La Famille Blanchard, Inc.

November 7, 1998 Meeting

PROGRESS is being made, as we get ever closer to La Famille BLANCHARD Reunion Day 1999. There are now less than 9 months left until Congrés Mondial Acadien-Louisiane 1999 officially begins! The BLANCHARD Family Reunion will be held for ALL members and friends of the BLANCHARD family on Saturday, August 7, 1999 on the campus of Assumption High School in Napoleonville, (Assumption Parish) La. This invitation goes out to all who want to join us in celebrating our BLANCHARD and Acadian / Cajun heritage! BIENVENUE...we WELCOME you all!

Your membership card will be your entrance ticket to all of the Reunion's activities, including a complimentary authentic Cajun meal. Please register early, so we can plan for a successful BLANCHARD REUNION '99.

November '98 BLANCHARD REUNION business began with a letter from Cynthia Boudreaux, Pres. Assumption Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber was in the process of erecting "Welcome" signs for visitors, at the roads entering into Assumption Parish. They requested the help of the Reunion members, in the form of letters of support, for bi-lingual signs to be written in both English & French. Our committee responded in over-whelming support, stating the importance of our French heritage in Assumption Parish. We are happy to report that the Welcome / Bienvenue signs, written in both English and French, will be a reality!

The La Famille BLANCHARD Reunion meeting for November was held on Saturday Nov. 7, 1998 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Hall in Brusly, (West Baton Rouge Parish) La. from 10 AM - 1 PM. The meeting was called to order by Warren Blanchard, Pres. and Sally Blanchard, V. P. of the Blanchard Reunion committee. We welcomed new members in attendance, from around the greater Baton Rouge area, Port Allen, Brusly, Plaquemine, and Marerro, La.

Minor & Sally Blanchard of Pierre Part, La. agreed to write a prayer to recite at the opening of our Reunion meetings. It was also suggested that we open each meeting by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

It was agreed that Debbie Vickers, of Baton Rouge, La. would chair a committee to select a theme for the reunion and Rosie B. Scorsone, of Prairieville, La. would now be responsible for the monthly newsletter, in addition to her duties as OutReach ChairPerson.

Evelyn B. Ibert, of Franklin, La. had several retail items to display, featuring the BLANCHARD Family '99 Coat-of-Arms. Everyone was able to see the official Blanchard Reunion tee-shirt for the first time, and orders were accepted. Orders for all Reunion items featuring the family logo will continue to be taken at each monthly meeting. It was decided that flags will be made featuring the BLANCHARD Family Coat-of-Arms. These will be available to all, in the near future.

Doris Templet Boudreaux, of Labadieville, La. informed the group of her on-going efforts to work with the librarians at the Assumption Parish Library. They have agreed to host a Saturday seminar for friends & visitors who may be interested in learning more about their Assumption Parish heritage & ancestry. The date for this event will be announced at a later date.

A discussion was held regarding the theme and decor for the Reunion. It was agreed that a "Theme" committee would be formed, to discuss the over-all concept, of having a unifying slogan and theme. Debbie Vickers suggested the possibility that some members could be dressed as Acadians of long ago, in replicas of vintage costumes, and mingle among the Reunion crowd, telling stories and entertaining the guests. This kind of role-playing would give glimpses into the Acadian-Cajun lifestyle and culture from our past. Everyone agreed that this was a terrific idea, so this suggestion will continue to be discussed at future meetings.

The subject of having complimentary "gift bags" for our Reunion guests was also discussed. We hope to have samples and displays featuring some of our South Louisiana products. Some of the exhibit booths could include the crawfish industry, sugar and cotton industries, and examples of cypress wood carvings. Debbie Vickers will report to the committee at the next meeting, regarding progress on this idea.

Debbie Vickers presented the group with a booklet on the ancestry of her branch of the Blanchard family, descendants of Jean Jacques Blanchard, born circa 1756. Mr. Joseph Harvey Blanchard Jr., a member of the West Baton Rouge Genealogical Society, shared with the group some history of the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brusly, La. and its significance to the Blanchard family. The church and cemetary was built on property donated by the Zephirin Blanchard family in 1832. Led by Debbie Vickers, Jeanne Blanchard McManus and Elmer Winn, the group was able to visit the cemetary which is located near the church on the scenic banks of the Mississippi River. Many of the tombstones are written in old French.

Some of the visual displays at the meeting included pictures, books and old newspapers, shared by Ronnie Blanchard, Sally Blanchard, Doris Boudreaux, Debbie Vickers and genealogy and history displays by Rosie B. Scorsone. Debbie Vickers displayed an old wine bottle, from the "BLANCHARD VINEYARDS" of Bordeaux, France.

The meeting concluded with the reminder of the NEXT LA FAMILLE BLANCHARD Reunion Information meeting to be held on Saturday, December 12, 1998 at Vermilionville Acadian Village, 1600 Surrey St., Lafayette, La. A Cajun Buffet lunch will be served from 11 AM - noon for $7.95. The BLANCHARD Information meeting will be held from noon - 2 PM, followed by Live Cajun music and dancing from 2 PM - 5 PM. We invite everyone interested in the Cajun culture and good old-fashioned Cajun "joie de vivre" to join us, for this special holiday event! Bring a friend or two, and join us in Lafayette to "pass a good time with us, chère!"