By TYESHA BOUDREAUX
The Daily Sentinel

Saturday, January 26, 2008

The second annual "And Justice is Served" CASA Banquet will feature a video of various CASA volunteers describing their roles as court appointed special advocates as well as sharing memorable moments that have resulted from being involved in the program.

The video was filmed, edited and donated by East Texas Video, according to Rebecca Carlton, CASA executive director, and will be shown at the banquet, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Fredonia.

Executive Director Rebecca Carlton of CASA pauses as Josiah Baldwin of East Texas Video asks her the next question during the taping of a video of the non-profit organization. The completed video will be shown at the CASA Banquet on February 16 at The Fredonia.

"They (East Texas Video staff) have spent a lot of time just on filming," Carlton said, "and they still have to edit it. They are investing a lot of time into it."

The purpose of the video is to highlight CASA volunteers, as well as serve as a recruitment tool for the organization.

"The video will really help people at the banquet understand what they're there for," Carlton said. "We really hope to recruit more volunteers."

According to the Texas CASA Web site, CASA volunteers are the voices for abused and neglected children.

The local chapter, CASA of Deep East Texas, has been an official program since August 2006, Carlton said.

"This time last year we had 10 volunteers speaking up in court for seven children," Carlton said. "Now, we have 25 volunteers speaking up in court for 46 children."

About 225 people attended the banquet last year, and Carlton said she expects about 300 people to attend this year.

The banquet will also feature a silent auction, as well as a host of "celebrity waiters," including County Judge Joe English and Judge Campbell Cox II, Carlton said.

Various other waiters will "compete" for tips, which will be donated to the organization.

Tickets for the banquet are $35 each.

Carlton said she hopes the video will generate some "excitement" about the banquet.

Michelle Smith, who helps plan fundraising events for CASA, said the video will be used to educate the community about everything CASA does, and it will also be used when CASA works with different businesses and corporations."We want people to know what the volunteers do," Smith said. "We want to share the success stories."

Last year CASA raised about $15,000, and Smith said the organization plans to meet, if not exceed, that amount this year.

"Anybody who is interested in CASA or cares about kids in foster homes can be qualified as volunteers," Smith said, "as long as they have the heart to do it."

To be a CASA volunteer, people must meet the following criteria:

• Be 21 years or older.

• Pass a criminal history background check.

• Complete 40 training hours.

CASA volunteers commit between 10 and 20 hours a month to the children they represent, Carlton said.

Volunteers are asked to commit at least one year to the program, Carlton said, because some cases require that much time.

"Our goal is to make sure that there is at least one caring adult keeping up with a child's life," Carlton said. "Even if a child is moved out of the county (by Child Protective Services) CASA stays involved with that child."

For more information about the banquet, contact Carlton at 569-5906.

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Emphasis added by H4K Editor