Sept.-Dec. 2009
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The CMA Tattler
The Children’s Museum of Acadiana Newsletter
New Year ’ s Noon and Carnival Countdown
Inside this issue:
New Year’s Noon
and Carnival
Countdown
1
Smartwater
Presents the CMA
Sashay & 5K
1
More Kids in
More Places
2
Heads and Tales
of 10 Presidents
2
September 26th!
National Prepared- 3
ness Model 2009
15 Ways You Can
Help the CMA
3
Calendar of Events 4
Sponsor Spots
The CMA Sashay
Set for
5
A BIG THANK-YOU
to BIZZUKA
for sponsoring our
Reuseum and for creating
the CMA’s user-friendly
website. For current
information about museum events, programs,
memberships, admissions, and more, visit
www.childrensmuseumof
acadiana.com (one word,
no spaces, no punctuation)
and learn how the CMA
can serve you and the
children in your life.
At the stroke of twelve
(noon that is) on New
Year’s Eve, Thursday,
December 31, 2009 at
12:00 noon there is only
one place in Louisiana
where a family can dance
in a confetti blizzard; see
not one ball drop, but 4
balls drop; use a mallet
and ring the bell on a
kid-sized high-striker;
hand make jewelry; grab
a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich; go fishin’;
create your own New
Year’s Noon hat; scream
Happy New Year at the
top of your lungs
repeatedly; play plinko;
win prizes at carnival
booths; AND visit the
best children’s museum
around!!!!!
New Year’s Noon is an
event for children to say
good-bye to 2009, and
hello to 2010, from 10:00
a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the
Children’s
Museum of Acadiana.
The regular admission
of $5.00 per person
covers inside activities.
Outside the museum, in
the parking lot, be sure
to stop and visit the
Carnival Countdown
booths. Each one holds
a different activity or
game. Carnival costs
range from 25 cents to
$5.00 per booth and all
proceeds are used to
keep the museum
operating. Bring the
entire family and enjoy a
very special New Year’s
together. Have fun while
helping the CMA. For
more information please
call (337) 232-8500 or
visit the CMA’s website.
Whether you want to
run, walk, or stroll, the
CMA Sashay and 5K has a
speed for you . The race,
set for Saturday,
September 26, will begin
and end at the Children’s
Museum of Acadiana in
downtown Lafayette.
Presented by
Smartwater, and organized
by the CMA in conjunction
with the Boy Scouts of
America, Troop 562, the
Sashay will include everything a race should, including t-shirts, great food, and
a finish line. But after the
runners have caught their
breath, garnered their
awards and after the
cheering has died out of
the air, there will be food.
There may be a tasty jambalaya, Great Harvest
Bread, Winn Dixie fruit,
and Aunt Sally’s Pralines,
as well as some Smartwater to keep our runners
going.
For details about the
Sashay, including entry
fees and registration, call
the CMA, at (337) 232-8500
or visit the CMA’s website.
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More Kids in More Places
Today’s kids are busier than ever! With school, activities, play and all that
homework, many youngsters stay in touch with their friends and family through
their cell phones.
By appropriately using cell phone options and text messaging, kids and parents
can stay connected in more meaningful ways. Text messaging is a great option
for families to stay in touch because:
Parents get a quick answer to their questions. This is good for today’s busy
kids, who are often in between school and extra-curricular activities or
hanging out with friends, and probably won’t, or in some cases can’t,
take the time for a normal conversation.
Kids are more apt to respond to text messages when they are with their
friends. It is more discreet and their answers don't have to be as detailed
as in a conversation.
Kids should help their parents understand the “lingo” of text messages.
Teach your parents the popular phrases such as TTYL, LOL and
CUL8R. When parents find out how easy it is to stay in touch through
texting, they
may want to add unlimited texting to the family’s cell
phone plan.
Responsibility for safe texting rests with the kids. Youngsters should
always obey the rules of their schools and their parents when it comes to
using cell phones. And never text or e-mail someone you don’t know.
For more information on texting, Internet safety, parental controls and
more, log onto www.att.com/safety.
WANTED:
Your E-Mail Address
to add to our list (and only OUR
list—) so we can let YOU know
about special events and exhibits
upcoming at the CMA. Log on to
our website and sign up for our
new green, paperless newsletter!
Don’t forget to book
your birthday party early at
the CMA!! Give us
a call soon for
more
information about
Heads and Tales of 10 Presidents
The Heads and Tales of 10 Presidents has extended its stay at the Children’s Museum of Acadiana, (CMA). The exhibit
opened this June and was scheduled to stay through the end of summer. Due to popular demand the dynamic exhibit will be
staying through the fall; and for that time, the heads will rule--the Presidents' heads that is. Houston artists John Palmer and
David Adickes have collaborated to create artistic representations of ten American presidents--from George Washington to
Barack Obama--which will serve as basis of a multi-disciplinary exploration of the lives and work of America's chief executives.
