November 2009 Newsletter
Staffing and Board Changes
Amanda Hassett has been hired as our Assistant to the Board of Directors. She is the first person you should call for assistance or answers to your questions. Her email address is hassettfamily@mac.com and her phone number is 913-538-6238. Welcome, Amanda.
Due to conflicts with travel, Nancy Abdou has resigned from the board. Anita Toby Grow has agreed to assume her role as assistant secretary starting in mid-November. Since the main responsibility of this position is production of our monthly e-newsletter, you may need to contact her. Her email address is: anitatoby@hotmail.com. Thank you, Anita for stepping into this important role.
Fall Meeting for November 20
Each year there are two business meetings to which all members are invited. These meetings are a chance for members to provide input to their organization and for you to develop a better understanding of the workings of La Causerie. The fall membership meeting will be held Friday, November 20th at noon (room to be determined). Please plan to stay for a short meeting. You’ll meet the officers who manage La Causerie, see our operating budget and its allocations, get updated on enrollment and operations, and learn about plans for upcoming activities.
New Procedures to Enter the Church
The church has recently instituted new security measures. Starting November 6th, the only entry point will be the west door near the church office. All other doors will be locked. (NOTE: For the directionally challenged, this is the door that faces the Trolley Trail and Brookside Boulevard.)
Even that door will be locked, but there is an intercom button to push for access. Simply say “La Causerie” and someone will let you in. If there is a La Causerie student coming up right behind you, take a moment to let them in, too.
Coffee and Snack Service
We continue to appreciate donations of snacks for our Friday morning classes, either homemade or store bought. Please sign up in the Social Room for a day that you can bring a treat. Bring your snacks when you arrive and if you don’t get to class until 10 or 11 bring something that can be saved by the staff and put out the next week like biscotti. We ask for donations for coffee or tea, which are provided by La Causerie. Leave a bill or two in the basket and you’ll help pay for this service.
Program Chairman
We continue to need a program person for the noon cultural program from each language department. Please tell the secretary, Amanda, or a board member if you could do this for one or more programs. There are about four to six programs per year but help on even one program is appreciated. We have suggestions of names, but need people to make the contacts, set up the schedule, handle logistics and greet our guests. We pay a $50 honorarium, which is attractive to speakers. If you can’t take on this responsibility, but know of a potential speaker, let someone on the board know.
French Students: Spend A Day Of Total Immersion In French
On, Saturday, November 7th, the Alliance Francaise of Kansas City will sponsor a French immersion day for intermediate speakers. Participants will spend from 9a.m. to 3p.m. in various French activities. The group will start at the Rockhill Tennis Club and later go to the Nelson Art Gallery. Breakfast is included in the enrollment fee while lunch will be paid individually and available at the Rozelle Court Restaurant. The day will be led by Chris Souille-Rigaut, Alliance teacher and doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas and Nadege Saint-Maxent, Alliance teacher and professor at Missouri Western University. Go to the Alliance School Link: afkc.org to fill out the enrollment form. The preferred method of payment is by check and may be paid the day of the event. The cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Please direct further inquiries to Carolyn Daigle at 816-674-1034.
Spanish Students: Visit to Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery
This exhibit is related to “el Día de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) and this special tour is for all Spanish students at La Causerie. The exhibits will show how the deceased are honored in Mexico.
The explanations and discussion will be in English.
Date: Tuesday, November 3 from 10:00 AM until 10:45 AM
Address: 919 West 17th Street, Kansas City, Mo 64108
Cost: $3.00
If you have further questions, please contact Patricia Siqueiros, one of our Spanish instructors, at 913-940-8534.
Each year there are two business meetings to which all members are invited. These meetings are a chance for members to provide input to their organization and for you to develop a better understanding of the workings of La Causerie. The fall membership meeting will be held Friday, November 20th at noon (room to be determined). Please plan to stay for a short meeting. You’ll meet the officers who manage La Causerie, see our operating budget and its allocations, and learn about plans for upcoming activities.
Holiday Fête
Mark your calendars! The Holiday Fete will take place at noon on Friday, December 18, following classes. We’ll have a great variety of food and fun available for you. More information will be coming in the December newsletter but mark the date.
Shop Amazon.com and Support La Causerie
If you’re doing holiday shopping through Amazon.com, there’s a way to support La Causerie as you shop online. If you shop Amazon.com by starting with any of our Amazon.com links at www.lacauserie.org, we make some money on your purchase. It doesn’t cost you extra. This applies to anything you buy through Amazon, not just books. It’s a cool way to boost that feeling of holiday giving this season. Link through us to Amazon.com and you give to friends, families, and La Causerie!
Snow Policy
Winter’s not far away, so we’d like to remind you that La Causerie 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 District’s website.
And, yes, there is a reason we don’t follow the KCMO School District policy (even though our school is in their boundaries). Over the past several years the board has watched how the various districts handle snow days. KCMO, because, many of its students ride buses, sometimes cancels school because of cold weather only. This is appropriate to protect students standing at bus stops, but not relevant to our situation.
Feedback
Have a suggestion or comment about classes, teachers, logistics, LCF in general? Drop us a note and put it in the Suggestion Box at the top of the stairs on the third floor. We welcome your input!
September 2009 - May 2010 Calendar
November 20 Fall Meeting
November 27 No class (Thanksgiving holiday)
December 18 Holiday Party
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) |
Anita Toby Grow |
|
Treasurer |
Inez Pennington |
|
Assistant Treasurer (Textbook Chair) |
Joan Daniels |
|
Assistant to the Board |
Amanda Hassett |
Note: Email
addresses and phone numbers are omitted from our website at www.lacauserie.org . Please
refer to the e-news or Livret when these are needed.