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DECEMBER 2004 Edition
PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE:
From our house to yours, we want
to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous
New Year. I have always heard that time flies when you are having fun,
and this year has been so much fun for me that I find it hard to believe
that it is almost over. My travels have taken me from corner to corner
of this great state, and given me the opportunity to meet the finest
people I have ever known. In my travels I have been in rain, fog, cold,
and even sweltering heat, but always had the greatest time with the fine
people of our LAFF family. Please allow me to say thank you to each and
everyone of you for making my year as President such a momentous time.
I want you to know that your executive officers and directors have
worked diligently to make your organization everything you could want it
to be.
I want to extend a most gracious
thank you to the Louisiana Catfish Festival for hosting our October
Board Meeting. The food was great, the hospitality was superb and the
location was beyond belief. Kurt Dempster and his organization did a
phenomenal job in making us feel welcomed, and enabling some to walk
away stuffed, especially on the bread pudding. Thanks again Kurt and
the entire Catfish Organization crew.
In the past month I have traveled
near and far, and enjoyed every mile, We traveled to Chackbay and the
Louisiana Gumbo Festival, the Board Meeting in Des Allemands, Yambilee
in Opelousas, the Louisiana Swine Festival in Basile, Port Barre
Cracklin Festival, Westwego Cypress Swamp Fest, and Meraux Shrimp
Festival. I want to say thank you to all the past Queens for a job well
done, and wish the new queens the very best in their coming reign.
I also want to remind all the Fairs
and Festivals that time is running out for the marketing awards
submissions and urge you to get your entries in before December 1 to
Dennis Mouton of District # 3. Rooms are also going fast at the Holiday
Inn Select, I understand that there are only King Rooms left, so get
your reservations in as soon as you can. Rob Piraro, our V.P. and
Convention Coordinator has really done a great job in getting our
convention together and it will be both fun and informative. So make
plans to be with us at the 2005 Convention February 17th-20th.
I would like to thank all the fairs
and festivals that honored me with being able to judge their pageants; I
know that your queens will do great jobs for all of you. I also would
like to remind you that your officers of LAFF are here to serve you and
if you need help, feel free to contact us. Again, please accept our
warmest greetings from our house to yours, and please stay safe.
s/Warren
Deemer
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VICE-PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE:
Wow, how fast this year
is going by! With only a few months before Convention, I am making sure
all the last minute details are complete. Your LAFF Board is making
its’ list and checking it twice to have everything ready! I guarantee
you Convention 2005 is truly a group effort. I have been blessed with
great people to help in every way possible, from table centerpieces to
hospitality rooms to the Welcome Desk, every phase of Convention is
covered and many people are giving their time and talents to LAFF.
Thanks
go to the Louisiana Catfish Festival Board for hosting our LAFF meeting
October 30th. The boat was very nice and the food was
exceptional. That was the very best bread pudding I have ever eaten and
we are going to attempt to make it for Thanksgiving. Again, thank you
for a good day.
We are
encouraging everyone to dress for Friday night of Convention in period
clothing of the 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. This means the ladies may wear
flapper dresses, or hats and gloves. Men, pin stripes are definitely in
for this period of time along with hats. HAVE FUN! Saturday night we
would like for it to be a little more formal. Satin gowns and vintage
clothing would be fun for the ladies and suits, tux, or tails and top
hats and canes would be the dress for the men. Again, just have fun and
enjoy.
We have
numerous events planned for Convention and we invite each and every one
to participate! You will only get out of Convention what you put
into it. By this I mean you need to get out and meet
people, attend workshops, attend the meetings, and SPEAK UP for what you
need or want. Run for a position on the Board. Help to make things
happen. Remember, this is OUR organization – it belongs to each and
every one and together, we can continue to grow and excel.
On
Friday, October 22nd, we attended the Louisiana State Fair in
Shreveport. This is a tremendous event and hats off to Mr. Sam for
doing such a great job. The exhibits were outstanding and we enjoyed
some great rib eye sandwiches cooked by the Louisiana Cattlemen’s
Association in their building.
On
Saturday, October 23rd, we headed East to the Washington
Parish Free Fair in Franklinton. If you never visited this event, you
are missing out on one of Louisiana’s greatest events. Kaye Ladner and
the group from Washington Parish truly put on a great show. Again,
congratulations for such a great event and thank you for your warm
hospitality.
On
Friday, October 29th, we met with the Holiday Inn Select
staff to plan the menu for Convention. Please keep in mind Convention
will be after Mardi Gras so Friday night’s meal will be a fish dish and
we know you will enjoy it.
On
Saturday, October 30th, we went South to desAllemands for the
LAFF Board meeting and then made a beeline North to Opelousas for the
Louisiana Yambilee Festival Queen’s Pageant. They had an outstanding
group of contestants and our congratulations go to their new queen, Miss
Brooke Henry.
