Bonne année et bienvenue à 2016 !!
I sincerely hope that you all had a wonderful time with family and friends over the break. It can be hectic trying to cram a year’s worth of fun into a few weeks, with those we only see at this time of year; but it’s always well worth it!
The new year, for our Alliance, brings with it a change of positions within our Committee. With some sadness, we farewell Margaret Gaunson as Secretary, while at the same time we are very happy to have her remain as a Committee member for the remainder of the year. As we all know, although the President of any group is the ‘front man’, it is the Secretary who really runs the show! Margaret has been the guiding hand of Alliance Française de la Côte de Saphir for more years than she would have liked, but in consideration of the group, has carried on until a new Secretary could be found.
I want to acknowledge here Margaret’s dedication, efficiency, energy, initiative, drive and rigour in her role over the years. We have been most fortunate to have had her expertise to rely upon when dealing with matters regarding insurance, the bureaucracy in Paris, running the AGM correctly, asset keeping and historical record keeping. There are far too many ‘little’ things that she keeps an eye on to mention here, but please know, Margaret, that all you have done over the years is greatly appreciated by the rest of the Committee and indeed the wider membership. Thank you.
So, on that note, we must now welcome our new Secretary, Mike Warren, who has so graciously taken up the charge, and has some rather impressive credentials to bring to the position as well. We thank you, Mike, for taking on this role and affording Margaret the break she truly deserves.
Well, your Alliance Committee is trying to plan a fun-filled 2016 for you, commencing with the Welcome Party on 13 February at Tura Beach. All the details can be found elsewhere in this newsletter, so please reply ASAP.
This year, we are hoping to have two movie events, as they have been so popular, an Easter Egg Hunt and French picnic, Bastille Day get-together, as well as the regular activities of Pétanque and Saturday Conversation mornings. If any of you have some ideas about what you would like us to be doing for you, please contact any one of the Committee members (details in La Mouette) - we are always open to suggestions and eager to hear from you.
Mike Warren has updated the Blog, so if you want to visit http://www.afsaphir.blogspot.com.au/ you will find lots of interesting information about all things French, as well as the main articles from La Mouette. Membership subscriptions are now due, so please send your cheque or EFT payment immediately, in order to enjoy the many functions to be provided in 2016. Tell your friends too, as they say in the classics, “Plus on est de fous, plus on rit!!”
À bientôt. Gai Jacobs
Mme la Présidente
