January 2007 Newsletter

 

Holiday Fête a grand success

 

About 70 people attended the 2006 Holiday Fête on Friday, December 15 at noon. Thanks to Michael Levine of Vino 100 who provided wines from Spain, France and Italy—three from each country.  You can thank him further by purchasing wines (or cigars) from his store at 13135 State Line Road (directly east of CVS Pharmacy on 131st & State Line Road in Missouri). 

                                                                                                          

Other activities at the fête included sampling Rosemary’s fabulous punch, a song performed by the students at Community School #1 and a continuous loop of our growing travel slide show.

 

Special recognition goes out to Veronica Bergonzoni who did all the organizing and decorating.  Thanks also go to new La Causerie member Barbara Robertson who stepped forward at our annual meeting to make the connection with Michael for us. We also appreciate the many volunteers who brought great food and helped with set up and clean up.

 

Change in French Faculty

 

Please welcome our new French teacher, Louis Imperiale, Professor of Foreign Languages at UMKC.  Louis will take over the two French III classes (9 and 10 a.m.) starting January 19th.

 

Louis is no stranger to La Causerie.  He has substituted for us several times and also been a regular presenter of excellent noon programs.

 

Friday, January 12th will be Hélène Perriguey-Keene’s last day to teach these classes for us. We knew last summer when we hired her that a teaching commitment at Johnson County Community College would make it impossible for her to teach the entire year. But she has been a welcome addition to our faculty and her students will miss her.


If you’d like to say farewell to Hélène (and learn about the Franche-Comte), attend her presentation at the January 5 noon program (see Calendar below for details).

 

French Travel and Learning Opportunity

 

Several of our members have attended adult French Camp in Minnesota through Concordia Language Villages. Now Concordia is offering a content-based language and culture learning experience for adults called “Around the French Table.”  This 11-day tour begins in Paris and includes tours to Chissay, Tours, Villandry Gardens and more. It also involves food shopping and preparation, visiting landmarks related to pastries, wine cheese and chocolate and, of course lots of eating and French speaking.  To learn more email them at adultprogramsabroad@cord.edu or call 1-800-222-4750 ext 803.  Price is $4750 per person including airfare (and based on double occupancy).   April 11-22, 2007.  Deposit due January 5.

 

 

Feel left out of the video game craze?

 

Here’s an online game member Barbara Shapiro shared with us last year where you can play 20 Questions in the language you are studying:  www.20q.net  The hand-held version of this game was touted this year on “The View” as one of the “Hot Holiday Toys.”  You can play it for free online—and practice your language.


Other interesting online resources include:

LanguageGuide.org offers free sound integrated resources for learning languages. Resources are developed collaboratively with the help of volunteers. It is sponsored by Language Guide, a registered non-profit organization and includes our three languages, plus many others.  http://www.languageguide.org

Also, check out www.yourdictionary.com for thousands of dictionaries, including foreign language (and chocolate!) ones.

 

Thanks so much!

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

 

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.

 

January and February Calendar

Jan. 5          Classes resume

                  French program at Noon presented by Professeur Helene Perriguey-Keene will speak about the Franche-comte.  In French.

Jan. 12         Classes Meet.

                  Italian Program at Noon presented by Debra Karr, Professor of Italian at KU and a Lyric Opera lecturer.  She will speak in Italian about “Madame Butterfly.”

Jan. 19         Classes Meet.

                  Spanish Program at Noon (TBA)

Jan. 26         Classes Meet

                  French Program at Noon Chef Philippe Lechevin will talk about growing up in northeast France and discuss the  love of cooking he developed in his grandmother’s kitchen.

Feb. 2          Classes Meet

                  Italian Program at Noon (TBA)

Feb. 9          Classes Meet

                  Spanish Program at Noon (TBA)

Feb. 16         Classes Meet

                  French Program at Noon (TBA)

Feb 23          Classes meet    

                  Italian 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)                                           

 

Have a suggestion related to your class?

Then tell your department chair.