inclusiveness, as the Aktion
Club calls them to.
“I feel honored that they
let me be a part of their
organization,” said Hecker.
“And the City of Hammond
for allowing us to serve. I feel
proud of them and honored
to be a part of the club; it’s
their club.”
Hecker explained that the
people in the organization
elect their own board to
govern themselves, and they
only seek guidance if needed
along the way.
“We tell them to ask their
friends to come to a meeting
or two and see if they would
like to become a member,”
said Hecker. “Then, there’s a
vote if they want to be in the
club and come to a couple
meetings.”
Though
others
may
consider them as having
disabilities, King assures that
they are well-able.
“They are open and
comfortable sharing their
concerns with each other,”
said King. “They can get
upset with other members
if others in the group aren’t
working.”
For the most part, they
are best of friends and are
enthusiastic about the task
at hand. While picking up
litter from the streets of
Hammond, those passing
by may hear their original
chant, started by King.
“Mrs. Judy tells us what to
do...We don’t stop ‘till we are
through,” begins the cadence.
“A special joy to those who
work with the Aktion Club is
to see the smiles on their faces
as they have the opportunity
to enjoy new adventures that
were not available to them
before the club’s founding.”
Besides
community
service, the Aktion Club
attends social events. The
group has also been able to
share experiences that are
not accessible to the general
public.
“People that donated $1
million weren’t even able
to do what we did,” said
King. “No one is allowed on
the grass of LSU’s football
stadium except ball players.”
Thanks to Attorney Sam
Deleo, who reached out to
LSU Coach Charles Baglio,
the club was able to have
an exclusive grand tour into
offices of coaches, training
rooms, practice facilities,
meeting areas, equipment
rooms, the basketball facility
and the football field.
“[They] unlocked the
gates to the grass and that was
a tremendous opportunity,”
said King.
Other support poured in
the form of free tickets for the
Aquarium of the Americas
and the Audubon Zoo.
The Aktion Club
participates in a golf
outing with help from the
Southeastern Golf Team
and Oak Knoll Country
Club.
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