Louisiana Association of Municipal
Secretaries and Assistants

HISTORY

The first President of the Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and Assistants (LAMSA), Ms. Pam Gaspard of the City of Abbeville, introduced herself to the members of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) on August 10, 1989 and announced that LAMSA had an initial membership of 68. In her letter to the LMA Board, she explained that the association originated from an idea from Mayor John Berthelot with the City of Gonzales. His idea was culminated with “the thought of a better networking system between city secretaries.” Ms. Gaspard’s letter further stated that this “association allows for continued education and instructional activity opportunities for secretaries and assistants, so they may help provide a more professional atmosphere within their city offices for the benefit of the people, other city departments, the Mayors and themselves” and that “education is the forefront of our association.”

Initially, organizational meetings began in the spring of 1989 and were attended by the secretary to Mayor Berthelot, Ms. Betty S. Latuso (City of Gonzales), Ms. Pam Gaspard (City of Abbeville), Ms. Bertha Bernard (City of Lafayette), Ms. Jan Picard (City of Westlake), and employees of the Louisiana State University – Governmental Services Institute (Dr. Marilyn Broughton, Ms. Billie Tripp, and Ms. Edith Vilas). After considerable discussion and planning, LAMSA became a reality. This non-profit affiliate of the LMA adopted its bylaws in convention assembled in Alexandria, Louisiana on the 10th day of August 1989.

Membership to the Association is open to all municipal secretaries and assistants or persons performing the duties of a secretary or assistant, regardless of title, in any incorporated village, town, or city chartered under and in conformity with the laws of the State of Louisiana. The Association’s purpose or “mission statement” is the same today as it was then:     


·           to provide a forum where networking can take place among the members resulting in a free exchange of ideas about work related issues,

·           to enhance professionalism by developing effectiveness and efficiency in public service leading to increased goodwill for the organization, and

·           to be an educational resource by providing opportunities for skills development and job-related educational activities.


The Association conducts annual spring and fall training conferences throughout Louisiana in order to provide traveling convenience to its membership and to acclimate the various municipal groups with a cohesive understanding of government at all levels. Each conference provides continuing education points that may be applied to the Certified Municipal Assistant certification program. Currently, there are 65 CMA recipients.

LAMSA’s Executive Committee consists of four officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer), the outgoing [Past] President, five Directors-at-large and the LMA President (or his designee). The committee meets at each conference, at least once between conferences, and during the LMA annual convention. An annual membership meeting is held at the spring conference.

The Association’s President is the Chief Executive Officer who presides at all meetings of the membership and acts as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. The President has general and active management of the business of the Association and sees to it that all orders and resolutions of the Executive Committee are carried out. The President also nominates standing committees, as necessary, which are then confirmed by the Executive Committee. The President serves a two-year term. This elected officer also serves on the LMA Board of Directors and the Louisiana Municipal Risk Management Agency Board of Trustees and attends its meetings. The outgoing or past-president also serves on the Executive Committee for a period of two years. These individuals have held the office of President of the Association:


    1989 – 1990                        Pam Gaspard Abbeville, City of

    1991 – 1992                        Bertha Bernard Lafayette, City of

                                                  replaced by Sylvia R. Humble Bossier City

    1992 – 1993                        Sylvia R. Humble Bossier City

    1994 – 1995                        Betty S. Latuso Gonzales, City of

    1996 – 1997                        Penny Simmons DeRidder, City of

    1998 – 1999                        Alaina Walgamotte Slidell, City of

    2000 – 2001                        Jeanne Williamson DeRidder, City of

    2002 – 2003                        Yolanda Andrews-Mattaur St. Gabriel, Town of

    2004 – 2005                        Mary Ann Nunley Natchitoches, City of

    2006 – 2007                        Nelma Domingue Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2008                                    Margaret Poirier Hebert Lafayette Consolidated Government

                                    replaced by Nelma Domingue Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2008 - 2010                         Nelma Domingue Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2010 - 2012                         Marlaine Peachey, Mandeville, City of

