Chers Amis,
It’s now just
over a month since our AGM but this will be my first opportunity to thank our
retiring President, Gai Jacobs, who led our club with dignity and quiet
efficiency over the last 2 years. I would also like to thank Margaret Gaunson
our retiring Secretary and Master
Fixer who
always had all of the answers, and Denise Brown, Julie Welsh, Annette Gleeson,
all of whom worked tirelessly on the Committee. Margaret has been replaced by
Mike Warren who took up duties as Secretary earlier this year, making a
significant additional commitment to work he is doing elsewhere in the local
community. Kerry Hunting has generously agreed to retain her position as
Treasurer and Clive Roberts continues to serve on the Committee in the role of
journalist and editor-in-chief of La Mouette as well as co-ordinating the
monthly petanque competition at Mandeni. I also welcome a new member to the
Committee, and a new member of the Alliance, Michael Quinlan. There is still
another vacancy on the Committee and if there are any other members who are
able to contribute their time and expertise on the Committee please contact me
or Mike Warren.
Our activities
this year will build on the success of things we have done well in the past
like the Alliance Francaise social occasions to celebrate Bastille Day, our
French food nights, our Christmas party and French wine tastings, the monthly
Petanque competitions and our French Film nights. We will continue to offer beginners’
French language conversations for members wanting to learn French for the first
time and, hopefully, restart French language discussion groups for those who
are more advanced. Our French language activities are supported by our French
language library which is currently being considered by the Committee for re-location
to the Shire library at Tura Beach shopping centre. This would be a much more
convenient location for most of our members as well as providing a more secure
location for our material.
Essentially, our
activities will be intended to provide the opportunity for companionship for
people with a shared interest in the French language and wishing to celebrate
all things French. If you have any ideas for other activities we could offer
our membership please let me know. On behalf of the Committee I wish you all
the best for the coming year.
Rob McCombie
