The Rotary Club of Warren met for its weekly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 27 inside First Methodist Church with a good crowd in attendance for the latest program. After lunch the meeting began with the group hearing from Warren High School Junior Rotarian Allannah Triplett who shared her current achievements and accolades along with her future plans. The program then transitioned to Rotarian Terrie White who introduced DeVonda Brown, the Recruiter Coordinator for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the 10th Judicial District. CASA’s mission is to recruit, train, and support community volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused, neglected, and dependent children, and provide a voice in the court process. Our mission is accomplished through community awareness and support, which results in trained volunteers advocating for the best interest of each child in our organization. Brown explained what CASA volunteers do and gave the crowd some statistics concerning all of the counties in their coverage area, which include Ashley, Bradley, Chicot, Desha, and Drew counties in Southeast Arkansas. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for abused or neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many of the children we serve, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives. Brown also had Volunteer Supervisor Adrienne Richardson by her side to speak to some different aspects, one of which was that people get them confused with DHS, which they are not. They both then told the group about their upcoming fundraising event, the Blue Tie Gala, which will take place on April 6, 2024. They then closed the program by answering a few questions from the club and letting it be known they are always looking for more volunteers.
Picture of Rotary Program attached (from L to R: CASA Volunteer Supervisor Adrienne Richardson, CASA Field Student Ashley Kelly, Rotarian Terrie White, and CASA Recruiter Coordinator DeVonda Brown)
