Alliance Francaise du NS (IL)

Alliance Française du North Shore (IL)
Founded in 1912 as "The French Club of Evanston"
2012 IS OUR CENTENNIAL YEAR
P.O. Box 1750, Evanston, IL 60204 USA alliancefn[@]yahoo.com

Put a little French language in your life in 2012
and join our
Alliance Française du North Shore (IL).

We are but one chapter of the not-for-profit cultural and educational Alliance Française organization, a worldwide network of not-for-profit chapters which seek to educate its members about francophone cultures, language, history and literature.

Is your French a little rusty? Pas de problème! Come and enjoy the camaraderie of French-speaking people in Chicago's northern suburbs along the west shores of Lake Michigan (northern Cook County & southern Lake County). Benefit from our excellent lecture programs which take place once a month (on Monday afternoons) during our September-April Lecture Season, and benefit from our many year-'round activities.

Il y en aura pour tous les goûts!

- - - Rappelons la date ! - - -
L'Alliance Française du North Shore
fête le centenaire de sa fondation en tant que le Club-Français d'Evanston le 14 octobre 2012.
- - - SAVE THE DATE - - -
Our Centennial Reception with music and bilingual program to be held at 3pm October 14, 2012
- - Order form appearing soon for making advance reservations - -

If you are interested in being part of a friendly francophone environment, visit one of our Lecture programs during the schoolyear for the nominal sum of ~$10 at the door. If you wish to have membership privileges, our annual dues are $50; just print out our Membership form , and mail it to us with your check. All skill levels welcome, beginner to fluent. Our 80+ members range from native speakers to present-and-former French teachers to present-and-former French students.
We do not have any office space, so please write to us at AFduNS, P.O.Box 1750, Evanston, IL 60204, or by email, alliancefn @ yahoo.com.

AFduNS Membership Benefits
Among the many benefits of an annual membership:
--You will receive monthly reminders of upcoming Lecture-Program Topics and Café events by postcard or e-Rappel;
--Members receive their own copy of our annual Member-Directory (published each November),
--Members receive one or two "NewsBrief" newsletters snail-mailed each year.
--Our Lecture-Program entrance fee is waived for members.
--New: Members who donate $100 or more towards the CENTENNIAL events will receive a sterling logo jewelry thank-you.
--New: A Member is allowed to bring a Guest without charge, once a year.
--Members are also elegible to access the Members-Only activities such as: Cercle de Lecture, Cercle des Contes, Ciné Club, Café Litteraire, and Mercredi Soir Classe de Conversation.

--Members are also extended privileges at our club's small 'lending library', to borrow from our small collection of French-language books, magazines, publications which are on offer before each Lecture. Ask for Chantal Shapiro or Monique Whiting. Do you have subscriptions to francophone newspapers or magazines such as Paris MATCH, or l'Express? Once you have finished, please bring your old copies to our 'lending library' so they can be circulated to interested members.

AFduNS -- Annual Déjeuner de printemps:

--- 2012 Déjeuner MENU ---
- 14 mai 2012 -

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Apéritif: Kir royal
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Choice of First Course:
Soupe à la lyonnaise avec ravioli au confit de canard
ou
Petite Salade Maison avec sauce vinaigrette au miel
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Choice of plat principal:
Coq au Vin “Grand-Mère”, Spätzle beurre noisette
ou
Entrecôte de boeuf au poivre, gratin de pommes de terre
ou
Filet de saumon grillé, aux légumes de printemps, sauce Béarnaise
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Choice of Dessert:
Soufflé au chocolat
ou
Crème Brûlée au Grand Marnier
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Choix de boissons: café, thé, eau minérale, ou soda
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
$45.00 per non-Member; Member price $40.
Taxes et service compris.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Conversation will be in French.
Pre-paid Reservations are required.
Deadline for pre-payment to our Treasurer is May 4.
If you would like a reservation-form e-mailed to you,
please request one at alliancefn [@ yahoo.com before May 1.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Si vous voulez améliorer votre compréhension et expression
de la langue française, venez vous joindre à nous,
pour écouter et converser en français.

AFduNS Year-'Round Activities

--- Café Conversations ---
" Café Conversations - Morning Edition ":
One Monday-morning a month, (usually first Mondays) at 10:00am, we meet at a café "pour bavarder en français." Rendez-vous at the Panera (Wilmette), at 1199 Wilmette Ave, (just east of the C&NW rail tracks).
Bring a friend! Purchase your refreshment and then look for us at the long row of pulled-together tables near the southeast exit /or/ inside the enclosed room north of the sales counter. Open to Members and non-Members, beginners to fluent. Listening in French is required. We generally have 18 to 24 participants each month. Join us! Mark your calendar now for :

- - - July 4, 2011, 10am-11am (tentative, check back to confirm)
- - - Aug. 1, 2011, 10am-11am
- - - Sept. 5, 2011, 10am-11am (yes, Labor Day)
- - - Oct. 3, 2011, 10am-11am
- - - Nov. 7, 2011, 10am-11am
- - - Dec. 5, 2011, 10am-11am
- - - Jan. 2, 2012, 10am-11am
- - - Feb. 6, 2012, 10am-11am
- - - Mar. 5, 2012, 10am-11am
- - - Apr. 2, 2012, 10am-11am
- - - May 7, 2012, 10am-11am
- - - June 4, 2012, 10am-11am

