By JOHN HOWARD

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE-The River Parishes Tourist Commission held their monthly meeting on Thursday and discussed, among other things, their annual Christmas card contest and an issue of re-branding.

The annual Christmas card contest is open to all citizens of the tri-parish area. Contestants can submit pictures and artwork to the Tourist Commission via e-mail at www.takemetotheriver.com or a hard copy can be mailed or brought to 2900 Highway 51 in LaPlace. The commission selects the best five cards the winners receive a framed copy of their card and the cards are distributed worldwide. For official rules and regulations visit said website.

The deadline to submit cards for this year’s competition is Monday, October 22.

A survey group called North Star has been doing research and surveying people from around the River Parish area, New Orleans, Houston and several other places. The group’s main goal is to find out how people view the River Parish region and to come up with a new name for the Commission.

Bridget Leblanc of the River Parishes Tourist Commission says that some of the local people surveyed by North Star identify plantations, industry and farmland with the River Parishes.

Some of the proposed new names are Louisiana Plantation Country and New Orleans Plantation Country. The name-change is not definite and the decision to change the name is completely up to the board and stakeholders.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, November 8, at the St. John Community Center in LaPlace.