John Palmer, whose Houston gallery and its patrons are underwriting the loan of the presidential artworks to the Children’s
Museum of Acadiana, is eager for his art to reach out and meet people in unexpected places and ways. Thus the mixed-media
sculptures and paintings which debuted at his gallery in the 2009 exhibit, "All the Presidents' Heads,” will become the central
point of the child-oriented celebration of American history. Palmer’s work may also be found locally at Natalee Interiors in the
Oil Center.
Artist David Adickes is most well known for his sculpture of General Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas. Since the creation
of this monument, Adickes has also created 20 foot tall busts of all 43 presidents which reside in President’s Park in South Dakota. This park has been featured in LIFE Magazine as well as USA Today, which listed President’s Park as one of the top 10
places in to visit in the U. S.
The Children’s Museum of Acadiana is thrilled to display art of this caliber. Adickes’ impeccable sculpting along with
Palmer’s distinctive style provides an exciting vision of these historic figures. The CMA will take advantage of this attentiongrabbing quality to expose its visitors to the history of our country with an entertaining approach.
The CMA will complement the display of Palmer-Adickes artworks with costumes, games, art projects, play-acting, pictures,
informative texts, and fun facts about the presidency and presidents who played pivotal roles in the history of the United States.
Included in this exhibit will be Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Jackson, Harrison, both Roosevelts, Truman, Kennedy, and
Obama. The children will also be introduced to many of the first ladies who were highly influential to this country.
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15 Ways You Can Help the CMA for $100.00 or Less
You don’t have to break the bank to
make a significant contribution to the
Children’s Museum of Acadiana. The
following are budget-wise ways you can
help the CMA, many of which don’t involve money.
1. Become a member or give the gift
of membership. A one-year individual
membership, only $50.00, entitles you to
a year of unlimited free regular admission to the CMA. For only $75.00 grandparents may purchase an annual membership that entitles TWO grandparents
and TWO children to free regular admission. For more information about
CMA memberships, visit our website or
call 337-232-8500.
2. Bring us your discarded or surplus
items such as Mardi Gras beads,
greeting cards, jewelry, art supplies,
calendars, fabric scraps, buttons,
pencils, gift wrap, wallpaper, yarn, milk
caps, clothes pins, cookie tins, grocery
bags. For a more complete list, visit the
CMA website.
3. Volunteer. We can use your help
for a variety of jobs, from prepping art
projects to assisting visitors in or with
our exhibits, to assisting with special
events such as New Year’s Noon. Even 2
or 3 hours a week will make a
4. Support MAP. (Museum Admission Program) A gift of $60.00 will pay
for an 30 title one children to visit the
CMA.
5. Bring a child to the CMA. For
$5.00 per person you and a child can
enjoy an entire day at the CMA’s regular
exhibits.
6. Shop at A Peek Inside. The CMA
gift shop is a repository of fun, educational, INEXPENSIVE toys to enhance a
child’s enjoyment and exploration of the
world. Our bins are packed with wonders costing less than a dollar or two.
7. Purchase CMA t-shirts. Show your
pride in the Children’s Museum of Acadiana by buying and wearing around
town your own CMA t-shirt available in A
Peek Inside for $10.00 to $12.00.
8. Sponsor bubbles. At the CMA bubble exhibit, approximately 20 gallons of
Joy Ultra dishwashing liquid and 10 gallons of white Karo syrup disappear into
thin air every year. You can help keep
the bubbles afloat by bringing us bottles
of Joy Ultra Dishwashing liquid and
WHITE Karo syrup.
9. Donate services. CMA needs help
from all kinds of professionals, from
plumbers, carpenters, and electricians to
artists and teachers.
10. Purchase a hand tile. For $100.00
you may purchase a 6”x6” bisque tile to
be installed in the CMA Wall of Tiles.
Imprinted with the hand, paw, or design
of your choice, this is a fitting way to
honor or memorialize a loved one.
11. Donate items from your
business. CMA uses everything from
blank CDs and printer cartridges to
paper clips, file folders, tape, glue, and
office equipment. For more ideas visit
the CMA’s website or call 337-232-8500.
12. Share your expertise. Do you
know something interesting? Want to
share it through a class, workshop, or
exhibit? Already the CMA has benefited
from the shared expertise of dentists,
amateur radio operators, artists, scientists, French teachers, and many others.
What can you add?
