December 2006 Newsletter

 

Holiday Fête to be held on December 15

 

The Holiday Fête will be held on Friday, December 15 at noon, following morning classes.  The noon Spanish I lab will not be held that day.

 

You won’t want to miss this special annual event, which includes Rosemary’s fabulous punch. 

Veronica Bergonzoni and a team of volunteers are cooking up some fun activities, including: 

 

 

There is a $10 charge for those participating in the wine tasting. As usual, each member is asked to bring finger food to be shared with the group—hors d’oeuvres, snacks, nibbles, desserts.  Food with an international flair is especially welcome.  And food that complements wine is terrific, including cheeses and breads from countries that speak our three languages, olives, pâté, fruit, etc.   

 

You’ll be given the chance to RSVP at classes on December 1 and 8th. If you miss that, please fill out the form at the bottom of this newsletter and send it to Veronica Bergonzoni.  Knowing who is coming is important in our planning, particularly for the wine tasting.

 

If you have any questions or ideas for the party, please contact Veronica Bergonzoni at 913 677-0602.

 

WANTED!  PHOTOS!

 

Last year we developed a travel slide show that proved quite popular and we plan to do an encore presentation at the Holiday Fête. If you want to submit some of your photos (and they do NOT have to be of international travel), here’s how:

 

Send in three to five of your favorite (digital) travel photos and we’ll add them to our slide show.  We hope you’ll include at least one photo that includes you, but they can also be of your family or people you met along the way.  They can be gorgeous scenery or fabulous food.  Graceful gazelles or daffy ducks.  Whatever you’d have fun sharing.

 

Photos MUST be in digital format.  If you have photos in other formats, Kinko’s or a friend may be able to help you scan them into a computer.

 

Email them to Dalene Bradford by Wednesday noon, December 12 (or earlier). 

 

Snow Policy

 

La Causerie Française follows the Shawnee Mission School District practice on snowy or icy days.  If the Shawnee Mission District closes its schools due to bad weather, La Causerie will also be closed.  In case of inclement weather, please listen to the list of school closings on television and radio or check the SMSD’s website.

 

 

Know a good speaker?

 

If you have an idea for a program or the name of a possible speaker, let Joan Daniels or Inez Pennington know.

 

La Causerie’s noon cultural programs generally include native speaker (French, Italian or Spanish) talking about any topic that might be of interest to our members.  The program lasts about 30 minutes, with time for questions and answers and a Dutch treat lunch afterwards. 

 

Thanks so much!

Our snack service this fall has been wonderful.  We’ll be looking for more volunteers in the New Year, so let Veronica Bergonzoni know when you’re available. The ubiquitous sign-up sheet is available at the coffee service table and will be available at the Holiday Fête.

 

Have a suggestion related to your class?

Then tell your department chair. 

 

December and January Calendar

Dec. 1            Classes Meet

                     French Program at Noon.   Philippe Lechevin, chef at the Kauffman Foundation and proprietor of the KCMO Downtown Library café, will talk about life in his grandmother’s kitchen in northeast France and his love of cooking.  He promises to bring samples.  In French.

Dec. 8            Classes Meet

                     Italian Program at noon Dr. Louis Imperiale, from the Department of Foreign Language & Literature at UMKC, will present Songs and Poems from Italy. in Italian.

Dec. 15          All Classes Meet (except noon Spanish lab);

                     Annual Holiday Party at Noon

Dec. 22          Christmas Holiday; no classes

Dec. 29          New Year’s Holiday; no classes

Jan. 5            Classes resume

                     French program at Noon presented by Professeur Helene Perriguey-Keene who will speak about growing up in France.  In French.

Jan. 12          Classes Meet.

                     Italian Program at Noon presented by Debra Karr, speaking in Italian about “Madame Butterfly.”

Jan. 19          Classes Meet.

                     Spanish Program at Noon (TBA)

Jan. 26          Classes Meet

                     French Program at Noon (TBA)

                                                                                      

Is there a facilities issue you want to report?

Then please tell a board member, rather than someone who works at the church.  The church asks that La Causerie issues, suggestions and requests be funneled through Inez.

 

Executive Board Members 2006-2007

 

President:       Inez Pennington                                                         

First VP:         Linda Rei (Membership Chairman)                               

Second VP:     Veronica Bergonzoni (also Chair of Social & Hospitality)

Secretary:      Joan Daniels (Program Chair)                                      

Asst. Secy:     Dalene Bradford (newsletter and publicity)                    

Treasurer:      Linda Lyon                                                                 

Asst. Treas:    Mary Lew McCarty (also Textbook Chair)                      

 

                                                                                                                                            

 

RSVP for the Holiday Fête

 

If you won’t be able to RSVP in person at classes on Dec. 1 or 8th, please complete the form below and send it in before Wednesday, December 13.  This is very important in our planning, so thanks in advance!

 

Veronica Bergonzoni

See her address in the Livret

 

□  Yes  □  No   I plan to attend the Holiday Fête on December 15 at noon.

 

□  Yes  □  No   I plan to participate in the wine tasting (there will be a $10 charge that day).

 

Name: