(Number 86 – Autumn 2013) PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE The end of another year is fast approaching but that does not mean that your Association closes down its work. We continue to discuss and plan events and activities that will unite this great Racine family. In September we had a very successful and enjoyable reunion in Saint Donat de Montcalm, a splendid location in the Laurentian Mountains. Under the leadership of Diane Racine and her husband, Claude Dupuis, the Racine family enjoyed delicious food, hilarious entertainment, boating, a beautiful Mass with terrific choir and the pleasure of being together. It doesn’t get any better than that! We invite you to mark your calendar as we look forward to next year’s reunion in the Vallee du Richelieu in Beloeil. Jean-Louis Racine has taken the responsibility for this reunion to be held September 13-14, 2014. Again, I thank our Board members for making this a successful year and for giving of their time and talent. I especially thank once again, Diane and Claude, for our outstanding reunion; Jean- Louis for undertaking the task of organizing next year’s reunion and preserving our archives; Jacques for maintaining and continuously updating our membership list; Pierre, our treasurer, for keeping us solvent and providing our financial statements; and Gilles Dupont, our secretary, for keeping me organized. Denis Racine, our newsletter editor and genealogist, deserves our Association’s gratitude for his work and research on our behalf. Of course, we could not function without all our other Board members who are so diligent in attending meetings and providing input for the future of our Association. We thank you for your willingness to work for our success. During the recent general assembly we honored Jean-Paul Racine for his many years of service to the Association. Jean-Paul served as the Association’s archivist for several years, served on the Board, assisted with the organization of many reunions and is our “photographer- extraordinaire.” Thank you Jean-Paul from all your friends and family. At our Board meeting in September, the Board discussed a couple of concerns regarding membership. One of them concerns the newsletter. Due to declining membership, we are unable to sustain the publication of three newsletters a year. We will be reducing to two newsletters per year. Also, there will be a minor increase in our membership dues for the 2014-15 year. It is the first time in our 25 year history that we are increasing the dues. Once again, my sincere thanks for your continued support and my best wishes for a happy and healthy 2014. See you at our annual sugar maple party on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Céline Racine Paquette President ______________________________________________________________________________ OUR NEXT REUNION BELOEIL, 13-14 SEPTEMBER 2014 PORTRAIT OF THE RICHELIEU VALLEY: BELOEIL The Richelieu Valley, which is part of the Québec region known as Montérégie, goes from Lake Champlain north to Sorel-Tracy, where the Richelieu River empties into the St Lawrence River. The shores of the Richelieu contain many picturesque villages and towns. Several of these places, such as Chambly, Beloeil, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu and Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, have important historical significance. First the French, then the British, and even the Patriotes (French-Canadian Patriots) have figured in the area’s rich history. The Richelieu waterway, some 265 km long, has by itself an ample historical, cultural and genealogical meaning for Canada. The City of Beloeil, where our next reunion will be held, has a population of 21,000. Mont-Saint- Hilaire, population 17,500, is across the river from Beloeil. And next to Beloeil lies St-Hilaire Mountain, the tallest, at 415 metres, of the mountains in the Montérégie region. As part of the reunion, we will visit the “Maison Nationale des Patriotes” (National Home of the Patriots) at Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu. This building, built in 1809, has been designated as a national historic site. The interpretation center there depicts the dramatic events of the Rebellion of 1837-1838 and its heroes. We shall also be visiting the parish church nearby. We invite you to attend our 22nd Reunion of the Racines in this beautiful region. Jean-Louis, President of the Organizing Committee, will be sending out all of the details in the Spring/Summer 2014 edition of L’Enraciné. WE WELCOME YOU IN LARGE NUMBERS SUCCESS OF OUR 26TH ANNUAL REUNION AT SAINT-DONAT More than 75 people participated in this year’s reunion at Saint Donat in this magnificent and picturesque region of the country. In spite of the overcast weather, everyone enjoyed meeting old friends once again. On Friday afternoon, representatives of the local municipality held a reception for us at City Hall. On Saturday, we had an excellent boat tour of Lake Archambeault, viewing many of the fabulous lakefront houses of the rich and famous as well as marvelling at the surrounding mountains resplendent in their fall colours. Our Annual Assembly was