France Revisited frequently receives news from Alliance Française groups across the U.S. and otherwise keeps an eye on local events through AF websites, and we’ve found over the past year that one of the most dynamic AF groups in the country is the Alliance Française de Milwaukee.

While some AF groups appear lethargic or otherwise complain about budget woes, AF de Milwaukee keeps coming up with various ways of enjoying and promoting Francophilia—and apparently maintaining or increasing membership in the process.

As AF groups are preparing their holiday season gatherings and thinking of ways to motivate member participation in 2010, we wanted to share with you just a few upcoming events sponsored by the AF de Milwaukee along with our comments on how other groups can take a page out of Milwaukee playbook.

Their event: Cabaret evening, Dec. 4. Learn French while singing along with the songs of Felix Leclerc. Leclerc (1914-1988) was a French-Canadian folksinger, poet, writer, actor and Québécois political activist. Enjoy refreshments and bring your favorite French cheese to share.
Our comment: Don’t wait around for Maurice Chevalier to show up at your door. Find a guitarist, some easy if unfamiliar French tunes, and open your doors to informative entertainment. Furthermore, if residents of our great American cheese-producing state are willing to bring French cheese to an event then certainly you can get your members to contribute.

Their event: Everything you always wanted to know about grammar but were afraid to ask… $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Dec. 5, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m..
Our comment: Any organization that can get members to pay $25 to learn the difference between the passé composé and the imparfait and to teach people whatever the hell the subjunctive is must be doing something right. Find an enthusiastic teacher and let your members know that this class isn’t just about grammar but about making your next trip to France plus que parfait.

Their event: Winter drawing series Jan. 23, Feb. 20, March 20. Open yourself to the visual world and do it in French with art professor Pacia Sallomi. $45 for members, $60 for non-members.
Our comment: Art and French, cooking and French, olive oil and French, bowling and French… find out what your members would enjoy then do it in French. So what if the name Pacia Sallomi makes you want to visit the Uffizi rather than the Louvre, no harm in attracting some Italophiles to your group. Ever hear of the European Union?

Their event: Olive oil tasting at the AF open house gallery opening. This is a potpourri event with an olive tasting, French mini-lessons, French music, and exhibit of an artist’s drawings of France. Dec. 12, 5-7 p.m..
Our comment: Your members have talents and your community’s got culture mavens, and they’d all be than happy than to Francofy them if you ask. So wake up your slumbering group by offering to showcase local talent.

For the complete Alliance Française de Milwaukee playbook see www.afmilwaukee.org

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The Alliance Française de Milwaukee is one of the most dynamic Alliance groups in the United States, to judge from the information about its activities that France Revisited regularly receives from the organization. So it’s only natural that the Consul General of France in Chicago, whose regional zone includes Milwaukee, would eventually meet with the group on their home turf. Catherine Jones, Marketing Coordinator for the Alliance, sent the following report of the event. The photos are by Alliance member David Pruszka.

Jean-Baptiste Main de Bossière, Consul General of France in Chicago

On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, the Alliance Française de Milwaukee hosted a reception for M. Jean-Baptiste Main de Bossière, Consul général de France à Chicago. The Consul General spoke eloquently about the Alliance Française’s role in promoting French language and culture world wide and about the history of French influence in the Midwest. He touched on the political climate in Israel and Iran and the mortgage market in France, wrapping up his speech with a comment on the warm friendship between Obama and Sarkozy.

M. Main de Boissière was appointed as Consul General of France in Chicago in February 2007. Prior to being posted in Chicago, he was assigned Special Representative for Business Affairs in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2006. His own business background is in telecommunications. He has held the position of CEO of Orascom Telecom Holding (2000-2002) and France Télécom Mobiles International (1995-2000). From 1993 to 1995 he worked as the Telecommunications Advisor to the Minister for Trade and Industry. Mr. Main de Boissière was born in St. Raphaël, on the Riviera. He and his wife, Béatrice, have six children. For further information about the Consul General and the French Consulate in Chicago click here.

Genevieve Leplae, Anne Hérrison-Leplae (AF Milwaukee Executive Director), Madeleine Hérrison-Leplae, Martine Meyer

The reception was well attended including board members Mary Emory and her husband John, John Gaebler of Godfry & Kahn and his family, and Randy Williams, former President of the Alliance Française de Chicago. Wollersheim Winery graciously donated the wine and Larry’s Market provided French hors d’oeuvre. To the crowd’s pleasure, high school student Ari Lipchik played Bach’s adagio sonata in G-minor on violin.

Gwenda Le Bihan, Mary Emory

Among those attending were Executive Director Anne Hérrison-Leplae, artist and writer Pacia Sallomi, long-time member and former AF de Milwaukee President Martine Meyer, Principle of the French Immersion School Ginny McFadden, teachers Margaret Schmidt Dess and Dieudonne Bienvenue Mananga, fashion designer Gwenda Le Bihan, Jean-Baptiste Thibault of GE, Marc Robert of Prolitec, Betty Miller of Stein Business, and AF members, Ruth Pike, Patrice Van Hyle, Chris Roth, Ney Collier, and Trish and Rich Larson. Alliance Française staff members, Marketing Coodinator Catherine Jones, and Fund Development Coordinator Beth Haskovic were also in attendance.

The Alliance Française de Milwaukee was founded in 1919. In recent years membership has varied between 600 and 700. For more information about AF de Milwaukee visit www.afmilwaukee.org.

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