Volume VI | December 2017

L​ t. Governor Billy Nungesser's Newsletter

Dear Friends,

It's hard to believe we have less than 30 days of 2017 remaining. This year flew by so fast that I blinked, and it was almost over.

As we begin the holiday season, we will gather with family and friends to give thanks and count the blessings of the last year. I definitely count the blessing of serving as Lieutenant Governor at the top of my list. I have always said that I have the greatest job in the world, and that is still the case almost two years later.

The Christmas season is a great time to support local businesses, and you can do that on the Louisiana Cultural Shopping Trail that was launched right before Thanksgiving. With a total of 887 stops, there is something for everyone on your list. Visit LaShoppingTrail.com for more information and the complete list of stores.

I'm looking forward to kicking off 2018 in New Orleans once again for the second- annual Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve show from the French Quarter in the heart of New Orleans. That same night, we are kicking off the 300th anniversary celebration of the founding of the City of New Orleans. I'm excited for all that is ahead.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all of you!

Uniquely Louisiana,

Billy Nungesser Lt. Governor

Photo: Lt. Governor Nungesser cutting the 44' long shrimp po-boy at the Bayou Classic Press Conference sponsored by our Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board .

In the News...

White House pardons Thanksgiving turkey. What does Louisiana pardon?

Louisiana targets tourists with guide

Louisiana creates a shopping trail to promote unique stores

Louisiana Office of Tourism Announces New Director of Sales

La. chefs wow Big Apple media in NYC

Destination of the Month: Natchitoches Parish

With the holidays approaching, Natchitoches Parish is the Destination of the Month for December! Visit the oldest settlement in Louisiana, the City of Natchitoches, and celebrate the holidays during their Christmas festival and see the thousands of lights. Visit LouisianaTravel.com today to plan your trip!

"Sights, Sounds and Tastes of Louisiana" Proves a Big Hit in the Big Apple

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser claimed success during a recent mission to New York City for the Sights, Sounds and Tastes of Louisiana event. The Lieutenant Governor, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Louisiana Travel Promotion Association and six Convention and Visitors Bureaus partnered with Hoffman Media to bring 10 renowned Louisiana chefs to New York to give media and tour operators a taste of Louisiana’s Culinary Trails. Chefs prepared Louisiana’s world-class cuisine from around the state featuring Louisiana seafood along with live music for key influencers, encouraging media to write about the Louisiana culinary experience and inspiring potential visitors to choose Louisiana as their destination of choice.

During the trip to New York from November 6-8, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, and partners with area CVBs held meetings with nearly 35 influential travel writers. Additionally, the Sights, Sounds and Tastes of Louisiana event hosted more than 200 media members and tour operators.

Photo: Lt Governor Nungesser with participating Louisiana chefs. Lt. Gov. Nungesser Welcomes "Best of America by Horseback" to Louisiana

The crew of the syndicated show “Best of America by Horseback,” which airs weekly on RFD-TV, joined local and regional horse riders at Bogue Chitto State Park on November 11 for a trail ride to be aired on an upcoming episode.

More than 100 riders enjoyed the perfect day, part of a weekend full of activities and tours of local attractions. Lt. Governor Nungesser addressed the group just prior to their 3-hour ride through the trails of the park. The weekend wrapped up with a Cowboy Church service Sunday morning. More information about the show and their events can be found on their Facebook page or by visiting their website.

Lt. Governor Nungesser is a lover of the outdoors and outdoor activity. Upon visiting a facility geared towards providing horse-riding opportunities to children with disabilities and chronic diseases, he was impressed by the “power of horseback,” and developed the Pointe Celeste Therapeutic Riding Center, a covered, durable riding facility for physically disabled children and adults to experience the world from the vantage point of a free horseback ride.

Lt. Governor Nungesser has begun several initiatives to promote Louisiana, including a new Horse Tourism initiative (LouisianaTravel.com/HorseTourism), with the purpose of producing statewide competitions to increase visitation to our state and promote the horse industry. enhancing our Louisiana State Park trail rides and guided trail rides. focusing on therapeutic riding centers in the state.

As one of the top ten agricultural businesses in the state, Horse Tourism and its associated website highlights the horse industry in Louisiana in order to attract large scale events while recognizing local horse owners for their work. There is a total of 203,159 horses owned by 48,883 people in Louisiana. This results in an estimated expenditure of $828 million on horses and a total economic impact of $1.95 billion.

Photo: Lt. Governor Nungesser addressing trail riders at Bogue Chitto State Park.

