| L. A. F.
F. Email: laffadupre@yahoo.com
Website:www.laffnet.org
A Publication of the Louisiana
Association of Fairs and Festivals Al Dupré, Jr., Editor
APRIL 2005 Edition
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Spring is here and with it comes new opportunities and many events to
attend throughout the year. I look forward to making as many as possible
across our great state and if there is anything we can do to help your
event in any way, please do not hesitate to call us. We are here for
each and every one of you to work together for the good of our
association.
Saturday March 5th, we started our day attending the Petite Lapin
Pageant for the Iowa Rabbit Festival. Their director, Mrs. Faye
Bergeron, did an outstanding job having 123 contestants. We then headed
east to Ray*La*Ne and a visit with Cheryl McCarty. It was a very nice
day and Cheryl had a good turnout for their event. Thank you Cheryl for
your hospitality. We met up with Dennis and Natalie Mouton and together,
we headed further east to Amite Oyster Festival Queens' Pageant.
Carol Glasgow, the Pageant Director for Amite Oyster, and her committee
did an incredible job on their pageant and had beautiful set
decorations. Congratulations to their newly crowned royalty: Deb Oyster
is Logan Travis; Teen Oyster is Chelsea Henton; and Miss Oyster is
Meghan Sharkey.
On Friday night, March 18th, I attended the Iowa Rabbit Festival.
Although it was forecast to rain, the weather held up fairly well. It
was cold but at least it was dry. We visited with Faye and Donald Vest,
Pageant Directors; and Johnny Guillory, President of the Iowa Rabbit
Festival. They had good music and a good crowd. Thank you for the
hospitality as well.
On Saturday night, March 19th, we headed to the Westlake Family, Fun and
Food Festival Queens' Pageant held in Westlake. Betsy Granger, Pageant
Director, had a good turnout for her pageant with three contestants in
the Teen, three in the Ms and nine in the Miss. Congratulations to their
new royalty, including a close friend of ours, Mitzie Sanders, who won
the Ms Title.
Sunday, March 20th, we were the host for the annual Cajun Music
Children's Easter Party and Easter Egg Hunt held at Pinderosa Park in
Westlake. We had 40 children in attendance to
hunt eggs, and plenty of good food and great Cajun Music provided by Mr.
Mack Manuel for everyone to dance to and enjoy. We were so very
thankful that the President for 2005 and will be seeing many of you at
your events. Remember, I can work a food
booth, judge just about anything, sell tickets, or do whatever you may
need…..just call me and we will do our very best to be there.
May all your events be filled with sunshine and large crowds.
s/Rob Piraro
********************************
CORRECTION
In last month's story on Queen of Queens there was some incredibly bad
editing. Inadvertently left out were two queens. That part of the
newsletter should have been:
First runner up was Shannon Hinton representing LA
Crawfish Festival (Chalmette).
Second runner up was Chanté Rice representing Festival
in the Park (Bogalusa).
My apologies ..ajd
********************************
VICE-PRESIDENT's MESSAGE:
A special thanks to every board member and festival member in District
III for doing a great job promoting your fairs and festivals. It has
been an honor serving you as your District III Director.
I had the opportunity to work with so
many great individuals who support their organization 110%.
I really thought that I would continue
in the capacity as District III Director, but I was approached with an
opportunity that I could not pass up. I was asked to run for LAFF
Vice-President. It was a hard decision for me to make, but I knew that I
would continue to have everyone's support, and as a team we could
accomplish this goal. Now I will be able to support all fairs/festivals
and assist all District Directors.
I have begun my journey as Vice-President and I look forward to a very
exciting year ahead. After the excitement of Queen of Queens I started
traveling to meet with different fairs/festivals members and pageant
directors. I traveled to Ray*La*Ne Festival and Jr. Pageant, Amite
Oyster Festival Pageant, Washington Catfish Festival and Pageant, Iowa
Rabbit Festival, Patterson Cypress SawMill Pageant, and Southdown
Marketplace Festival. If you like to shop for arts and crafts this is
the place to visit Southdown Marketplace in Houma, La. The next Festival
will be held on November 5, 2005.
Congratulations to our newly crowned Queen of Queens, Lana Blair Meche.
I know Lana personally and I know that she will do a great job
representing LAFF. Again, congratulations,
LANA. To all the contestants who participated in the LAFF pageant
everyone did an exceptional job.
As Chairman for the 2006 LAFF Convention, which will be held in Baton
Rouge on February 16th -19th; we are planning on having our first board
meeting on April 30th at 10:00 a.m. at the Erath Community Building. We
have already begun making preparations for the 2006 convention. The
theme for the 2006 Convention is "Freedom Rings with LAFF". Show your
red, white and blue spirit.
