December Minutes 2024
Board and Staff Member Attendance
Present:
Joshua Ellender – Chair
William Bisland – Vice Chair
Margie Scoby – Secretary/Treasurer
Judy Smart
Cheri Blanchard
Julie Falgout
Renee Murphy
Bionca Carr
Angela Portier
Staff:
Sondra Corbitt
Avril Duplantis
Absent:
Celeste Landry
Meeting call to order: J. Ellender called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.
Roll Call: Quorum was present.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance: A. Portier led the board in the Invocation, and J. Ellender led the board in the Pledge.
Public to be Heard: No public to be heard.
Approval of November 2024 minutes: C. Blanchard moved to approve the November 2024 minutes. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed.
Approval of October 2024 Financials: The financial statements, including the budget to actual comparison for the general fund, for the month of October 2024 Financials were presented by S. Corbitt. A. Portier moved to approve the October 2024 Financials. Seconded by: J. Falgout. Motion passed.
2024 Final Amended Budget: Corbitt presented the 2024 final amended budget. W. Bisland moved to approve the 2024 Final Amended Budget. Seconded by: J. Falgout. Motion passed. Discussion: Martin & Pellegrin conducting audit,
2025 Executive Committee: the 2025 Executive Committee comprises William Bisland – Chair; Margie Scoby – Vice Chair; and Celeste Landry – Secretary/Treasurer. J. Falgout moved to approve the 2025 Executive Committee’s nominations slate. Seconded by: R. Murphy. Motion passed.
2025 Authorized Bank Signature Approvals: S. Corbitt presented the list of authorized bank signers for 2025:
- Sondra Corbitt – President/CEO
- William Bisland – Chair
- Margie Scoby – Vice Chair
- Celeste Landry – Secretary/Treasurer – needs to add to the accounts.
- Joshua Ellender – needs to be removed from accounts.
Smart moved to approve the 2025 Authorized Bank Signatures. Seconded by: M. Scoby. Motion passed. Discussion: Executive Committee rotation,
President/CEO’s Report: Terrebonne Parish Signage, Current visitation status, Marketing Initiatives, Rose Parade/ROI, Culinary Trails, LOT filming of the Finding our Roots Mobile Museum, State CEA update, Online gift shop status, Sondra’s schedule, Occupancy Rates, Sponsorship Final Report Status. Discussion: hotel status update, Dularge Fair Report, Datafy reports local vs. out of town, grant funding, Rougarou Fest, future sponsorship funding, hotel stays for various festivals, and occupancy rates with sponsorship.
Board Announcements: Southdown Plantation Story Time, Regional Military Museum hosting staff, Finding our Roots Youth Entrepreneurship Fest, and social media via X.
Executive Session: Ellender called for the meeting to go into Executive Session at 9:22 a.m. to discuss the President/CEO’s yearly evaluation and wage review. J. Smart moved to go into Executive Session. Seconded by: J. Falgout. Motion passed.
Bisland moved to exit the Executive Session at 9:25 a.m. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed. A. Portier moved to increase the President/CEO’s salary as presented and approved during the Executive Session. Seconded by: R. Murphy. Motion passed.
Adjournment: Blanchard moved to end the meeting at 9:26 a.m. Seconded by: J. Smart. Motion passed.
