Balkan Bonhomie
The Library of the Windsor Court Hotel was the location for a lunch meeting of the Louisiana Consular Corps and a significant investiture. Extensions of hospitality were accorded to the guest of honor, HRH Crown Prince Leka II of the Albanians. Among the honors that Prince Leka received were those from Gov. Jeff Landry, Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the Jefferson Parish Council, Greater New Orleans Inc., and the World Trade Center of New Orleans, the first and oldest one in the world.
After general milling, members of the Louisiana Consular Corps and a few guests sat for the luncheon, program and laurels. Particularly tasty were the three courses, starting with the Windsor Court salad, the herb roasted chicken breast, and the caramel apple bread pudding. Small crossed flags of the U.S. and Albania decorated the tables.
Among the many noted were Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Albania Bret Clesi, the dean emeritus of the Consular Corps; current dean and Honorary Consul of Portugal William “Bill” Hines; vice dean and Honorary Consul of the Netherlands Deirdre McGlinchey; treasurer and Honorary Consul of Denmark John Fay; and secretary and Honorary Consul of Sweden Cecilia Kjellgren. Representing France was Jacques Baran, cultural attaché with the Consulate General of France. Additional attendees and the countries they represent were Donna Fraiche, Japan; David Schulingkamp, Brazil; Greg Beuerman, Iceland; Michael Hecht, Finland; Jean Paul Lagarde, Austria; Will Baldwin, Norway; Jamie Coleman, Croatia; Eddie Hayes, Ukraine; Dillon Hennessy and Jim McKay, Ireland; Noemi Hernandez Tellez, Mexico; Victor Bonifatti Abrego, Panama; David Korn, Bulgaria; Gary Mannina, Luxembourg; Joanne Mantis, Cyprus; Claudia Oyuela-Guzman, Honduras; Quinn Peeper, Great Britain; Maria Page, Spain; Ronald Vandenweghe, Belgium; Mark Romig, Thailand; Cesar Lurati, Uruguay; Walter Wolf, Latvia; and Joseph Dunn, Canada…