January 8, 2005, MEETING OF THE IMPERIAL ST. LANDRY GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, held in the Doctors Hospital Medical Offices Building Conference Room.

Estelle Perrault, President, called the meeting to order at 10:04 AM. She thanked James St. Cyr, Society Member, for video taping our meetings.

She announced that Mr. Ron Thibodeaux, a Times Picayune reporter, and Mr. Don Thibodeaux, a resident of Baton Rouge, will be the featured speakers at the February 12^th meeting. They wish to present a bag of soil from the ancestral Pierre Thibodeaux farm in Nova Scotia. Mr. Ron Thibodeaux published an account of the circumstances surrounding the return of the Thibodeaux family descendants to Nova Scotia. The story tells of the chance encounter with the present owners of the land once occupied by the Acadian ancestors. Both men attended the recent Congrès Mondial in Nova Scotia, and they will talk about their trip.

Miss Perrault reported that she has received a thank you letter from the two LSUE history students who attended one of our previous meetings. They are students of Society member, Alma Reed. Mrs. Reed promotes students’ interest in history by requiring that they research the lives of Civil War soldiers who are buried in local cemeteries.

Roselyn Soileau gave the report from the Nominating Committee, as follows:

President, Estelle M. Perrault

Vice-President, Etha S. Amling

Corresponding Secretary, Joann H. Duncan

Recording Secretary, Sylvia D. Morel

Treasurer, Joanne R. Savoie

3-Year Director, James St. Cyr

Miss Perrault called for nominations from the floor. None. Motion to carry made by Catherine Goulas, and seconded by Dot Siegel. Motion Carried.

Miss Perrault then introduced the two guest speakers, Ed and Anna Gauthier. Mr. and Mrs. Gauthier were among the forty-two Acadian descendants aboard the sailing vessel, Europa, which commemorated the 400^th year of the voyage of the Acadian ancestors. Sailing from Le Havre, France in June of 2004, they arrived in Nova Scotia after thirty days at sea. The passengers were from varied parts of the world, but the Gauthier⁹ s stated that they felt ^connected" because of their common ancestry. In addition, both of them said that the experience gave them greater appreciation of the tremendous courage of the first Acadian settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Gauthier are teachers by profession, and both plan to use the experiences gained in the trip. They showed beautiful pictures, which were taken aboard the sailing vessel. A question and answer period followed.

Etha Amling recalled reading a book, which relates the account of a girl who was ordered by the Catholic Church to sail to America. She was among the early settlers in Nova Scotia. Miss Perrault asked her to locate the book for future reference. During the question and answer period, Mrs. Gauthier mentioned that she is a Martin descendant, and that on the Nova Scotia trip she verified that her Martin ancestor was one of the original settlers. Miss Perrault then asked how many members are among those Martin descendants, and there was a show of hands.

Miss Perrault asked Mr. and Mrs. Gauthier to submit recommended titles of research books to be ordered by the Opelousas Public Library. She also reminded all Society members to do the same.

The next meeting will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, February 12, 2005, in the Doctors⁹ Hospital Medical Building Conference Room. In addition to Mr. Don Thibodeaux and Mr. Ron Thibodeaux, Mr. Warren Perrin has tentatively agreed to attend. Mr. Perrin, a Lafayette attorney, filed a lawsuit against the British government, seeking an official apology for the unlawful 18^th Century deportation of the Acadians. He serves as President of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. In addition, he recently published a book, Acadian Redemption: from Beausoleil Broussard to the Queen's Royal Proclamation. Refreshments will be served, beginning at 9:30, and everyone is urged to come early.

Meeting adjourned at 12:00 NOON. Submitted by

Sylvia David Morel

Recording Secretary

IMPERIAL ST. LANDRY GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY