Mavis Fruge
Promoter and exemplar of intercultural exchange.
Inducted on July 28, 2016
Since the creation of the Arnaudville Area Chamber of Commerce, Frugé has participated in various roles, including serving on the board of directors and as chair of the Chamber’s 200 Club. Hurricane Katrina brought an influx of artists to Arnaudville and Frugé worked with George Marks in many activities relating to the arts, including the Fire and Water Festival – Le Feu et l’Eau Festival.
Perhaps because Frugé lived in many areas of the world while her husband was in the military, she loves making people feel welcome to Acadiana. She has been involved with many CODOFIL events for many years. She has hosted over 400 Francophone guests. She has arranged an exchange program with Beau Chene and St. Yves School in Gourin, France. When the French students visited Louisiana, Frugé arranged for the students to volunteer working in different industries, including farming, tourism and at J. M. Morrow Nursing Home in Arnaudville. In recent years, she started La Table Francaise d’Arnaudville which meets on the last Saturday of every month. For her many volunteer efforts, the Opelousas-St. Landry Parish Chamber of Commerce named her its 2010 “Woman of the Year.”
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