July 2009 Newsletter

 

Summer Luncheon at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 

It’s only a short time before the summer luncheon, Friday July 10, at 11:30 at the Rozzelle Court Restaurant in the Nelson-Atkins Museum. The address is 4525 Oak, Kansas City, MO. Entrance to the museum is free.  Parking is $5.00 but free with a membership card. The entrance to the parking garage is on the west side of the Museum on Oak. Limited free parking is available on the street and in the area northeast of the building.  Car pooling with a friend would cut down on the cost and would be more fun! If you would like to come by bus, there is a Max stop at 45th and Main, two blocks west of the museum. Please contact Carol Cowden by July 1 by phone or email if you plan to come (number last page). Everyone will buy their own lunch from the cafeteria line and sit with other members at the reserved tables.  Lunch should cost about $8 to $12 and a Nelson Museum member card allows for a discount. Following lunch, museum docents will lead a tour of artwork from countries that speak our languages (dividing us into smaller groups as needed). Please come and be part of the fun.  

A Movie Recommendation

Our loyal Los Angeles member, Barbara Christopher, wrote to recommend that La Causerie members see “Valentino—Last Emperor,” a documentary about the renowned designer and his long-time partnership with Giancarlo Giammetti.  The film is a rare find in that it uses two of our languages—French and Italian.  It was directed by Matt Tyrnauer, a friend of Barbara and her husband Bill Christopher. He had unprecedented access to Valentino over a two year period and you’ll enjoy scenes from both Rome and Paris.

The movie opened at the Tivoli in Westport on June 26 and may be found at other theatres around town.  Barbara has been a La Causerie member two separate years when Bill was in town performing at the New Theatre Restaurant (and we hope they’ll be back soon for another stay).

Class Schedule and Registration

 

We have great news and bad news.  The good news is that the church has agreed to provide some additional space for our classes.  The bad news is that the board will need some time to figure out the implications of this.  We have to determine:

•  Whether we should add some additional classes; if so, which ones?
•  Will additional teachers need to be hired?
•  What will be the overall impact on cost to our members?  
•  What amount of our reserves might we use?

Therefore, it may be mid-July at the earliest before a class schedule is determined and posted.  Your board of directors is working hard on this issue and will publish its recommendations as soon as possible.  You’ll be the first to know, through our e-news (and snail mail to the members without email).

New Assistant to the Board Hired

A new assistant to the Board has been hired. Her name is Carmen Quintero and she has been a member of La Causerie in the past, back when the group met at Faith Lutheran Church. She plans to take French I this year.  She is fluent in Spanish and grew up in Kansas City along with six sisters and three brothers.  She is a graduate of Rockhurst University with a degree in Education and Biology.  She served in the United States Navy for five years as administrative secretary for a Captain’s Staff. After returning to civilian life she was hired by the Veteran’s Administration for the Chief of Neurology as an administrative secretary.  She served as a biological aide for the Department of the Interior and has worked part-time for the Saint Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary. 

Carmen is also a Master Gardener, completing that program at the University of Missouri and Lincoln University.  She also has a certificate for Organic Gardening from Cornell University through their horticultural extension center. 

She has started working and will attend the luncheon on July 10. Please greet her then. In the meantime she will be working on the Enrollment Party on September 11 and learning the responsibilities of her new position.  Welcome, Carmen!

Summer Studies 

Hélène Perriguey-Keene has posted some summer practice assignments for her French III students on the Wiki. Other instructors are invited to do the same.

A list of local conversation groups can be found on the WIKI. Please note (and honor) the expected proficiency level.  Information about tutors is posted on our website (see tab on the home page). 

If you are attending a summer study language group that is open to new members and would be willing to serve as a contact please reply to this email and we’ll add it to the website and the next e-newsletter. 

2009-2010 Calendar

July 1   Last day for reservations for Summer Luncheon

July 10   SUMMER LUNCHECON at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

August 1  Online Registration Begins

September 11  Enrollment Party and orientation for 2009-2010

September 25  CLASSES BEGIN and continue every Friday AM except:

November 27  No class (Thanksgiving holiday)

December 25  No class (Christmas holiday)

January 1  No class (New Year’s Day)

March 19  No class (Spring Break)

May 7   Last day of classes

Executive Board Members 2009-2010

 

Title	Name
President	Dalene Bradford
1st Vice President (Membership Chair)	Judith Walter
2nd Vice President (Social Chair)	Jeff Piehler  (co-chair)
	Carol Cowden (co-chair)
Secretary	Judy Pearlstein
Assistant Secretary (Newsletter)	Nancy Abdou
Treasurer	Inez Pennington
Assistant Treasurer (Textbook Chair)	Joan Daniels
Assistant to the Board	Carmen Quintero

Note: Email addresses and phone numbers are omitted from our website at www.lacauserie.org . Please refer to the email letter or Livret when these are needed.