NEXT MEETING: August 25, 2012, 1:00 p.m., MAIN LIBRARY 151 Library Dr. Houma, LA 70360

Ray Weimer “Cistern Maker“ owner of Weimer Contractors, Inc. was our speaker last month. He learned to build cisterns at the age of 14-15 years old and has past the trade down to his son Danny. He demonstrated the art of building wooden cisterns out of the heart of sunken logged cypress trees. Every piece of cypress has to be cut at just the right angle and notched out to fit onto the base, which is held together on top by a rope and the bottom by a chain that has to be tightening to keep the sides very close together. Once completed metal straps are put around the cistern. He brought the special tools that are used to build the cisterns. It takes a lot of detailed skilled work to build a cistern. In the early days the cisterns were built on a brick platform with a cavern. The cavern was used to store the vegetables picked for the garden to keep them fresh. The cavern was like a refrigerator, it kept the vegetables cool until ready for use. The picture above show models of the different types of cisterns and one that shows the process of building the cisterns with our Ronald Berger our Vice President on the left and Ray on the right. What a great presentation; thank you Mr. Ray Weimer.

The Lafourche Heritage Society has done it again. What have they done? They gave another outstanding seminar! They had four great topics with great speakers, wonderful displays, family charts and delicious food all surrounded by a lot of good people. We started out with Ed & Susan Poole speaking on the first hundred years of film history in Louisiana. Did you know that Louisiana is the third most filmed state in the film industry? They have written a book called Hollywood on the Bayou in which they document over 1,000 films that was made in Louisiana or about Louisiana. This was very interesting and informative. Check out their website edp@HollywoodOnTheBayou.com. Right before lunch, Liz Williams from Southern Food & Beverage Museum spoke on how she invented the food museum. We all know how food plays an important part of any culture. Contact Liz at LIZ@SOUTHERNFOOD.ORG. We had the most scrumptious lunch with a dessert to die for. After lunch Lisa Lewis and Katie Oubre from the Diocese of Baton Rouge spoke on the types of records they have and establishment of the diocese. Some of the earliest records they have date back to 1707. Yes, 1707 this is not a typo. The archives have many treasures. You must stop by their office when you go to Baton Rouge, La. To finish the day Dr. Craig Bauer's topic was on the Bringier Family and Research into Antebellum Plantation Life in Louisiana. It was fascinating to hear about the work that goes into running and maintaining a plantation. It is not the plantation owner but the workers that make the plantation a success, without workers you will not have a plantation. Thanks to the Lafourche Heritage Society and all the speakers, book vendors, and people who brought displays and to Envie Restaurant and their staff for their hospitality. What a wonderful day!!!

SPEAKER
Dr. Linda G. Corley; Subject: ??? Jean Lafitte ???. She was raised in Golden Meadow, La on the banks of Bayou Lafourche. For 30 years she has worked in the field of Human Services, mostly as a mental health counselor and Social Services Program Director in the Houma area. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with graduate work in Psychological Counseling from Nicholls State University and a PhD in Human Services from Walden University. In 1999, the author retired and opened a Bed & Breakfast. In 2002 she opened a small Academic Tutoring Center, offering instruction to students from K - 12th grade. Dr. Corley avidly studies genealogy to learn more about her family history and to enhance the authenticity of her fiction. Both parents offer interesting ancestry; her father part Native American Cherokee from Oklahoma and her mother's ancestors came over from France. Self-employment has allowed her the needed time to write and there are several books coming soon.

CENSUS PROJECT
The indexing portion of the 1940 census has been completed. It has been completed 2 months ahead of the projected 6 month time span with the help of 160,000 volunteers with some of our very own members helped with this project. It has been said that this is the most accurate census ever and millions and millions of people will have access to this census. What an accomplishment. Many families will be united throughout the whole United States, all thanks to those faithful volunteers. Thanks to all involved in this project.

BOOK COMMITTEE
Have you gone to the library and expected to find a particular book but it was not there? Don't get frustrated we have a program to help get the books you want to the library. Write down the name of the book, the author and publisher. Get the information to Sondras Saucier and she will get this information to the library to order the book. Contact Sondras at (985) 688-6792 or email svbs3@yahoo.com>.

NEW WEBSITE
This is still under construction. We are still taking suggestions and we want to thank everyone who has already submitted their suggestions. Remember these are just suggestions and may or may not be used on the website. You can give them to us at the meeting or email them to me at wmoore1048@aol.com.

ADDRESS CORRECTION
If you move please contact Jess Bergeron and give him the correct address. It will cost you extra postage if your mail is returned and we have to re-mail to you. Contact Jess at (985)876-2348 or you can send him an e-mail to jessndot@bellsouth.net.