Minutes: 3 & 31 March 2009
Minutes - Les Guidry d'Asteur Meeting - 3 & 31 March 2009
March 31, 2009
Bonjour Cousins,
Planning for our Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion is progressing on track. Lorn Guidry and Jason Guidry in Bathurst, New Brunswick have really been helping organize the Reunion.
Our Reunion promises to be another great experience to learn about our family and meet your many cousins from throughout North America. Folks from all over North America are attending the Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion. Registrations include Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, California, Virginia, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and other locations.
Recently the Congrès Mondial Acadien sent us a check for $1000 to help with our Reunion funding. This money is most welcome and will be used to secure speakers and musicians for our Reunion. Thanks to Elaine Clement, Vice-President of Les Guédry d'Asteur, and Rachelle Dugas of Congrès Mondial Acadien for helping us secure this funding.
Cindy Herdt (Washington), Chairperson of our Sales Committee, has begun designing and ordering momentos for the Reunion. We will have a variety of momentos for sale including pens, key chains, T-shirts, lapel pins, magnets, notepads, totebags and other items. I have seen several of these and they are quite nice - definitely a grade above the 'normal' items you see at Reunions. We also may have a couple of books on the family for sale. Some of the items will have the Reunion logo on them and others will have only the "Les Guédry d'Asteur" wording on them so that they will not 'age' with the Reunion. Within the next month we will begin selling some of the items on our Guédry-Labine Family Website at:
Merchandise
Currently at this webpage you can order several items including a number of things having our new Guédry family crest (in the name variation that you desire). Check in at the Sales website and order early.
Finally, I encourage everyone to register early and assist us in planning the Reunion. If circumstances prevent you from attending and you have registered, we will refund your registration fees on request.
THE BASICS
The Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion will be Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the Conference Center of Danny's Inn between Bereford and Bathurst, New Brunswick. Danny's Inn is on Highway 134 just south of Beresford.
The Reunion will open at 8:30 am and the closing ceremony will conclude at approximately 5:00 pm.
The fee to attend the Reunion is $40 for a family or $20 for an individual which includes all costs except the optional Dinner Buffet at noon. The Reunion fee includes your 2009 Membership in Les Guédry d'Asteur.
A Registration Form for the Reunion is attached. if you wish to attend our Reunion, please complete the Registration Form, attach your payment and mail it to the address indicated on the form.
At noon we will have a 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. The buffet will cost approximately $23 U.S. per person.
The Dinner Buffet is optional and you can go to a local restaurant for lunch if you prefer, but please consider enjoying the buffet lunch with all of us. On the Registration Form indicate your preference for the buffet lunch, but do not send any money for the buffet at this time. We will collect the cost of the buffet lunch at the beginning of the Reunion on August 16, 2009. Your preference now is not binding and can be changed until shortly before the Reunion. We just need an indication of the number of buffet lunches at this time.
Bathurst has a rich Acadian history with most of the local population being bilingual. Plan on spending some time exploring the history and beauty of this unique town.
THE CONGRÈS MONDIAL ACADIEN
The Congrès Mondial Acadien (CMA) for 2009 will be held on the Acadian Peninsula in New Brunswick from 7 August - 23 August 2009. CMA activities will be centered around Caraquet, New Brunswick.
The Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion is part of the Congrès Mondial Acadien - a major congress held every five years to bring together Acadian families from throughout the world. Besides the many family reunions planned, there will be a host of other activities during this 18-day world congress.
Click on the CMA Website link below to keep up with the events planned for the 2009 CMA.
http://www.cma2009.ca/
For your preferred language click the red 'Francais' or 'English' tab at the upper right corner of the webpage. Not all pages are available in English at this time.
The Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Family is listed on the CMA website. To view information about the various family reunions, click on "Families" near the top and scroll down the alphabetical list.
