Federation Contact
Federation of Alliances Françaises, USA53 W. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1225
Chicago IL 60604
Tel: 1-312-431-1880
Fax: 1-312-431-1889
Email:federation@afusa.org
Click here for a link to the Protocol document signed by Pierre Hudelot of the Delegation Générale and Carole Crosby, past President of the Federation
Chapters and Regions - Please send us your information regarding changes in leadership, meetings and any other interesting information so we can post it.
Welcome to the Federation!
Chers Amis;
Greetings from the Federation of Alliances Françaises, newly returned from our successful mid-year board meeting which was held in Dearborn, Michigan. We also chose to include a Regional Meeting for those chapters who found the home of Henry Ford a convenient location to gather and discuss local needs.
The three chapters from the greater Detroit area, the Toledo, Ohio chapter, and representatives from Chicago, Kentucky, and Kansas City were present and welcomed by Marie-Laure Arnaud, Regional Vice-President of the Board. Presentations by Thierry Lagnau, Becca Brodarick, Mimi Gregory and Dr. David Mohan were given, followed by discussions regarding regional chapter needs.
The Federation Board met for the first time since the January 1st "changing of the guard", and discussions were fruitful and practical. Now, while you may think that is an oxymoron, I can assure you that there was an abundance of good news…the fruitful part; and the practical side resulted in some careful choices for the 2009 budget, while trying to preserve the opportunities for our chapters to have grants for meaningful projects.
A new Strategic Planning Committee was put in place with Bernard Metais, Chairman, and Alwyn Rougier-Chapman on board to generate the plan.
Several grant applications have been sent out with proposals to underwrite our educational and cultural offerings, and we welcome any suggestions you may have for contacts.
Thierry Lagnau reviewed the "state of the chapters", and we were pleased to hear that although the number of students has decreased by 8.9%, the number of enrollments has increased by 6.5% in 2008 compared to 2007. Forty one chapters took part in the cultural programs organized by Isabelle Gruet; and "AF FRAMES" is now in use by 27 chapters in the United States while most of the Canadian chapters use the program. There are 70 teaching Alliances in the network, and just as our forefathers discovered new lands, Thierry Lagnau discovered a new chapter, with the help of Consul-General Philippe Vinogradoff of Miami, on St.Thomas, in the US Virgin Islands
"One Book, One Federation" Chairman, Louis Kyle, is trying to "seal the deal" on our choice for this year. He will be aided by Matt Wyatt, and I hope we can keep you all in suspense just a bit longer before revealing the title.
Thanks are due to Alexandra Stafford for some good ideas on communication which we hope to implement soon. An update of our website is coming as well as the introduction of a new "portal", in partnership with the Delegation, that is part of the Protocol signed with the late Pierre Hudelot.
The Grant Committee, led by Daniele Easton and including board members Eileen Brau and Misa Bourdoiseau, will begin to research cultural and educational projects for grants and that information will be posted on the website.
As you are aware, our Assembleé Générale will be held at the Palmer House in Chicago, October 22nd to 25th, and Becca Brodarick is already hard at work on the workshops and speakers, along with our Treasurer, Carole Crosby. The Palmer House is resplendent, in fact: dazzling! Rates at $139. per night single and $159 per night double, are outstanding for this property and we hope you will sign-up soon. Location is: 17 East Monroe St. Chicago, IL 60603. Phone # is: (312) 726-7500. Ask for Federation of Alliances Françaises rate.
In an imaginative moment, the Federation Board chose Las Vegas as the site of our Mid-Year Board Meeting for 2010. Dates are: April 22-25. We hope this will ease the costs for our western state residents and very attractive rates are available in this location due to the economy. Of course we will try to secure the PARIS Hotel for the meeting.
Finally, Larissa and I have been hard at work on "Le Mag" which has gone off to the publishers in Paris for layout. We have gathered many interesting articles, photos and chapter reports for inclusion. When returned to us for proofing, we will count on Mary Emory, Charles Coulon, Eileen Brau, Monique Davaust, and Sonia Bohelay for the job of proof reading.
