Meetings

The Press Club of Baton Rouge will host an in-person forum for candidates running for the East Baton Rouge Parish mayor-president’s office at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 5. The hour-long forum will be outdoors under the pavilion at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden, 4560 Essen Lane South, at the intersection with I-10. Masks will be required, and there will be social distancing. Scheduled to take part are Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, state Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, Metro Councilman Matt Watson, former state Rep. Steve Carter, attorney E. Eric Guirard and businessman Jordan Piazza.

The Press Club of Baton Rouge will host two in-person candidate forums — one for the mayor-president of East Baton Rouge Parish on Monday, Oct. 4, and the other for the U.S. Senate on Monday, Oct. 12. Both forums will be at 4 p.m. at the outdoor pavilion at the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden, 4560 Essen Lane at the intersection with I-10. Masks and social distancing will be required. More details will be provided later.

Pollster and data analyst John Couvillon will be the speaker at the July 13 meeting of the Press Club of Baton Rouge, which will be a virtual meeting via Zoom. Couvillon will discuss the presidential election and COVID-19, mail-in ballots and other election issues. A Zoom link will be sent to Press Club members and participants. Others who may be interested can send a request to [email protected]. The meeting begins at noon. Only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

The Press Club of Baton Rouge has temporarily suspended its face-to-face meetings during the pandemic. Occasionally, we are able to organize virtual meetings via Zoom. Please check back on our website for updates.

Pollster and data analyst John Couvillon will be the speaker at the July 6 meeting of the Press Club of Baton Rouge, which will be a virtual meeting via Zoom. Couvillon will discuss the presidential election and COVID-19, early voting, mail-in ballots and other election issues. A Zoom link will be sent to Press Club members and participants closer to the date. Others who may be interested can send a request to [email protected]. The meeting is from noon to 1 p.m. Only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

Adam Knapp, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, June 22. This will be the second virtual Press Club meeting since the pandemic shutdown. Knapp will discuss BRAC’s actions to address racial disparities and economic inclusion in the Capitol Region. A Zoom link will be sent to Press Club members and participants closer to the date. Others who may be interested can send a request to [email protected]. The meeting is from noon to 1 p.m. Only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

The Press Club of Baton Rouge will have its first virtual meeting on April 27 from noon to 1 p.m., featuring Tom Galligan, the interim president of LSU. He will address LSU’s response to the pandemic and what the future may hold for LSU classes and athletic events. This will be a Zoom meeting, and we will be sending out the URL to the people on our mailing list. Jim Engster will be the host and moderator.

The Press Club of Baton Rouge is temporarily suspending its schedule and will not be meeting because of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ plea for people to stay at home because of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Please stay safe and support our valiant news media.

The Press Club of Baton Rouge will not meet on March 23 but will return as quickly as possible with regular Monday meetings.

Col. Joey Strickland, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, will address the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 16. Col. Strickland will highlight the department’s programs as it fulfills its mission to serve Louisiana’s 281,000 veterans. Press Club meets on Mondays in the East and West Baton Rouge Room at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St. Parking is free in the garage off Mayflower Street. Lunch, which is served at 11:30 a.m., is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The public is invited, but only members of the Press Club and the news media are allowed to ask questions during the question-and-answer portion of the program.