LMR July 2023

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
A Loving Farewell
As I reflect on my presidency,
the first thought is…where
has the time gone?! It seems
like it was just yesterday when
I received the LMA gavel at
the eloquent banquet gala at
last year’s annual convention
in Lafayette. Your love, attendance,
and support at that
historic event is stamped indelibly
in my memory for the
rest of my life.
Shortly after the convention
concluded, we went to
work preparing for a busy
fall season that included
moving the entire LMA/
RMI/LaMATS staff to a new
headquarters building in
Baton Rouge. Shortly after
the furniture, phones and
computers were in place, we
took time to recognize the
extraordinary contributions
of three (3) individuals by
naming board and conference
rooms after the former
long-serving Baker Mayor,
statesman, and LMA Past
President, my dear friend,
Mayor “Pete” Heine. RMI’s
founding General Manager,
the late Jerry Cronin, will be
forever remembered for his
professional and dedicated
service to members of our
risk pool. And former Carencro
Mayor Glenn Brasseaux’s
name was placed on the wall
to recognize his numerous
years of service as past LMA
President and board member.
The new building was
a prudent investment that
gives a real sense of “home”
to the membership, staff,
and affiliated organizations
that reside there as tenants.
We helped to rollout and
launch two (2) initiatives
that will forever change internet
connectivity in our
communities through historic
broadband programs
and funding. The joint
LMA-Police Jury Association
of Louisiana initiative now
known as LITACorp, provides
technical assistance,
grant writing, and essential
local matching funds directly
to municipalities and parishes
developing critical infrastructure
projects. These
programs simply would not
have happened without the
steadfast commitment to
local government that our
generous and compassionate
Governor John Bel Edwards
continued to provide.
Over the course of this past
year, we have visited many
communities and their leaders
to get a better sense of
their needs. Unfortunately,
several experienced catastrophic
damage from severe
weather, while others
struggled mightily to provide
their residents basic
resources. What we did NOT
find were communities that
had lost all hope given their
What we did NOT find were
communities that had lost all
hope given their circumstances.
People of our great state are
not just resilient, but they are
resourceful and bighearted, even
under the most difficult times.
I have known and experienced
this throughout my over 40
years of public service, but this
past year has renewed my spirit
and devotion to our state.
circumstances. People of
our great state are not just
resilient, but they are resourceful
and bighearted,
even under the most difficult
times. I have known and
experienced this throughout
my over 40 years of
public service, but this
past year has renewed my
spirit and devotion to our
state. I choose to believe
that PEOPLE ARE GOOD
and generally want what is
Jennifer Vidrine,
LMA President
Ville Platte
best for their neighbor and
community. Leaders, LIKE
YOU, are the key ingredient
that makes a real difference
in people’s lives. Always remember,
“IT’S NOT ABOUT
THE TITLE, IT’S ABOUT THE
PEOPLE.” Care about the
people. Have a heart for
the people. People want
to follow a leader with a
heart, not a title.
You’ve probably not heard
the last, “Whooooo” or “Girl
Power” from me because Every
Goodbye Ain’t Gone, but
the time has come to pass the
gavel. I wish the entire LMA
Membership great success.
Until our paths cross next,
please remember that if we
pray without ceasing, love
and respect one another,
the LMA will ALWAYS BE
BETTER because WE ARE
BETTER TOGETHER!
All of my heart (and hats)
will forever be connected to
the LMA MEMBERSHIP!
Yours in Public Service and a
Heart For The People!
Jennifer
LMR | JULY 2023 Page 5