Meeting: 28 June 2008
Les Guidry d'Asteur Meeting
JUNE 28, 2008
Bonjour Cousins,
On Saturday 28 June 2008 members of Les Guidry d'Asteur met at the CODOFIL office in Lafayette, LA to discuss several topics of interest to our family.
Charlene Lacombe reported that our membership drive is doing well and we continue to gain new members. Thanks to all who have sent their annual dues to Charlene, our membership chairperson. We appreciate your support of Les Guidry d'Asteur.
Financially we continue to have a good cash flow. Although we don't have a large financial reserve, we have been able to initiate and complete several projects of the Guédry-Labine family.
Marty Guidry introduced the new Guédry crest at the meeting. Several crests (coats-of-arms) claiming to represent the Guédry family can be seen and/or purchased on the Internet and through the mail. None are authentic to our Guédry-Labine family.
Coats-of-arms (or crests as they are often called) were presented to individuals in Europe and not to families. There has never been a coat-of-arms awarded to a family. In America there is no heraldry system as in Europe so families in North America have 'adopted' crests (coats-of-arms) to represent themselves. The Guédry crests presently shown on the Internet do not have any connection to our family and were usually constructed by an individual trying to sell them for a profit.
At the suggestion of several family members we have developed a Guédry family crest that briefly tells the story of our Guédry family through symbols (charges) and colors (tinctures) on the crest. A draft of the Guédry crest was shown at the meeting along with a written explanation of what each color and symbol means. Presently, a professonal Internet website design company is finalizing the design and appearance of the crest. As soon as this is complete, we will send a copy of the Guédry crest to all members. We'll also place it on our Guédry-Labine website.
The Guédry crest we've developed will be used as our family crest to be placed on items of clothing, stationary, banners, etc. as a symbol describing the history of the Guédry family.
In conjunction with the development of the Guédry crest, Les Guidry d'Asteur has purchased one of the last remaining Family Crests Squares at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville, LA. The Acadian Memorial initiated a project several years ago to place large tile replicas of the Acadian family crests in the courtyard of their complex near Bayou Teche. The cost to each family was $1500. At the time Les Guidry d'Asteur chose not to participate in this project because our limited funds were needed for other projects such as the memorial plaque to Augustin Guédry and Marie-Françoise Jeanson that we dedicated in St. Alphonse, Nova Scotia in August 2007. With only five locations for crests remaining the Acadian Memorial Foundation decided to lower the cost to $500. A member of our family loaned Les Guidry d'Asteur the funds so we could immediately purchase one of the remaining locations. At this time the artist contracted by the Acadian Memorial is transferring the Guédry crest design to tile for placement in the Acadian Memorial courtyard. It is anticipated that it will placed in the courtyard by the middle of August 2008.
Plans for our 2009 Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion in Bathurst, New Brunswick continue to progress. See the latest issue (Summer 2008) of "Generations" for all the details. Our Reunion will be Sunday, 16 August 2009 in the Conference Center of Danny's Inn just north of Bathurst. There will be an excellent buffet lunch during the Reunion. We are currently developing the agenda. We anticipate having our opening ceremony as part of a French mass at a local church and then move to the Conference Center with registration starting about 9:45 am. We have a commitment from a Louisiana Cajun band to play a segment during the Reunion and are working on securing other activities (music, talks, etc.). There will be an area for displays of our Guédry-Labine and Petitpas family history and genealogy. Please consider putting together a display on your branch of the family or some aspect of our family. These displays really enrich everyone's Reunion experience. We'll also have a Sales Table of family items for purchase. If you have a book that you've written about the Guédry-Labine and/or Petitpas family and would like to sell copies at the Reunion, please let me know so we can reserve a space for you. Most importantly, we will have time built into the agenda for visitation breaks where we can meet our cousins and see the displays.
Last week everyone should have received by e-mail the Summer 2008 edition of our newsletter "Generations". Allie Guidry continues to do a marvelous job compiling, editing and producing our newsletter. There are nice improvements with every issue. Another nice touch recently is several of our members have been submitting articles for publication in "Generations". We thank Jo Ann Guidrey Aulick for the nice article in the current issue about her Dad's WWII experience. Let's keep this trend going. Take the time to jot down an article and send it to Allie or myself. Short or long, it doesn't matter. We have needs for a few lines about a favorite story your grandmother told you and for a lengthy article of a family experience or genealogy. Or maybe you know a Guédry musician, athlete or other profession and could write a short article about them. Our members enjoy learning about the different branches of our diverse family. Soon this issue of "Generations" will be available on our website "The Guedry-Labine Family". After the meeting we all went to local restaurant for some great food and friendship.
Try to join us for our next meeting which will be in late July or early August.
I hope everyone has a wonderful summer,
Marty
Martin Guidry
6139 North Shore Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
225-571-9726
guidryrmartin@gmail.com
Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur, Inc.
https://guedryfamily.guedry.org/
https://guedry.guedry.org/
Bonjour Mes Cousins,
Before discussing our upcoming meeting, let me briefly mention that a new year has begun - and, yes, it's the dreaded dues reminder. Attached is a membership application for renewing your membership in Les Guédry d'Asteur. For those that don't like to open attachments, I've pasted the application at the very bottom of this email. Our dues are very reasonable at $6.00 for individuals and $10 for a family.
On Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon we're having a meeting of Les Guidry d'Asteur at the CODOFIL offices in Lafayette, LA. [FOR DIRECTIONS - SEE BELOW]
Our preparations for the August 2009 Guedry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion in New Brunswick, Canada continue to take shape. The Reunion will be on Saturday, August 16, 2009 in the Conference Centre at Danny's Inn in Bathurst, New Brunswick.