On
Sunday, November 7th, we headed to Westwego where we had the
privilege of judging their Queens’ Pageant. Thank you to the Westwego
Fest Board for their hospitality. It was a pleasure to meet each and
every one and we look forward to seeing you all at Convention.
On
Saturday, November 13th, we pointed the van Northeast as we
traveled to Port Barre for the Cracklin Festival and Queens’ Pageant.
They, too, had a very nice pageant and congratulations to their new
queen, Miss Monica Suire.
As you
can tell, we have been crisscrossing Louisiana a lot over this past year
and we have truly enjoyed each and every mile. We have made new friends
along the way and visited with old friends again too. Louisiana is such
a unique state and we are truly blessed to have been able to enjoy it as
much as we have. Our fairs and festivals are truly our heritage and
each and every one has something special about it. We encourage you to
get out and enjoy all the ones you can because this is what we are all
about.
I hope
to meet each and every one at Convention and wish you all a safe journey
to Baton Rouge. If we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate
to contact us. Our next LAFF Board meeting will be held at the Holiday
Inn Select on January 22, 2005. If you would like to attend, please let
us know.
YOUR
RESERVATIONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE BY NOW, BUT IT YOU HAVE NOT, WE
ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO NOW BECAUSE THE HOTEL WILL BE SOLD OUT PRIOR TO
CONVENTION AND NO ROOMS WILL BE HELD FOR ANYONE!
Have a Merry Christmas
s/Rob Piraro
SECRETARY’s REPORT
As you
read this it will be December and most thoughts will be on Christmas,
New Years and family gatherings. But this is being written just before
Thanksgiving and my thoughts are on the blessings in our lives. When I
reflect on all that has been sent my way, I am grateful for being
allowed to be a part of a wonderful organization, for the friendships
that I have made and for all the wonderful events that has been my
pleasure to experience. I am especially blessed with a great wife. I
promised my wife that if I was elected secretary she would not be asked
or expected to assist with the duties. However there is never a task
for this job that she doesn’t willingly pitch in and help. I am proud to
note that as of October, Mona has been putting up with me for
twenty-five years.
From Mona
and myself, we hope your holidays are filled with warmth and love.
We look
forward to seeing you all at convention.
s/ Al
Dupré
DISTRICT #3 DIRECTOR
Congratulations to the following new
Queens:
Yambilee Festival Queen….Brooke
Henry
Cracklin Festival Queen…....Monica
Suire
I would like to take this
opportunity to wish each and every one of you
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. My wife Natalie and I have
thoroughly enjoyed traveling this year to different fairs and festivals,
meeting new friends, and meeting with old friends.
Packets should be out for now for
the convention. If not please contact Al.
Marketing
awards need to be turned in by December 1, 2004.
See you at the 2005 Convention.
s/ Dennis
Mouton
D3D
>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<
PAGEANT COORDINATOR
We
encourage every organization to make certain they have booked the hotel
room for their queen. It is heart-breaking for any queen when she
arrives at the hotel to find out she has no room. Please, check with
your pageant directors to be certain your queen has a room.
There
are several changes we made for the pageant this year from our
Directors’ meeting held on Friday night. Queens are asked to bring only
one gift this year for the Queens’ Chinese Christmas party on Saturday
rather than 75 items for ditty bags. In addition, we are still asking
for each queen to bring something from her fair or festival to be put
into the Queen of Queens’ trunk for the young lady that will be selected
in 2005.
Another
change is that the judges will not be in the banquet room on Friday
night. This way, the girls can really have fun and just enjoy the
moment.
Please
make certain that your queen has sent in a 5 x 7 black and white, or
color, photograph that is vertical for the program book. Every year I
have to make telephone calls to try to get every queen’s picture in the
program book. I NEED ALL THE PICTURES NO LATER THAN JANUARY 15TH.
Late entries will not have their pictures in the program book.
All
pageant program book ads should also be received by January 15th.
Remember that we give an award for the most ads sold as well. Our ads
are very reasonable and much appreciated.
If you
have any pageant questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to
contact me. The entry form is on our LAFF website –
www.laffnet.org.
s/
Janet Piraro
Pageant Coordinator
337-478-2355
robpiraro@aol.com
Elections 2005 !!!
We will be electing President,
Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and District Directors in District
One, District Five & District Seven at the 2005 convention.
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1GUIDELINES
FOR 2005 LAFF ELECTION
1. Requires that an individual MUST be or have been a
“Board Member, Officer, Staff Person or Chairperson” of their current
active dues paying member Fair or Festival in order to be nominated for
the LAFF officer or board election.
2.
Nominations MUST be made in writing by the Convention
delegate (or a current officer) of the LAFF member fair or festival to
the nominating committee anytime prior to five (5) pm Friday afternoon
of the annual meeting.
