|
Message from the
President:
Bonjour tout le monde.
Spring has sprung in New England - at least southern
New England. Record snows in northern New
England may find some of our members still seeing
snow in their back yards or treed areas while
reading this May issue of Le Réveil. Bet they
ski in Tuckerman’s Ravine on the 4th of July this
year.
I Thank my fellow officers who religiously meet to
discuss the society’s business and see to the
organization of the newsletter each quarter.
Doris Leger, Vice President and Editor of Le Réveil;
Lillian Leger, Treasurer and Society Historian;
Louise Bourque, Secretary and Researcher; and those
who work in the background - Beatrice Boudreau, Anna
Valois.
I again ask each and every member to consider coming
forward, by contacting one of the above officers or
myself to assist in running the ACS. Some of
us are coming to the end of our allowed (Bylaws)
terms of office and need to step down. It
would be better to work along with that officer
while they still hold the office and then transfer
it at the next election, rather than have to start
from scratch.
The 2008 Annual meeting date has been set - it will
be the 5th of October at the Templeton Fish & Game
Club. Entertainment has not been finalized so
stay tuned...
I again urge you all to support any and all Franco
Festivals in and around New England this summer.
Templeton Fish & Game host the Acadian Day in June;
La Kermesse Biddeford ME; July, Bastille Day Boston
MA; August, Franco Festival Lewiston ME; September,
Woonsocket RI Culture week. Along with these
special occasions there are a number of locations
that have “museums and collections”. Boston
Public Library has an exhibit “Champlain in
America”. For those who choose you can take
part in celebrating the 400th anniversary of the
coming of the French to North America in Quebec.
(remember we have many “cousins” who left or
returned from the Deportation and settled in
Quebec). When you are traveling this summer
don’t pass up an afternoon for research at the
Fitchburg Public Library - Willis Room; French
Canadian Library in Tolland CT that is open most
Sat.; American French Library in Woonsocket RI
Tues.; American Canadian Library Manchester NH Sat.
In Lewiston, Maine we have a combination, this group
“bought” the former St. Mary’s church on Oxford Ave.
and now have a Center for Franco American studies,
along with a performance theater. I have
listed only a few of the groups, so you can see that
wherever you travel in New England you can find
“cousins”.. And I can assure you that we are
all happy to make connections. Whatever the
case in each of the New England states you visit
there is a Franco group with Acadian section, even
NEHGS (New England Historical and Genealogical
Society, Boston MA). Some of the above
organizations do charge a nominal fee for a one day
visit (some allow a one time visit before having to
pay).
Share your story, happy or sad, strange or fact,
lets keep the information flowing. Once it is
written and published it becomes available to all.
We want your grandmother’s recipe for food or what
made you better, as many of the ancestors had
recipes for curing what ailed you . My Acadian
grandfather was a woodsman in his younger years and
was the evening weather man. My mother reports
that he would go on the back porch in the 1920-30’s
and tell his family what the weather was going to be
for the next day. My mother claims he was
quite accurate.
Contact any officer at any time via the web page
www.acadiancultural.org, by US Mail at
P O Box 2304 Fitchburg MA 01420. Become an
active and involved member in your society. That is
the way we will be able to continue.
Lucille A. Langlois |