Major events planned during the 2009 CMA include:
* August 7 - Opening Ceremony - Acadian March (Lameque, Shippagan & Miscou)
* August 15 - Acadian Natinal Holiday - Grand Tintamarre (Caraquet)
* August 16-20 - Space 2009 - Acadie Invents (Pokemouche)
* August 23 - Closing Ceremony - Acadie Gathers (Tracadie-Sheila-Neguac Area
* Conferences including the Great Youth Gathering, Women's Summit, Business Event and
Acadie Welcomes
* Artistic and Cultural Treasure Series including Invincible Roots, Maritime Short Plays, Sound
and Light, Acadian Popular Theater, Grand Peninsula Concert, Voir L'Acadie, Weaving the
Acadian Thread and much more
* Family Reunions throughout the festival period
A complete listing with a detailed description of each activity is on the CMA website (see weblink above) - just click on "The Program" icon.
THE AGENDA FOR THE GUEDRY-LABINE & PETITPAS REUNION
Plans for our Reunion are being finalized at this time. We will have an all-day Reunion beginning at 8:30 am and lasting until 5:00 pm with an excellent full buffet dinner at Danny's Inn about noon.
Our tentative agenda includes:
* 8:30 am - Opening Service (Mass) at Holy Family (Sainte Famille) Catholic Church
[Opening Procession honoring our ancestors, French Rosary, Mass, Closing Procession]
(430 St. Peter Avenue; Bathurst, NB)
* 9:45 am - Reunion Registration at Danny's Inn Conference Center
* 10:00 am - Larry Miller and his Cajun Band (two-step & waltz demonstrations)
* 10:45 am - Break (View displays, meet cousins, sales table, etc.)
* 11:00 am - Presentation - Cultures of Louisiana Cajuns and Maritime Acadians
(including a Cajun Mardi Gras Run)
* 11:45 am - Break (View displays, meet cousins, sales table, etc.)
* 12:00 noon - Dinner Buffet
* 1:00 pm - New Brunswick Acadian Musical Entertainment
* 1:45 pm - Break (View displays, meet cousins, sales table, etc.)
* 2:00 pm - Petitpas Genealogy - Recent Discovery Using DNA Techniques
* 2:45 pm - Break (View displays, meet cousins, sales table, etc.)
* 3:00 pm - Presentation - History of the Acadian Peninsula and the Acadians
* 3:45 pm - Break (View displays, meet cousins, sales table, etc.)
* 4:00 pm - TBD
* 4:45 pm - Closing Ceremony
Throughout the day we may have a special magician mingling among us. In addition, we'll have family history displays in the back of the room and a sales booth where you can purchase items related to our family and our reunion. We will have several breaks during the day so that everyone can meet each other and can visit the displays and sales booth.
Here's a couple of websites on Larry Miller:
http://members.cox.net/jireaux/larry.htm
http://www.accordions.com/bonteecajun/
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Unlike Nova Scotia in 2004 where family reunions and CMA activities occurred over the entire province, in 2009 all reunions and CMA activities will occur within the Acadian Peninsula. Bathurst is at the southern end of the Peninsula and Caraquet is near the northern edge. The driving distance between Bathurst and Caraquet is only 41 miles (66 kilometers).
As is true throughout the Acadian Peninsula, accomodations in the Bathurst area are limited. To see the major motels and hotels in the Bathurst area, click on the website link below, go to "Visitors Information" in the left column and click on "Accomodations". This website also has a lot of information on the history of Bathurst as well as interesting sites to explore.
http://www.bathurst.ca/english/home/index.cfm?id=156
The 2009 CMA website has an excellent page on accomodations within the Acadian Peninsula. Visit it by clicking on this link:
http://www.cma2009.ca/?page=hebergement&start=0
[Remember unlike airline reservations that have signicant cancellation penalties, motels/hotels and rental cars generally allow cancellation up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival with no penalty. So do not hesitate to book your motel/hotel reservation and rental car reservation now even if you are now absolutely sure you will attend.]
