Groups Unite to Form Tammany Together

April 26, 2007

St. Tammany Farmer

Local nonprofit agencies, civic groups and area homeowners are organizing the creation of Tammany Together.

Tammany Together will act as a united voice to address local issues in the parish, said Rick Wilke, a member of the Association of Associations.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan group will include AOA members, as well as the Goodbee Civic Association and the League of Women Voters of St. Tammany. AOA is a coalition of about 25 homeowner groups in western St. Tammany Parish.

The parish has often been divided between east and west, city and unincorporated areas, suburban and rural areas and newcomers and longtime residents, organizers said. Tammany Together will look at the bigger issues and allow citizens to have a stronger voice, Wilke said.

"Citizens often don’t get as involved as they could or should. We’re trying to fix that," he said.

According to the group’s mission statement, Tammany Together "will identify issues of importance to the citizens of St. Tammany Parish, to educate its members and others on these issues and to exert a positive influence to their outcome by speaking out with a unified voice."

The group’s focus will be unveiled at a news conference on Monday, May 7, Wilke said. It will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Parish Administrative Complex at Koop Drive.

A public meeting to introduce the organizations members and to recruit new members will be held Thursday, May 17.

© 2007 The St. Tammany Farmer. All rights reserved. Used with permission.