Prospect 4 Comes to the New Orleans Jazz Museum

The fourth iteration of Prospect New Orleans’ international art exhibition, Prospect.4 (P.4), opened to the public at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint on Saturday, November 18th, 2017. P.4 brings together 73 artists from North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the European powers that colonized New Orleans, addressing issues of identity, displacement and cultural hybridity within the context of the celebration of the city’s Tricentennial.

The theme, The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp, alludes to the city’s unique cultural landscape as a creative force. The artists featured were identified and selected by P.4 Artistic Director Trevor Schoonmaker and their placement at NOJM was determined in collaboration with the Louisiana State Museum’s curatorial team, taking into consideration how the museum could best complement the distinctive style of each individual contributor. These artists include Larry Achiampong, Michael Armitage, Satch Hoyt, Rashid Johnson, Darryl Montana, Rivane Neuenschwander, Dario Robleto, Hank Willis Thomas, Peter Williams, and the late Louis Armstrong.

Louisiana State Museum Upcoming Events

Friends of the Cabildo Concert Series: Sonny Landreth

Date: December 8 Place: New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans Time: 7 p.m.

Created in 2013, the Friends of the Cabildo Concert Series has brought together some of the best musicians from New Orleans and Louisiana to perform and archive their music for the Louisiana State Museum’s music collection. Join us for a unique musical experience with Sonny Landreth at the intimate 150-seat, state of the art Old U.S. Mint 3rd Floor Performance Hall. A cash bar will be available at all concerts. Single concert tickets are $25 for general admission and just $20 for Friends of the Cabildo and Louisiana Museum Foundation members. friendsofthecabildo.org/foc-events-calendar/

Friends of the Cabildo Annual Symposium: France's Big Gamble

Date: December 8 and 9 Place: New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans Time: 6:30 p.m.; 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

The Friends of the Cabildo’s 4th Annual symposium will explore the legacy of France’s settlement of New Orleans in 1718 and is entitled France’s Big Gamble: The Legacy of the First Wave of Settlers, Enslaved People & Native Americans in Colonial Louisiana. From December 8th through 9th, the program hopes to discover the cultural legacies of early colonial commercial and social interactions between Europeans, enslaved Africans and the local indigenous people and their development of a distinct Creole Society. A concluding panel will ask the question is New Orleans an Accidental City. For more information and tickets, visit friendsofthecabildo.org/foc-events- calendar/

For Home and Country: Louisiana and the Great War, Friends of the Cabildo Second Thursday Lecture Series

Date: December 14 Place: New Orleans Jazz Museum, 400 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Louisiana State Museum historians Karen Leathem and Joyce Miller will discuss the new exhibit For Home and Country: Louisiana in the Great War, which opened at the Capitol Park Museum in September. Commemorating the one-hundredth anniversary of America’s entrance into World War I, the exhibition explores the impact that World War I had on the people of Louisiana, as well as the roles that Louisianians played in the European conflict. friendsofthecabildo.org/foc-events-calendar/

Holiday Shop Hop

Date: December 7 Place: Capitol Park Museum, 660 N. Fourth St., Baton Rouge Time: All day; Champagne stroll begins at 5:30 p.m.

Visit Baton Rouge is encouraging everyone to shop local retailers and visit the Downtown area during the Annual Holiday Shop Hop. More than 30 vendors will set up mobile pop-up booths at the Capitol Park Museum for an entire day of shopping opportunities!

Following the Holiday Shop Hop is the annual Champagne Stroll benefiting the annual Red Stick Revelry New Years' Eve Celebration. This year's Champagne Stroll will begin and end at the Capitol Park Museum.

Stroll or ride the Holiday Trolley to participating Downtown hotels to discover where you want to stay overnight for New Years Eve!

Enjoy caroling on the Trolley, chance to preview New Year's Eve packages at hotels, unique gifts by local artists and vendors on sale throughout Downtown. For more information on the Red Stick Revelry Champagne Stroll, visit redstickrevelry.com.

Extended Saturday hours for the Christmas Season

Dates: December 9, 16, 23, 30 Place: Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, 800 Front Street, Natchitoches Time: Open until 7 p.m.; last ticket sold at 6:30 p.m.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum will be open until 7:00 pm, last ticket sold at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, November 18th and 25th and December 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.

Christmas Tree Festival

Date: December 12 Place: Wedell Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum, 118 Cotton Rd., Patterson Time: 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

SCHOOL CLASSES, CHURCH GROUPS and LOCAL CLUBS we invite you to decorate one of our trees for this year’s annual CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL. We provide the tree, your class or group provides the lights and decorations.

