Jean has asked me to pass this newsletter out to everyone. Cindy ANCESTRAL ENDEAVORS A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE LAFAYETTE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY www.nettally.com/lgsla Volume 2004 Issue 1 January 2004 The Minutes of the November 20, 2003 Meeting The regularly scheduled meeting of the Lafayette Genealogical Society was called to order by President Daniel Besse at 6:35 p.m. in the conference room of the Lafayette Public Library. After a moment of silence in honor of our veterans, Daniel led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Guests and new members present included Carl Huval, Kristin Delhommer, Mr. & Mrs. Les Ardoin, Tricia Hunt and Dee DeLassus. The minutes and the treasurer's report were accepted as reported in the newsletter. Program: Our guest speaker was Amanda LeFleur, on the French language spoken in Acadiana. She has taught French at Comeaux High School and now teaches at LSU. For many years she has studied the Cajun French spoken in different communities. She used to have her high school students used to collect idiomatic expressions on various topics, and collected more from a French language program she used to have on KRVS. She has published many of these expressions in Tonner Mes Chiens! Ms. LaFleur is currently working with a group of linguists to compile a dictionary of Louisiana French from all over the state. It is a time-consuming project, because each term and usage has to be verified. Also, they are studying a living language that is constantly evolving. French evolved differently in Louisiana than in France. For instance, an automobile in France is called une voiture (originally a term for a buggy), but in Cajun French it is called un char (which originally meant a cart). They are trying to document French as it is spoken all over Louisiana. This will result in a multi-media Louisiana French dictionary. She is also working with the University of Laval on a pan-Francophone database. The database will be available in March. You can find it on Google by searching "pan Francophone." She asked for help from anyone who speaks Louisiana French. She is particularly interested in terms that are no longer in common usage, such as terms that are associated with crafts, agriculture, etc. We are in danger of losing these terms. Old Business: Cindy Hoffmeister has volunteered to serve as Secretary for the coming year. Thanks! The Society has traded publications with the Allen Parish, Pointe d'Eglise and St. Pierre (Carencro) genealogical societies. We are willing to trade with other societies as well. New Business: Dee DeLassus proposed a new project for the Society. The First Families of Louisiana program has been redesigned to be open to descendants of residents of the Louisiana Purchase on or before December 20, 1803. Those wishing to receive certificates must submit their lineage chart, which the Society can then publish. They will receive a certificate featuring a map of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase shaded in. The board will meet 30 min. before the January meeting to discuss this. Eula wants old greeting cards for Girl Scouts to make into bookmarks for libraries to give away. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. and refreshments were served. Banquet: The annual banquet was held at the Petroleum Club on Wednesday, December 3, 2003. Our banquet speaker was Robert de Berardinis, a thirteenth generation Louisianian, who spoke on "America Began in Southwest Louisiana." The United States in 1803 was very homogenous. The vast majority of the population was English or Scottish and Protestant. Perhaps a third of the population had been born in Great Britain. There were only ten Catholic parishes and no Jewish congregations. With the Louisiana Purchase the country nearly doubled in size, adding a large Catholic population of French and Spanish origin. Louisiana also contributed the concept of free-range livestock, which contributed so much to the American image of the wild west. The term "rodeo" was first used in Opelousas in 1791, and not in Mexico until later. Cattle branding also originated in Louisiana, as did the terms "desperado" and "posse". Americans were welcomed in Louisiana because they brought an influx of cash. Economic conditions in Louisiana changed remarkably. In 1803 the average Louisianian had one horse, a few milk cows, a few other domestic animals and a small plantation. By 1830 large sugar and cotton plantations had been developed, and most people had hundreds of acres and were very prosperous. The officers for 2004 were installed. Eula Delhommer is now the President, Earl Gates President-Elect, Belva Gurr Vice President, Cindy Hofmeister Secretary, and Warren LeBlanc Treasurer. The outgoing officers distributed awards to members who had made special contributions during the year, and door prizes were distributed. Special thanks are in order for Eula, Belva and Warren, who contributed prizes, and especially to Martha Luby, who coordinated everything. 2003 OFFICERS President Eula Delhommer 893-5559 Pres.-Elect Earl Gates 856-7663 Vice-Pres. Belva Gurr 989-2661 Treasurer Warren LeBlanc 856-7812 Secretary Cindy Hoffmeister 839-9246 Dues: $20.00 per family per year TREASURER'S REPORT PERIOD ENDING September 2003 BEGINNING BALANCE September $2,689.56 DEBITS Newsletter/Publication Postage/Box rent Supplies/presents Books donation Banquet/Publication CREDITS Deposits: (Membership dues) 140.00 Book sales (Calendar) Postage 3.00 Banquet 195.00 ENDING BALANCE $3,027.56 NEXT MEETING Thursday January 15, 6:30 p.m. Lafayette Public Library Speaker: Barry Ancelet Lafayette Genealogical Society P.O. Box 52041 Lafayette, LA 70505