In July of 1984, Jeannine and Paul Caissie of Marlborough, Massachusetts, along with their son Bruce Caissie, felt there was a need for Acadian-Americans to learn about their Acadian Heritage. It was felt that most of them perhaps didn't know, or weren't aware of the proud history and culture of their ancestors. Because of this, the Caissies decided to found the Acadian Cultural Society. Through discussion, they agreed that unlike other groups who focused their energy on genealogical research, this new group would also explore the historical as well as the cultural elements of their heritage, so that future generations would find it less difficult to discover and learn about their families' Acadian histories.

Learning and teaching others about the Acadian culture, while being mindful of not offending other ethnic groups, who are equally proud of their heritage as we are, would be the sole aim of this society, they decided. To accomplish this, it was felt that publishing a quarterly newsletter would be a way information could be gathered and shared among the membership of the society, through distribution throughout the year, as well as periodic member meetings in areas where it was known that Acadians lived throughout New England.

The name chosen for this newsletter was "Le Réveil Acadien", "The Acadian Awakening", which it was hoped would express the feeling they all experienced when first learning of our French Acadian ancestral past. Also, the name expresses the fact that although Acadians may have of necessity kept quiet about their tragic history, for fear of its being repeated, as time has gone on, and we have been educated and have attained a presence in the world, it is time for Acadians to re-awaken to their proud history and culture.

Word was sent of the founding of the new Acadian Cultural Society by notifying friends and family, local parishes in Massachusetts, and having published news releases in New England newspapers. All of this led to the occasion of the Society's first Annual Meeting in the meeting room of St. Joseph's Church in Waltham Massachusetts in the Spring of 1985, which was attended by a large number of interested people, and who expressed a desire to become part of the new Society. Since those humble beginnings in the basement of the church, we have grown to a membership of some 800+ Acadians from all parts of the world.

We hope you have enjoyed this brief history of the beginnings of the Acadian Cultural Society, and we look forward to you joining our Society in the near future.