A Newsletter Published by


	A Newsletter Published by “Confederation of Associations of Families Acadian” August 2002-------James Bourque, Editor APPRECIATION: The Officers and Board of Directors of CAFA express their appreciation to all the family organizations that are active members of CAFA. With your involvement and help, several very important projects have become reality. CAFA has been very successful by providing funds for materials of instruction to the French Immersion Programs throughout the state. Those funds initially came from family organizations and then later from other sources. CAFA has worked hard to keep information flowing between CMA-2004 and member family organizations here in Louisiana. Many family organizations with direct links to those in Nova Scotia have helped by passing on information. More recently CAFA has been involved with the Louisiana Purchase Celebration to be held during 2003. With the help of many active family organizations it is now in the final stages of planning and close to becoming a reality. We express our appreciation to all the family organizations and individual members for the help and encouragement with this worthy project. However--the project is just beginning and we now need all family organizations to get involved so that together we can have a celebration deemed worthy of this major event in the history of Louisiana. Therefore we are issuing a call for all family organizations to meet in Scott on September 28, 2002 for the purpose of finalizing plans for this worthwhile project. LOUISIANA PURCHASE CELEBRATION MEETING NOTICE: This is a call for all family organization officers and directors to meet on Saturday September 28, 2002 at 10:00 am at Scott City Hall. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and finalize the “Louisiana Purchase Celebration” which is scheduled for June 13-15, 2003 in Rayne, Louisiana. The Scott City Hall is located just off Highway 93 at 420 Lions Club Road in Scott. We urge and encourage every family organization to have representatives in attendance. ANNUAL CAFA MEETING: CAFA will have its annual meeting on Saturday November 16, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at Scott City Hall located at 420 Lions Club Road, Scott, Louisiana. Major items for discussion will be the Louisiana Purchase Celebration, French immersion program assistance, and CMA 2004 news. Other items on the agenda will be the election of officers along with 7 board members. Presently serving as officers are: Antoine J. Le Blanc-President; Eddie Richard-Vice-President; Shirley Le Blanc, Secretary; and Loubert Trahan-Treasurer. The terms of the following board members will terminate at the November meeting: Antoine J. Le Blanc, Eddie Richard, Loubert Trahan, Dudley E. Duhon, Daniel C. Guidry, Lea Ann Le Jeune, and Loretta Jambon. Any family organization wishing to have one of their members as a candidate will have the opportunity to do so at the meeting. We are looking forward to having all 40 member families of CAFA represented at the annual meeting. FRENCH IMMERSION PROJECT: A more complete report will be given at the annual meeting in November, however we can report at this time that most of the $10,000.00 donation from the Government of Quebec to CAFA for use in the French Immersion Program was distributed during the 2001-2002 school year. Another very important event was the shipment of 24,000 French textbooks that were donated and shipped by school systems in Quebec and the Council for French Life in North America to CAFA for use in our French Immersion Programs. Most of the books were distributed to the various programs throughout the state. One of the very grateful individuals was Dana Schmersahl, principal of Prairie Elementary in Lafayette. She said, “It is exciting to see so many French books because it is so hard to get children’s literature in French.” She went on to say, “ This is really a gift, and we are excited about it.” CAFA is looking forward to working with the 29 schools that have French immersion programs in South Louisiana during the current school year. Any family organization or individual wishing to donate funds for this worthwhile project can contact Eddie Richard at 1-337-235-0538 or e-mail at eddie@zacharyrichard.com . CMA 2004 NOVA SCOTIA NEWS: The major events for CMA 2004 will be: Opening Ceremonies in Clare area on 31 July; Acadian culture and arts on August 7 & 8 in Cheticamp; Official Mass and Closing Ceremonies on August 15 at Grand Pre; and the big musical show on August 15 in Halifax. The website is: www.cma2004.com and their address is: Congres Mondial Acadien 2004, Roy Building, Suite 106, 1675 Barrington St., Halifax , NS B3J 2A1. In the next newsletter we will have information about housing and the best way to start the reservation process for 2004. FAMILY REUNIONS CMA 2004: In the last newsletter we listed family associations that had or were in the process of organizing. We will not reprint that list but we will list additions or changes to the list. It is suggested that you keep these two newsletters as a reference for family reunion information. They are available on the CAFA website if you have misplaced the mailed copy. The additions and changes are: BABINEAU: Contact Genevieve Babineau at 902-865-4588 BELLEFONTAINE: Contact Joyce Fawcett at 902-827-2893 jimfawcett@accesswave.ca BLANCHARD: Aug 8 Belleville, Contact Ruth Hurlbert(See last newsletter) CLAIREMONT: Aug. 7 Wedgeport, Contact Diane Jacquard 902-749-5690 CORPORON/POTHIER: Aug 8 Tusket, Contact Charlene Pothier at 902-663-4483 CHIASSON: Aug 1-2 Cheticamp, Contact Eric Chiasson 902-224-3328 DECOSTE: