Louisiana Chapter

News | Community Involvement | Letter from the President

Louisiana Chapter News

The SGMP Louisiana Chapter publishes a monthly newsletter, delivered by email to all chapter members. Read our newsletter archive below and see all the updates and happenings at SGMPLA!

Louisiana Lagniappe - 2024

Louisiana Lagniappe - 2023

Community Involvement

SGMP LOUISIANA GIVES BACK

It is important to our organization to give back to the communities in which we live and work. Under the leadership of the Chapter Board Members, SGMP Louisiana participates in quarterly community engagement projects.

Summer 2024

The Summer 2024 Community Involvement School Supply Drive Campaign was a success! Thank you to everyone the donated items for the students in grades K - 5 to be donated to Abney Elementary School in St. Tammany Parish. Donations were delivered when the school reopened in August.

Spring 2024

Charity

The SGMP La Chapter is kicking off our Spring Community Involvement Campaign, and we need YOUR help to make it a success! We're collecting donations of peanut butter and jelly to support local families in need. These simple ingredients can make a world of difference, providing nutritious meals and a taste of comfort during challenging times. Whether you're a peanut butter fanatic or a jelly aficionado, your contribution will help us create delicious sandwiches and bring smiles to those who need it most. Let's spread love one sandwich at a time! Bring your donations to the March 14 Monthly Networking and Education Meeting or make a monetary donation by Feeding the Pig. Together, we can make a difference in our community! #SGMPLA #CommunityFirst #SpreadTheLove Society of Government Meeting Professionals

Fall/Winter 2023

Charity

Over 42 million Americans face hunger each and every day including 1 in 6 children so the Fall Community Involvement Campaign for SGMP La Chapter was collection of non-perishable food items during the November 29 & 30 Annual Education Conference. All donations made online and in-person were delivered to the Avoyelles Parish Senior Center.

Summer 2023

Charity

Each year 15 million children don't have access to school supplies and over 94% of teachers spend their personal money to meet this need for children in their classrooms. The members of SGMP Louisiana collected school supplies for the Summer Community Involvement campaign t for children attending Negreet K - 12 public school in Louisiana. The members of SGMP Louisiana collected 37 notebooks, 33 folders, 1 pack of 500 sheet construction paper, 3 rulers, 1 pack of index cards, 48 glue sticks, 90 pencil erasers, 24 dry erase markers, 18 scissors, 20 ink pens, 2 bottles of glue, 16 composition notebooks, 14 packs of 24 count crayons, 28 packs of 10 markers, 14 packs of 12 colored pencils, 13 packs of 150 count filler paper, 1 pack of 500 count filler paper, and 502 #2 pencils for the Summer Community Involvement campaign. Jessica McChesney, Second Vice-President dropped of the school supplies for children attending Negreet K - 12 public school in Sabine Parish Louisiana. They greatly appreciate the support from our Chapter!

Pictured from left to right: Tina Pilcher, Instructional Coach, Eylda Thaxton, Principal, Jessica McChesney, SGMP La Chapter Second Vice-President, and Dawn Derouen, Secretary

Spring 2023

Charity

The Spread the Love Community Involvement Campaign allowed the SGMP La Chapter members to contribute to the collection of food for one of the hunger-relief community organizations. The peanut butter collected was donated to the Samaritan Center in Covington, La! We thank everyone that contributed to the success of the campaign.

Fall 2022

Charity

More than 13.1 million children in the United States are food insecure. Additionally, 14.5 million children live in poverty. Those are alarming statistics. The Fall 2022 Community Involvement Campaign @ the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank was held on Saturday October 22 from 8 am to Noon for a day of sorting donations.

Summer 2022

Charity

The Summer Community Involvement Campaign was a success! We collected over 8 boxes & bags of school supplies and personal care items for the children attending GT Wood Elementary School in Kenner. Thank you to everyone that contributed! Principal Dwemer says all the students will be very grateful for our support! Thank you to Carolyn Barrett, CGMP with Visit Kenner for delivering all the items to the school.

Spring 2022

Charity

For the third year, we collected non-perishable food items including peanut butter for the Spread the Love Campaign. This year our donations and collected items were delivered by Melissa Lee to the "Bless Your Heart Foundation" non-profit located in Larose, Louisiana. Many residents are still experiencing the impact of Hurricane Ida in this area of the State. Additional items collected

included socks and underpants for 4- to 10-year-old children, school supplies, cracker and pretzel snacks, goldfish, teddy grahams, single serve non-refrigerated juice or sport drinks.

