- Sweet 16: 16 Hours of your help needed
- Seeking a treasurer
- Book Club March 2 10-11:30 a.m.
- Mother of the Maid Play March 9
Sweet 16: 16 Hours of your help needed
It’s been a month since we walked in the French Quarter in honor of Joan’s 612th birthday accompanied by guests from our sister city of Orléans, who have held their Fetes des Jeanne d’Arc for 594 years! We were very proud to ring in our 16th year with you all, and while there is so much to celebrate with this big “sweet sixteen” milestone, it also comes with a plea for assistance as we look towards our 20th anniversary year.
In case you missed it on Facebook or in email, here is a note from Founder Amy on January 6, echoing comments made at the January 5 banquet: “…We need your help as we continue this gorgeous and exciting journey. If every single person involved in the krewe as a member or volunteer gave just 16 (more) hours over the next year towards recruiting new members and volunteers, gluing, sewing, building, driving, cleaning, painting, etc…it will significantly lessen the burden on the ones carrying the heavy loads. Our co-captains are extraordinary, but they are not superhuman. We have a group of stellar people who do a ton of stellar work pretty much every day of the year. Please help us as we grow and continue to evolve gracefully with all the careful creative love and thoughtfulness that sets us apart. Please give a little extra in 2024 if you feel you can. The ceiling has been raised—let’s rise to the occasion together!!!!!”
Seeking a treasurer
Our board of directors elected two new members last year, Chris Caravella and Nathalie Dajko. They have been a great asset and bring different skill sets to our leadership team: Chris is a longtime krewe member (he created our battalion banners, among other things!) with expertise in building, crafting, jewelry-making and all things Mardi Gras; Nathalie is a French professor at Tulane who serves as our French liaison and our Domremy Batallion leader.
Also last year, our treasurer and longtime board member Irwin Langhoff stepped down from the role of Treasurer. We thank Irwin for holding this important position for several years, and we thank his wife Cathy, who passed away in 2022, for being our longtime board secretary and active member, workshop hostess, throws creator, and overall amazing krewe supporter. Both Irwin and Cathy were key leaders in the krewe, and we will never be able to replace their level of enthusiasm, hard work, and expertise as a couple. We thank them for their years of service!
We are seeking a treasurer for the krewe to begin in March or April. Our next board meeting is February 28th so if you are interested, please email captain@joanofarcparade.org by Feb. 26th. The position requires attendance at once-a-month board meetings (typically second Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 p.m.), and approximately 2-4 hours per month of bookkeeping, tracking, and reporting, depending on the time of year.
Post-Mardi Gras Events:
Book Club 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday March 2nd
Saturday, March 2nd from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. We will be discussing “The Hundred Years War: 1337-1453” by Anne Curry. All are welcome. The book is only 144 pages so you still have time to read or listen to it! Even if you don’t, we welcome you to join us for the discussion. Our book club coordinator and host, Gretchen Zalkind, co-owner of Frenchmen Art and Books, will generously bring coffee, juice, water, pastries, and snacks to share. We meet in the beautiful sunroom at the Rosa Keller Library at 4300 S Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70125.
Baton Rouge “Field Trip” Saturday March 9
We are excited that this play about Joan’s mother Isabelle Romee, (which ran on Broadway in 2018 starring Glenn Close as Isabelle), is being staged in Baton Rouge from March 7-16th. We are going to meet up on March 9th for whomever can attend, but you are welcome to experience it whenever it works for your schedule!
Buy your tickets here: https://www.redmagnoliatc.org/upcoming-production
Red Magnolia Theatre Company Presents MOTHER OF THE MAID by Jane Anderson: Mother of the Maid is a story of Joan of Arc’s mother, a sensible, hard-working, God-fearing peasant whose faith is upended as she deals with the baffling journey of her odd and extraordinary daughter. Set during the most violent time in France’s history, Isabelle Romee follows her daughter from their village of Domremy, through French Court, and into an English prison cell.
Buy your ticket and show up, or email us if you want to coordinate rides.