If there is anything that I can do for any festival or fair, do not
hesitate to contact me by phone 337-937-0691 or you can email me at:
dcmouton@cox.net
Gale LuQuette, the web-site looks fantastic....Everyone check out the
LAFF web-site www.laffnet.org to obtain the most updated information on
what is going on in the State of Louisiana (Fairs/Festivals) and
upcoming events. Also has information on upcoming pageants.
s/ Dennis Mouton
********************************
PAST-PRESIDENT's MESSAGE
How do you say thanks for such a wonderful year? I must first begin with
thanking the Membership of LAFF for their confidence in allowing me to
serve as President of this Great organization for the past year. I must
also thank the Officers and Directors of LAFF for their cooperation and
understanding during this past year of medical ups and downs that I
experienced and for their continued support in making this year and
especially this past convention so memorable for me. To the Westwego
Cypress Swamp Festival, my home festival, thanks for your support and
confidence over the years. To our 2004 Queen of Queens, Taryn Sanford;
thank you for representing us so well and for shining like the star that
you truly are. To Rhonda and Mike Sanford, thank you for allowing us to
have your lovely Daughter represent us during her reign. Now maybe Mike
can again have his daughter around on weekends to brighten his life as
she has brightened our entire LAFF family.
No one could ever make me believe that a year could go by so quickly,
especially when you are having so much fun and meeting such fantastic
people from throughout this great state of ours. I truly appreciate all
the invitations that I received during my Presidency, and believe me,
the wife and I thoroughly enjoyed every event. I do wish to apologize
for any event that I couldn't attend, but sometimes there were too many
and too far apart.
To Lana Meche, our new Queen of Queen's, you are truly a one of a kind
young lady. Your beauty and attitude is a quality that is a direct
reflection of your family values. Your parents are proud of for your
achievements this year and throughout your years in pageants. Lana
welcome to the LAFF family, an extended family that you will enjoy
throughout your reign.
I wish to extend my hardiest congratulations to Rob Piraro, our
President, Dennis Mouton, our vice-President and convention coordinator,
Barbara Horaist ,our Treasurer, and Al Dupré our Secretary, as well as
all the Directors for their dedicated and continued services to our
great organization.
As Past President, I look forward to continuing my support of the Fairs
and Festivals throughout the state. So if you need a pageant judge,
emcee, talent judge, or a general flunky, please feel free to contact
me. My new motto is "YOU CALL AND I'LL HAUL." Thanks again to everyone
who played any part in making this past year and convention the success
it was.
s/ Warren Deemer
>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<
TREASURER's REPORT:
Happy Spring and Happy Easter to everyone! I hope you are all enjoying
the nice weather we are experiencing and that all of your
festivals/fairs make a bundle. Former treasurer Byron Blanchard and I
are presently working on getting the monies/books transferred to
Abbeville. Should anyone need anything pertaining to financial matters,
please contact me at bnhoraist@aol.com or at 337-893-6328.
I have only had a chance to visit two festival pageants since the March
newsletter. First I attended the Washington Catfish Festival Pageant on
March 12th and thoroughly enjoyed watching former Queen of Queens Anne
Katherine (Lené) Moss compete and win the Ms. Title. It was a very nice
pageant. On March 19 and 20, Neal and I and three other Cattle Festival
members judged all of the Cochon de Lait Festival Pageants in Mansura.
We were treated royally by Angele and Carol and their committee.
Congrats, Angele and Carol, on your successful pageants and on bringing
them back to your festival!
Should anyone need any help with judging or any other aspect of your
fair/festival, please feel free to contact Neal and me. We LOVE to
help!!
s/ Barbara T. Horaist
**************************
SECRETARY's REPORT:
If things went right, you are noticing a change from last years "Steppin'
Out" black/white theme. This year in honor of Vice-President and
convention chairman Dennis Mouton and his theme - "Freedom Rings with
LAFF" and for all our troops that are serving - and have served so that
you and I can have the freedom to attend fairs and festivals; a little
Red, White & Blue.
s/ Al Dupré
DISTRICT IV DIRECTOR
What a great time we had at Convention 2005. Rob and his committees did
an outstanding job getting the job done. Not only did we have fun, we
accomplished a great deal in the process. Networking with friends and
fellow volunteers is actually the best way to gain valuable information
to upgrade our local events.
As spring begins, we are all looking forward to good times and praying
for good weather. There is a lot to do around the state and sometimes it
is difficult to decide which event to attend. Louisiana truly is a fun
place to live. Every week-end brings the opportunity to experience a
different culture. So let me encourage you to go to your neighboring
town and take advantage of what each one has to offer.
