JULY/AUGUST 2015 SLEMCO WILSON SAVOYPOWERMARC SAVOY LIVING THE TRADITION How the Savoy family waters the roots of Cajun culture PAGE 4 JOEL SAVOY ANN SAVOY ANNUAL MEETING WRAP-UP PAGE 2 CURB APPEAL PAGE 8 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS PAGE 12 PSLEMCO OWER TakeNote Volume 63 No. 4 July/August 2015 The Official Publication of the Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Corporation 3420 NE Evangeline Thruway P.O. Box 90866 Lafayette, Louisiana 70509 Phone 337-896-5384 www.slemco.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACADIA PARISH Bryan G. Leonards, Sr., RECORD CROWD Secretary-Treasurer Merlin Young SHARES EXCITEMENT OF ST. MARTIN PARISH Adelle Kennison 78TH ANNUAL MEETING Don Resweber Annual meeting photos by P.C. Piazza LAFAYETTE PARISH Carl Comeaux ur June 6 annual meeting, which stayed and from five possible first grand Johnny Meaux drew the largest turnout of SLEMCO prizes chose a Kubota tractor provided by ST. LANDRY PARISH Omembers ever, offered plenty of Henderson Implement and Marine. Leopold Frilot, Sr. excitement. We had three grand prize Our second grand prize winner, Gary G. Soileau, Vice President winners, twenty lucky students won Vernis Leger of Kaplan, has been attend- VERMILION PARISH scholarships for college and 351 generous ing the annual meeting for years. But this Joseph David Simon, Jr., President Charles Sonnier blood donors helped over 1,000 patients was his lucky year: he won $10,000! needing blood products. Third grand prize winner Marie Wiltz ATTORNEY First grand prize winner Virginia of St. Martinville won $5,000. This was James J. Davidson, III Thibodeaux of Parks wasn’t even plan- her third annual meeting and proved to EXECUTIVE STAFF ning to attend, but her husband Fred told be her lucky day as well (Lucky Account Glenn Tamporello Chief Executive Officer & General Manager her: “Go. If you get bored, leave.” She Number 2225223004). Jim Laque Director of Engineering & Operations Katherine Domingue Next year’s meeting will be Chief Financial Officer MANAGEMENT STAFF April 16, 2016 Charles Guardia Operations Supervisor due to Cajundome renovations SLEMCO POWER STAFF Mary Laurent, CCC, CKAE, MIP (Right) MacKenzie Editor Bourg offered a stirring performance of our SLEMCO POWER (USPS 498-720, ISSN national anthem. 0274-7685) is published bimonthly by Southwest Louisiana Electric Membership Corporation, 3420 NE Evangeline Thruway, Lafayette, LA 70509-0866. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA 70507. POSTMASTER: send address changes to SLEMCO, P.O. Box 90866, Lafayette, LA 70509-0866. Cover photos by P.C. Piazza Page 2 ❘ SLEMCO Power (Above, left) First grand prize winner Virginia Thibodeaux of Parks chose a Kubota tractor. (Above, right) SLEMCO President David Simon and SLEMCO CEO & General Manager Glenn Tamporello (center) congratulate our other grand prize winners (left) Marie Wiltz, with son Vincent Wiltz, and Vernis Leger, with his daughter Monica Meaux and granddaughter Shaina Meaux. Our early bird prize winner was Board president David Simon of Because of the huge crowd, traffic was Darvey Dupuis of Kaplan. He’s been com- Gueydan and Glenn Tamporello, chief an issue, as was seating for older members. ing for years, but never won anything executive officer and general manager, After our record turnout, we will be work- until this year. With a choice between a addressed the crowd, introducing them- ing on improving both for next year when Honda four-wheeler and $5,000 cash, he selves in their new positions and assuring our meeting will be held April 16 instead opted for the cash. the membership of their dedication to of on the first Saturday in June. The During our business meeting, Johnny excellent customer service and economi- Cajundome will be undergoing renova- Meaux of Lafayette Parish, Charles cal electric rates (Lucky Account Number tions in 2016 and was unavailable for the Sonnier of Vermilion Parish and Merlin 3047305907). June date. • Young of Acadia Parish were elected to three-year terms on SLEMCO’S board of directors. The membership also approved changes to the cooperative’s bylaws. (Right) Abbeville’s Koryn Hawthorne offered an exciting sample of the soulful singing that made her a 2015 finalist on The Voice. SLEMCO Power ❘ Page 3 Marc performs with his sons Joel and Wilson, and his wife Ann, in the Savoy Family Cajun Band. FANNING THE FLAMES Photo courtesy Savoy Family Cajun Band OF CAJUN TRADITION STORY BY MARY LAURENT | PHOTOS BY P.C. PIAZZA ove of family. Love of traditional Cajun music. Love of the oh, how the music and Cajun language. These characteristics are worn like armor by a folklore of his elders held truly authentic champion of our Louisiana Cajun heritage and him spellbound! culture—Marc Savoy of Eunice—and his family. First hearing the “won- LEven as a boy, he was fascinated by the music and