J'espère que vous tous sont à jour avec les projets de la fédération et nous avons hâte d'offrir notre soutien et notre aide financière pour les projets dans la mesure possible. Jusqu'à la prochaine édition de L'AF en bref, s'il vous plaît consulter notre site web pour les dernières nouvelles et, s'il vous plait, gardons-nous à jour avec vos nouvelles.
Mimi Gregory, Présidente
2009 Annual Meeting and Convention - Chicago, October 22-25
REGISTRATION FORM here form.
PROGRAM .
The Federation of Alliances Françaises, U.S.A., Inc. ("Federation") will hold its Convention and Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, October 22-25, 2009. The meeting will take place at the historic and recently renovated Palmer House Hotel in downtown Chicago, located at 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603. The Palmer House Hotel is within walking distance of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall and the new Millennium Park, not to mention the famous Michigan Avenue shopping district! The room rate is $139 for a single and $149 for double occupancy. Call the Palmer House directly to make your reservation at 877-865-5321. Reserve early as space may be limited, especially at these below market rates!
The meetings and workshops will take place all day on Friday and Saturday, October 23-24, 2009. Plan to arrive on Thursday, Oct 22nd, as the Alliance Francaise of Chicago welcomes attendees to the inaugural John Shedd Reed lecture on French current events, to be given by Ambassador Pierre Vimont, followed by a "Cocktail Dinatoire". Other events are in the planning for Friday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday. If you have any questions, call Larissa at the Federation's Office. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
Click here for directions to the Palmer House Getting to the Palmer House
If you have any questions, call Larissa at the Federation's Office. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
Call for Proposals
The Program Committee of the Federation’s 2009 Annual Meeting & Convention invites you to submit a proposal for a presentation at the meeting in Chicago, Illinois on October 23 and 24, 2009. The committee strives to offer a balanced educational program to the attendees who will include Alliance Française chapter presidents, directors, board members, administrators, teachers, and cultural program coordinators.
Sessions will be approximately 60 minutes in length and should focus on the areas of pedagogy, the administration and development of a non-profit organization as it relates to an Alliance board and chapter and French cultural programs. Presentations may be in French or in English. All presenters are required to register for the conference.
If you would like to discuss a workshop idea, please feel free to contact Becca Brodarick by phone at 502-836-7274 or via email at beccabrodarick@gmail.com. Proposal forms may be downloaded here at and returned to Becca Brodarick no later than June 14, 2009.
Becca Brodarick
10802 Somerhill Court
Louisville, KY 40223
502-836-7274
beccabrodarick@gmail.com.
à la carte Events Bulletin Board - Two New Additions
Eliot Fintushel and Laurent Lamotte
Eliot Fintushel
Laurent Lamotte
We've added two new performers to our à la carte lineup. They are Eliot Fintushel, who does wonderfully entertaining sketches based on the works of Baudelaire and Laurent Lamotte who does French and French related songs and music, along with her group, Les Truands.
Here's a link to a recent show put on by M. Fintushel.
The Federation has a wonderful lineup of lecturers and performers, available to all and any ouf our chapters, at reasonable cost. We are happy to work with the chapters and the performers to try and create a "mini-tour" in a particular region of the country. Similarly, if you have any suggestions for lecturers or performers who you think would be appropriate, we are happy t consider adding them.
We also welcome your comments and suggestions on how to make this service work better for you.
Let us know if there are events coming up that you think we should be publicizing. Contact Alexandra Stafford, Chair, à la carte Cultural Offerings at: eas401@aol.com.
The Federation of Alliances Françaises USA was founded more than one hundred years ago as an umbrella organization embracing all the Alliances Françaises (AFs) in the United States and Puerto Rico. The Federation is an independent 501(c)3 American tax-exempt not-for-profit association whose mission is to support and encourage Member Chapters in their promotion of the language and culture of French-speaking countries.
The Federation also promotes regional meetings and publishes both a magazine and a newsletter. Additional Alliances Françaises support includes the resources of a Cultural Offerings à la carte Service, financial grants and awards to member chapters as well as other benefits described on this web site.