For those traveling to New Brunswick by air, here are some airport options:
Bathurst has a commercial airport. It is small with only a couple of flights a day to and from Montreal.
http://www.airbathurst.com/en/# (Bathurst Airport Website)
The nearest large commercial airport is Moncton. The are numerous daily flights to and from this airport. The highway distance from Moncton to Bathurst is 138 miles (about 2.5 to 3 hours by car). Canadian highways generally are very nice.
http://www.gmia.ca/ (Moncton Airport Website)
The Fredericton Airport is a medium-sized commercial airport and is just a bit further from Bathurst at 157 miles. It has 6-8 arriving and departing flights daily.
http://yfcmobile.ca/ (Fredericton Airport Website)
The Halifax, Nova Scotia Airport is a large commercial airport that you may want to consider if you are planning on doing any sightseeing in Nova Scotia during the trip. The Halifax Airport is 218 miles from Bathurst (about 4.5 - 5 hours by car).
[Note: During the drive from Halifax to Bathurst, you will pass within 1/2 mile of the old Acadian Beaubassin Village and within 2 miles of Fort Beausejour from which the first Acadians were exiled on July 28, 1755. They are definitely worth a visit. Beaubassin is located right behind the current Nova Scotia Visitor Center at the Nova Scotia - New Brunswick border and Fort Beausejour is just over the border in New Brunswick. They both have nice displays to view. You'll also pass through Truro which was the area of old Cobequid, Acadia and through Moncton where the Centre d'Etudes Acadiennes (Center for Acadian Studies) is located.]
http://www.hiaa.ca/ (Halifax Airport Website)
The official New Brunswick Tourism Website is at the link below. You can learn about interesting locations, sites and activities at this website. By clicking on the word "Guides" in the left column of the page, you can order a free 2008 Experience New Brunswick Vacation Planner" which is excellent.
http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca/en-CA/GeoLanding_US?source=other
As we have additional information on our Guedry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion and on the Congrès Mondial, we will send it to everyone.
Hope to see everyone in Bathurst on August 16th.
Marty
Martin Guidry
6139 North Shore Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
guidryrmartin@gmail.com
Les Guidry d'Asteur, Inc.
Les Guédry d'Asteur Genealogical Association
https://guedryfamily.guedry.org/
https://guedry.guedry.org/
Les Guédry d'Asteur
(L'enregistrement pour Réunion 2009)
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) _____________________________________________________
First Names of Children (Prénoms de enfants)
Address (Adresse)_____________________________________________________
Street (Rue)
_____________________________________________________
City (Ville) State (État/Province) Zip Code (Code postal)
Telephone (Téléphone) _________________________________________________
Fax (Numéro de télécopieur)_____________________________________________
E-mail Address (Courriel) _______________________________________________
Number of People Attending (Le numéro de Gens qui assistent ________________
No. of Buffet Meals at Reunion ________________
(Buffet meal will cost $20-$25 per person / Le repas de buffet coûtera $20-$25 par
la personne)
Registration: Includes Reunion & 2009 Membership in Les Guédry d'Asteur /
L'enregistrement: Inclut la Réunion & 2009 Sociétariat dans Les Guédry d'Asteur)
Family -Parents and Children under 22 (Famille - Les parents et les Enfants sous 22):
_____ $40.00 Dollars (Canadian dollars for Canadians; U. S. dollars for U. S. residents)
(Dollars canadiens pour Canadiens; Dollars américains pour Américains)
Individual (Individuelle):
_____ $20.00 Dollars (Canadian dollars for Canadians; U. S. dollars for U. S. residents)
(Dollars canadiens pour Canadiens; Dollars américains pour Américains)
Please return form and payment to:
(Retournez le formulaire et le paiement à:)
Les Guédry d'Asteur, Inc.