The website for Danny's Inn is:
http://www.dannysinn.com/site/AboutUs.aspx
We will begin about 8:30 am and have activities until 5:00 pm. More on the agenda, activities and displays is forthcoming and will include formal sessions with music, presentations, etc. as well as time to mingle and get to know your cousins.
We will have a superb buffet lunch. It'll be a Hot & Cold Dinner Buffet that includes roast beef smothered in peppercorn gravy, sweet & sour meat balls, lasagna, chicken wings, potato casserole, coleslaw, tossed green salad, carrot salad, rolls, carrot cake, cherry cheesecake, fresh fruit salad, coffee and tea.
In the next two months we'll send out registration information. It is not too early to secure lodging. The website below contains a number of motels, hotels and bed & breakfasts in the Bathurst area.
http://www.bathurst.ca/english/home/index.cfm?id=195
Begin looking for the Summer 2008 issue of "Generations" within the next month. We'll send it to our Distribution List by e-mail and it will be on our Guédry & Petitpas Family website shortly afterwards.
If you have ideas or thoughts about what Les Guidry d'Asteur should be doing (at the 2009 Reunion, a project we could do, etc.), please e-mail me at guidryrmartin@gmail.com and let us know.
Let's get together, renew old acquaintances and start looking forward to our future plans.
The tentative agenda for the meeting is:
* Opening and welcome
* Membership Report (Charlene Lacombe)
* Financial Report (Chuck Guidry)
* Discussion on Guedry-Labine Crest
* Our French Language/Culture Lesson (Elaine Clement)
* Plans for the August 2009 Guedry-Labine and Petitpas
Reunion in New Brunswick (location, activities, etc.)
* An Interesting Personality from Our Family
* Sales Committee Report (Wayne Simoneaux / Marty Guidry)
* Genealogy Committe Report (Daryl LaBine / Marty Guidry)
* Newsletter Update (Allie Guidry / Marty Guidry)
* Website Update (Becky Boggess / Marty Guidry)
* Other Business (new Guedry-Labine projects)
* Closing and Lunch
So let's gather together for some comradeship and discussion on what we can do for our family during the next two years. We need your ideas. If you can't attend, please email me and let me know what you'd like to see Les Guidry d'Asteur do for the family.
Everyone's welcome and encouraged to attend. It'll be a lot of fun.
Elaine has selected a nice cafe in Lafayette for all of us to gather for lunch after the meeting. For those that have never attended one of our meetings, this is where the real fun begins. The conversation is great, the laughter abounds and we all have a great time together.
So come and join us for this meeting.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Marty
Martin Guidry
6139 North Shore Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
225-571-9726
guidryrmartin@gmail.com
Les Guédry et Petitpas d'Asteur, Inc.
https://guedryfamily.guedry.org/
https://guedry.guedry.org/
DIRECTIONS TO JUNE 28th MEETING:
From I-10 take the I-49/Hiway 90 exit and go south (toward Lafayette). You'll now be on the Evangeline Thruway. Continue on the Thruway until you reach Jefferson Street (about 5 or 6 red lights; there's a Burger King on the right corner). Turn right on Jefferson Street and continue through the underpass and three red lights. The first street after the 3rd red light is W. Main Street. Turn right on W. Main Street and go one block to the stop sign. The courthouse will be immediately ahead of you. Turn left onto Buchanan Street and then make a quick right back onto W. Main Street on the left side of the courthouse. The CODOFIL office is on your left at 217 W. Main Street. It's a two-story, red brick, Victorian-style, narrow building with a green balcony on the second floor. Park anywhere in the area as parking meters are not patrolled on Saturday and Sunday. We'll meet in the reception area on the first floor.
If you'd like to pay your membership fees for 2008, please complete the form below and send it to Charlene Guidry Lacombe at the address below.
Les Guidry d'Asteur
Membership Application
(Formulaire d'adhésion)
Name (Nom) ________________________________________________________
Last (Nom de famille) First (Prénom) Middle
(Deuxième prénom)
Spouse (Épouse) ____________________________________________________
Maiden (Nom de jeune fille) First (Prénom) Middle (Deuxième
prénom)
Children (Enfants) ____________________________________________________
Address (Adresse) ____________________________________________________
Street (Rue)
____________________________________________________
City (Ville) State (État/Province) Zip Code (Code postal)
(Pays)
Telephone (Téléphone) ________________________________________________
Fax (Numéro de télécopieur)
_______________________________________________
E-mail Address (Courriel) _______________________________________________
Hobbies or Special Talent _____________________________________________
(Passe-temps ou talent particulier)
Type of Membership (Type de cotisation):
_____ Individual (Individuelle) $ 6.00 U.S. Dollars (Dollars
américains)
_____ Family (Familiale) $10.00 U.S. Dollars (Dollars
américains)
Benefactor Levels (Niveaux de bienfaiteur):
_____ dit Jovial Level $50.00 U.S. Dollars (Dollars
américains)
_____ dit Labine Level $100.00 U. S. Dollars (Dollars
américains)
_____ dit Grivois Level $500.00 U. S. Dollars (Dollars
américains)
Please return form and payment to: Make check payable to: Les Guidry d'Asteur, Inc. (Retournez le formulaire et le paiement à:) (Libellez le chèque à: Les Guidry d'Asteur, Inc.)
Les Guidry d'Asteur, Inc.
Charlene Guidry Lacombe
Membership Chair
226 Bulldog Lane
Iota, LA 70543