By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – Today’s world of Social Media may get blamed for the decline in manners and respectful conversation among some young people, but the members of Le Cotillion aren’t letting any of that slow them down in their quest to keep etiquette and proper behavior alive.
Le Cotillion is an organization that teaches “nice Southern tradition” to young women and is continuing to do that in today’s world of Facebook and texting when too many young people have lost the art of proper social behavior.
The group was formed in Slidell in 1972 and has introduced young ladies to society for over 40 years. It all happens in the Presentation Ball each January when young women who have passed the age of 18 have an opportunity to take part in the ball that “carries on a tradition that says your behavior is now proper, and you are starting your adult life,” longtime club member Dottie Davis explained.
“In today’s world it has largely become a lost art to be proper,” Davis said. “But Le Cotillion is still teaching good manners and etiquette to young women.”
Anyone can join the organization and Davis said they are always looking for new members, something that has at times been confusing since she said “some people think we are high society and only allow in certain people. But that’s not true and we would love for anyone to join.”
For those who do sign up for the organization after paying a membership fee, the young women are taught things like how to write thank you notes, how to RSVP to an invitation, how to curtsy in front of their parents at the ball and other lessons of proper etiquette and manners.
“We show them the right way to hand write a thank you card—not text it,” Davis explained. “They learn how to thank people for things. It’s an important Southern tradition to do these things and Le Cotillion is keeping that alive. When they take part in the ball, it’s like we are saying they are not a kid anymore.”
At the ball the young women all have escorts, but not before the girls are first escorted out by their father. Each girl curtsies to her mother as a way to say “thank you” for helping raise them, then the escorts are allowed to take each girl around the ballroom twice after the father presents her.
The first dance of the night is each young woman with her father before the escort taps the father on the shoulder, and then dances with the girl—all done with young men wearing tuxedos, tails and gloves, and the women in ball gowns.
“It’s really a wonderful thing to do this for your daughter,” founding club member Sylvia Doucette Stanton said after she was among five other mothers who started the organization in 1972.
“To take part in Le Cotillion is a way of saying we are bringing up our sons and daughters well. It’s a time for the kids to say ‘I’m grown up.’ The entire thing is very family oriented and not some kind of high society group as some people seem to believe,” she added.
Ginny Kamath is another longtime club member whose daughter attended St. Scholastica Academy in Covington before she joined Le Cotillion to take part in the ball.
“One other good thing about Le Cotillion is that some girls have limited connection to other young women, especially because of all the Social Media now,” Kamath said. “The ball is a social event and allows the girls to develop friendships with other young girls. It’s really an opportunity to meet others and gives them some social polish.
“My daughter didn’t know how to write a proper thank you letter and the club helped her learn that,” she added.
Stanton formed the group in 1972 along with Peggy Baldwin, Barbara Nix, Beverly Bertucci, Gladys Smith and Pat Meyer, having a tea at Pinewood Country Club to begin the club. Once news got out about the first upcoming ball they signed up 75 families.
The membership number of the organization fluctuates every year due to young women going through the ball and then moving on to the rest of their life. However, the group brings back ball attendees five years later to rekindle friendships and increase referrals for new members.
“My daughter Rachel was thrilled to be a part of it,” Davis recalled. “It’s so elegant and feminine and introduces a young women as a lady. The girls who take part in this all seem to greatly appreciate it—the ball is really a beautiful thing and a tradition we love maintaining.”
Even though the group may have a family membership of 70 or 80 there are only a small number of girls presented at the ball each year due to age requirements.
“You can join when you have girls who are very young, then you can be part of planning and attending the event even if your daughter is not yet of age to take part in the ball. It allows the girls to make friends in the years leading up the ball,” Davis said. “That’s why we are open to anyone joining with girls of all ages.”
Every June there is a new member installation, a luncheon in the summer and then club members host different social parties during the year so the girls begin to build friendships with others, even years before they participate in the ball.
The group also holds a Winter Gala for members and spouses, which was held this past Saturday night at MovieSets in Slidell.
For more information about joining the group, contact Dottie Davis at 8016liz@gmail.com.