On February 13, 1948, Mrs. Edmond Deramee Sr. and Miss Dorothy Naquin, representing the Thibodaux Women’s Club sponsored a meeting of young ladies for the purpose of organizing a new club.  Elected to serve, as the  first officers were Ruth Lasseigne (Mrs. Ken Walker), President; Betty Hoffman (Mrs. Leo Bowie), Vice-President; Beverly Fauntleroy (Mrs. Jimmy Jones), Secretary; and Gwen Hoffman (Mrs. Oscar Bouterie, Jr.), Treasurer.

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On March 3, 1948, the group met again and decided that there would be nine meetings a year held on the first Wednesday of the month; selected club colors, red and silver; club motto “Live and Learn” thus the “Amigas Club” was born.

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Charter members besides the elected officers were the following:  Beth Steiner (Mrs. R. J. Bernard), Dot Lasseigne (Mrs. Frank Daly), Mrs. Henry Dupont, Marilyn Webre (Mrs. Lynn Tomes), Nell Toups (Mrs. O. C. Hebert); Florence Caillouet (Mrs. F. E. Thibodaux); Enid Songy, Sally Hoffman (Mrs. William Binnings), Mrs. Dot Caillouet; and Joyce Doucet (Mrs. Bill Bonin).

    

The charter members then adopted a Club constitution and banded together to benefit the community in furthering education by devoting time to the study of arts, sciences, common habits and traits, and “Americanism.”

Amigas has remained a small (about 30 members) cultural club but has engaged in social and civic activities as well. At each monthly meeting, the members serve a meal.  An annual social/birthday party is celebrated for social enjoyment.  Several meetings a year are devoted to guest speakers. Civic programs have been an important part of Amigas. The Club has shared in numerous projects:  Veterans Hospital gifts, drives for the March of Dimes, Polio, Red Cross, Crippled Children, Lions Club, American Cancer Association, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, St. Joseph Hospital equipment purchases, and needy family clothing and gift baskets.  Amigas previously sponsored teen dances.  With other city clubs, Amigas worked to begin a movement for a city park with a public playground now known as Peltier Park.

 

In April, 1951, the Amigas Club began a series of merchant “Home Shows” to finance a nursing scholarship.  Today, these scholarships have increased in value and are financed through the annual “St. Patrick’s Day Brunch.”  Upon the death of member Wilma Rodriguez, the scholarship was named for her.

 

On September 20, 1955, the Amigas Club proudly organized a sister organization known as the Hermanas Club of Thibodaux.

 

In March of 1976, Amigas published Bon Mėlange, a collection of recipes from individual club members plus past and present Brunch recipes.  In the early 1990s, an additional cookbook was published. Proceeds from the sale of these cookbooks go to the scholarship funds.

 

For many years, the Amigas Club was a supporting member of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce.

 

In 1980, the club started the Mamie Bourgeois Memorial Award.  It is the highest honor available to Civil Service employees at NSU.  The plaque hangs in Elkins Hall at NSU.

 

In 1997, on the death of charger member Beverly Jones, the  Beverly Fauntleroy Jones Christian Award was formulated to honor an E. D. White graduate who shows Christian character in school, community and church.

 

In 1998, the Club held a 50th birthday party for all former and current Club members.  This festive occasion was celebrated with a cocktail party and was enjoyed by all.

 

Times change as does our membership but the spirit of community sharing and the very real joy of giving remains constant in Amigas.