THE STORY BEHIND THE CREATION OF THE RASSET FAMILY ASSOCIATION
By Raymonde Racette-Gauthier

Policeman for the urban community of Montreal and big fan of Canadians horses, Gilles Racette had been dreaming for numerous years of setting up a family association for the Racette.

He had told his dream to his brother, André, retired policeman from the Quebec Provincial Police. He also told to François Racette, owner of the ancestral farm in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, who he meet at Country fairs.

This is how he contacted, in may 1992, one of my cousins who lives in Montreal. Knowing that I was interested for many years in history and genealogy, my cousin gave him how to reach me.

After receiving an invitation, I present myself on June 17, 1992 at 7 PM at the National Archives of Province of Quebec on Mullins street in Montreal with five members of my family.

We were not numerous: fifteen in total but all were enthuse by Gilles project (see table 1). Together at the same table, we put on the base for the Association, a non-profit association to reunite the descendants of Jean Rasset. There was Mr. Marchand from the Fédération des familles souches du Québec which explain how to set up an association and why we should join the Federation. At this meeting, I gave to the participants multiples documents on our ancestor Jean Rasset, genealogy and research that I had accumulated for at least twenty years. Already we are talking to make a grand meeting on the ancestral farm.

Following this frank and friendly meeting, we begin to contact as many Racette as possible to inform them of the set-up of a family association of Racette. During the summer of 1992, my brother Maurice and his wife took the opportunity of a trip in New Hampshire and Massachusetts to contact American “cousins” through the phone book. That how they reach a contractor from Plymouth (NH), Normand Racette. Our American cousins were ecstatic about our project.

On the November 18, 1992, a new meeting is held at the National Archives of Quebec at Montreal. Others like Normand Racette from New Hampshire, had joined the original group. We decided on the goals of the association and to organise a grand meeting in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures in summer of 1994. The first administration council is formed at that moment. The precursor of the project, Gilles becomes the president (See table 2). On that day we establish that the original name of Rasset will be the one use for the Association.

Table 2

Gilles Racette	president	Trottier Mills (Qc)
André F. Racette	vice-president	Montréal (Qc)
Dr Claude Racette	secretary-treasurer	Montréal (Qc)
Jean-Louis Racette	administrator	Gatineau (Qc)
André P. Racette	administrator	Gatineau (Qc)
Raymonde Racette-Gauthier	administrator	Gatineau (Qc)
Normand Racette	administrator	Plymouth, NH, USA

On June 12, 1993, the Association des Familles Rasset held its first general assembly in Longueuil. At this occasion, several committees were formed; one in particular will have to organise a grand meeting for the Racette family in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures on the 27th and 28th of August 1994. This first biannual event was a tremendous success. More than 350 persons attended and fraternised during those two days full of memories.

Six years later, it is very pleasing to see that all the goals that the founding members had set during the June 17, 1992 meeting, had been reached with the support and work of all. We wish that our children and grand-children will put value in participating in the activities of the association; for them to know their roots and make an exchange with the descendants of Jean Rasset who are living everywhere in Canada and the United States.

The Actual Administration Board :

Sylvain Racette

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L'Association des familles Rasset inc. - membre de la Fédération des familles-souches québecoises inc.