House Resolution 24

A RESOLUTION ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMMENDING MRS. LISA MICHELE HAMEL FOR HER UNPRECEDENTED WORK WITH THE CARNIVAL ASSOCIATION OF LONG BEACH AND FOR HER UNMATCHED SPIRIT OF VOLUNTEERISM.

WHEREAS, Mrs. Lisa Michele Hamel, born on March 28, 1967, to Linda Sue Price Meece Schepens and the late Bobby Meece, and reared by her mother and stepfather, Joseph Schepens, has led a life marked by a spirit of volunteering service to her community and fellowman; and

WHEREAS, a 1985 top-ten graduate of Long Beach High School, Lisa married her soul mate and life's companion, Leo Hamel, on September 19, 1986, and was blessed in their union with a son, Daniel; and

WHEREAS, one who stands head and shoulders above the rest as a champion of service and giving back, Mrs. Hamel dedicated seven years to St. Thomas School, first as an assistant teacher and then as a teacher of four-year-olds in religion, and was one of only two teachers on the St. Thomas staff trained to monitor diabetic students; and

WHEREAS, her passion for volunteerism and civic and social service was not only limited to imparting wisdom and knowledge into the lives of her students, but overflowed into her equally zealous commitment to organizations that shared her common core of values, such as the St. Vincent DePaul Knights of Columbus Auxiliary, as a member for 15 years, as auxiliary president for several terms and as treasurer for one term; and

WHEREAS, for the past 16 years, she has endeavored to fulfill the call of community, civic and social aid through her involvement with the Carnival Association of Long Beach (CALB), where unselfish men and women of all faiths and professions unite for the common benefit of worthwhile charities in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area as well as for St. Thomas School, which today has surpassed a total of more than One and One Quarter Million Dollars; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Hamel has, since the beginning of her participation with the Carnival Association: served three times as a team captain; served four times as a member of the CALB court; served as one of three cochairs of the King Float until its destruction by Hurricane Katrina; rebuilt the royal float with her husband, Leo's, assistance in 2008; and served as Ball Captain for the 2007 Carnival Ball; and

WHEREAS, in her fervent devotion to promote the association's excellence and rich legacy on the occasion of its historic 50th anniversary in 2010, Lisa, as anniversary chairwoman and ball cochair, coordinated the first-ever past Queens and Grand Duchess Luncheon, orchestrated the past Kings and Grand Dukes Breakfast, and began the process of establishing a past Royalty Brunch, that is scheduled for this year's festivities; and

WHEREAS, ardently dedicated to her family and sharing the spirit of service with them, Mrs. Hamel once again became a gleaming beacon of hope and inspiration, during the illness of her husband after he was diagnosed with breast cancer, she has sought to raise awareness of the disease which is proven to affect men equally as much as it affects women, by participating in cancer walks, donating her hair to Locks of Love, and is in the process of growing her hair to be donated to Pink Heart Funds, based in Long Beach; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend the selfless dedication of such a giving and humble individual as Mrs. Hamel, whose service to the Mississippi Gulf Coast has established the benchmark for excellence in service to humanity:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby acknowledge and commend Mrs. Lisa Michele Hamel for her unprecedented work with the Carnival Association of Long Beach and for her unmatched spirit of volunteerism, and extend most sincere wishes for continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mrs. Hamel, to the Carnival Association of Long Beach and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.