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EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Billy Henry, President
(General
Manager, Alderwoods Group, Inc. Owner of Bultman Funeral Home, Jacob Shoen
& Son, Inc., and Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Homes)
Mr. Henry has been a member Belle Reve’s Board of Directors for five-plus
years, and currently serves as President. Before serving as President, Mr.
Henry was Treasurer for several years. Mr. Henry was moved to often his
services to Belle Reve after watching the death of three close friends who
suffered from HIV/AIDS. Mr. Henry was moved to help improve the lives and
deaths of those suffering from the disease. During the end stages of the
lives of his friends, Belle Reve was the institution that provided the
loving hospice care with heavy emphasis on keeping family units and support
systems intact. Mr. Henry saw Belle Reve go above and beyond the expected
quality of caring and nurturing for his dear friends, and he feels other
available options in the New Orleans area would not have been able to meet
his friends’ needs quite as well. Mr. Henry has a Bachelor’s degree in
Business Administration/Education, and has had graduate-level studies at
both Tulane and Loyola Universities. He is licensed by the state and
nationally as a funeral director and embalmer. Mr. Henry hopes that his
efforts as President of Belle Reve’s Board of Directors will help Belle
Reve to continue its Mission to provide
housing for low-income AIDS-positive persons without regard to race,
gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Jacqui Bright, Secretary
(Director of Human Resources, Total Benefit Services, Inc.)
Ms. Bright, Secretary of Belle Reve’s Board of Directors, has devoted her
career to the field of human resources. Prior to her career, Ms. Bright
attended college at Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Bright has been
on Belle Reve’s Board for four years. A busy, working, divorced mother of
four, Ms. Bright still finds the time to serve others. When asked why she
was moved to donate her time and energy to Belle Reve, she replied as follows.
“AIDS is not a gay issue. It is not a gender issue. It crosses all
color lines. The disease has impacted so many lives. People that I knew and
loved have died. Belle Reve serves a very important purpose, and that is to
assist individuals and families living with the disease. However, when most
heterosexuals think about Belle Reve, they think, ‘gay.’ I want to change
that thinking. I want them to think, ‘human beings.’ ”
Gerald Palayo, J.D., Treasurer
(Attorney at Law, in private practice)
Mr. Palayo comes to Belle Reve with a strong background in law, theology,
and philosophy. Mr. Palayo’s extensive educational background includes a
B.A. in Philosophy from Duns Scotus College in Southfield, MI; an M.A. in
Theology from the University of Dayton in Dayton, OH; an M.A. in Divinity
from St. Leonard College in Centerville, OH; and a J.D. in Law from Loyola
University here in New Orleans. Although his professional career includes a
busy private law practice in General Civil Law, Mr. Palayo has found the
time to serve on Belle Reve’s Board of Directors for the past three years.
Mr. Palayo has been involved with AIDS issues since the beginning of the
crisis. In 1985, he served as first Secretary and Treasurer for NO/AIDS Task Force.
Mr. Palayo states that he feels the need to be involved in AIDS care and
treatment while waiting for a cure. Mr. Palayo serves on the Board of
Directors of AIDSLaw of Louisiana,
and also devotes some time as a Board Member of the Louisiana Steam Train
Association, an association of steam railroad enthusiasts who have
restored a steam engine for educational purposes in honor of the Louisiana
bicentennial.
BOARD MEMBERS
Tony Armbruster
(Accountant, in Private Practice)
Mr. Armbruster began his relationship with Belle Reve as a volunteer. He
quickly grew fond of the many residents that he met and was pleased with
the effects that Belle Reve had on the residents’ lives. Mr. Armbruster
became driven to devote his spare time to Belle Reve, serving as a
volunteer for the next seven years and becoming active on committees,
especially the ever-important Fund Development Committee, which raises
operational funds for Belle Reve. Eventually, Mr. Armbruster was asked to
put his talents to use on the Board of Directors, where he has served for
the past three years, currently serving on the Performance Improvement
Committee. Mr. Armbruster attended Louisiana State University and has a
thriving Accounting Business.