held in the late afternoon. Several important decisions were taken by the membership. And Saturday evening, we were treated to an entertaining dinner and show. On Sunday morning we gathered at the parish church for a mass celebrated by Father Albert Lemieux. After, we had a banquet at the Manoir des Laurentides. Ex-Minister of State for Education for Québec and ex-Minister of National Defence for Canada, Marcel Masse and his wife Cécile, honored us with their presence Thank you to Diane Racine and Claude Dupuis for this great autumn weekend. OUR ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY Many important decisions were taken at our Annual General Assembly held at Saint-Donat on 21 September 2013. Our financial situation is such that we cannot continue to publish our newsletter L’Enraciné three times per year; it was therefore decided to publish only twice per year, in December and in June. In addition, it was decided to increase our membership fees by $5 per individual and $10 per couple beginning in October 2014. And even further, it was decided to solicit our members to receive L’Enraciné by e-mail instead of our having to mail it to them. Also regarding L’Enraciné, it was decided to publish only a few of the many death announcements that we receive in the newsletter; the remainder would be published in full on our website. After a briefing by Denis Racine on his endeavours to find more information on the ancestors of Étienne Racine, the meeting approved $500 over the next several years for Denis to explore notarial records in France. During the period 1647-1648, Étienne had returned to France to deal with his parents’ estate and he may have signed some notarial documents All five of the members of the Administrative Council whose terms had expired were re-elected for a three year term. These are: Jacques H. Racine, Pierre Racine (Salaberry-de-Valleyfield), Gérard Racine, Céline Racine-Paquette and Anne-Sophie Guimond-Racine After an in-camera session, the new Administrative Council returned to announce the following slate of officers for the next year: President: Céline Racine-Paquette 1st Vice-President: Diane Racine 2nd Vice-President: Jean-Louis Racine Secretary: Gilles Dupont Treasurer: Pierre Racine (Sainte-Anne de Beaupré) Diane Racine, President of our 26th Reunion RACINE FAMILIES’ ASSOCIATION INC. STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENSES For period 1 October 2012 to 31 May 2013 INCOME 31 May 31 May Budget 2013 2012 2013-2014 Contributions genealogical research 205. 20.00 200 Memberships 1258.00 2634.00 2000 Sales of genealogy dictionaries 150 US dollar exchange -15.10 -10.05 50 Interest earned 0.00 Promotional material: – Sales 85.00 184.00 200 Reunion 2011 3580.76 Reunion 2012 7015.00 Sales, Books and Annals 0.00 135.00 125 Total Income 8622.90 6543.71 2825 EXPENSES Archives 0.00 50 Annual general assembly 0.00 25 L’Enraciné production 1878.56 1886.54 1900 FSSQ membership 30.00 30.00 30 Tax preparation 33.00 32.00 32 Fiscal declaration 120.00 Federation fees: - Insurance 16.00 15.00 15 - Membership 274.75 274.75 275 Banking fees 156.07 130.05 135 Internet 45.00 137.23 140 Young Racines 0.00 100 Promotional Material 0.00 50 Printing, stationery, secretariat 260.94 136.92 140 Photocopying 69.98 73.53 70 Postal costs 163.47 284.30 165 Reunions - 2011 3330.53 - 2012 6209.72 34.65 Genealogical research 174.90 84.00 100 “Familles Souches” exhibition 0.00 100 Web site 0.00 50 Publication costs 23.23 37.75 40 Total Expenses 9455.52 6487.25 3442 SURPLUS OR (DEFICIT) 832.62 56.46 617 RACINE FAMILIES’ ASSOCIATION INC. BALANCE SHEET As of 31 May 2013 ASSETS 31 May 2013 31 May 2012 Petty cash $100.00 $100.00 Bank account 1762.51 1475.01 Reunions bank account 0.0 1339.49 Advances: Enraciné 400.00 5.63 Reunion 500.00 675.00 Total Assets 2762.51 3595.13 MEMBERS EQUITY Balances beginning of period 3595.13 3538.67 Surplus (deficit) for the period -832.62 56.46 2762.51 3595.13 As of 31 May 2013, the Association had the following number of members: French-Canadians: 118 134 English-Canadians and Americans: 25 20 French: 8 8 Sainte-Anne de Beaupré, 8 September 2013 Pierre Racine, CGA, Treasurer For the Administrative Council: ……………………………… President ……………………………… Secretary IN MEMORIAM - RHÉA-MARIE RACINE, wife of Marc Chagnon, daughter of the late Arcade Racine and the late Aldéa Bigonèse, deceased at Chambly on 29 April 2013 at age 84; - MADELEINE GINGRAS, wife of Jean-Guy Racine, deceased at Québec City on 26 April 2013 at age 80; - PHILIPPE BOLDUC, husband of Claudette Racine, deceased at la Maison Michel-Sarrazin, at Québec City, on 25 May 2013 at age 73; - RICHARD RACINE, husband of Linda Brosseau, son of the late Paul-Émile Racine and the late Eugénie Varieur, deceased at Sudbury (Ontario) on 27 May 2013 at age 57; - JEAN-CLAUDE RACINE, husband of Claire Beaupré, son of the late Armand Racine and the late Yvonne Gélinas, deceased at Saint-Boniface on 28 May 2013 at age 74; - JACQUELINE MASSICOTTE, widow of Maurice Racine, deceased at Laval on 5 June 2013 at age 87; - JEANNE D’ARC RACINE, daughter of the late Israël Racine and the late Hermélina Joly, deceased at la Résidence Dr.