Fall 2021

Charity

LeAnna Toups Bennett led the Community Involvement Initiative for Fall 2021. She organized the Chapter Initiative to join with the LaNIGP's collection drive to benefit Blue Star Mothers Program. LaNIGP prepared care packages to send to the many local female soldiers and service women deployed in other countries. She collected and dropped off the items donated.

Winter 2020/Spring 2021

Charity

Back for a second year, we raised $300 to purchase peanut butter for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.

Spring 2020

Charity

Peanut butter is a shelf-stable source of protein that food banks need continuously. We were able to deliver 40 jars of peanut butter and $20 cash to the Northshore Food Bank.

"We so appreciate the Society of Governmental Meeting Professionals choosing to support Northshore Food Bank through a peanut butter drive. It was such the perfect promotion to “spread the love”. J Peanut Butter is always one of the top most needed items as it is an item in the staple box we provide, but is also one of least donated as it is a higher priced item in the stores. We are always grateful for those donations."

- Yvette Roussel, Northshore Food Bank

Fall/Winter 2019

Charity

Socks are the number one most requested item in homeless shelters nationwide. We collected 252 pairs of socks and donated them the Bishop Ott Shelter ran by St. Vincent de Paul of Baton Rouge.

Letter from the President

March 22, 2024

I want to wish Willma Harvey, CGMP our SGMP La Chapter Secretary congratulations for being elected to serve as a member of the Gilmer Trustees for SGMP National. She will be leaving her role as Secretary for the SGMP La Chapter June 30 and we will need a volunteer to step in as Secretary from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. Learn more here about volunteering to serve on as Chapter Secretary in our Chapter Policy Manual.

SGMP LA

Don’t miss the SGMP National Education Conference being held in Omaha from May 7 – 9, 2024. Make plans now to attend! Learn more here https://www.sgmp.org/national-education-conference There will be goat yoga and disco partying.

Members are the foundation of our organization! The mission of the National and La State Chapter of SGMP is to enhance the knowledge and expertise of government meeting professionals. SGMP provides education, resources, and networking which improves the quality of and the cost-effectiveness of government meetings. Please share with other meeting professionals the benefits you have experienced because of your membership! We currently have 42 members and I want to welcome our newest members: Danielle Tassin with Visit Lafayette, Kelly Le with Four Points by Sheraton in Alexandria, and Alison Piatkiewicz with Visit Baton Rouge.

Spring 2024 Community Involvement Campaign

More than 13 million children face hunger and according to the USDA, one in every five children is unsure where they will get their next meal. The SGMP LA Chapter Spring Community Involvement Campaign to collect donations of peanut butter was a success. The donations will support local families in need. These simple ingredients can make a world of difference, providing nutritious meals and a taste of comfort during challenging times. Thank you to everyone that contributed to our campaign.

SGMP LA

Government meeting professionals play a vital role in the events industry by facilitating the coordination and execution of various governmental gatherings, conferences, and summits. As professionals, we are tasked with ensuring that events hosted by government entities are meticulously planned, efficiently organized, and effectively executed to achieve their objectives. We liaise with government officials, stakeholders, and event organizers to develop comprehensive plans that adhere to regulatory requirements, security protocols, and budget constraints. Additionally, we oversee logistics, venue selection, vendor management, and participant engagement, all while maintaining transparency and accountability. By leveraging their expertise in event management and government operations, these professionals contribute to the successful implementation of impactful events that foster collaboration, dialogue, and progress within the public sector.

As government meeting professionals gear up for the spring season, it's crucial to prioritize self-care and personal rejuvenation amidst the demanding nature of our roles. Amid the flurry of event planning , implementation, and execution, it's often easy to overlook the need for downtime and self-care. Remember to carve out moments for relaxation, reflection, and fun leisure activities. It is essential for maintaining our mental and physical well-being. Whether it's taking a nature stroll, indulging in a hobby, or simply unplugging from work-related responsibilities and technology, allocating time for yourself will enhance your productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. By nurturing your own well-being, as a government meeting professionals you will be able to approach your duties and conquer your responsibilities with renewed energy and enthusiasm, ultimately leading to more effective and fulfilling outcomes in all your professional endeavors.

As we embrace the warmth of the sun and the promise of new beginnings, let's carry the energy of spring forward, nurturing our dreams and ambitions.

Sharon Delvisco, CGMP, GMS, DSW, LMSW (15911)

Chapter President