Aug 9-11 Havre Boucher, Contact Evelyne DeCoste 902-234-2592 DAIGLE: TBA Contact Marcel Daigle 902-865-4484 FOURNIER: TBA Contact Martha Deveau-Fournier 902-645-2696 FOREST: TBA Contact Daniel Forest 450-883-2355 GEDDRY/GUIDRY: Aug 5 Clare, Aug 7 Lunenburg Contact Marty Guidry 225-755-1915 GRANGER: TBA Contact Francois Granger or Ginnette Arceneaux garsenault@cma2004.com GALLANT/HACHE: TBA Contact Gerald Hashey 902-443-1288 HUBBARD/THIBEAU/THIBEAULT: Aug 7 Yarmouth, Contact Richard Hubbard 902-742-7288 HEBERT: Amherst no date yet, Contact Gord Hebert 902-667-2775 LAPIERRE: TBA Contact Joan Myatt 902-827-2553 LEBRETON/PREJEAN: Aug 12-13 Hall’s Harbour Contact Marie Le Breton 506-395-9149 LEVANGIE: Aug 12-13 Tracadie & Antigonish Contact Bob King 902-234-2420 MALLET: Aug 12 St. Mary Bay Contact Jean Pierre Mallet 902-645-3299 MAZEROLLE: TBA Contact Rodrigue Mazerolle 506-384-7682 MELANSON: TBA Contact Trish Fry 902-532-2043 MORIN dit BOUCHER: Contact Norbert Morin 514-987-3000 SAINDON/SINDON: TBA Contact Andre Sindon 450-347-1860 SAULNIER: Aug 14 Saulnierville Contact Nadine Saulnier 902-769-2453 SURRETTE: Tusket Aug 13 902-648-2675 Note: This is the most up to date information that we have on family organizations. We urge members to go to www.cma2004.com and click on family reunions. Be aware that some of the contact people as well as other information may change with time. For information on families not listed contact Ginette Arsenault at garsenault@cma2004.com or at 902-424-2041. Note of Interest: On Tuesdays at 7 am you can listen to a simultaneous broadcast of Station KLRZ in Larose, La. and CIFA in Clare, Nova Scotia. They have been featuring family org. officers from N.S. and talking about CMA 2004. You can get KLRZ on internet at www.klrzfm.com or tune in to 100.3 fm in Larose. CAFA FAMILY ORGANIZATION NEWS GUIDRY: The next meeting of Les Guidry d’Asteur to discuss association progress and path forward and to review plans for the 2004 Reunion will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2002 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at the CODOFIL office located next to the Parish Courthouse in Lafayette. BOURG/BOURQUE: La Famille Bourg/Bourque Acadienne will hold its next meeting on Saturday, September 21, 2002 at 10:00 am at Vermilionville in Lafayette. The meeting will be in the restaurant meeting area and at 11:00 am they will provide a buffet lunch for $7.95 which will be Dutch Treat. There is no entry fee to get into the meeting and restaurant area. Items on the agenda are: Business, CAFA report, La Purchase Celebration, Election of officers and directors, and CMA 2004 report. BLANCHARD: The Blanchard will hold a reunion at Community Center-Magnolia Community Park in St. Martinville on September 29, 2002. The reunion will not be catered. Bring your own lunch and drinks can be purchased on the site. Everyone is asked to bring something for the dessert buffet. BENOIT: The Benoit family association will hold its next meeting on October 5, 2002 in the Chakley Room, Burton Coliseum, Lake Charles from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Benoit organization also has plans for a bus tour to Nova Scotia during CMA 2004. Contact Ruby Melancon at 337-232-4558 for information. BROUSSARD: The Broussard “Beausoleil” Family will hold its regular quarterly meeting and reunion on October 12, 2002 at the WOW Hall in Maurice from 10:00 am until 1:30 pm. A meal is being planned. DAIGLE: A Daigle mini reunion will be held Sunday November 3, 2002 at 11:00 am in Pierre Part at the American legion Hall on Hwy 70 across from the water tower. There will be lots of food, fun and genealogy. TRAHAN: The Trahan Family Association will hold its next meeting on January 18, 2003 at the Woodman of the World Hall in Maurice. A delicious meal will be served for a nominal charge. COMMERCIAL SPONSORS: We ask that family members support the following sponsors: Bank of Abbeville & Trust Co. Coastal Chemicals, Div of Holland Chemicals Falcon Rice Mill Lafayette Distributors Inc. Monde des Cadiens SUPPORTERS OF CAFA: We are especially thankful and grateful for the support of the following family organizations and societies: La Societe Acadien-Alberta Comeaux Du Monde L’Association des Robichaux, Inc Trahan Family Association La Famille Blanchard La Famille Rogers/Roger/Cassie Assoc. de la Famille Daigle Breaux du Monde Association La Famille Cormier La Famille Bourg/Bourque Acadienne Assoc. Heberts du Monde Famille Beausoliel/Broussard La Maison des Duhon Famille de Le Blanc H. Claire Bettag-Washington D.C. Council for French Life of North America Quebec School Systems CAFA WEBSITE: www.cafa.org E-MAIL: lgtrahan@cox-internet.com E-MAIL ADDRESS: It is important for every family organization to make sure that CAFA has several e-mail addresses for their members that are in a leadership position. Send to Loubert Trahan at lgtrahan@cox-internet.com CAFA MAILING ADDRESS: CAFA, 9515 La. Hwy. 92W., Maurice, La. 70555-3239 NEXT CAFA NEWSLETTER: We will publish the next CAFA newsletter approximately 60 days prior to the Louisiana Purchase Celebration scheduled for 13-14-15 June 2003. PASS IT ON We encourage family organization leaders to pass on this newsletter to their membership via their own newsletter or via their e-mail address book. Remember the newsletter is on the CAFA website so that all members on the web can view and download if they wish. REMEMBER LOUISIANA PURCHASE CELEBRATION MEETING Saturday September 28, 2002 at 10:00 am at Scott City Hall CAFA ANNUAL MEETING Saturday November 16, 2002 at 10:00 am at Scott City Hall *We hope to see every family represented!!* *BACK*