Martin Guidry, President
6139 North Shore Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70817
Make check payable to: Les Guédry d'Asteur, Inc.
(Libellez le chèque à: Les Guédry d'Asteur, Inc.)
Bonjour Mes Cousins,
On Sunday, March 8, 2009 from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm we're having a meeting of Les Guédry d'Asteur at the Calcasieu Parish Library (301 W. Claude Street) in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Lake Charles is at the southwestern corner of Louisiana in Calcasieu Parish. It is the home of many prairie Acadians including lots of Guidry's. These Acadians originally settled to the east - primarily in the Opelousas and Attakapas regions near the area between present-day Opelousas, LA to St. Martinville, LA. They raised cattle on vast vacheries (open ranges) containing waist high grasses blowing in the wind like the waves of the ocean. Gradually many of these Acadians moved westward - settling the prairies from the eastern edges to the Lake Charles area where "No Man's Land" began. "No Man's Land" was the disputed border between the Spanish and United States - an area settled by robbers, murderers and other men sought by the law. Later with the need for labor in southeast Texas during WWI (energy businesses, ports and WWII (oil refineries, ports), many Acadians continued the westward migration and made southeast Texas in the Orange - Port Arthur - Beaumont area a true "New Acadie".
This is the third of a series of monthly meetings that we are having in various locations of south Louisiana and southeast Texas. Our goal is to meet in locations more accessible to family members and to visit areas where our Guédry family members reside. Areas being considered are St. Martinville 12/6/2008), Houma, Cutoff-Galiano area (1/24/2009), Lake Charles (3/8/2009), Lafayette and the Beaumont, TX area. If you would like to help set up a meeting in your area, please let me know by emailing me at guidryrmartin@gmail.com .
GUEDRY-LABINE & PETITPAS REUNION - BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK - 16 AUG 2009
The Guédry-Labine & Petitpas Reunion will be on Sunday, August 16, 2009 in the Conference Centre at Danny's Inn in Bathurst, New Brunswick. Registration information is available on our Guédry-Labine Family website. To obtain a Reunion Registration form just click on the red '2009 Reunion Registration' button at the bottom of the page. To reach this website page, click on this link:
2009 Reunion
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. We are working on the last few activities for the agenda. Once we have secured all commitments, we'll send it out to everyone. Activities will include talks, music, displays, etc as well as time to mingle and get to know your cousins.
We'll have a superb buffet lunch about noon at the Conference Center. It'll be a Hot & Cold Dinner Buffet that includes roast beef smothered in peppercorn gravy, sweet & sour meatballs, lasagna, chicken wings, potato casserole, coleslaw, tossed green salad, carrot salad, rolls, carrot cake, cherry cheesecake, fresh fruit salad, coffee and tea.
It is not too early to secure lodging. Remember, unlike airline reservations, you can easily cancel hotel/motel and rental car reservations within a few days of arrival with no penalty. So don't procrastinate in making hotel/motel reservations and/or rental car reservations. Lodging space and rental cars will be very limited in the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick. 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
If you have ideas or thoughts about what Les Guédry 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
* Special Presentation on Origins of Guédry family in Louisiana
* Membership Report (Charlene Lacombe)
* Financial Report (Chuck Guidry)
* Our French Language/Culture Lesson (Elaine Clement)
* Plans for the August 2009 Guedry-Labine and Petitpas
Reunion in New Brunswick (location, activities, etc.)
* Sales Committee Report (Wayne Simoneaux / Marty Guidry)
* Genealogy Committe Report (Daryl LaBine / Marty Guidry)
* Newsletter Update (Allie Guidry / Marty Guidry) - Next issue - Feb 2009
* 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 as a family association. We need your ideas. If you can't attend, please email me and let me know what you'd like to see Les Guédry d'Asteur do for the family.
Everyone's welcome and encouraged to attend. It'll be a lot of fun. Bring a friend or relative and let them learn of all that our family is doing.
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/