NEXT MEETING: April 30, 2011 1:00 p.m., North Branch Library 4130 W. Park Ave. Gray, LA

FANTASTIC!!! To describe the presentation of Jay SCHEXNAYDRE, at our last meeting, in one word; it would have to be fantastic. He called his presentation “The Creole Experience Along the German-Acadian Coast—River Shrimp & Sausage”. The German-Acadian Coast is along the Mississippi River in the parishes of St John the Baptist, St. Charles and into St. James. Our German-speaking ancestors came to Louisiana from France then our Acadian ancestors came from France to Nova Scotia then to Louisiana. “What is a Creole?” Jay asked. Creoles are the first generation born in the new world, Louisiana being the new world to them. Creole is a culture not a race of people. He gave us a list of surnames and how they have changed the spelling through the years since they first came here. He talk about how our European and African background merged together. Most of the time if you find an ancestor with two first names (ex: John Joseph) the surname may have been the first name of an African American slave ancestor. Words do not do it justice; you would have had to be there to fully enjoy the power point presentation he gave.

GUEST SPEAKER
YES!! We do have a guest speaker; Lou Ostheimer will be speaking on the War Between the States. He will have confederate money and other war memorabilia. All you war buffs might want to stop by the meeting to hear his talk. This should be very interesting. Come on in to hear him.

DEATHS
Jacqueline FREEMAN, daughter in law of TGS member, Patricia B. Freeman BERGERON, died March 22, 2011, age 39, native of Pascagoula, MS and a resident of Houma, LA. She is buried in the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houma, LA cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Mark J. FREEMAN; one son, Brent M. POLLARD; two daughters, Megan M. FREEMAN and Heather M. FREEMAN; her mother, Jennie A. LEDET; one brother, Craig J. LEDET, one nephew, Josh N. LEDET; and numerous other relatives. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Vilace L. and Rosalie LEDET, Sr.; her aunts, Claudia IRICK; Kate LEDET; Gwen RAU; and her uncles, Vilace L. Jr., Borne, Berlin, Warren, Steven, and Wayne LEDET.

BOOK COMMITTEE
Can’t find a genealogy or family history book at the Terrebonne Parish Library and you would like to have it there. Jot down the title, author, publisher and if you now where it can be purchased; get that information to Sondras SAUCIER. She can be reached at (985) 688-6792 or email svbs@yahoo.com. If you call leave a message of why you are calling her.

NEW PROJECTS
Ronald BERGER is in charge of gathering old photos of local families for an up coming photo book. If you have old photos bring them to the next meeting. Please label each picture with who is in the picture and where the picture came from. You can email them to him at ronjberger@aim.com or call him at (985) 413-0396 if you have any questions.

BOOKS FOR SALE
My friends at the Diocese of Baton Rouge Catholic Archives are having an Inventory Reduction Sale! They have reduced their available volumes from $35 to $20 plus appropriate taxes and shipping. One volume (10) is out of print and some volumes are in very short supply. They sent me a new order form, which has not yet been posted to their website .I will be happy to pass it on to anyone who is interested. Contact Judy Riffel riffelj@bellsouth.net

QUARTERLY
I am currently working on the Summer issue of the Terrebonne Life Lines and I am in need of some material for the next issue. Please consider sending your family history or family group sheets. You can send them to me as an attachment to an email to me at wmoore1048@aol.com. The Spring issue should be distributed and our next meeting to the members who attend and mail to those who do not attend.

LIBRARY ACTIVITIES
Do you know that the library has been having genealogy classes? Check the library website for more information at http://www.terrebonne.lib.la.us/ then click on calendar. These are some very good classes.

ADDRESS CORRECTIONS
If you have moved please send us your new address. If your mail is return we cannot forward your mail unless you pay the extra cost of re-mailing. Please forward address changes to Jess BERGERON, TGS P O Box 20295, Houma, LA 70360-0295.