• Common culture connects Plaquemine, Canada village 
• France-to-Louisiana migration of Cajuns traced 
• Guidry, Robichaux families to close area Congrès reunions 
• Genealogical database allows descendants far away 
        to be part of FrancoFete celebration
• Speaker takes mystery out of Cajun x-factor Cajun surnames
• Congres arrives sans Canadian influx
• Acadian image often distorted

          The invitations have been years in the sending. The punch is chilled and the
          musicians stand ready to play. The only question that remains is: "Where are
          the guests?"

          For months, plans have been in the works to welcome thousands of
          French-speaking visitors for the Congrès Mondial Acadien - Louisiane, the
          second world congress of Acadian descendants.

          "It's not going to happen," said Brent Broussard, of the number of visitors
          expected. They just aren't coming, said Broussard, a representative of the
          Broussard family reunion organization.

          The greatest deterrent for Canadian travelers is the cost, he said. It costs
          considerably more to travel here than it cost for Louisiana residents to travel to
          Canada in 1994, Broussard said.

          A round-trip flight cost $329 in 1996, Broussard said. Today, it costs between
          $700 and $1,000. Add to that the fact that the Canadian dollar is worth only
          about 60 cents here and one begins to understand why lower than expected
          numbers are beginning to be seen. "A lot of Canadians are finding they just
          can't afford it," he said.

          Kelly Strenge, public relations and special projects manager for the Lafayette
          Convention and Visitors Bureau-Tourist Center, said in addition to the cost is
          the well-publicized fact that Louisiana is "hot" in August. 

          "This is height of the tourist season in Canada. It may be hard for some
          business owners to get away this time of year," she said.

          "We will probably not draw as many Canadian visitors as expected," Strenge
          said. Still, there are a lot of people from neighboring states and from other parts
          of the United States who are arriving for family reunions.

          Strenge said while it will be another month before exact numbers are available,
          any increase in tourism in August is appreciated. August, she said, is usually the
          worst month for tourism in south Louisiana.

          In Church Point, town officials are preparing for as many as 15,000 visitors for
          its Wednesday Showcase Day.

          Parking and shuttle services have been set up for visitors, said Carol Guidry,
          Church Point Chamber of Commerce president. The town is making plans
          based on the numbers provided by the Congrès Mondial group, she said.

          Congrès Mondial Acadien - Louisiane is a non-profit group funded through the
          state for organization and marketing of the August two-week event. A previous
          Congrès, held in Canada in 1994, drew more than 300,000.

          Louisiana offered to serve as host for a second gathering five years later.

          Guidry said the people of Church Point are really going all out for their official
          one day on Wednesday. "We were told that the Canadians wanted to meet us.
          Well, we are ready, but where are they? Are they coming?" she said.

          Eunice officials are not as anxious concerning the numbers, said Joan
          McNanus, secretary for Mayor Kenneth Peart. "We didn't plan for that," she
          said of Congrès predictions. 

          "We don't have any idea how many will show up," so the town has instead
          planned as it would for its annual Folklife Festival, McNanus said.

          The Quality Inn in Opelousas reports "a bunch" of Canadians arriving this
          weekend - "20 or so."

          A reservations clerk at the Best Western in Opelousas said "just the regular
          guests. No reservations from Canada."

          Leslie Sobota, sales director of the Best Western in New Iberia, said while the
          hotel is getting some individual calls for space, it has had some cancellations.
          She said, "a 75-room block reservation was not picked up" by the booking
          agent.

          Calls to Congrès Mondial have not been returned.

          Deila Taylor, press secretary with Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco's office, said,
          "We're hearing the people are there and having a great time."

          "Because Congrès is a grass-roots event, they are staying with families and at
          campgrounds. All the bed-and-breakfasts are booked," she said.

          Congrès activities are divided between the east and west side of the
          Atchafalaya Basin. Events do not reach this area until next week.

          Initial reports concerning opening ceremonies in Houma revealed an attendance
          of about 2,000 people.