    2012 - 2014                         Myra Streeter, Walker, City of

    2014 - 2016                         Lori Spranley, Mandeville, City of

    2016 - 2018                         Hilda Edwards, Ville Platte, City of

    2018 -  2020                        Myra Streeter, Walker, City of

    2020 -                                  Yvonne Lewis, Tallulah, City of


Another officer of the Executive Committee is the Vice-President. This officer assumes the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence or disability. In this event, this officer has authority to perform all the duties of the President. Candidates for this office must submit a letter of intent to the President of the Association. The President calls a meeting of the Nominating Committee and a nomination is made for presentation to the membership for election. The term is two years. These individuals have held the office of Vice-President of the Association:


    1989 – 1990                       Bertha Bernard Lafayette, City of

    1991 – 1992                       Sylvia R. Humble Bossier City

    1992 – 1993                       Betty S. Latuso Gonzales, City of

    1994 – 1995                       Penny Simmons DeRidder, City of

    1996 – 1997                       Alaina Walgamotte Slidell, City of

    1998 – 1999                       Jeanne Williamson DeRidder, City of

    2000                                   Angela Graham Bastrop, City of

                               replaced by Yolanda Andrews-Mattaur St. Gabriel, Town of

    2000 – 2001                        Yolanda Andrews-Mattaur St. Gabriel, Town of

    2002                                    Billye Fleming Alexandria, City of

                                          replaced by Mary Ann Nunley Natchitoches, City of

    2002 – 2003                        Mary Ann Nunley Natchitoches, City of

    2004 – 2005                        Nelma Domingue Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2006 – 2007                        Margaret M. Poirier Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2008 - 2009                        Jessica Babin Jena, Town of

    2009 - 2010                        Jessica Babin, Jena, Town of

    2010 - 2012                        Myra Streeter, Walker, Town of

    2012 - 2013                        Anne Patin, Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2013 - 2016                        Donna Carlin, Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2016 - 2018                        Paula Kidder, Lafayette Consolidated Government

    2018 - 2019                        Patricia Gaudet Thibodaux, Brusly, Town of

    2019 - 2020                        Yvonne Lewis, Tallulah, City of

    2020                                   Constance Barbin, St. Gabriel, City of


The third officer of the Association is the Secretary. This person keeps the minutes of Association meetings and the Executive Committee meetings and maintains a roster of the membership and all records for the Association. The Secretary provides to the members written notices of all meetings. These individuals have held the office of Secretary of the Association:

    1989                              Karen Oertling Sulphur, City of

    1990 – 1991                  Pam Comeaux Donaldsonville, City of

                                       replaced by Carole Walsworth Ruston, City of

    1991 – 1993                   Carole Walsworth Ruston, City of

    1994 – 1995                   Alaina Walgamotte Slidell, City of

    1996 – 1997                   Helen Thornton Bossier City

    1998                               Carol Jackson Leesville, City of

    1999                               Angela Graham Bastrop, City of

    2000 – 2008                  Penny Simmons DeRidder, City of

    2009 - 2011                   Kerri Broussard DeRidder, City of

    2011 - 2014                   Lori Spranley, Mandeville, City of

    2014 - 2018                   Patricia Gaudet, Brusly, Town of

    2018 - 2019                   Yvonne Lewis, Tallulah, City of

    2019 - 2020                   Angie Dugas, Grand Coteau, Town of

    2020                              Roxanna Richard, Gueydan, Town of


The Association’s fourth officer is the Treasurer. The duties of this office include providing general supervision of the financial operations of the Association, depositing all monies received, issuing all payments for obligations, and having custody of all funds of the Association. The Treasurer submits an annual written report to the membership and from time to time upon the request of the Executive Committee. As of January 23, 1992, this became a permanent position and is not subject to reelection or reappointment. These individuals have held the office of Treasurer of the Association:

    1989 – 1992            Betty S. Latuso Gonzales, City of

    1993 – 1994            Carol Perry Kaplan, City of

    1995 – 1997            Pam Gaspard Abbeville, City of

    1998 – 2002            Betty S. Latuso Gonzales, City of

                                    replaced by Jeanne Williamson DeRidder, City of

    2002 – 2006            Jeanne Williamson DeRidder, City of

                         replaced by Adrienne Jackson New Roads, City of

    2006                        Adrienne Jackson New Roads, City of

                                    replaced by Hilda Edwards Ville Platte, City of

    2007                        Hilda Edwards Ville Platte, City of

                          replaced by Joan Methvin Maurice, Village of

    2007 –                     Joan Methvin Maurice, Village of


Of the Directors-at-large, three hold a two-year term and two hold a one-year term. The following members have served in this capacity: 


