Meetings

Dr. Rani Whitfield will speak on African American male suicide, medical marijuana at April 15 Press Club

Dr. Rani Whitfield, MD, also known as the “hip hop doc,” will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, April 15. Dr. Whitfield is a board-certified family physician and serves on the Southern University Board of Supervisors. He will discuss the alarming rise in suicides among African American males and the current status of medical marijuana. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


Press Club will not meet on Monday, April 8

The Press Club of Baton Rouge will not meet on Monday, April 8, because of the start of the Louisiana legislative session. The meetings will resume on April 15 with speaker Dr. Rani G. Whitfield, who will discuss the rising rate of suicide among African American males and the status of medical marijuana production at Southern University. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St.


Erich Ponti will speak on fixing roads at the April 1 Press Club

Erich Ponti, president of the Louisiana Coalition to Fix Our Roads, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, April 1. He will discuss a legislative measure to increase the gas tax to provide funding for Louisiana’s roads and bridges. LCFOR, comprised of business leaders, trade organizations and Chamber of Commerce representatives, is focused on educating the public on current conditions of roads and bridges, advocating for change and helping to identify fiscal solutions. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


Sen. Eddie Lambert will speak at the March 25 Press Club on flood control

State Senator Eddie Lambert, from Prairieville, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 25. As vice chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, he will talk about the state’s master plan for flood control and coastal restoration. Because of the historic flooding along the Mississippi River, Sen. Lambert is working with state officials to review options to lessen the growing danger and repeat occurrences of high water in Louisiana. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


DOTD Secretary Wilson will speak at Press Club on March 18

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson will speak to the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 18. He will discuss statewide infrastructure and ongoing projects. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


CABL CEO Barry Erwin will speak at the March 11 Press Club

Barry Erwin, president and CEO of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 11. He will discuss the 2019 state elections and a first-time collaboration between CABL, the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) and the Committee of 100 to develop and promote a shared agenda for the state and establish a vision for the future in critical issue areas. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


Pelican Institute CEO Daniel Erspamer will speak at the March 4 Press Club

Daniel Erspamer, chief executive officer of the Pelican Institute, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, March 4. He will discuss how the New Orleans-based think tank is preparing for the 2019 Legislative Session and will review the impact of criminal justice reform, which passed with the assistance of his group. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


Education Superintendent John White to speak at Press Club on Feb. 25

John White, superintendent of the Louisiana Department of Education, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Feb. 25. He will discuss the upcoming legislative session. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed to speak at Press Club on Feb. 18

Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education, Kim Hunter Reed, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Feb. 18. She will provide an update on her first seven months on the job and describe ongoing efforts to update the Master Plan for Higher Education in the state, which outlines minimum admissions requirements for students and serves as a visionary document for colleges and universities across Louisiana. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.


Green Army’s Gen. Honoré to speak at Press Club on Feb. 11

Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, leader of the Louisiana Green Army, will be the guest speaker at the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, Feb. 11. He will discuss the key issues his organization wants addressed in the upcoming Louisiana Legislative session. The Green Army is an alliance of civic, community and environmental groups and concerned citizens. Press Club meets on Mondays at the Belle of Baton Rouge Hotel, which is located at 102 France St., in the East and West Baton Rouge Room. 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.