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L. A. F. F.
Email:
laffadupre@yahoo.com
Website: laffnet.org
A Publication
of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals
Al Dupré, Jr., Editor
September 2007
PRESIDENT’s
MESSAGE:
The L.A.F.F. family lost a great friend and “soldier”
with the passing of Kenny Guidry of the Cal-Cam fair. If you didn’t know
his name - and I do not think that is many of you -he was the guy at the
ditty bag room to assist you, as well as the guy at the door picking up
tickets as well as the guy that had the cart, full of door prizes. He was a
good friend to this organization for a long time and he will be missed..
Very soon you will have the convention packets with
pageant information. Remember the policy is that the order that the packets
are received back (completed with payment) is the priority for seating for
the Saturday Banquet and Friday queen’s introductions and showcases.
I want to thank Convention Chairman Jim Meaux and his
committee for all the work, that will insure a great convention for you.
Good luck to our upcoming events as we enter the “fall
season”. There are many events coming up. Take time to visit a neighbor
event, support them, have a good time and enjoy the best Louisiana has to
offer.
I also want to thank the Gueydan Duck Festival for
hosting the upcoming LAFF Board meeting set for September 29th.
In the spirit of LAFF, sincerely
s/ Paul Magee
VICE-PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE:
LOVE PEACE LAFF Welcome to the Sixties
Let’s go
right into the convention updates. The rooms at the Holiday Inn Select are
all booked up as of right now. There may be some rooms that will become
available closer to the convention so I am asking that you keep calling the
hotel to see if one becomes available. There are some people that are
calling the hotels number and the person at the hotel is not giving the
correct information. Therefore the hotel has asked that I pass this info to
all our members. When calling the hotel please call this number and the same
person will answer each time. The person’s name is AMBER. Her
phone number is 225-930-0174. E-mail address is
adore@executivecenter.com. She will be able to let you
know if any rooms are available. I am asking again as soon as your queen has
been selected to call Amber and give her the queen’s name and a credit card
number to confirm the room. It will be less complicated for the queen to
check into her room on Thursday if it is in her name. The festivals/fair has
other rooms under the festival/fair’s name therefore the hotel personnel do
not know which room is for the queen. The queens will be on the second and
third floors. We need to have the room under the queen’s name if at all
possible. We are trying to make the check-in procedure go as smooth as
possible. The less problems for the queens the better it will be for
everyone.
I am also asking that if anyone has a room that
they will not need for the convention to please let me know as soon as you
can. We are trying to book as many delegates into the Holiday Inn Select as
we can. There are only so many rooms that the hotel will allow us to use.
They are under contract with the airlines to keep some rooms for the pilots
and crew. We do have everything else but it is still not enough for all our
members and queens. There are other hotels nearby that will book a room for
you for the convention at a reduced rate. Anyone can call and tell them you
are with LAFF and that rate will apply. I know that while you stay at
another hotel you will have to travel back and forth to the convention. It
may be an inconvenience for you right now but give us a chance for a while
longer. There are changes coming in the future. As of right now there are no
other hotels in Baton Rouge that has both the rooms and convention space
under one roof to accommodate the LAFF convention. We are looking at other
options for the future but that is in the future.
The registration packets and Queens’s packets for
the convention are being mailed out at the beginning of September. Look for
it in the mail and let’s mail them back as soon as possible. We are planning
for the convention and there are things that we need to know so plans can
continue. We need a count of all delegates and queens that will be
attending. We have to plan the seating for Saturday night and all the meals.
Let’s all get busy and get ready for the 2008 LAFF Convention
LOVE PEACE LAFF
s/ Jim Meaux
SECRETARY’s MESSAGE:
Please make the information in the newsletter available
to your fair/festival members. If you wish anyone else in your event to
receive the newsletter via email, please either type or print very clearly
these email addresses and send to laffadupre@yahoo.com. Also, check the
website (www.laffnet.org)
for the newsletter, updates and other member information.
If you need any help with your fair or festival,
especially in judging a pageant or other type of contest or just needing
any assistance in general, please send an e-mail to: laffadupre@yahoo.com
or call me at: 985-447-4658 or write: 2402 Elizabeth Street, Thibodaux, LA
70301
DISTRICT
3 DIRECTOR
(Secretary’s note) Ronnie Lougon is still busy
wrapping up this year’s Duck Festival and wasn’t able to write a column, but
sends a brief message ……”District 3 Rocks”
s/Ronnie Lougon
DISTRICT 7 DIRECTOR
The LAFF family from District 7 wishes to extend our
condolences to the family of my dear friend Kenny Guidry, on his passing.
Kenny has been a trooper during his battle with cancer and has kept a
positive attitude until the end. Kenny, our prayers are that you are now in
peace and your suffering will be no more and you will rest from your earthly
labors. We don’t say good by, but farewell dear friend.
As September begins we have been lucky so far, from
any hurricanes. We can hope to be spared for another season, as the New
Orleans area is still nowhere near getting rebuilt.
District 7 has been relatively quiet so far except for
the Satchmo Fest in early August. There were three stages and the best food
and music you could find anywhere in New Orleans. The impersonations of
Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong were phenomenal. Congrats to the Satchmo Fest
organization for another super festival.
I did have the honor to attend the St. Charles Parish
Festival Pageant. Doreen Landry and her group again did a fantastic job to
bring us along that Yellow Brick Road and a quick visit to OZ. Congrats
Doreen and crew on a job well done.
I am available to assist your organization if you need
me. Just call or e-mail me and I will do everything possible to assist. I
also want to remind you that we are compiling the information for the next
Fairs and Festivals Guide, so please forward your 2008 event dates to your
district director so that your event is listed correctly.
