Four members of the Rice Festival Board of Directors, including the long-time festival coordinator, have resigned their positions.
Chad Monceaux, board general chairman, confirmed that, during Tuesday night’s regular board meeting, Festival Coordinator Roxie Viator, her husband Jody Viator, their daughter Kira Viator Weber and Jonathon Habetz walked out.
“I still have not received any formal resignation letter or email from Roxie, although she verbally said she was done,” Monceaux said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Roxie Viator has served as coordinator of the Rice Festival for the past 13 years. Jody Viator currently serves as chief of the Crowley Fire Department and was honored as one of last year’s Festival Parade Grand Marshals.
Kira Viator has chaired and hosted the Rice Festival Fiddle and Accordion Contests for a number of years and, with her band, Bayou Beat, has opened the musical entertainment lineup at the festival for many years.
Habetz is a Crowley firefighter.
Monceaux said he would “rather not discuss” the reason for the resignations.
“Their reasons are personal and I don’t feel like I want to say the exact reasons at this point,” Monceaux said. “Some things were discussed they were not comfortable with — some personal issues —and I would rather not say anything about that. I think they deserve that respect.”
Monceaux said Roxie Viator has done “an exceptional job” during her tenure as festival coordinator.
“There’s not a word I can use to explain how beneficial Roxie has been to the festival,” he said. “Nothing can take away from what she has done for the Rice Festival.”
Monceaux added that resignations from the festival board are not uncommon.
“In the past few years we’ve had a few people resign,” he said. “There was a reorganization of the festival about four years ago and it kind of changed things up a little.
“In reference to people like Roxie and Jody, and even more so, other people that have been with the festival for more years than them, I’m a youngster here.”
Monceaux was elected general chairman of the festival board last year and was reelected this year. According to the bylaws, he can serve one more year on the board then he must sit out at least a year.
Board members are allowed to serve two consecutive three-year terms.
Roxie Viator was contacted for a statement but had not responded by Thursday afternoon.
