2012 General Assembly
The 19th Annual General Meeting of the ARNB was held on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at the Golden Age Club of St. Ignace with great support. The meeting was led by President Adrien Richard who indicated that the Board had held two meetings during the year and thanked the members for the Board of Directors for their interest and support. He also thanked the volunteers who worked to organize this meeting and prepare the food.
The treasurer Camille Richard presented the financial report for the past year. Revenues since May 1, 2011 were $ 2,208.05 including a balance of $ 380.68 that was in the account as of April 30, 2011 Expenses were $ 1,489.05 leaving a balance of $ 719.00 in addition to a membership share of $ 25. The Association currently has 220 members. It was proposed that the contribution remain the same at $ 5 for the next year.
Jean Richard reported that two newsletters were issued to members, one in November and the other in May, and that newsletters are now sent over the Internet to almost half of the members who have an email address. He also invited members to visit the Association’s up-to-date website, which contains a lot of information and almost all of the Association’s newsletters since 2005. He invited the members to inform him of the names of deceased members or Richard have left a mark and should have a special mention in the newsletter.
Thelma Richard mentioned various activities, organized or to which will participate, the Federation (FAFA) in the coming months. There will be memorials to the Odyssey monuments in different places including Dieppe on July 28th. There will also be the unveiling of a new Odyssey monument at Petite Rochelle near Campbelton. She also indicated that the FAFA regularly attends meetings of the organizing committee of World Acadian Congress 2014. The Richard meeting at the Congress is scheduled for August 23 in Cabano in Témiscuata. The Richard Family Association (Quebec) is organizing the reunion.
There was the election of the members of the Board of Directors for 2012-2013. It will consist of: President: Adrien Richard; vice-president: Émile Richard; secretary: Jean A. Richard; Treasurer: Camille Richard; Councillors: Aline Richard, Laurie Richard and Loretta Richard. The position of ex-president will remain vacant.
The annual meeting was followed by a PowerPoint presentation by Aldéo Richard on the region’s tourist attractions and the screening of a DVD Les Richard d’Acadie produced by Father Edmour Babineau. Both activities were well appreciated. The president then presented to Aldéo a copy of the DVD along with a membership card of the Association for 2012-2013 as well as a lapel pin of the ARNB’s coat of arms.
A delicious fricot supper, with beverages and dessert, was then served by members of St-Ignace. Sincere thanks to these volunteers.
2014 Congrès mondiale Acadien
The 2014 Acadian World Congress will take place from August 8th to the 24th, 2014 in Madawaska, Maine and the region of Kamouraska in Quebec. For more details, visit the Congress website at CMA 2014.
As in the past, there will be many family gatherings. The RICHARD gathering will take place on August 22, 23 and 24 in Kamouraska, in the regions of Notre-Dame-du-Lac and Cabano. The Richard Family Association (Quebec) is organizing the party.
2012 Trip to Louisiana
In October 2011, a large gathering took place in Louisiana under the name Le Grand Réveil Acadien. For this event, Thelma and Camille Richard had organized a Babineau-Richard trip to which a dozen members of the Association participated During the 13 days of the trip, they were able to attend many activities, visit interesting places , and especially meet many Cajun cousins with the same family name as us. The Cajuns, who fight for the preservation of their French language, appreciated the presence of the many Acadians who took part in the events. There was another group from Memramcook, Jean Gaudet’s caravan, a Quebec bus and another from France.
Jean Gaudet, Chairman of the Monuments Committee during the unveiling of a monument to the Odyssey in Houma, Louisiana, October 7 during the Grand Acadian Renewal.