The evaluation forms you filled out at convention have been reviewed and
as usual some of you were unhappy with various aspects of the
convention. We do appreciate your concerns and suggestions as to how we
can improve convention. Be assured that the board does address your
concerns and we hope to eliminate some of the problems. Again this year
our biggest complaint was concerning the quality of food. We already
have a meeting scheduled with the hotel to select the meals for next
year and we will address all of your displeasure with the catering
staff. Another complaint we noticed repeatedly was your comments about
the dogs in the hotel rooms. That too will be discussed with management.
I am glad to say that not all of the comments were negative. Many of you
had very positive comments and we appreciate those as well. Please
remember, your board is a group of volunteers just like you and a group
who has your best interest at heart. We will strive to improve every way
that we can, and we hope that you will continue to attend and enjoy
convention each year.
As your District IV Director, please remember that I am available to
assist you at your event. Please contact me to help any way that I can.
s/ Kaye Ladner
27280 R.F. Ball Road Franklinton, LA 70438 985-848-5937 or 985-839-7840
>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<
DISTRICT # 6 DIRECTOR
On 5 March 2005 I had the honor to judge the Ashland Spring Festival in
Ashland LA. I had a great time judging and a
special thanks to Mrs. Alisa Yelverton for inviting me. The wonderful
staff put on a great pageant and made me feel special. Miss Katey Yocum
was crowned queen. There festival will be held on Saturday, 26 March
2005.
On 19 March 2005 I attended the Forest Hill Nursery Festival in Forest
Hill, LA. I met with Fire Chief Tim West about a membership with LAFF.
He stated they had applied for a membership. Thanks for becoming part of
the LAFF family.
If you want me to visit your event or need help in some way, please
contract me so I can make my schedule.
In the sprit of LAFF, your District 6 Director,
s/ Paul McGee
>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<
QUEEN of QUEENS
What an incredible first month! Although I am still in shock, my year
has gotten off to a great start. By March 31, 2005, I have traveled to
10 events and logged over 1200 miles. Some of the events that I have
attended include the Ponchatoula Strawberry Ball, Amite Oyster Pageant,
Festival Ray*La*Ne, Washington Catfish Festival, Iowa Rabbit Pageant,
Patterson Cypress Sawmill Luncheon, Independence Italian Ball, and more.
The overwhelming amount of love and support by the LAFF Board of
Directors, festival committees, fair and festival queens, and pageant
moms have touched me deeply. It is humbling to experience everyone's
generosity and encouragement, and I can only hope to give back what you
all have already given me. It is because of you that this organization
is a great success! In Queen's Love,
s/ Lana Meche
**************************
EVENTS TO ATTEND
March 29 - April 3
Patterson Cypress Sawmill Festival
March 31 - April 3
Louisiana Crawfish Festival - Chalmette
April 1 - 3
Boggy Bayou Festival - Pine Prairie
April 1 - 3
Cajun Hot Sauce Festival - New Iberia
April 2
Brimstone Historical Society - Sulphur
April 2
Grant Dogwood Festival - Pollock
April 2 - 3
Festival Des Families D'Erath Pepper Festival
April 3
Christmas Under the Oaks Festival - Sulphur
April 5 - 27
Jubilee Festival of the Arts & Humanities of Nicholls University -
Thibodaux
April 7 - 9
Louisiana Railroad Days Festival - DeQuincy
April 8 -10
French Quarter Festival, Inc. - New Orleans
April 8 - 10
Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival
April 9
Franklin Parish Catfish Festival - Winnsboro
April 10
CFMA Acadian Charter Chapter Festival
Eunice
April 15 - 17
Bayou Teche Bear Festival - Franklin
April 15 - 17
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Potpourri Festival
Westwego
April 15 - 17
Sausage Cook-off - Lafayette
April 16 - 17
Lawtell Crawfish Boat Festival
April 20 - 23
Festival International de Louisiane - Lafayette
April 22 - 24
Etouffee Festival - Arnaudville
April 22 - 24
Family Fun Festival - Larose
April 22- 24
St. Joan of Arc Spring Festival - LaPlace
April 22 - 24
Independence Italian Festival
April 26 - May 8
Contraband Days Festival - Lake Charles
April 28 - May 1
Thibodaux Volunteer Firemen's Fair
April 29 - May 1
Spring Fling - Natchitoches
April 30 - May 1
Cajun Woodstock for St Jude's - Church Point
"Let Freedom Ring with LAFF"
Holiday Inn Select
Baton Rouge
February 16, 17, 18 & 19, 2006
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