Tammany Together Merges Homeowners Across The Parish

Tammany Together Merges Homeowners Across The Parish

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

By Chad Hebert
St. Tammany News

A group of residents representing east and west areas of the parish stood together in unison Monday morning to announce the formation of a united front when it comes to the future of the parish.

Their mission: to identify, educate and influence important decisions that will affect St. Tammany's future.

The group stood in front of the media to announce the formation of Tammany Together, a parish-wide coalition of individual residents and homeowner groups aimed at presenting a louder voice when it comes to important parish issues. Thus far, the group's interim board of directors consists of members who already are very active in their communities.

Interim president Rick Wilke said in the 12-plus years he's lived in St. Tammany he has seen a lot of people get involved with different facets of the community. But when smaller communities or groups speak for or against a local issue, it carries a smaller, less-effective voice.

"It doesn't quite carry the weight of a larger group," he said.

That's where Tammany Together comes in. The organization is aimed at providing a similar vehicle with a larger, unified voice.

Board member Bill McHugh echoed Wilke's remarks and said it is an incredible task for one small organization to tackle bigger issues.

Wilke compared Tammany Together's projected effect to that of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. At one time, the lake was a mess, but smaller groups were rather ineffective when it came to proposing change. But the LPBF created a united front that created a larger voice to get the lake cleaned up.

Board member Paulette Barras said she feels empowered because of Tammany Together and was flattered when asked to meet with the group. She commended the inaugural group for their dedication.

"They are workers," she said. "They work for the entire parish. This is a tremendous endeavor."

Sandra Slifer, president of the League of Women Voters and interim secretary of Tammany Together, said the organization will listen to its members and research issues before taking action. Tammany Together is already taking a group of issues under consideration.

The interim board consists of nine members: Barras, L.R. "Pug" Lorren (interim vice president), Elizabeth Manshel (interim treasurer), Dr. John Martin, McHugh, Jeannine Meeds, Slifer, P.J. Stakelum III and Wilke. However, there are still six vacant seats on the board.

The final seats on the board will be filled at a general membership meeting scheduled for July 16 at a location yet to be determined.

A public introduction of Tammany Together is slated for 6:30 p.m. May 17 in the Parish Council Chambers on Koop Drive in Mandeville.

Membership information, as well as current issues being discussed, is available at www.TammanyTogether.org.

Parish Councilman Henry Billiot said he now has a better vehicle to keep informed of issues throughout the parish, not just his own district.

"I'll have a better opportunity to see what people want," he said.