Manuel, Gregg Gothreaux and Jerry Vascocu

During Plan Lafayette Week

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www.upperlafayette.com • March 2014

Upper Lafayette On the Move Features Flo Meadows

Upper Lafayette Supports Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act

Flo Meadows is without a doubt one of the most passionate cheerleaders on behalf of Lafayette. She loves her community, she promotes its current assets, and promotes its undeniable potential for dynamic growth and prosperity in the future. With her background as a CPA and commercial realtor, Flo has invested years in serving and giving back to her beloved town, and if you are looking for the best possible source for facts, statistics and studies that are being done or have been conducted on improving our quality of life, Flo Meadows is the expert that should be uppermost on your speed dial.

Jan Swift recently had the pleasure of interviewing Flo Meadows on Upper Lafayette On the Move, which episode will air on AOC 2 (LUS 4 or Cox 16) on March 13, 8:30 p.m. In this compelling segment, Flo shared the current developments of Plan Lafayette, the latest effort being undertaken in Lafayette to develop a comprehensive plan for growth and sustainability. With everything being studied from using our tax dollars more wisely to beautification efforts focused on our Upper Lafayette gateway into our community, Upper Lafayette has much to gain from this endeavor. Planning and zoning codes currently in place will need to modified to allow for urban infill and the entire community will need to be involved in the discussions to retool how we currently look at growth opportunities.

One of Upper Lafayette’s charter members dating back to when our foundation was organized in late 2006, Flo Meadows has been a tireless advocate for our efforts to promote Upper Lafayette as a wonderful place in which to live, work and invest. In this interview, she recounts the catalytic effect business developers such as Lewis Stirling and Robert Daigle have had in enticing others to invest in Upper Lafayette. Flo also challenged us to look at our level of community engagement: in communities that experience high levels of success, the level of engagement in civic endeavors is approximately 33%. Lafayette’s current level of engagement is 19%. Are you ready to pick up your level of civic involvement and meet Flo’s challenge?

Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is in full support of bi-partisan efforts to implement the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. Homeowners and businesses located along our coastal region have relied upon flood insurance rules in place when they invested and are now in peril of having their properties rendered worthless by the skyrocketing flood insurance rates mandated by the 2012 Biggert-Water Flood Insurance Reform Act. We stand united with other community leaders who are calling upon Congress to enact a common-sense solution which will protect citizens and allow our residents to maintain property ownership without fear of loss due to uncontrolled spiraling of insurance premiums. Upper Lafayette is grateful to the members of our Louisiana delegation who have worked tirelessly to support this initiative.

Partnering with the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and other business groups dedicated to protecting our local economy, Upper Lafayette has joined as a signatory to a letter being sent on March 5 to the leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives, along with copies to members of the Louisiana Congressional delegation. We stand united in emphasizing the need to address the unintended consequences brought about by flood insurance reform which has increased insurance premiums in some cases by tens of thousands of dollars for local residents. To keep up with the latest developments in this all-important legislation, visit http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/3370.

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March 2014 • www.upperlafayette.com

Acadian CompaniesAcadiana Computer Systems, Inc.Aries Marine CorporationASH/Badger Oil CompanyCouret FarmsCox CommunicationsDelta MediaHome FurnitureHub City FordIberiaBankLafayette General Medical CenterMcDonald’s of AcadianaMidSouth BankOur Lady of LourdesRepublic National Distributing CompanySchilling Distributing CompanyStone Energy CorporationWhitney National Bank

Acadiana Rubber & GasketAtmos EnergyBeau Box Commercial Real EstateDupré Logistics, LLCFenstermaker & AssociatesHome BankOmni Energy ServicesPixus Digital PrintingThe Southwest GroupTobacco Free Living

Platinum Members

Gold Members

Ace Plumbing, Inc.Arsement Machine and Supply, Inc.BBR CreativeCajun Harley DavidsonCoburn’s Supply CompanyEdward Jones/Bob CristExcelerantGauthiers’ RV CenterGuidry’s UniformsMaster Builders & Specialists, Inc.Oakbourne Country Club

Acadiana C.A.R.E.S. Acadiana Symphony OrchestraAdvancial Federal Credit UnionAnytime Fitness Upper LafayetteAspen ClinicAssociated TravelBoys and Girls Clubs of AcadianaJean C. Breaux, Jr. & AssociatesBreaux’s MartBridge Ministry of Acadiana, Inc.Community Foundation of AcadianaCrawdaddy’s On-Site CateringDale Carnegie-The Winner InstituteDavis Property ManagementDerek Development Corp., LLCJoey DurelDrury Inn & SuitesGreater Lafayette Chamber of CommerceLynn Guidry, ArchitectJohn Paul The Great Academy Jolie’s Louisiana BistroLafayette Animal AidLafayette Community Health Care ClinicLafayette Convention and Visitors CommissionLee Verret/State Farm Insurance AgencyLowry’s Printing and CopyingFlo Meadows, Coldwell BankerMelancon I-49 Storage CenterPetroleum ClubRon J. Gaubert RealtorsW. W. Rucks, IIISarah SchoefflerSchools of the Sacred Heart

Silver Members

Bronze Members

SMILEJohn SwiftSylvan Learning CenterTeche Electric Supply, LLCDr. Brent Jason Toups, LLCTerry J. Rogers, Ltd.Valerie Gotch Garrett, APLCWorldPay

PLATINUMIberiaBankLafayette Airport CommissionLEDASchilling Distributing CompanyStone Energy

GOLDAcadiana Computer SystemsAT&TBeau Box Commercial Real EstateDupré LogisticsExcelerantHub City FordLOGALUS FiberMcDonald’s of AcadianaPlace de LafayetteRader SolutionsTobacco Free Living

SILVERAcadian CompaniesAdvancial Federal Credit Union

BRONZECity of CarencroCity of Scott

Bronze Members

Sponsors

Silver MembersOpelousas General Health SystemRader SolutionsShelf Energy, LLCSLEMCOStella MarisStirling PropertiesTotal Pump and Supply, LLCUniversal Sign & Manufacturing CompanyWalters Funeral Home

For more information or to register, visitwww.upperlafayette.com/events

Philanthropist of the Year LuncheonMarch 19, 2014

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.Oakbourne Country Club

Upcoming Upper Lafayette EventsUpper Lafayette Crawfish Boil

Thursday, April 10, 20146:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

John Paul the Great Academy

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