    Wendy Allbritton                            Olla, Town of

    Yolanda Andrews-Mattaur            St. Gabriel, Town of

    Jessica Babin                                    Jena, Town of

    Ruth “Gae” Baudoin                        Lafayette, City of

    Linda Barnett                                   Mandeville, City of

    Dot Beckham                                   Bossier City

    Janet Borne                                      Walker, Town of

    Kerri Broussard                               DeRidder, City of

    Phyllis Bryant                                   Kenner, City of

    Helen Irving Burley                         New Orleans City Council / District “B”

    Donna Carlin                                   Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Rosalyn Cimino                               Jefferson Parish

    Danita “Dannye” Coffman             Westlake, City of

    Nelma Domingue                           Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Norma Dugas                                  Lafayette, City of

    Monica King Dupre                        Crowley, City of

    Hilda Edwards                                 Ville Platte, City of

    Bridget Farris                                  Sulphur, City of

    Monica Fontenot                            Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Angela Graham                              Bastrop, City of

    Susan Guice                                    Shreveport, City of

    Bea Guidry                                      Kaplan, City of

    Adagria Haddock                           Winnsboro, City of

    Billye Hammock                             Alexandria, City of

    Stephanie Hardy                            Vinton, Town of

    Kathy Hopkins                                Ruston, City of

    Sylvia R. Humble                            Bossier City

    Wanda Hunt-Joiner                       Alexandria, City of

    Rita Jack                                          Ville Platte, City of

    Adrienne Jackson                          New Roads, City of

    Carol Jackson                                 Leesville, City of

    Terri Kavanaugh                           Ruston, City of

    Deb McDaniel                               Oakdale, City of

    Gay Nell McIntosh                        Farmerville, Town of

    Fran McKinley                               Slidell, City of

    Joan Methvin                                 Maurice, Village of

    Donna Newton                             Alexandria, City of

    Debbie Nosser                             Delhi, City of

    Mary Ann Nunley                        Natchitoches, City of

    Anne Patin                                   Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Neita R. Payne                             Zachary, City of

    Marlaine Peachey                       Mandeville, City of

    Carol Perry                                   Kaplan, City of

    Margaret Poirier                         Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Preston Reeves                           Alexandria, City of

    Susan Savant                              Brusly, Town of

    Loretta Schultz                           Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Penny Simmons                         DeRidder, City of

    Myra Streeter                             Walker, Town of

    Helen Thornton                         Bossier City

    Alaina Walgamotte                   Slidell, City of

    Linda Walker                             Opelousas, City of

    Jeanne Williamson                   DeRidder, City of

    Margaret Young                       Crowley, City of

    Melinda Foil,                             St. Franscisville, Town of

    Paula Kidder,                            Lafayette Consolidated Government

   Lori Spranley,                            Mandeville, City of

    Sabrina Adams,                       Lafayette Consolidated Government

    Patricia Gaudet,                      Brusly, Town of

    Jamie Liner,                             Golden Meadow Town of

    Hilda Edwards,                       Ville Platte, City of

    Lisa Bryant,                             St. Francisville, Town of

    Danielle Honor-Young          St. Charles Parish

    Eselener McCoy                     Monroe, City of

    Debbie Mouton                     Central, City of

    Babin, Constance                  St. Gabriel, City of

    Roxanna Richard                   Gueydan, Town of

    Angie Dugas,                          Grand Coteau, Town of

    Lynn Hebert,                          Terrebonne Consolidated Government       

    Glenna Luther,                       DeRidder, City of             

    Suzette Thomas,                   Terrebonne Consolidated Government       

    Andrea Livings,                      Lafayette Consolidated Government       

    Lisa Meche,                            City of Carencro

    Courtney Tell,                        Town of Haynesville

 

The Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and Assistants expresses its appreciation to the Louisiana Municipal Association for allowing it to be an affiliate organization of the LMA. Its membership also wishes to express gratitude to the mayors, parish presidents, and other elected officials who provide their support and recognize the need for secretaries and assistants to have a forum for networking, to enhance professionalism, and to receive opportunities for skills development and job-related educational activities.