Every November, as we sit down to a seasonal feast, we offer our thanks. For many of us it’s the only time we pause to express gratitude. We might be better off if we did it more often.

We need to express our thanks to the teams of volunteers who work so hard to over-see our non-profit organizations throughout our city. These organizations host events which in turn brings economic development to our city.

ASHA just hosted Christmas on the Bayou, Tour of Homes. Glancing at the guest books the addresses were Covington, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Thibodaux, Denham Springs, and even Houston. Yes, I met the nice lady from Houston and she did come to attend the tour.

The River Road African American Museum had over 300 school children from outlying parishes tour the facility this past month. The annual Juneteenth Festival began with a handful of people celebrating the event and has become an entire weekend generating interest from all over the United States.

DAARC is truly a worthwhile organization which promotes, envelops, advocates, monitor and offers support programs such as job placement to aid mentally challenged citizens.

Of course the oldest and largest business organization, the Donaldsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, has functions geared at community spirit to economic development to festivals. The organization is represented at LAA airport meetings in LaPlace to City Council meetings on Railroad Avenue.

A volunteer is defined in “Webster’s Dictionary” as one who offers his service of his own free will. I know we all have super busy schedules or some of us have moved on to the greener pastures of pensions and 40lk’s. I want you to consider to buy-in as a volunteer.

For as little as $115.00, you can become a member of all the organizations I have mentioned. A mere $15.00 will enroll you into membership at the River Road African American Museum; twenty-five dollars and a signature and you are a member of ASHA or DAARC; while $50.00 will entitle any and all concerned citizens (that’s you retired people) to join our Chamber.

It’s that easy to help build the foundations of our community. We are really fortunate to be celebrating our 200th birthday. For a city with a population of 8000 people we have strong, dedicated, and determined individuals leading our organizations. We need your money too.
Your small donation secures the future of these entities along with the teams of volunteers.

I have said many times I love this city and I’ll say it again. I LOVE THIS CITY. Where else can you get fresh ground meat, homemade meat pies, rent a tuxedo, and a tan all at the same place?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. And Merry Christmas Bob.

When Investing, Look Past “Outlook” for 2007

It’s time for the financial experts to make their predictions for 2007. Some will say the stock market will keep rising, while others will claim the market will fall. How can you base your investment strategies on such contradictory forecasts?

You can’t - and you shouldn’t.

No one can really tell you where the Dow Jones Industrial Average will be in 12 months, nor the price of a barrel of oil, nor the interest rate on a 10-year Treasury note.

Instead of worrying about external events, focus on those things you can control. Make sure your asset allocation is suitable for your risk tolerance. Stay on the lookout for quality investments. And try to reduce your investment expenses and taxes.

By following these basic guidelines, you can free yourself from looking for that crystal ball - because you won’t need it.

What an ending to the college and high school football seasons. The LSU Tigers are going to the Rose Bowl...oops sorry, I meant the Sugar Bowl. All of the LSU fans, including myself, were dismayed when the UCLA Bruins upset the USC Trojans 13-9. That victory by the Bruins coupled with the Florida Gators win over Arkansas in the SEC championship game turned the BCS ( Bowl Championship Series) upside down. Anyway, where were we? The Tigers will play the Irish of Notre Dame on January 3rd in New Orleans. Be happy Tiger fans, after the Florida loss, did anyone think LSU had a chance to go to a BCS game and possibly finish as high as #2 in the country depending on the rest of the games? Florida will play Ohio State for the National Championship, where as Michigan will tangle with USC in the grand daddy of them all.. the Rose Bowl. LSU had a chance to go to that same Bowl. Seems like USC is always pestering LSU. Like the Tigers chances versus a less talented Notre Dame team and their so called Heismen frontrunner, QB Brady Quinn ( he finished 3rd behind Darren McFadden of Arkansas and the winner Troy Smith of Ohio State). QB Jamarcus Russell proved his worth with SEC first team honors along with defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and free safety Laron Landry. I would like the Tigers to win by the score of 31-21.

The high school season just wrapped up with the titles going to Acadiana in 5A, Bastrop in 4A, Lutcher in 3A, John Curtis in 2A and Evangel in 1A. Acadiana beat a good Sulhur team with Donaldsonville native Will Giardiana coaching the defensive backs and doing a great job. Lutcher won its second title in four years. Coach Tim Detillier continues to show why he is one of the best. Evangel beat St. John of Plaquemine 24-7 in the 1A final with a strong passing attack in the second half and some costly turnovers by the St John Eagles. Congrats to St John on a fine 14-1 season and to a job well done by Coach Eric Willis and staff.

Basketball season in high school will be entering district play in January as DHS and ACHS are playing in tournaments to prepare for an exciting district play. I will have more on the teams in the January issue. The LSU Tiger basketball team has gone 6-1 to start the season with an impressive win over #6 Texas A&M. The Lady Tigers just put the finishing touches on a 24 point victory over #5 Ohio State and they have only lost one game as well.

It’s hard to believe that my next article will be in 2007. The last year has gone so fast and as Christmas gets closer, we all have so much to be thankful for. Take time to reflect on this past year and soak it all in, before you know it, 2007 will ring in. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Remember to go out and support our high school athletes and if you can’t make the game, tune in to KKAY 1590-AM for coverage of our local teams. See you next year. How strange does that sound? I can be reached at troyleboeuf@hotmail.com for questions, comments or news items.

Random Acts of Internet Kindness: Where to Give Online

As the holidays continue, many of us begin to look for new and creative ways to share our wealth and successes with others. Whether it’s volunteering time, becoming a sponsor, or donating to various charities and organizations, the act of giving can be a rewarding activity any time of year. Today’s online options can give you the benefit of giving with ease; random acts of kindness don’t need to stay in your town or city! Take some steps to research and learn about new organizations and communities you may have an interest in. Today’s networking tools and options provide a multitude of opportunity to give and share.

JustGive.org, a complete giving portal, allows you to browse and review hundreds of nonprofit organizations, fundraising activities, and campaigns that may need your help

Keep A Child Alive is an online response to the AIDS pandemic ravaging Africa. With 25 million already dead, there are now over 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa alone. Although life-saving AIDS medicine often costs less than a dollar a day, very few can afford it. We can. www.keepachildalive.org

Habitat for Humanity is a national organization that helps to build houses and create volunteer groups in thousands of communities. Work projects, community fundraisers, and disaster relief networks are just a few of this organization’s contributions and initiatives. www.habitat.org

The Salvation Army International offers a simple online donation service that can contribute to its large network of international programs. You can learn about each of their initiatives in Community Development, International AIDS funding, Women’s Ministries, and other projects directly on the site. www.salvationarmyusa.org

Giving and donating online are growing philanthropic avenues in today’s busy world. You can select your favorite charities and create ongoing donations easily with today’s online tools and platforms. This year, take the steps to get involved and contribute to at least one organization that needs your help!

To read entire article with hyperlinks and key suggestions for the above tips or to sign-up to receive articles like this, subscribe to dezinSOURCE (www.dezinSOURCE.com). dezinSOURCE is a free e-newsletter provided as a service of Dezins - Print and Web Services,LLC (www.dezins.com.)