3. Nominating
committee shall present a slate of candidates for all officer and board
position including unexpired terms and vacancies no later than the end
of the Friday afternoon session of the annual meeting.
4. Nominations from the floor may be made ONLY by the
Convention delegate (or a current officer) of the LAFF member fair or
festival.
5. The Secretary will prepare a ballot for the election of
Officers. The Secretary will prepare a ballot for the election of
Directors, which will include the names of the office nominees where
more than one person is nominated.
6. Recommend that Directors be elected from designated
areas of the state.
7.
Recommend that candidates for Treasurer and Secretary be
bondable.
8. Consider establishing a definite make-up of the
nominating committee. By-laws require that the President “appoint the
nominating committee for the election of officers and directors
consisting of not less than three (3) members but no more than five (5)
members.
9. The State of Louisiana will be divided in six (6) LAFF
District for the election of board members. Since there are two (2)
elected board members currently elected to two (2) of these now,
elections will be a follows for the following years:
1994 Elections will be held in District 2 & 6
1995 Elections will be held in District 3 & 4
1996 Elections will be held in District 1 & 5
10. Thereafter elections will be held every three (3) years
in the same order as stated above. Only members of the individual
districts will be allowed to vote in these districts.
11.
The election committee request that a letter from the
candidate’s events stating that the candidate is a member of their
organization. This will help the election committee know that this
person is from the right district and know that this person is a member
of a dues paying organization of LAFF,
12. District seven (7) will be elected with District 1 & 5.
ATTENTION, ATTENTION, ATTENTION!!!!!!!!
Still
looking for those gorgeous gal’s (I mean men) who want to
participate
in the
third annual Womanless Pageant. How exciting it would be for if one of
the contestants who was chosen as Queen would be from your festival.
Forms are on the web site too at laffnet.org. An exciting news alert,
there will be more than one Queen selected this year. Maybe
three.........
We would appreciate each festival
sending at least one contestant. The best news is that we are waiving
the entry fee. It is free of charge (what an incentive!). Dress
code: Please keep it rated PG-13
KEEP IT
FUN AND SAFE
For more information, please
contact Dennis Mouton - Dist #3 Director
SEQ
CHAPTER \h \r 1QUALIFICATIONS
FOR MEMBERSHIP IN L.A.F.F. HALL OF FAME
1. Must be a current member of a fair/festival association
which belongs to and is in good standing with L.A.F.F.
2. Must have contributed to L.A.F.F. in terms of (A) service, (B)
making a tangible donation and/or (C) providing an unselfish act or deed
benefiting L.A.F.F.
3. Must have belonged to a L.A.F.F. member fair/festival association
for a minimum of ten (10) years.
4. Must be nominated by a current member fair/festival of L.A.F.F.
5. Nominee may be living or deceased, but must meet all aforementioned
criteria.
6. Unless superceded by the L.A.F.F. Board of Directors, only one new
member of L.A.F.F. Hall of Fame will be inducted each year. Note: The
Fair Person of the Year is automatically inducted into the L.A.F.F.
Hall of Fame the year following his/her being named a Fair Person of the
Year.
____________________________________
NOMINATING PROCEDURE FOR L.A.F.F. HALL OF FAME
1. State nominee's name and home address, including zip code.
2. State nominee's fair/festival affiliation (if associate,
state business).
3. State nominee's length of membership in L.A.F.F.
4. List nominee's accomplishments in L.A.F.F.
5. List nominee's accomplishments with local fair/festival
association.
6. State, in 25 words or less, why nominee is a candidate for Hall of
Fame honors.
7. State your name and address (including zip code) and telephone
number (including area code).
8. If possible, include a photograph of the nominee and some newspaper
clippings of any events featuring the nominee in a fair/festival-related
setting.
9. Send nominations to L.A.F.F. Secretary (Al Dupré, 2402 Elizabeth
Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301)
10. Entry Deadline: December 30th.
EVENTS TO ATTEND
December
1 - 31
Christmas New Orleans Style - New Orleans
December 3 & 4
A Bayou Christmas - Larose
December 4
Ozoane Camellia Festival - Slidell
December 4 - 5
Plaquemine Parish Fair & Orange Festival - Port Sulphur
December 11 - 12
Cottonport Christmas Festival – Cottonport
January
6 - 8
Louisiana Fur and Wildlife Festival
Cameron
January 8
Rice Capital Championship Gumbo Cook-Off
Crowley
February 4 - 8
Eunice Mardi Gras Celebration
Eunice
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Remember,
our 2005
Convention theme:
“Stepping out
with L.A.F.F.”
Holiday Inn Select
- Baton Rouge
February 17 – 20,
2005
Make your plans to
attend
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