Today we had a board meeting. The board agreed it may be a nice exposure for the DVD for those of Franco Heritage and others who have an interest. We own the master DVD, thanks to Phil LaViolet for allowing us to copy his tape. A guy from the local access station made it for him maybe 6 years ago. The board felt there would be no copyright issues regarding this since it was a very informal video and even felt the original guy who filmed it may not even around anymore.(The guy who made the DVD had no problem copying it anyhow.) Phil came in after today's meeting and I sat with him and asked him what he felt about the DVD receiving exposure through your site. He felt perfectly fine with it. It was suggested that we could make copies when people may order them... perhaps 10 dollars each would cover the copies and the shipping. It is also something that perhaps the proceeds could be divided between St. Hyacinth's Museum and Westbrook Historical Society. The DVD begins with Phil LaViolet who grew up in Westbrook, and is also a WW2 veteran who was stationed in the Pacific, talking about the church and how many different organizations had their meetings there. He takes the viewer around the museum and explains various items from the collection from very ornate Religious artifacts to beautiful clothing worn by the priests. He talks to the viewer with some of his own recollections about the church. He is very well respected in the community and most regard him the authority on anything of Franco American interest.He really knows the history of the people who came to Westbrook(Also has put together a 2 volume detailed history of the Church, from early census records , many old pictures. It is a rich history he has written- acopy exists in St. Hyacinth's museum collection as well as Westbrook Histoical Society. ) Phil LaViolet was one of those rare people who was a born historian. He left an account of his WW2 diary also at Westbrook Historical Society , and has spent countless hours cataloguing the Veterans information (7 volumes of Westbrook Veterans) He is a man of many stories. The DVD is 57 minutes long.
The person could send a check to Westbrook Historical 17B Dunn Street, Westbrook Maine 04092 Phone is 854-5588 (someone is there Tues 9-12 and Sat 9-12...) Our e-mail is wsbkhistsoc@gwi.net. If they sent a check, we could get it right to them. We could make sure the funds were set aside for St. Hyacinth's out of that money. Thank You, Suzan Norton