I do hope you have made your plans for the 2008
convention. Jim Meaux is working very hard to insure another great
convention. If you feel the urge to offer your assistance, contact Jim and
offer, I’m sure he will accept all your offers. Until next month, keep
your head low, your expectations high and your smiles big.
s/ Warren Deemer
QUEEN of QUEEN’S
August was full of fun, food
and festivals! On Saturday, August 4th I attended the Delcambre
Shrimp pageant. The queens were treated to a day full of games, and I won
first place in the shrimp sack race with Dontrell Williams and Jessica
Verret. The evening ended with Macie Borel crowning the 2007 Delcambre
Shrimp Queen, Kristen Abshire.
I traveled to Belle Chasse on
August 11th and spent the day with the Louisiana Crawfish Queen,
Blaine Nielson and various queens from across the state. We were treated to
breakfast with the Parish President and took a boat tour of the canals.
Catahoula Elementary was my
destination on August 16th. I spoke to an 8th grade
class about the importance of Fairs and Festivals to our state. We
discussed how these events preserve the culture and traditions of our state,
as well as, how each of them could get involved in a local festival. They
were each given a copy of the LAFF event book to share with their parents.
I had a wonderful time speaking to them and would love to visit other
schools across the state.
I jumped over to Rayne on
August 18th for the annual Frog Festival Pageant and Ball. The
visiting queens tried to find their prince at a local frog farm and watched
two lucky ladies get the chance to represent this wonderful festival.
Congratulations Sarah Mouton, 2007 Teen Frog Queen, and Amanda Sills, 2007
Miss Frog Queen!
Music filled the air at
Blackham Coliseum on August 19th for the Le Cajun Festival. Kim
Naquin crowned her successor and I received a quick waltzing lesson! There
were many visitors from around Louisiana and Texas enjoying the successful
festival.
My month ended by flying south to Gueydan
for the Duck Festival! The queens were treated to an airboat ride through
the marsh, and we danced to Steve Riley at the festival Friday night.
Saturday morning began early with a skeet shoot competition. I received
second place and Brittinie Landry, Bridge City Gumbo Queen, was the skeet
shoot winner. Jessica Verret crowned the 2007 Duck Festival Queen, Julie
Fletcher.
The beginning of school marks the beginning
of the busiest festival season! My calendar is full, and I’ll see you on
the road!
Love, Peace and L.A.F.F.
s/
Mallory Spinner
POSTER CONTEST RULES
1. Subject
of poster shall be: “My Fair/Festival”.
Name, location and date of event must be on poster.
2. Any
public, private, or parochial school student may participate.
3. Poster
will be judged in four categories:
A. Grades 1 - 3
B. Grades 4 - 6
C. Grades 7 - 9
D. Grades 10 - 12
4. Poster
must be displayed on 14" X 22" white poster paper. (½ sheet of standard
poster
paper).
5. All work
must be vertical. Nothing horizontal will be judged.
6. All
lettering must be free-hand. Do not use Stencils.
7. Medium
used shall be: Crayon; Water Color; Acrylics, Felt-Tip Pen; or Oil.
No
Cut-outs nor Collage.
8. First,
Second, and Third place winners in each category are eligible for state
competition.
Limit
of Twelve (12) posters per event.
9. Posters
will be judged and points awarded as follows:
Originality 35%
Theme 25%
Neatness 25%
Spelling 15%
10. Poster
Prizes:
Third Place $25.00
Second Place $50.00
First Place $75.00
One Best Overall $100.00
11.
Information cards (5X7 index cards) should include the following:
Name Address
Telephone Parents
Category Fair/Festival
This should be placed on the left top corner of
poster in such a way that it can be flipped
over from front to back.
12. All
posters must be presented by 5:00 PM on Friday of the annual convention.
Chairman: Kaye Ladner
LAFF District IV Director
27280 R. F. Ball Rd.
Franklinton, Louisiana
707438
985-848-5937
Fax 985-839-9164
Email: wpfairlady@yahoo.com
Convention 2008
“Love, Peace & L.A.F.F.”
Holiday Inn Select Baton
Rouge
February
21 - 24, 2008
EVENTS TO ATTEND
With the recent storms, information
has been updated as available, always call before going!
September 2007 Events
Allen Parish Fair
Oberlin, LA 70655 Event Dates
19th thru 22nd
Tony Hebert 337-639-2985
Email: alantrom@agctr.lsu.edu
Alligator Festival
Luling, LA 70070 Event Dates
27th thru 30th
Cut Off Youth Center Hurricane
Festival
Cut Off, LA 70345 Event Dates
21st thru 23rd
Golden Meadow Firefighters Family
Fishing Rodeo
Galliano, LA 70354 Event
Dates 15th & 16th
Great Southern Bluegrass Festival
Angie, LA 70426 Event Dates
21st thru 23rd
LA Shrimp Festival
Slidell, LA 70461 Event
Dates-No 2007 Event
Marthaville Good Ole Days
Marthaville, LA. 71450 Event
Dates 14th & 15th
Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival
Natchitoches, LA. 71457 Event
Dates14th & 15th
Rayne Frog Festival
Rayne, LA 70578 Event
Dates 7th thru 9th
Red River Parish Fair & Rodeo
Coushatta, LA. 71019 Event Dates 28th
thru 30th
St. Helena Forest Festival
Greensburg, LA 70441 Event Dates
28th & 29th
St John the Baptist Family Festival
Boutte, LA 70039 Event
Date 15th
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