Merci Beaucoup to Fran and Jodie Hellman for hosting our Quartorze Juillet celebration. We had lots of fun playing pétanque and ate delicious food brought by all, especially the BBQ chicken and pulled pork, prepared by Chef Fran. Even though it was still daylight when we sang “La Marseillaise”, we still lit sparklers to mark the occasion.
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!
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.
Phase 1 of the League will run from May 1st to Labor Day (Sept. 4)
Phase 2:
Enrollment is restricted to AFNWCT members:
2nd Pétanque League fees are $35 per person:
You must enroll by April 20!
Don’t know how to play? Don’t worry: teaching sessions will be provided to those who are not familiar, or not at ease with the game. By the end of the summer – you will be pleasantly surprised by your progress!
Think before signing up: interested players need to commit to playing the League games so as not to impact the other players and the overall progress of the League.
Generally games are scheduled to fit working (weekends & evenings) and retired lifestyles. More details will be provided regarding court sites and league scoring rules at a later date. At this point, we need to know who is committing to playing by April 20 at the latest.
It will be another fun year and we hope to see many of you on the courts.
Bien amicalement,
Jean-Marie Gutierrez
PS: Research has shown that Pétanque extends your life expectancy….
Testimonials from 2016 Pétanque League:
“I so enjoyed playing, meeting challengers and the ambiance of those Saturday mornings. Looking forward to 2017!”
“Many thanks for all the time and effort you put into the organization!”
“Appreciated your support and coaching.”
“I have enjoyed playing ever so much, and the camaraderie, outdoors and exercise have kept me healthy and feeling younger”
“Today’s matches were a blast. We got so close to knocking off the master I could taste it.”
“Very good matches today, and a lot of fun.”
“We are impatient to start again competing with all of you and, we hope, with new “Pétanqueurs”.
On March 31st, Toto Kisaku presented A Voice from the Congo. Kisaku, a theater director, actor, set designer and producer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has traveled the world sharing his story of his life growing up in the DRC. His talk also touched on his socially conscious theatre work, and his point of view on the cost of freedom.
Kisaku was selected in 2003 among the young artists of Kinshasa by Jacques Livchine and Philip Boulay to represent Congo in the 20th edition at the Limoges festival and to perform in two pieces by Bernard M. Koltes. Kisaku was also in the French version of “Topdog / Underdog” by Suzan L. Parks at the Forum de Blanc Mesnil, the Théâtre Louis Jouvet and the Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris. He has produced plays such as “Basal’ya Bazoba, “Rencontres au pluriel,” “Surface 1 et 2,” “20 ans, et alors!” and “Mort d’Oluwemi d’Ajumako” among others. Kisaku has also participated in the Avignon, Limoges, Paris Quartier d’Eté, Taz à Oostende, ICAF, Pilotobes, A/D Werf, Right About Now, Toseka, Mantsina, and Connexion Kin festivals.
In 2003, he founded a theater group, K-Mu Théâtre, (Kinois en Mutation) based in Kinshasa with other young Arts and Drama graduates from the National Institute of Arts as a Centre for Research and Artistic Creation in Urban Areas. Toto Kisaku and K-Mu Théâtre were the 2010 recipients of the Freedom to Create Prize, an international award that supports and recognizes artists who strive for social change in places where there is no freedom to create. The prize was awarded for their production of Basal’ya Bazoba a play about the violent persecution of children accused of witchcraft.
Watch for his 2018 production titled “Requiem for An Electric Chair”, which he will be presenting in Connecticut and New York.
2016: Our 95th Anniversary Year in Review
Delicious food and interesting conversations made our December 10 Holiday Cocktail Party a huge success. Special thanks to our Hosts: John and Lawrence. John’s bartending was, as usual, spectacular! MERCI!
Scrumptious hors d’oeuvres and desserts were prepared by Marilyn, Marcel & Gail, Nancy, Renée, Carol and Marda.
It was great to see our long-time members and many new members coming together to celebrate this special time of the year!
Click Below to see a photo gallery from the evening.