13. Enjoy exercise and fun times.
Attend or help sponsor fundraisers such
as Smartwater Presents the CMA Sashay
and 5K , and New Year’s Noon.
14. Visit the CMA website for a
wealth of current information about CMA
events, programs, and more. Then—
15. Tell a friend about the CMA.
difference.
National Preparedness Model 2009: Make a Plan
National Preparedness Month is September. Acadian Ambulance encourages you to make sure you have a family
emergency plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how
you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.
Family Emergency Plan:It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an outof-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Be sure every
member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.
Emergency Information:Hurricanes are common in our area. Methods of getting your attention vary from community to community. One common method is to broadcast via emergency radio and TV broadcasts.
Emergency Plans:You may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family spends time:
work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider volunteering to help create one. Talk to your neighbors about
how you can work together in the event of an emergency. You will be better prepared to safely reunite your family
and loved ones during an emergency if you think ahead and communicate with others in advance
Talk to Your Family: Practice the Plan: Drills and exercises will help you prepare. Promote Preparedness: Encourage your family to: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed. Write a Crisis Communication Plan: Detail how
you will be in contact with others during and after a disaster. Support Health: Family who have experienced a
disaster may have special recovery needs.
Protect Your Investment In addition to emergency planning, there are steps you can take to both safeguard
your home and secure your physical assets: Insurance Coverage: Policies vary, meet with your provider to review
current coverage. Utility Disruptions: Prepare for extended outages during and after a disaster. Buildings and
Plants: Take steps to secure physical assets. Furniture: Conduct a room-by-room walk-through to determine what
needs to be secured. Cyber Security: Protect your data and information technology systems.
For any medical emergency, remember to call 9-1-1. For Acadian Ambulance dispatch, call 337.291.1111. For more
information, please visit Acadian’s website at www.acadian.com.
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CMA Calendar of Events
(Museum Closed Sundays and Mondays)
CMA CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sept. 1 Reuseum Project
Bedroom Decorations
2
3
4
5
8 Reuseum
9
10
11
12
15 Reuseum
Leaf Stained Glass
16
17
18
19
22 Reuseum—Thankful
Hand Autumn Trees
23
24
25
26
29 Reuseum
Leaf Rubbings/Stamps
30
2
3
6 Reuseum
7
8
9
10
13 Reuseum
Fall Leaf Spiral Mobile
14
15
16
17
20 Reuseum
Origami Pumpkin
21
22
23
24
27 Reuseum — Masks
28
29
30
31
Nov. 3 Reuseum
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
14
18
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
2
3
4
5
9
10
11
12
16
17
18
19
23
24 CMA CLOSED
25 Merry Christmas
CMA CLOSED!
26
30
31 NEW YEAR”S
NOON
Make your own Flags
Oct. 1
Pinecone Owls
Yarn Leaf Painting
10
Reuseum
Letter to a Veteran
17
Reuseum
Stuffed Pumpkin
24
Reuseum
Thankful Thoughts Can
Dec. 1 Reuseum
Heart Penguins
8
Reuseum
Snowman Bottles
15
Reuseum
Bird Ornament
22
Reuseum
3D Snowflakes
29
Reuseum
3D Snowflakes
CMA Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Calendar subject to change.
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Special Thanks to A Few of our Generous Sponsors
Appreciation goes to the following for making “Smartwater Presents the CMA Sashay and 5K”:
Smartwater, Farmer’s Merchant Bank, Air Source 1, Rene Prejean Catering, Win Dixie, Great Harvest Bread Company, Aunt Sally’s
Pralines, Coca-Cola, Cresent Crown Distributors, Abita Beer, Clark Services, Lafayette Fire Department, Pixus Digital Printing, Alpha
& Omega Tent rentals, Mart Hudson, Acadian Ambulance & Air Med, AT&T Telephone Pioneers, Cajun Road Runners Club,
Gachassin Law Firm, and** Staff of the Children’s Museum of Acadiana **
Thanks for checking out the CMA website, designed
by our friends at BIZZUKA. The Children’s Museum
thanks Home Bank for
their sponsorship of our
model bank, providing
children the opportunity to
play teller, customer, cashier, or visit the ATM and
learn the value of saving
money while practicing
basic math skills.
Special Thanks to Sam’s Club for their support
and their generous fundraising opportunities!
Cut out a recipe bookmark, compliments of WinnDixie, providing you with healthful ideas for afterschool snacks!!
Thank you Winn-Dixie for your generous support
of the Children’s Museum!
Hurray for Home Bank!
Thanks to Wal-Mart for
their support!
The Children’s Museum of Acadiana
would like to extend a very special
thank you to Tsunami restaurant for
so generously sponsoring our fish
tank and special fish projects in the
Reuseum.