Past Speakers

Know Your Pharmacist – Making the Most of Your Pharmacy Visit

At today’s Zachary Rotary Club luncheon, Jassoni Martin, Director of Pharmacy & Retail Services at Lane Regional Medical Center, and Patty Williams, Director of Physician Practice Management, shared valuable insight on the important role pharmacists play in our health.

Jassoni encouraged everyone to get the most out of every pharmacy visit. Your pharmacists are more than just prescription fillers—they’re medication experts and health advisors who can:
Fill prescriptions & refills
Give vaccines
Provide health screenings
Offer medication reviews
Provide special services like compounding

Benefits of knowing your pharmacist:
Personalized advice
Early problem detection
Cost savings
Better health outcomes

Always ask questions—such as possible side effects or interactions with other medicines—because they’re there to help you stay healthy.

Patty Williams highlighted Lane Regional Medical Center’s exceptional care and encouraged everyone to “Take a Look at Lane” for all healthcare needs. Lane now has a new, community-focused face, a recently opened state-of-the-art $90 million Patient Tower, and offers a comprehensive healthcare solution for our region.

We had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Clint Wilson, Director of the Center for River Studies and LSU Professor, who shared valuable insights on coastal sustainability and restoration in Louisiana. Dr. Wilson discussed the urgent issue of land loss across our state and highlighted the Louisiana 2023 Coastal Master Plan, which is actively working to reduce land loss and support long-term ecosystem restoration.

Plan a Visit: First Free Sundays at the LSU Center for River Studies! Explore the award-winning, coastal-themed exhibit space and Mississippi River model FREE on the first Sunday of each month from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. This interactive experience is perfect for guests of all ages to learn more about Louisiana’s wetlands, the history of the Mississippi River, and current restoration efforts. CPRA staff will be available to guide discussions and answer questions—and don’t miss the chance to see an incredible educational presentation using their world-class projector system!

Rotary Luncheon Spotlight: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Louisiana

At today’s Zachary Rotary Club meeting, we were honored to welcome Kathy Coleman, president and passionate advocate of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Louisiana. Kathy shared the heart and mission of this all-volunteer organization that she loves and tirelessly serves.

In Louisiana alone, nearly 55,000 grandparents are raising their grandchildren, and over 61,000 children are being raised by relatives other than their parents. As Kathy shared, “I can’t afford to take the kids, but morally I can’t afford not to,”—a sentiment many grandparents know all too well.

Did you know?

90% of the families they assist live below the poverty line.

Most are on fixed incomes and face steep legal, educational, and medical challenges when raising children without official custody.

This powerful organization helps by:
Hosting food and supply drives
Providing access to emergency funds
Connecting families to free legal support through monthly support groups and quarterly legal workshops at the Main Library at Goodwood

Know someone raising a child that’s not their own? Their services are free and confidential.
Call: 225-810-3555
Visit: www.lagrg.org

Thank you, Kathy, for shining a light on this important cause!

This week, we were honored to hear from Rusty Lavergne with Flying Wings of Louisiana, an incredible nonprofit where a passion for aviation meets a heart for service.

Rusty shared how this group of volunteer pilots, flying out of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lafayette, donate not only their time and aircraft—but even cover the cost of fuel—to fly cancer patients to treatment in Memphis or Houston primarily, at no cost to the family.

Flying Wings of Louisiana ensures patients can focus on healing, not logistics. What a powerful example of how personal passion can take flight for the greater good.

For more information please go to www.flyingwingsoflouisiana.org

Brian Gallion from Kids’ Orchestra recently spoke with the Zachary Rotary Club (5/29/25) sharing updates on the organization’s impactful work with local youth. Last year, 1,094 students were served through a robust music and enrichment program.

Kids’ Orchestra offers instruction on 14 different instruments, with students receiving over 200 hours of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) support. In addition to homework help and instrument instruction, the program includes after-school snacks and meals, with 90% of participants receiving financial assistance.

The organization also provides private lessons and summer camps, continuing its mission to foster creativity, discipline, and community in young musicians.

For more information please see www.kidsorchestra.org.

Rebecca Hart recently addressed the Rotary Club with a powerful message on effective facilitation through the lens of servant leadership. Emphasizing that great facilitators serve rather than steer, she equipped Rotarians with practical tools to lead meetings and discussions with greater impact.

At the core of her message were the Six Ps of Preparation:
• Purpose – Know why you’re meeting
• Product – Define the desired outcome
• Participants – Understand who’s in the room
• Probable Issues – Anticipate challenges
• Process – Select the right approach
• Place – Create the right environment

She also shared the Four Cornerstones of a Good Facilitator: Expertise, Empathy, Enthusiasm, and Clarity — essential traits for guiding groups effectively.

Hart cautioned against the Seven Deadly Sins of Facilitation, including allowing the group to lose direction, lacking neutrality, poor listening, and failing to adapt.

Her message was clear: effective facilitators lead with humility, preparation, and a genuine desire to elevate others — a true example of servant leadership in action.