Vermilion Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations to Our Executive Director, Claire Broussard! 🎉

Please join us in congratulating our Executive Director, Claire Broussard, on being installed as Treasurer for the 2026–2027 Board of Officers for the Rotary Club!

We are so proud to see Claire continue to serve our community through another outstanding organization. Her passion for Vermilion Parish and dedication to making a difference are evident in everything she does.

Congratulations as well to the entire 2026–2027 Rotary Club Board of Officers. We appreciate your willingness to lead and serve our community. Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!

💙 Congratulations, everyone!

What an incredible day with our Leadership Vermilion class!

A special thank you to our Session 5 sponsor, The Nehemiah Projects of Acadiana Inc., for helping make this day possible. Their commitment to leadership development and community engagement helps strengthen the future of Vermilion Parish.

A special thank you to Dr. Lise Anne Slatten for kicking off the day with an outstanding presentation on Board Member 101. Her insights on nonprofit leadership, board service, and community engagement provided a strong foundation for our class and reinforced the importance of developing informed, effective civic leaders.

We were also honored to hear from a wonderful group of community leaders and organizations that are making a difference throughout Vermilion Parish:

• Mayor-Elect Anita Levy representing the Levy Cancer Foundation and the Vermilion Council on Aging
• Hailee Wiggins representing Vermilion Reach Group
• Hailee Wiggins and Kristin Vincent representing the Christian Service Center
• Kristin Vincent representing Quality Sports Authority (QSA)
• Todd Chauvin representing the Rotary Club of Abbeville
• Chief Mike Hardy representing the Kiwanis Club and Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana
• Racheal Chapman representing Friends of Palmetto Island State Park, Nehemiah Projects, and the Vermilion Association of Educators

The afternoon focused on civic engagement and local government. Class participants learned about the many elected positions available in Vermilion Parish and what it means to serve the public through elected office. We also discussed Louisiana’s closed party primary system and how elections are conducted. The class then visited the voting machine warehouse, where participants were able to see voting machines up close and learn more about the election process.

We ended the day at the Vermilion Parish Courthouse with visits to the Assessor’s Office, Registrar of Voters Office, and Clerk of Court’s Office. A special thank you to Chief Deputy Vanessa Vollmer with the Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court’s Office for taking time to share her knowledge and provide an inside look at the work being done every day to serve the citizens of Vermilion Parish. Thank you Vanessa, a member of this year’s Leadership Vermilion class, for sharing her expertise and helping our class better understand Louisiana elections and the responsibilities of elected officials.

Leadership Vermilion is about more than learning how our community works. It is about building the next generation of civic leaders, volunteers, board members, and advocates who will help move Vermilion Parish forward. Today was a perfect example of the passion, service, and collaboration that make our parish such a special place to call home.

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to invest in our class. Your willingness to share your knowledge, experiences, and heart for service helps inspire future leaders throughout Vermilion Parish.

Today, our community lost a remarkable woman.

We join many across Acadiana in mourning the passing of Arlene Hargroder, whose generosity, compassion, and dedication to helping others touched countless lives throughout our region.

Ms Arlene believed deeply in giving back and investing in people. Through her support of numerous community organizations and causes, she helped make Acadiana a stronger and more caring place to live. One of her proudest accomplishments was founding the Training4Life program to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, helping young people develop life skills and opportunities for success.

Her legacy is not measured by what she built, but by the lives she impacted. She had a servant’s heart, a generous spirit, and a genuine love for her community. Her kindness and commitment to helping others will continue to be felt for generations to come.

On behalf of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her.

We are grateful for the example she set and the difference she made. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

❤️ Rest in peace, Ms. Arlene.

Arlene Brauns Hargroder Obituary June 16, 2026 - Vincent Funeral Home View Arlene Brauns Hargroder's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

Hiring!

🚨NOW HIRING ACROSS STERLING🚨

Are you ready to start something new? Now is the time! 👏

✅ Multiple locations hiring
✅ Sales positions available
✅ Technician opportunities
✅ Parts and service roles
✅ Room to grow with a great team
✅ Featured role: General Maintenance Worker

We’re looking for motivated people who are ready to work, learn, grow, and be part of the Sterling team! 💪

🔗 Apply today:
https://www.saveatsterling.com/careers

💚 Tag someone who would be a great fit for the Sterling team! 🤝

❤️🏡 June Member of the Month: Earl's Furniture 🏡❤️

This month, we're proud to recognize Earl's Furniture Store as our June Member of the Month! 🎉

For generations, Earl's Furniture has been more than just a furniture store—they've been helping families turn houses into homes. As a family-owned and operated business, they understand that furniture isn't just about tables, sofas, and bedrooms. It's about where memories are made, where families gather, and where life happens.

Their commitment to quality, customer service, and treating every customer like family has made them a trusted name in Vermilion Parish and beyond. In a world of big-box stores and online shopping, Earl's Furniture continues to prove that there's something special about doing business with people who genuinely care about their customers and their community.

We are grateful for their support of the Vermilion Chamber of Commerce and for the role they play in making our community stronger. Their family values, dedication, and hometown spirit are exactly what make local businesses so important.

Please join us in congratulating Earl's Furniture Store on being our June Member of the Month! 👏❤️

Today!

🎉 Happy Saturday 😁😁💯

It has been a HOT week in Vermilion Parish, but the brightest thing I saw wasn’t the sun. ☀️

On Tuesday, we kicked off our Garden Club with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana, and despite the heat, those kids showed up ready to learn, work, and take pride in something bigger than themselves. Today, I attended the The Vermilion Reach Group Summer Art Camp showcase and was blown away by the creativity, talent, and confidence on display.

Whether they were planting vegetables, caring for a community garden, creating artwork, or performing on stage, these young people reminded me just how much potential we have right here in Vermilion Parish.

If there’s one thing this week proved, it’s that our future is bright. Let’s continue investing in our children, encouraging their talents, and giving them opportunities to grow. They are worth every minute, every effort, and every investment we make. ❤️🌱🎨

Tomorrow!

Come celebrate and support our amazing 6–11 year-old future artists as they take the stage and showcase their hard work!

📅 Friday, June 12
🕒 3pm-4pm
📍 James A. Herod Elementary School
120 Odea Street, Abbeville, LA 70510

🎟️ Free Admission

🚨Summer activity for the kids!!!

⛳️ SOUTHERN OAKS JUNIOR GOLF CLINIC ⛳️

Give your child the opportunity to learn the game of golf in a fun and welcoming environment this summer!

Our Junior Golf Clinic is designed for golfers ages 5–16 and covers the fundamentals of the game, including instruction, rules, etiquette, and on-course skills. Whether your child is brand new to golf or already loves to play, this clinic is a great way to build confidence, improve skills, and have fun with other young golfers.

📅 July 15–16
⏰ 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM (both days)
🍽️ Lunch provided both days
🏊 2 hours of swimming after clinic on July 16*
💲 $125 per participant

⚠️ Spots are limited, and registration for clinic shirts closes July 1.

A special thank you to Magnolia Family Health for helping make this year’s Junior Golf Clinic possible.

📲 Register here:
https://rebrand.ly/golfclinic

*Parent/Guardian must be present for pool activity