Summer luncheon scheduled
for Bastille Day!
Mark your
calendar for our next social event, the annual summer luncheon for all
members.
Cost: $24 includes choice of three entrees plus dessert and
wine or soft drink
Annual Meeting Update
Over 55 people participated in the Annual Meeting on April
28. During the meeting Inez thanked the
many volunteers who made La Causerie successful this year and honored teachers
who will be leaving us at the end of the year.
Other business included:
By-laws
Revision Thanks again to Merrill Toms
and Susan Gardner for their careful review and recommended changes on our
club’s By-Laws. Their suggestions, and some added by the Executive Board, were
shared with the membership and approved unanimously at the April 28 Annual
Meeting. Members will get an updated
copy of the By-Laws in the Livret in the fall or contact Inez if you’d like one
before then.
Election
of Officers The slate of officers presented by the
Nominating Committee were elected unanimously.
The office of Secretary remains open, so if you are interested in taking
over this role, please talk with any officer.
President Inez
Pennington
1st VP Linda Rei
2nd VP Veronica
Bergonzoni
Treasurer Linda
Lyon
Asst. Treasurer Mary
Lew McCarty
Secretary
Asst Secretary Dalene
Bradford
Schedule
Expansion Plans for 2006-2007 Inez has been working closely with instructors and
department chairs to develop and expand classes for next year. She presented the proposed classes, which
emphasize opportunities to practice pronunciation and conversation at each
level, reaching back to La Causerie’s origin as place for chit-chat. List of
classes to be offered will be available in the Fireside Room or are available
by request. The actual schedule (i.e. which classes take place when) is still
being worked on. The website will be
updated soon with new classes and schedule.
You will be able to view the class schedule and click on any class name
to get a description of the syllabus, prerequisites and text. You will want to read this carefully, as
class “levels” have been redefined to fill in some gaps in our curriculum.
Fee
Increase in 2006-07 School Year. The Board has determined the fee increase needed to keep
the organization operating in the black.
Fees will be $185 for 2006-2007, with the opportunity to receive a $10
discount by registering early. With 30
weeks of school, this works out to approximately $6 per week. If the cost increase represents a hardship
for anyone, please talk to a board member to see what can be worked out. The board does not mean to discourage
participation and we are willing to discuss options that make it possible for
everyone to take part.
Olé! Spring Fête
Entertainment provided by the students of C.S. #1 Elementary School followed by Olé! Music and Dance of Spain received a warm response from the 75 people enjoying the Spring Fête at noon, April 28.
The students did four numbers, including a song about Spanish verbs, a story about the donkey doctor treating his ailments and another about trying to balance elephants on a spider web.
Then Mary Ann Hope and three colleagues from Olé Music and Dance of Spain performed a lively and colorful program of Flamenco and Spanish dance. Afterwards, everyone fêted with Rosemary Hofmann’s famous punch and a pot-luck lunch. We all got the chance to chat with prospective members, and Jan Cohen pronounced the Used Book Sale a success. All this, plus each participant in the day’s events received two free passes to visit Powell Gardens.
Jan Cohen
has a new email address: jancohenatsbcglobal.net
We have a new member:
Jennifer Lipari (Italian) see bulletin board for contact info
La Causerie
has its very own phone number: (816)
361-5300
Tutors…an
encore listing
Want to maintain your language proficiency over the summer
when La Causerie doesn’t meet? Here is
a list of some tutors who are available to work with you (for a fee, of
course).
Italian
· Native speaker (and UMKC Italian professor) Tiziano Cherubini tutors at his Plaza apartment. Contact him at 816-756-1006.
· LCF member Dawn Mattera Young offers Italian tutoring at a mutually agreeable place (such as a library). Reach her at 913-940-8361.
Spanish
French
May
5 Spanish Program Gloria Guerra, Clinic Manager at the
Duchesne Clinic will speak IN SPANISH about this important KCK clinic which
serves working but uninsured adults in Wyandotte County.
May
12 Last day of classes. All
classes will be held.
July
14 Summer luncheon at Aixois
Café. Details provided above (with more
to come).
August 1 Online registration available (target date).
Sept. 8 Enrollment party. Come see your friends, even if you’re enrolled.
Sept. 22 First day of classes for 2006- 2007 school year.
Sad News
Constanza Freeman who taught at the Causerie until a few years ago, died in Bogota, Columbia on April 23, 2006. Memorial services were held April 30 at Guardian Angels Church.
Presidential Photography
Inez
Pennington’s photographic art display has been held over at St. Luke's East
Hospital through May (I-470 and Douglas Road).
More info at http://www.summitart.org.
These dramatically large photos were taken when she was an international horse
sports photographer.
Other opportunities to
practice your language skills
Below are some activities related to the three languages taught by La Causerie. They are NOT sponsored by La Causerie nor do we handle registrations related to them. Please read directions carefully and communicate with the appropriate contact points. If you know of other events, let Dalene Bradford know and we’ll add them to future issues of the newsletter.
Alliance Française
May 7, 5 – 6:30 p.m. Roundtable discussion: “La France Actualle 2006.” Rockhill Club. Moderator Cyprienne Simchowitz-White, specialist in international law. Discussants: Professor Mark Boime; M. Bertrand and Professor Hélène Genuyt; Professor Nadine Indyk; Commandant Philippe and MME Amélie de Montenon and Professor Sherrill Mulhern. There will be a question and answer period. Discussion continues over dinner. Reservations required by May 2.
New French Conversation
Group
A new KC French Club
Conversation group begins on Saturday May 20 from 1:30 to 4pm and takes place
every Saturday. All meetings are held at Artisan Français Patisserie and
Boulangerie in Overland Park: 6759 W. 119th Street, Overland Park, KS 66209.
For information call 913-345-1699
Il Circolo Italiano
There is a summer session of
Italian Language Classes, held on Sunday afternoons at the Bisceglia Italian
Cultural Center at 544 Wabash. Classes
begin June 11 and registration is required by June 3. Learn more: www.kcitalianculturalcenter.co
m/italianlessons.pdf . Seven weeks of
classes cost $110. For more
information about Italian opportunities in KC, visit http://italian.meetup.com/15/
Spanish
There is a Spanish Meetup group in KC, and our Annette Howard used to be their assistant organizer. Check out their website for more information: http://spanish.meetup.com/73.