History of Alliance Française de la Péninsula de Monterey
As early as November 11, 1931, the local newspaper mentions the creation of a chapter of the Alliance Française: statutes of the National Organization were ratified and adopted at the meeting held at the Hotel La Playa in Carmel. However, there is no further record of this early beginning of the Alliance Française. In the fifties, a club, "La Causerie Française", was started and functioned successfully for many years. In the early sixties, Madame Jehanne Biétry Salinger Carlson was instrumental in transforming this club into a branch of the Fédération des Alliances Françaises aux Etats Unis. At the first meeting, held on October 21, 1961, at the Carmel Art Association, the first board of Directors was elected and 36 persons became members. On December 26, 1973, The Alliance Française de la Péninsule de Monterey was incorporated in the State of California by then Secretary of State Edmund G. Brown, Jr. , and on March 29, 1974, the Department of Justice declared this corporation to be a non-profit organization
L'Alliance Française de le Péninsule de Monterey has offered and continues to offer a wide variety of cultural and social activities, mentioned in a monthly newsletter: lectures, recitals, hikes, teas, lunches and dinners, conversation groups, video evenings, celebration of French holidays, etc... . Presently, it has 92 members participating in these activities, especially the parties for Epiphany, Mardi Gras, Bastille Day and Christmas.
The Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS) allows the usage of a lecture hall with simultaneous translation, if need be. Profit making events as well as private donations are pursued in order to raise funds for a scholarship program to reward deserving students or teachers of French eager to pursue their studies of the French language and culture. The Concours National of French offered by the Délégation Générale de l'Alliance Française de Paris aux U.S.A is offered each year to all 14 High Schools in the area with reward of cash prizes and/or books. For several years now, The Alliance Française de la Péninsule de Monterey has offered prizes for the Monterey County History Day organized by the Lyceum . Even though the Alliance Française de la Péninsule de Monterey does not have an official school, various French conversation groups exist where students can get help with their studies and be directed to Institutions or private teachers giving French lessons.