New Generations Conference is Wednesday

Morgan City Rotary Club will host its annual New Generations Conference at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Morgan City High School. The conference gives students from St. Mary Parish’s public high schools the opportunity to present community improvement ideas to parish public officials.

The Morgan City Rotary Club event was started in 1998 by Rotarian J.O. Melancon, a former St. Mary Parish School Board member.

Some of students’ ideas have been implemented in the community, including an intergenerational mixer held March 9 that Berwick High students proposed in 2016.

Students wanted to get “wisdom about life, work and character” from seniors, Berwick Councilwoman Jacki Ackel said. In turn, the students “desired to share their knowledge of today’s technology and ways of life that might aid a senior citizen,” she said.

Also at the 2016 New Generation event, Central Catholic students suggested more accessible public receptacles for recycling. Their wish was fulfilled within a few days.

The 2015 team from Morgan City High proposed a dog park and came armed with plans. The school’s 2016 team came back with plans for amenities. The park opened Sept. 1, 2016.