folklore of his derful music” coming from ancestors. Our Cajun heritage’s bonds of family and community, the home of one of his characteristics that make it so attractive to outsiders, were “like a grandfather’s tenant farm- soft, warm blanket on a cold winter night” for Marc. He was much ers in the mid-1940s, Marc more interested in his friends’ grandparents than the friends asked his father what was themselves. making the sounds he heard. “A squeezebox,” his father replied. “I never rebelled against the things my parents and grandpar- “What is a squeezebox?” he asked. “An accordion,” replied his ents persued. On the con- father. The magic of that trary, I thought they were music would become a a lot more interesting and central thread in the fun than my peers,” he fabric of his life. explained. Marc would go on to “Why would I miss an learn to play and become opportunity to listen to a master builder of accor- an elder telling stories in dions that are famous all his beautiful Cajun lan- over the world. He would guage in order to pursue meet and marry his wife, modern America trivia?” Virginia native Ann, who From these elders, has gained renown in her who spoke only French, own right for her musi- he acquired his extensive cal talents, writing and French vocabulary.And, In his workshop, Marc builds one of his highly-regarded Acadian accordions. photography. Together Page 4 ❘ SLEMCO Power with their four children—Sarah, Joel, Wilson and Gabi—the life of the Savoy family has been infused with Cajun tradition, history, French language and music that continues today. Each of them would go out into the world to fulfill their own lives and follow their own paths. But they always return home to recharge at their “home base,” as Ann calls it, the farm in Eunice that has been in their family for seven generations. “Family is as much a part of life in our culture as music is,” Marc emphasizes (Lucky Account Number 4502776000). But how do parents inspire four young children to build such a profound cultural connection and carry it so deep within their souls? As Marc explains, “When the children were young, after dinner instead of watching television, Ann and I would play music while Ann Savoy performing with the Grammy-nominated Magnolia Sisters. the kids colored. So traditional music was a natural part of fam- ily life, however it wasn’t anything we ever tried to force upon the as a college student, going through a time when punk music and children.” piercings were a part of her life. But she was too inspired by her Ann went on to recall there were always cool people from parents’ hard work in preserving and protecting Cajun culture around the world visiting the house, including movie producers, to veer too far. She is filmmakers, musicians and historians. “The kids were naturally now living near Paris intrigued and impressed that these prestigious people were in and headlines her own their home to visit mom band, Sarah Savoy & the and dad —not because mom Francadians. and dad were all-American Joel Savoy, Marc and clones of Anywhere USA, Ann’s oldest son, is one but rather because they of the most gifted and weren’t.” highly requested fid- However, the Savoy’s dlers in southwest Louisiana today. children, all of whom are He has played in countless bands and now fluent French-speaking his work leaves no doubt that Cajun adults, are by no means music is still very much alive. He cookie cutouts of their lives in Eunice and is the founder of parents. Valcour Records, where he engineers “We believe people are and records for many area musicians. born who they are,” Ann Youngest son Wilson Savoy has an explained. “As they grow, electric presence, traveling and per- Wilson Savoy fills the floor at one of Vermilionville’s Sunday afternoon dances. you see their strengths and forming with his band the Pine Leaf feed the flower as it’s grow- Boys. He, too, is accomplished on ing in its own way: in other words, they evolve.” several instruments, but makes an accordion or piano’s keyboard Oldest daughter Sarah, a self-described come alive with his energy the moment he lays hands on it. Living “wife, mother, sister, daughter, cook, in Lafayette, he also is an avid filmmaker, particularly of south- musician and singer,” tested the waters west Louisiana bands. Gabrielle Savoy, or Gabi as she is known, is a modern music historian and photographer. She takes most of the official photographs of the family. The youngest of the Savoy children, she has deep respect and love for her Cajun heritage but is more intrigued by the modern world. What, you may ask, is the big deal with Cajun heritage? Why would anyone want to work toward preserv- ing Cajun culture? Marc’s response: “If you think you need a reason for wanting to preserve your heritage, turn on your television for a few min- Fiddler Joel Savoy takes five in his Eunice recording studio.