Military Mardi Gras Ball
Posted: April 30, 2013

In honor of Military Appreciation Month (May), NOLA Patriots will be hosting a Mid Year Military Mardi Gras Ball on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 6:30 pm. The event is a FORMAL (preferred, semi-formal accepted) OR masquerade attire event with a cocktail/social hour beginning at 6:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7:30 (sit down service) and music/dancing after. A King and Queen will be crowned for the event. The venue is at the New Orleans Ladies Ballroom, 1771 Stumpf Blvd., Terrytown, LA 70056 and is open to our active/reserve/guard/ retired etc service members. PLEASE RSVP to info@nolapatriots.org as seating is limited. This event is FREE for our military members.

Krewe of Alla
Posted: April 01, 2013

PRESS RELEASE
April 1, 2013
Contact: Frank Borne, Jr., Secretary, fborne@cox.net or 394-0321

For several years, Alla's membership has declined, affected by the downturn in the economy and by the allure of parading through New Orleans' uptown neighborhoods. Many of its riders have left Alla to participate in Carnival krewes that parade in the city. Competition among krewes for the finite number of West Bank residents who are financially able or desire to belong to a Mardi Gras organization is fierce. Membership dues and the cost of throws can pose a financial hurdle for those who wish to participate in a Carnival club. It simply has become increasingly difficult to recruit new members to parade in Alla as those who can afford to join a club are increasingly more selective in establishing themselves with an organization. Of all of the components of a Mardi Gras parade, the riding membership is the most important. Without riders, floats may be beautiful, but hollow. Without riders, bands and marching groups may be entertaining, but leave the spectator with nothing tangible to show for his time along the route. Without dues paying members, Carnival organizations are unable to pay for the floats and the bands and the essential facets of any Mardi Gras pageant.

After considerable discussion and review of Alla's financial situation and its ability to attract new members, the board of directors is asking for the public's help. Alla needs an infusion of new dues-paying members in order to continue to parade on the West Bank. Compared with other organizations, Alla's annual dues of $450 are nominal, if not competitive. The board of directors must have 200 new members paid in full by June 1, or it will have no alternative but to consider its options to save the Krewe of Alla for future generations. If Alla does not meet this goal, it likely will have to move to St. Charles Avenue parade route in 2014. If you have any questions, please e-mail Alla Secretary Frank Borne, Jr., at fborne@cox.net.

Tough economic times have caused area communities to review the cost of supporting Mardi Gras parades. The communities have sought ways to become more efficient in providing services to Carnival krewes. It is unlikely that Jefferson Parish, which has been especially generous thanks to the hard work of very supportive and loyal councilmen, would be able to continue its support of Alla's activities for many more years. Carnival krewes cannot count on endless financial support from communities that must prioritize spending. Alla recognizes and understands what the organization costs our communities if it cannot support itself. Alla must be self-sufficient.

Alla's board and membership sincerely appreciate everything that the Orleans, Jefferson, and Gretna officials have done in recent years to assist the club through difficult times, and it thanks the loyal spectators who for decades have supported and appreciated Alla parading in their communities. As it has done numerous times in its history, it is time for Alla, the fifth oldest parading Carnival organization, to renew itself and adapt to changing times so that it may continue its proud march into the foreseeable future. Alla needs to position itself to attract and retain the riding members who are absolutely essential to the survival of any Carnival krewe.

One thing is certain: the Alla tradition will continue.

MARDI GRAS NEWS
Posted: March 31, 2013

The Mayor's Mardi Gras Advisory Committee passed a resolution at its March 21 meeting opposing Governor Bobby Jindal's plan to remove the tax exemption for Carnival krewes.

According to NOLA.com, several Metairie krewes were fined for violations this parade season. "Six Mardi Gras krewes complied with Jefferson Parish's parade law this year, escaping fines, parish officials said Wednesday. Citizens Affairs Director Sean Burke said no violations were noted in the Argus, Caesar, Centurions, Excalibur, Isis and Napoleon parades in Metairie. The disclosure came a day after parish officials released violations reports detailing fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 for Alla, Adonis, Atlas, the Elks Jeffersonians truck parade, the Krewe of Jefferson truck parade and Thor. Most of the infractions involved unmasked riders, smoking on floats and having too few marching bands."

Meanwhile the Parish is in the midst of assembling an East Bank Carnival Advisory Committee tasked with reviewing the Metairie parade routes as well as scheduling. Members will include a representative from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, the Jefferson Parish Fire Department, EJ General Hospital, Citizens Affairs, Chamber of Commerce, East Bank Civic League, and Jefferson Convention and Visitor's Bureau. Representing the parading organizations will be Bob Carnesi and Brian Landry, who were selected by the majority of the Metairie parade captains who attended a special meeting.

CHARITY EVENT
The 2013 CASA Light of Hope Gala is set for this Friday, April 5 at 6:30 PM at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans. CASA Jefferson provides abused and neglected children with a voice!

For more details, see http://www.facebook.com/CASAJefferson