Amber Bethel
(Development Director, Louisiana
SPCA))
Ms. Bethel is a new Board Member as of 2005, serving on the Fundraising
Committee. She comes to Belle Reve as a Board Intern through the Center for Nonprofit Resources’
(which has now merged with the Greater
New Orleans Community Data Center) Boardswork class—a class designed
to develop a person’s skills as a board member for a nonprofit, which she
took in the fall of 2004. Board Member Michael Lawrence, who was
President of the Board of Directors in 2004, was paired to be her mentor
in this endeavor, and Ms. Bethel says that it was a good match from the
start. Ms. Bethel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism with a PR
emphasis and a minor in sociology from the University of Southern
Mississippi and is a member of several charitable organizations,
including the Young Leadership Council, where she serves as Leadership
Development Series Project Leader; the Junior League of New Orleans,
where she is a Provisional Class Member; Big Brothers-Big Sisters, where
she serves as a Volunteer; St. Alphonsus Art & Community Center,
where she is the Publicity Chair for the Art in April Planning Committee;
and the Internet Miniature Pinscher Rescue Service (IMPS), where she
serves as Regional Coordinator for Mississippi. Ms. Bethel’s commitment
to community service also has led her to build houses in Honduras for
Habitat for Humanity. Additionally, Ms. Bethel serves as Development Director
for the Louisiana SPCA. Ms. Bethel has the following to say about HIV and
the world of today. “It breaks my
heart to see the apathy exhibited in our own community and nation about
this world crisis. HIV/AIDS is not something that happens to punish
deviant behavior; it’s something that can happen to anyone. The
difference between and HIV-positive and HIV-negative person can simply be
one unlucky day. I believe it’s my role as a young, straight,
professional, Catholic female to speak out for those whose voices have
been deemed unimportant by mainstream society.” She also quotes the following. “This generation will be remembered for three things: the
Internet, the war on terror, and how we let an entire continent go up in
flames while we stood around with watering cans. Or not…God Almighty is
on his knees to us, begging us to turn around the supertanker of
indifference on the subject of AIDS.”—Bono (of U2)
Steve A.
Buddington, Ph.D.
(Dillard University, Department of Social Sciences)
Dr. Buddington is an Assistant Professor of Social Welfare and the Baron
Hilton Endowed Chair of Sociology at Dillard University in New Orleans. A
native of Jamaica, West Indies, Dr. Buddington earned his B.Sc. in
Natural Sciences from the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica;
his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Northwood
University in Midland, Michigan; his M.S.W. from Southern University at
New Orleans; and his Ph.D. from Tulane University in New Orleans. Dr.
Buddington’s research focuses on “Acculturation, Academic Achievement,
and the Learning/Teaching of Blacks.” Dr. Buddington has been a Member of
Belle Reve’s Board of Directors since October 2002, currently serving on
the Performance Enhancement Committee. Dr. Buddington views volunteerism
as one of the greatest gifts from humanity to humanity for the holistic
betterment of all.
Kathryn M. Caraway
(Attorney-at-Law, Frilot, Partridge, Kohnke & Clements)
Ms. Caraway is a local attorney specializing in medical malpractice
defense cases. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from
Tulane University and her Law Degree from Loyola Law School. Before
attending law school, Ms. Caraway worked as a professional local radio
news reporter/anchor. She has been practicing law for approximately
thirteen years. Ms. Caraway has been a Member of Belle Reve’s Board of Directors
for almost two years. She had the following to say about why she donates
her time and energy to Belle Reve’s cause. “AIDS continues to be a
very serious health and social issue. Belle Reve is a special
organization giving real help to people in need of housing and care.
Belle Reve helps those that cannot find assistance elsewhere. Not only is
the cause important, but the people who run Belle Reve are dedicated and
committed.”
Mary Jo Day, R.N.
(Registered Nurse, Recently Retired)
Mary Jo Day, R.N., is recently retired from her nursing career, during
which she specialized in Psychiatric Nursing and Hospital Administration.
Recently, Ms. Day has received her license as a tour guide for the City
of New Orleans. She is active in the First Unitarian/Universalist Church
of New Orleans and keeps busy with many hobbies, such as doll collecting,
quilting, and sewing. With Ms. Day’s background in healthcare and her
interests in social issues and the City of New Orleans, she was all too
eager to lend her experience and wisdom to Belle Reve’s cause.
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Glen Kahrman
(Volunteer and Meal Delivery Coordinator, NO/AIDS Task Force, Food
for Friends)
Mr. Kahrman was appointed to Belle Reve’s Board of Directors in 2003. He
received a Bachelor of Arts from Springfield College in Springfield,
Massachusetts, and has spent most of his adult career as a wholesale and
retail gifts and accessories salesman, last serving as the regional
manager of his former company. Mr. Kahrman currently is putting his
business experience to work in the position of Volunteer and Meal
Delivery Coordinator at the Food for Friends program of NO/AIDS Task Force.
“I was on the Board of Trustees for NO/AIDS Task Force for many years
and served as Co-Chairman. I would have to say, like most volunteers,
that I volunteer to give back to the community and to those less
fortunate than I. Being HIV positive for sixteen years, I want to
contribute even more than I might otherwise.” Among Mr. Kahrman’s other
noteworthy endeavors, he was the founder of the Annual NO/AIDS Walk. In
addition to being active at Belle Reve and NO/AIDS Task Force, Mr.