We encourage trees decorated with general flight, aviation or space themes, the cypress industry, local and/or State history and culture.

The class or group that produces the best tree will win a pizza party. The top three teachers or leaders of the classes or groups will be awarded gift certificates.

Trees must be decorated by Friday, December 8, 2017. Reserve your tree now by calling (985) 399-1268.

Louisiana Division of the Arts Celebrates "Shop Local Artists Week"

In December of 2016, Northshore Cultural Economy Coalition (CEC) spearheaded a Shop Local Artists Week initiative in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The event included visual artists and book signings by local authors, encouraging consideration of arts for holiday gifting.

For 2017, Northshore CEC took the initiative statewide in support of the growing cultural economy! Louisiana Senator Sharon Hewitt with support of Representative Greg Cromer, passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 20, designating December 3-9 as Shop Local Artists Week throughout Louisiana. Visual artists, art galleries and museums, musicians and concert venues, actors and theatres, dancers, writers, culinary artists, and the film industry is a major part of the economy of the state, impacting tourism and quality of life.

The first week of December, communities throughout the state will celebrate Shop Local Artists Week with festivals, art exhibits, performing arts, museum and gallery events, culinary showcases, literary art programs and more.

Shop Local Artists Week is a great time for holiday shopping, for truly one-of-a-kind gifts and arts experiences, and it supports the creative people and businesses in communities across our state. Peruse the offerings of local galleries and museums. Attend a concert and pick up music from some of your favorite artists. Consider purchasing tickets to a community theatre or performing arts center, for a chance to make memories with your gift recipient. Art workshops provide an opportunity to enhance artistic skills or to discover new passions. For avid readers, what better gift than a book penned by and signed by local authors? And explore the world of culinary arts with unique dining experiences at local restaurants.

From metropolitan cities to rural communities, a variety of Shop Local Artist Week events are being created and presented by local artists and cultural organizations. To find events, contact your local Cultural District, Main Street or Arts Agency or visit the Calendar of Events- shoplocalartistsweek.com/events.

Photo: Tanya Firmin Dischler, originally from Franklin, now painting in Mandeville.

Fall Meeting of the CODOFIL Consortium of Louisiana Colleges and Universities

The CODOFIL Consortium of Louisiana Colleges and Universities held its fall meeting on Friday, October 27th at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center. Representing colleges, universities, and their partners from across the state, members of the Consortium meet twice a year with the goal of developing French at the post-secondary level in Louisiana. At its fall meeting, the Consortium welcomed new members Nicolas Torres of the French Consulate in New Orleans and Jordan Kellman, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at ULL. Jennifer Rodriguez, Academic Specialist for CODOFIL, presented finalized scholarship offerings for 2018, as well as comments from Charles Larroque, Executive Director of CODOFIL, on CODOFIL’s accomplishments in 2017 and goals for 2018.

Photo: CODOFIL Consortium of Louisiana Colleges and Universities conducting their fall meeting.

Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office receives Environmental Excellence Award

The Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office is a co- recipient of the 2017 Federal Highway Administration Environmental Excellence Award for Excellence in Programmatic Agreements. This biennial award honors outstanding initiatives and partnerships across the United States that incorporate environmental stewardship into the planning and project development process. The Louisiana Historic Bridge Inventory and Programmatic Agreement was a collaboration among the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office, Federal Highway Administration – Louisiana Division, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Mead & Hunt, and other agencies and organizations.

More information can be found on the Louisiana Historic Bridge Inventory project website:

http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/HBI/Pages/default.aspx.

Photo: Charles Bolinger, Division Administrator of the Louisiana Division of the Federal Highway Administration presents Office of Cultural Development Assistant Secretary Kristin Sanders with the award.

The Louisiana Public Documents Digital Archive Complete!

Public documents in digital format are preserved in the Louisiana Public Documents Digital Archive. This does not include all state public documents, but those that are born digitally, mostly from around 2002 to the present.

The Louisiana Public Document Depository Program (PDDP) is administered by the Recorder of Documents Office under the direction of the State Librarian. This program distributes copies of public documents to public and academic libraries across the state. The primary purpose of the depository program is to provide the people of Louisiana with access to state publications; the secondary purpose is to create and preserve a complete, centralized, and organized historical record of Louisiana via its public documents.

Louisiana law requires Louisiana agencies and institutions to furnish the Recorder of Documents within the State Library of Louisiana with copies of public documents to meet the needs of the PDDP and they are allowed to fulfill their statutory obligation to participate in the program by providing documents in electronic format. The primary goal of the Digital Archive is to provide the public with permanent access to these digital publications that state agencies submit. Louisiana state documents, print and digital, are cataloged in the online catalog of the State Library and are available for use by all libraries regardless of depository status.

