CAFA HOLDS ANNUAL

MEETING IN SCOTT, LA.

November 16, 2002

Minutes of the Annual Meeting of:
Confederation of Associations of Families Acadian, Inc. (CAFA)

CAFA’S  Annual Meeting was held at Scott City Hall, Scott, Louisiana with approximately 75 members and guests attending . 

Roll call was noted with the following Board members in attendance:

Ronald Blanchard, James Bourque, Johnny Comeaux, Earline Conover,          Dudley Duhon, Betty Ducharme, Daniel Guidry, Woody Hebert, Lea Anne LeJeune, Antoine LeBlanc, Shirley LeBlanc, Ruby Melancon,
Eddie Richard, Loubert Trahan.

Absent: Loretta  Jambon                          

President A. J. LeBlanc called the meeting to order at 9:50 A.M..

Betty Ducharme led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance and was followed by Loubert Trahan in French.

The minutes were read by Shirley LeBlanc, Secretary.   Moved by Wade Dupuis and seconded by Ken Dugas to accept and approve the minutes as read.  Motion passed.

Loubert Trahan, Treasurer, reported on the financial status of CAFA.  The balance being announced to the gathering..  The family membership at this time consists 41 families.

Moved by Johnny Comeaux; seconded by Ronald Blanchard to accept Treasurer’s Report.  Motion  passed.

The French Immersion Project was reported by Eddie Richard.  Considerable amounts of funds were used to purchase teaching materials and books for our French Immersion Project which consists of over 3000 students in 39 schools involved in the French Immersion Program.   We received 24,000 books from the  Consuel of French  Life in America, from the Province of Quebec and CAFA distributed those books at no cost to CAFA.

With the assistance of CAFA and the Sunshine Foundation, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana  we are working towards translating into French a children’s book titled “You are Sunshine” by Shirley Porter.  These books would be distributed to the younger children involved in the French Immersion Program. 

Eddie encouraged the members to continue encouraging the various families to participate in the French Immersion Project. 

Eddie Richard reported that CAFA’s involvement with  Louisiana Purchase Celebration will be June 13, 14 and 15, 2003 in Rayne, Louisiana in the Civic Center. 

The program for the weekend has been planned.  At this time there are about 22 families that have expressed interest and more families are encouraged to participate.  Contact Woody Hebert, Hebert Family Association for information on obtaining a booth at a cost of $50.00 per 10x10 space.  All interested families would be accommodated with a booth before making available to commercial use at a cost of $100.00 per space.  Deadline for sending in applications for booth space is December 1, 2002.

We will be notified as to the date, location and time for the next workshop on 2003 celebrations, hopefully it would be sometimes in January or February of 2003.

Eddie Richard introduce Neil LeBlanc, Minister Finance and Acadian Affairs with the Tourism Department of Nova Scotia and Vaughne Madden, Director of CMA 2004. Both answered questions from the members in regards to housing, transportation and family reunions in general. 

It was suggested that someone be located here in the Acadiana area with the purpose of answering questions in a timely manner as we get closer to August 2004.  Mr. LeBlanc said he thought it was a good idea and that he would speak to his  superiors and see what can be done to help us with our plans.

Vaughne Madden stated that she would keep in touch with Cynthia Perdue and CAFA with additional information as the need arises.  All information would be posted on CAFA’s web page www.cafa.org.

Loubert Trahan accepted 9 nominations from the floor for 7 positions that needed to be filled. Shirley Babineaux, James Bourque and Earline Connover of The Tellers Committee tallied the votes.

Shirley LeBlanc, Secretary announced the slate of 7 newly elected members, they are as follows:

Eddie Richard, Loubert Trahan, Dudley E. Duhon, Daniel C. Guidry, Lea Ann Lejeune,, Don Boudreaux and Carey LeBlanc.

There are 15 board members with election of one-half of the seats every two years.

Antoine LeBlanc expressed his pleasure and honor to have served on the CAFA board as its first President.  He also gave his reason for stepping down by stating that it “was his firm belief that for an organization to continue to survive it will always needs new blood.”  He will continue working with the board and the CAFA Association.

Eddie Richard presented to Antoine LeBlanc a plaque in appreciation for his contribution of time and expertise to the efforts of CAFA.

Wade Dupuis installed the new members of the board.

Sally Trahan moved and James Bourque seconded to adjourn the November 16, 2002  CAFA Annual Meeting.  Motion passed.

Meeting adjourned at 11:45 A.M.

Confederation of Associations of Families Acadian, Inc.
(CAFA)
Minutes of Board Meeting - November 16, 2002
Scott, Louisiana
11:50 A.M.

CAFA’S  Annual Board Meeting was held at  Scott City Hall, Scott, Louisiana. Roll call was noted with the following Board members in attendance:
Ronald Blanchard, Don Boudreaux, James Bourque,Johnny Comeaux,
Earline Conover, Dudley Duhon, Betty Ducharme, Daniel Guidry, 
Woody Hebert, Lea Ann Lejeune, Carey LeBlanc, Shirley LeBlanc,
Ruby Melancon, Eddie Richard, Loubert Trahan plus immediate
Past President A. J. LeBlanc.                          

James Bourque made the motion and Johnny Comeaux seconded to accept the minutes as read.  Motion passed.

Nominations for the Executive Board for CAFA were accepted by out going President, Antoine LeBlanc.

President: Eddie Richard - nominated by James Bourque. Second by Dudley Duhon. Motion carried.

Vice-President:  James Bourque - nominated by Betty Ducharme.  Second by Woody Hebert.  Motion carried.

Secretary: Shirley LeBlanc - nominated by Betty Ducharme.  Second by Don Boudreaux.  Motion carried.

Treasurer: Loubert Trahan -  nominated by James Bourque.  Second by Ronald Blanchard.  Motion carried.

Eddie Richard thanked the members of the board for their nomination and accepted the position with honor and humility.

James Bourque made the motion and Johnny Comeaux seconded to adjourn the meeting.  Motion passed.

The meeting adjourned at 12:00 noon.

Respectfully submitted by

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