Our congratulations go out again to Sofia Mancinone, the Senior Prize winner, and Sienna Moore, the Junior Prize winner, both are from Regional School District 12, Shepaug Valley School. They were our two outstanding French students who won our Concours prizes of $500 each, a “Certificat de Mérite en francais“, and a copy each of “Rochambeau, Washington’s Ideal Lieutenant” written and signed by our member author Jini Jones Vail. The event was held at the American Association of French Teachers Prize Ceremony at the Hopkins School in New Haven on May 14th. Prizes were awarded by President Nancy Marie-Odile Callahan, assisted by Vice President Evelyne Purdy, and Joanne Hutchings the Language School Director. Our best wishes go out to both students as they plan to continue their study of French after high school.

On Thursday, June 6th, the newly repaired statue of Rochambeau and obelisk in Newport, RI will be dedicated. Wikipedia article on Rochambeau statue

If you are interested in going to the ceremony and spending the day in Newport, please let us know as soon as possible. We are looking into renting a van to go as a group.

The Alliance Française of Northwest Connecticut, located at will present a one week workshop for children ages 3 to 6, from July 9 – July 13. Classes will run from 9:30am to 11:30am, each day. The total cost for this series of classes will be $200.

The workshop will include activities and lessons on the French language and culture, highlighting the celebration of Bastille Day. Mme. Marie-Odille and Mlle. Verte will conduct the workshop. The sessions will include instruction, music, crafts, un goûter and outdoor activities.

For more information please call 203 707-0710 or visit www.afnwct.org

Bleu Blanc Rouge_July French Class

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is showcasing their extensive holdings of Auguste Rodin’s works to mark the centenary of his death.  It includes pieces that have not been exhibited in many years. It includes drawings, marbles, bronzes, plasters and terracottas by the master. This exhibit runs through January 15th, 2018 at the Met Fifth Avenue or visit here for more information: Rodin at The Met

Now playing at Bantam Cinema in Bantam “The Midwife“, or “Sage Femme“, in French, with Catherine Deneuve and Catherine Frot.  Visit Bantam Cinema, or call 860-567-0006 for show times.

Also of interest and playing at Criterion Cinemas in New Haven, is “Loving Vincent“, the life of Vincent Van Gogh. This will be playing at Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas beginning October 20th.
For show times and more, click here: Criterion Cinemas in New Haven

The Alliance Française invites you on October 25th to join them on their

Fall museum tour. We are traveling to the Bruce Museum

in Greenwich to see the “In the Limelight” exhibit of the works of artist

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and view a film featuring the works of Post

Impressionist Paul Cezanne.  Click here for the press release from the Bruce Museum: In The Limelight_Toulouse-Lautrec_Bruce Museum Read more

The 2nd AFNWCT Ligue de Pétanque ran this year from May through September 2017 with 19 members participating. Whereas last year the group played on 2 courts: one in Southbury and one in Bethlehem, two of our participants this year built two new courts which offered more opportunities to play throughout the season and different challenges, each court completely different in size, shape and terrain contours.

Congratulations to the 8 semi-finalists: Anne, Gail, Jean-Marie, Jim, Marcel, Marda and Noelle for having reached that level and for the concentration and passion demonstrated. Fabulous games. Fabulous! Best ever! Magnificent! Games no-one had seen before!

The finalists were, with ladies first and then men in order of age, Anne, Ulrich, Jim, and JM.

The final tournament was held in Bethlehem under a very hot sun, several spectators watching and with very warm interactions amongst the players.

Results:

1st place: Jim , Gold
2nd place: Anne, Silver
3rd place: Jean-Marie, Bronze
4th place: Ulrich

Thanking our hosts Gail and Marcel

Many thanks to Anne/Mark, Marda/Jean-Marie, Marcel/Gail and Fran/Jodie for offering their courts

for this seasons’ games and to Gail and Marcel for hosting the finale and closing celebration dinner. It was much appreciated by our AF members and the players.

Click the link below to check out the photos from the preliminary games, finale and dinner.

 

Samedi, le 19 août, à la dernière réunion du Conseil de cette année fiscale, on a accepté la résignation de Jean Marie et Marda Gutierrez du Conseil. Comme ils avaient chacun encore une année pour terminer leur mandat, on a présenté les remplaçants et de nouveaux membres. On a voté à l’unanimité en faveur du nouveau Conseil:

Présidente: Nancy Marie Odile Callahan

Vice-Présidente: Evelyne Purdy

Trésorier: Gurmit Batra  (photo à gauche)

Secrétaire: Micheline Baker

Programmes: Gail Gros

Directrice de l’Ecole: Joanne Hutchings

Conseiller Juridique: John Lamb

Adhérents: Laurent Vernouillet

Webmestre: Ingrid Klein

Félicitations au nouveau Conseil!

