We are extremely excited to host our 18th Annual Battle for the Paddle, the World’s Largest Jambalaya & Gumbo Cookoff, on Thursday, October 3rd, 2019 at the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center in Luling.
We welcome all community members to participate including teams from local political representatives and candidates; we support and applaud all candidates’ sense of public service. In order to maintain a politically neutral event, our rules state:
“United Way of St. Charles and Battle for the Paddle are apolitical. As such, we ask that you do not distribute any promotional items to the public, including all parking areas. However, business giveaways are allowed.”
Additionally, the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center has a policy that states:
“No distribution of handbills, flyers, pamphlets, campaign/political materials, promotional items or other oriented materials is permitted on the Edward A. Dufresne Community Center premises without authorization.”
In summary: Political candidates are welcome to register teams. In order to support their participation, teams may wear shirts promoting a candidate, sing a fight song at their tent, heck-- they can even invite all their friends to attend and wear “Vote for Me” hats. What we ask teams NOT to do is give anything out.
United Way of St. Charles has been working for over 60 years to make positive, lasting changes in our community. Whether it’s getting cancer patients to and from treatment, building wheelchair ramps for disabled residents, or feeding hungry children on the weekends, our mission is simple: to improve the lives of those who live or work in St. Charles Parish.
Please help us to ensure Battle for the Paddle remains a politically neutral event enjoyed by all. If you have any questions, please call our Executive Director John Dias at 985-331-9063.