TGS Newsletter
Vol. 22 No. 9 January 2004

Visit our home page at http://www.rootsweb.com/~laterreb/tgs.htm

NEW TIME, OLD PLACE FOR COLLATING
We need your help in putting together the new quarterly. We have the North Branch meeting room scheduled for one o’clock (1:00) on Thursday, 29 January 2004, and we can sure use your help. 

You know you should have been there. At the Christmas Social, of course. We had a wonderful time and thought of you every minute. OK, maybe not every minute, but we did pray for those who couldn’t be there, for whatever reason. The food was exquisite. I don’t like to single any one dish out, but we had at least one prize-winning recipe. The desserts were especially tempting. Maybe it was best you weren’t there. You might have hurt yourself. But we missed you. Really we did. We had so much we had to take some of it home. And the door prizes made it around twice, so that everyone received two gifts, and some more than two. Not much business went on, however.
 

DEATH: Our sympathies go to charter member Ruth EXPOSITO, who lost her sister last month. Elsie LABIT LANDRY NEEL died 16 December 2003. A resident of Kokomo, Mississippi, she was the beloved wife of Bob NEEL, and former wife of the late Allen LANDRY, Jr. Mother of Nancy May, Timothy, Allen III, Gregory Sr., Paul and Kelly LANDRY and the late Leon LANDRY. Stepmother of Robert and Earl NEEL. Daughter of the late Leon LABIT and Loyola BLANCHARD. Sister of Ruth EXPOSITO, Perry, Larry, and Lindsey LABIT. Also survived by 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. 

CORMIER NOTICE: I hate being the bearer of bad news, but the CORMIER CMA 2004 Reunion is cancelled. The best way to explain this is as it was explained to me, therefore I quote:
 The Cormier family reunion planned for 1 Aug 04 has unfortunately not left the ground.
 I have given it a lot of thought and think it will be best to cancel the proposed reunion day.
 Joe O’Byrne, whose grandmother was a Cormier and who tried to get this started, has booked the Amherst Arena for $500 and needs to pay up or give it up. I personally am interested but due to distance, logistics and work concerns I can not do it alone, which is why I originally volunteered only to be the registrar.
 I have not heard from anyone else willing to make a firm commitment...
 I will be formally notifying the CMA2004 group on the 5th or 6th of Jan about this turn of events so they don’t get stuck putting out unreliable Cormier info in their pamphlets.
 I will also notify as many of the Cormiers, that have shown interest in attending by email or phone after this date. Perhaps I will see some of you at other functions or reunions held during the 1 - 15 Aug period in Nova Scotia.
 Bonne Fete
 Gerry Cormier
 850 Meadowvale Rd, RR#5
 Kingston, NS   P0P 1R0
 902-765-6254

This was sent on Sunday 4 January 2004 as an email with the subject: “Cormier Reunion Cancellation.” Please pass this information on to anyone who is planning to attend in August of this year.
 
ADDRESS: : The above news reached me through a third party because the sender did not have a current email address for me. It is so important these days to keep our correspondents aware of the changes in our lives. If you look at the top of this newsletter you will see our new address.  We are doing our best to let our members know of the change. NOW, how about you? Has your address changed recently? I’m not talking about a move to a new location, necessarily. Sometimes it becomes necessary to change our address to make the 911 emergency response system work better. It is a pain to change our address everywhere, but try to think of the person in need of emergency care who may be receiving that care a few minutes sooner because of the new addresses. Nevertheless, SEND US YOUR NEW ADDRESS, NOW!. I can’t say it any plainer, folks. Trouble is, if we don’t have your correct address, you didn’t get this newsletter. So, Dear Reader, please take it upon yourself to let us know of others whose address may have changed, or call them up and leave the message that they have to tell us about their address change.

MEMBERSHIP: We invite you to continue your membership through the next membership year. That is, through the March meeting of 2005. Check the address label at the top of  this newsletter. If it has EX2005, you are in good shape, and you won’t have to worry just yet. Those who have to be concerned are those who have EX2004 because that means that their membership is only going to last until February of 2004, and that is just next month. We are happy to report that the cost of membership is the same as last year: $25.00 for individuals, $30.00 for families, $30.00 for a contributing membership and $22.00 for libraries. Send it right away and that will be one less nagging worry in your crowded mind. But please send your check to our new address.
SYMPOSIUM: It was the greatest land deal ever, but what did we buy? After the Louisiana territory was purchased from France in 1803, the United States began systematically exploring, mapping, measuring, and defining the area it now owned. The Historic New Orleans Collection invites you to join scholars and history buffs as key aspects of the Louisiana territory’s exploration and settlement are presented at this year’s symposium, which will be held on Saturday, 31 January 2004, from 8:00 a.m. — 4:00 p.m., in the Grand Ballroom of the New Orleans Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Cost is $60 for adults and $40 for students. Hurry, call 504-598-7171 for reservations, and visit www.hnoc.org for the program listed under “Exhibitions and Events.” Tough choice, huh? It’s us or them.

CONFEDERATE HEROES: Come relive the stories and lives of the Confederate heroes from Brusly through the book titled Tirailleurs (pronounced TEE-ray-your). The author, Dr. Thomas H. RICHEY will discuss his book on Sunday, 1 February 2004, at Brusly Town Hall. For directions call 225-749-2909. By the way, the complete title is Tirailleurs: A History of The 4th Louisiana and the Acadians of Company H.

NATCHEZ: The Historic Natchez Conference explores the history of the Natchez region. The 2004 conference, “South by Southwest: Exploring the History of the Old Natchez District,” brings together recognized scholars, archivists, students and the general public to discuss subjects as diverse as the planter aristocracy, the slave trade, Irish immigration, the Civil Rights era, free African Americans and World War II. Participants will visit historic sites, view exhibits and attend parties in historic houses. It seems the lectures are free of charge, but the special events carry a nominal fee. For registration information, contact the Historic Natchez Foundation, P.O. Box 1761, Natchez, MS 39121, or phone 601-442-2500 or fax 601-442-2525. Prefer email? Try hnf@natchez.org or visit www.natchez.org The historic Natchez Eola Hotel is offering a special conference rate. 601-445-6000.