The new Board introduced themselves to each other since there are several new members

Pictured in the large photo are:

1st row left to right: Gurmit Batra, John Lamb, Laurent Vernillet

2nd row left to right: Ingrid Klein, Nancy Callahan, Micheline Baker, Gail Gros, Joanne Hutchings, Evelyne Purdy

 

Venez à la “Cocktail de Rentrée” vendredi,  22 septembre où vous allez pouvoir rencontrer les membres du Conseil.

Nancy Callahan and her family were present this spring to witness the bestowing of the honor of “Chevalier” (Knight) of the National Order of Légion D’Honneur for the French Government on their father, Donald Lytle. He was honored by the Consul General of France in San Francisco and the honor was bestowed by Gabrielle Applequist, the Honorary Consul of Idaho and former President of the Alliance Française in Boise, Idaho. She bestowed the Medal of Honor after her remarks from the President of the Republic of France in appreciation for Mr. Lytle’s efforts in the liberation of France during World War II.

Many members of the Alliance Française of Boise, Idaho were present as well as friends, family and fellow veterans.

“It was a great honor for our family as my father also received the Purple Heart for his injury and efforts in the Battle of the Bulge on Christmas Eve 1944,” explained Callahan. “He was then stationed with the Ordinance Corps in Paris and Versailles where he ultimately met my mother. They were married on August 12, 1946 and celebrated their 71st anniversary this month,” she continued.

Thus, Nancy Marie-Odile Lytle (Callahan) was born in America and raised in a French and American household. Nancy Callahan is the current President of the AFNWCT.

The Board of the Alliance Française of Northwest Connecticut (AFNWCT) was recently informed that as of August 31 the two members who hold the Board positions of President and Treasurer will resign from the Board in order to move closer to their family.

To ensure overlap training time and a smooth transition, we call upon our members to volunteer to fill these two positions*. We also need more “behind-the-scenes” workers on several key committees (see below). Email Nancy, our Vice-President at afnwct@afnwct.org or call (203) 707-0710 with questions or to volunteer asap.

An active membership, where many members share the workload (rather than relying on a few core members to ‘do it all’) is the best evidence of a strong, sustainable organization: “Avec beaucoup d’ouvriers, la tâche devient aisée.”

Volunteering is a great way to get to know your organization and your fellow members! Currently, we have 165 members and it would be great to welcome some of our nouveaux adhérents to serve on the Board or to help on a committee, particularly in support of the three key areas: Programs, the Language School and Membership.

1921-2016: 95-Year Legacy

Organizing a full calendar of educational and culturally relevant programs has always been and will continue to be an essential element of our organization. Not only do these get-togethers offer opportunities to practice and/or improve our French-speaking skills, they also serve to attract new participants.

Gail, our current Program chairperson would gladly welcome help with suggesting and contacting new speakers, setting admission price and tracking RSVPs… If you’d like to help, send her an email at programmes@afnwct.org.

Thanks to the opening of our Language School in the fall of 2016, we have been able to increase our focus on teaching French. Membership fees and profits from French classes help to cover the majority of our operating expenses: rent, utilities, office and language school supplies, teacher’s fees.

Our Language School Director is actively recruiting new teachers for children and adult group or private classes. If interested in teaching (teachers receive an hourly compensation as a Independent Contract Hire) or if you have a suggestion for a new class you’d like us to offer, please send an email to Joanne at ecole@afnwct.org.

How you react to this appeal for help will determine the future of your organization. Please volunteer today!

OPEN VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

President /Co-President: Provide strategic leadership and tactical plans around our two main poles: teaching and offering educational programs to further promote the French cultural heritage.

Treasurer: Maintain general ledger, reconcile accounts monthly and provide quarterly reports and analysis to the Board on the financial health of the organization.

Membership: Welcome and introduce new members to the calendar of events, activity groups & committees; understand why they joined and communicate those reasons to the Board to help ensure member satisfaction.

Publicity: Send press releases to local newspapers and on-line bulletins.

Webmaster: Maintain website, update events calendar & French School page. (If you have good computer skills, I can easily train you! MLG)

Social Media: Create postings for Twitter and Facebook, Meet-ups…

Hospitality: Plan event décor, purchase paper supplies and/or refreshments, set up room, arrange for clean up & room break down.

Fund Raising: Lead GiveLocal efforts; acknowledge Donations.

 

Will you share the load and volunteer to help run your organization?

Volunteer now as a Board member and/or committee member!

 

*AFNWCT By-laws Article IV Administration, Section 2:

In the case of resignation of a member of the Board, the Board of Directors, by Majority vote shall have the power to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.