Kahrman is also an active member of Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus
(LAG PAC) and other HIV and gay supportive organizations.
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A. Michael Lawrence
(CEO,
Total Benefit Services, Inc.)
Mr. Lawrence has been President and C.E.O. of Total Benefit Services, Inc.,
a third party administrator of employer sponsored group benefit plans,
since 1989. He was asked to join the Board of Directors of Belle Reve in
the fall of 1997, was elected Secretary of the Board in November 1998,
and was elected President of the Board in 2000, a position that he held
until the end of 2004. Mr. Lawrence is firmly committed to advancing the Mission of Belle Reve. The factors that
made him choose to devote his time to Belle Reve are as follows. 1) Mr.
Lawrence supports the fact that Belle Reve provides assisted living
services to women and their families living with the disease. He believes
that HIV/AIDS is blind to sex, sexual orientation, and social economic
status; thus, so should an agency for which he were to devote time and
energy. 2) Belle Reve provides a real home for the residents instead of a
clinical or hospital looking environment. Mr. Lawrence believes that the
homey, non-institutionalized environment of Belle Reve improves the
morale of the residents. He states, “I was so impressed that the
residents were provided enough space within their private quarters to be
able to bring a couple of pieces of their own furnishings.” Dignity,
individuality, and concern for each resident’s quality of life are
principles Mr. Lawrence and Belle Reve New Orleans insist upon on a daily
basis.
Coral Maher
(Senior Account Executive, FOX 8
TV “Your Weather Authority”)
Ms. Maher has recently joined Belle Reve’s Board of Directors as of 2005.
She was asked to join by Mr. Henry, President of the Board of Directors,
because of her strong commitment to working for the rights of persons
with HIV and her ties with television news and the media. Ms. Maher is
originally from New Orleans and, with a degree in television broadcasting,
has been working in television for twenty-six years, eighteen of those
spent in television advertising sales here in New Orleans. Ms. Maher was
married to her partner last year in Massachusetts, and is strongly
committed to fighting prejudice against gay marriage. As to why she wants
to serve on the volunteer Board for Belle Reve, she says, “I’m here to
help with the discrimination against HIV-positive people.”
David Mesler
(Operations Management, New Orleans Steamboat
Company)
Mr. Mesler became a volunteer at Project Lazarus after caring for a
friend with AIDS in his home. At that time (the early 1990s), people were
dying quickly, and many of those affected had very little time to make
appropriate living arrangements. Having cared for someone with very
little help, Mr. Mesler was drawn to join in an organized effort to
provide housing and care to people with AIDS. While volunteering at
Lazarus, Mr. Mesler met Jan Vick, BCMSW. Ms. Vick had a vision for
another “house,” in response to a rapidly growing need for services in
the community. Mr. Mesler was one of Ms. Vick’s “foot soldiers,” and
after nearly a year of planning, the group of founding members was able
to secure a lease on the house that was to become Belle Reve. Mr. Mesler
says, “It was very exciting time for everyone involved in the process of
getting the show up and running. I have often said that because no manual
came with the job, nearly every day brought a new curve in the road.
Construction, permits, zoning, grants, volunteers, donations, and
staffing were daily challenges. I was the first Chair of the Board and
served in that capacity for seven years. I have been an eager volunteer
most of my life.” In addition to working with AIDS, Mr. Mesler has worked
with the disabled and currently works with the elderly. He has a degree
from SUNY at Buffalo and has been employed by New Orleans Steamboat since
1976, working primarily in operations. Mr. Mesler adds, “I am a Quaker
and believe that my religious background has greatly contributed to my
caring for others.”
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M. Carmen Palazzo, M.D., PhD.
Ms. Palazzo is
a new Board Member. Her biography is to come.
Louise M.
McFarland, D.P.H.
(Board Member, Emeritus, Epidemiologist for Louisiana Department of
Health, Retired)
As a professional epidemiologist and a social activist, Dr. McFarland was
asked by the first Executive Director to serve on Belle Reve’s Board of
Directors at the time of inception, back in 1992. Prior to her successful
career with the Louisiana Department of Health, Dr. McFarland obtained her
Doctorate Degree in Public Health from Tulane University. As one of the
original co-founders of the NO/AIDS Task Force, Dr. McFarland currently is active
in the Human Rights Campaign
(HRC) and the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force, as well as other local and national
organizations. When asked why she chose to donate her time to Belle Reve,
Dr. McFarland stated the following. “I saw the need for Belle Reve. In
1992, there was one home for [HIV-positive] men, Lazarus, but
there was no place for women and children to go. I wanted to be involved
and was invited to be on the Board from the beginning.”
BOARD INTERNS
Amber Bethel and Leo Helmet
Bios to come.
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