L’Ordre du Bon Temps raising funds for St. Martinville’s Acadian Memorial

L’Ordre du Bon Temps Louisiane 2015 will be Thursday, Nov 12, starting at 6 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the Wyndham Garden Hotel Acadiana on Pinhook in Lafayette.
Rendered in English as the Order of Good Cheer, the event, which includes a social hour, meal and entertainment, is a fund-raiser for the Acadian Memorial Foundation.
L’Ordre, the earliest North American social club, was started at the beginning of the 17th century by Samuel Champlain and his men, with the help of the Mi’kmaq Nation, to assist the French settlers in surviving the harsh northern winters. It was, according to a contemporary source, “… plus profitable que toutes sortes de médecines …” (worked better than any medicine).
The Angelle Aces, students of traditional Cajun music from the Department of Music at UL Lafayette under the direction of well-known Cajun musician Kristi Guillory, will kick off the evening during the social hour from 6-7 p.m. A cash bar will be available.
The many silent auction items, including a George Rodrigue print, “Ho Ho Hum Basket of Rum,” “Petit Paris Ramble for Two” and “Tabasco Food Tour for Two.”
State Sen. Fred Mills of Breaux Bridge, will be guest speaker. Cal and Lou Courville will give Cajun dance demonstrations.
St. Martin Bank and Trust CEO Paul A. Durand serves as Grand Maître VII, assisted by the six previous Grand Masters.
Tickets for the gala are $100 per person. A table for eight is $1,000 and includes membership in the Acadian Memorial Foundation of St. Martinville, and, as an event sponsor, a unique and l’Ordre du Bon Temps Louisiane certificate. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Acadian Memorial at (337) 394-2233 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
L’Ordre was relaunched in 2006 by the Acadian Memorial Foundation. Donations support the Acadian Memorial and its many projects. See www.acadianmemorial.org for more information.