The documents can be viewed at digital.state.lib.la.us

Volunteer Louisiana Accepting Nominations for Champions of Service Awards

Volunteer Louisiana is seeking nominations for volunteers who have made a difference throughout the state. The Champions of Service Awards nomination is open and available online at: VolunteerLouisiana.gov. Nominations will be accepted until January 17, 2018. Champions of Service Award winners will be announced in February 2018 and will be recognized by Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and Volunteer Louisiana at the Champions of Service Awards Gala on April 18, 2018. Stay tuned to VolunteerLouisiana.gov for more information on the awards, as well as tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the Gala.

Bayou Classic Kickoff Event Upcoming State Parks Events

The Louisiana Christmas in the Park Seafood Promotion Dates: December 1-23 and Place: Rebel State Historic Site, Marthaville Marketing Time: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Board and Enjoy the holiday season, with several lighted the Louisiana Christmas displays! Visitors are invited to drive Office of or walk through park during this special free Tourism program. Photos with Santa also will be partnered available on Dec. 2, 9, and 16 from 6-8 p.m. with the 44th For more information call 888.677.3600 toll Annual Bayou free or 318.472.6255 locally. Classic that was held A Dickens for Christmas November 25, 2017. A 44’ long seafood Po- boy was showcased to celebrate the 44th year Date: December 2 of this historical rivalry. Place: Audubon State Historic Site, St. Photo: Seafood Board Executive Director Francisville Bryan Adams and Lt. Gov. Nungesser. Time: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. The plantation comes to life during the holidays, as it shows off its seasonal East Baton Rouge Food Drive for decorations. Costumed guides accompany the Seniors visitor on a trip into the past through the candlelit Oakley House. Take a taste of what´s On November 10th, the East Baton Rouge cooking in the kitchen, or just enjoy the yearly Council on Aging held a food drive for Senior Christmas dance or listen to live period music. Citizens. Lt. Governor Nungesser and the For more information call 888.677.2838 toll Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing free or 225.635.3739 locally. Board provided bags of shrimp and catfish for Costumed Christmas Tours the food drive to give back to the community and our senior citizens. Date: December 16 Place: Fairview-Riverside State Park, Madisonville Louisiana Seafood Sponsors Upcoming Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Events Statewide View Otis House all decked out in holiday style, with fresh flowers, fruit and greenery of the In the month of December, the LSPMB will be Victorian period (courtesy of the Madisonville sponsoring the Special Olympics Louisiana Garden Club). Volunteers and staff in period Fundraising Event by donating Louisiana clothing also will serve wassail and cookies seafood for the public and donors of the after each tour. For more information call Special Olympics, the R+L Carriers New 888.677.3247 toll free or 985.845.3318 Orleans Bowl on December 16 and the Walk- locally. On’s Independence Bowl on December 27 in Shreveport. Be sure to check out their Facebook page for pictures and updates from the events.

Bayou Krewe Top Photos and Video

A good dog who is dedicated to the Sunrise before opening day at Grosse hunt/@csmi117. Savanne/@Grossesavanne.

Camp Edgewood during Boy Scouts camp out/@kfonteno_tddk.

Nothing like catching a bass in Toledo Bend/@ToledobendLakeCountry. Recent Happenings

Giving Hope Gala in New Orleans. Lt. Gov. Nungesser with Rep. Denise Marcelle at the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging Senior Food Drive.

Lt. Gov. Nungesser and Arkansas Lt. Gov. Tim Greeting the Marine Corps at Southeast Griffin. Middle School's Veterans Day program.

Girl Scouts of Louisiana Leadership Award Banquet at the Audubon Tea Room in New Orleans. Lt. Gov. Nungesser was named Man of the Year by the Girl Scouts.

Greeting veterans with Gov. Edwards following dedication of Veterans Memorial Park at the State Capitol.

We need your help in promoting Louisiana! Join the Bayou Krewe today to become a Louisiana Ambassador. Post your pictures to social media using #OnlyLouisiana to earn prizes and Ambassador swag just for showing how much you love Louisiana! Sign up here!

Upcoming Speeches

United Way of Acadiana: December 6

Southeast Middle School Museum of American Conflict Unveiling: December 7

Republican Women of Bossier: December 12

LA Tech Student Involvement Forum: December 12

Rural Tourism Statewide Byway Meeting: December 13

LA Travel Association Board Meeting: December 13

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