" Café Conversations - Evening Edition ":
One Monday-evening per month (usually the second Monday night of the month) at 7:30pm, we meet at a café for friendly conversations in French. Rendez-vous at the Panera for one hour, at Panera-Evanston, located at the intersection of Sherman and Church, inside the former Marshall Field's building (1700 Sherman), not far from the Davis stations of METRA and pace. Purchase your optional refreshment and look for a small French flag at the tables that are pulled together towards the west end.
Open to Members and non-Members, beginners to fluent. Listening in French is encouraged. Mark your calendar now for :

- - - ~July 11, 2011, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Aug. 8, 2011, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Sept.12, 2011, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Oct. 10, 2011, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Nov. 14, 2011, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Dec. 12, 2011, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Jan. 9, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Feb. 13, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Mar. 12, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~Apr. 9, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~May 14, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)
- - - ~June 11, 2012, 7:30-8:30pm (Panera-Evanston)

AFduNS Lecture Season:

--Our Lecture Programs are offered during the school months at the Wilmette Public Library Auditorium. Please arrive by 12:50pm to find your seat.
--We present complimentary refreshments after the Lecture, contributed by members, and socialize in French.
--Members admitted free; Guests and Visitors pay $10.00 at the door to help defray our expenses for the meeting. New policy in '11-'12: A first-timer will have their entrance fee waived.

Program
Date
@1PM. Lecture Topics ('11 - '12)

Sept. 19, 2011
«La vie avec le tamtam dans la République de Guinée» , in French, with M. Fode Camara, drummer, and educator Helen Bond of Medusa Drums.MedusaDrums.com.

Oct. 17, 2011
« Une Haïti Nouvelle », in French, with M.Ludovic Comeau Jr.,Ph.D., Faculty, Economist and novelist.
Depaul.edu

Nov.21, 2011
«l'écriture transculturelle de Romain Gary», in French, with Ms. Tsira SVANADZE, PhD Candidate at Michigan State U; The author, Gary, received two Prix Goncourt, and had multiple careers.

Dec.12, 2011
«Le chocolat dans le monde» , in French, with Mme. Marie Douailly, owner-manager of two local Leonidas Chocolate Cafés (Wilmette and Chicago). The Leonidas Belgian Pralines are flown in freshly and have been a chocolate-coated delicacy since 1913 in Brussels.

Jan. 9 , 2012
«Causerie», in French, an annual opportunity for conversation circles centered on various pre-selected Discussion-Topics: Art et Architecture, Politique, Technologie, Litterature, Tourisme (all fluency levels welcomed).

Feb.13, 2012
«France 2012 : perspectives et enjeux», in French, with Mr. Jean-François Rochard, Deputy cultural attaché of the Consulat général de France à Chicago, www.consulfrance-chicago.org He will outline important challenges that France will be facing in political, economic, cultural and social affairs in 2012.
At this point of the year, AFduNS Memberships are now available at half-price (to run through balance of fiscal year) and may be purchased at the door or by mail. Become a Member! Print Membership Form from this site: MembershipForm.

Mar. 19, 2012
«Deux femmes poètes de la Renaissance: Louise Labé et Gabrielle de Coignard», in French, with Sylvie Romanowski, Ph.D., Faculty at Northwestern University Department of French and Italian.Northwestern.edu

Apr.16, 2012
«Le grand parcours de Thierry Macé et l'histoire de Froggy's à Highwood » , in French, with Mr. Terry Mace, Director of Catering. Froggy's Catering

May 14, 2012 Déjeuner de printemps:
Our annual Spring Luncheon, in French, will be held at "Michael", a fine dining restaurant of the North Shore.
Begins at NOON. Pre-paid Reservations MUST be received by our Treasurer by May 4th. $40.00 for Members, $45.00 for non-Members. (Tax and Tip included, Menu listed near top of this webpage)

NOTES:
--Please arrive at the Library a bit early, at 12:45pm, to socialize in French and/or browse our ''lending library'' (our tableful of materials in French).
--You will also hear announcements of current local francophone events which are also posted on our club's bulletin board (tableau d'affichage) on display during the meeting.
--Our Guest Speakers and Presenters give a 45 to 60 minute program.
--We generally conclude by 2:45 or 3:00pm.
--Our Conference topics are also announced in local papers and local Calendar websites.
--Nearly all our Presenters are fluent francophones.

The Wilmette Public Library, 847-256-5025,
1242 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette, IL, 60091
(At the corner of Park Avenue and Wilmette Ave).

W.P. L. is located just 1 block west of GreenBay Road. The convenient #213 Pace Bus runs on GreenBay Road, and the Metra Station is also closeby.

AFduNS Classe de Conversation: Mercredi/jeudi soir (for Members Only):

AFduNS Classe du soir:
We offer one class. It is a " Classe de Conversation" suitable for Advanced-Intermediate & Advanced Level students (par Prof. Roland Dubosq) on Thursday evenings (7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) at the Wilmette Library classroom.
Various materials are used: articles, poems, songs, grammar worksheets; no text is required, current events are followed on TV5-Monde.
The current quarter of Classes, Winter Quarter, began January 12, 2012 and runs through March 22, 11 weeks. Fee of $154 can be prorated for those joining part way into the quarter. Full fee due in advance. Spring Quarter will run March 29 through June 7, 2012.
[Students may easily join this class part-way thru the series, for a prorated tuition, whenever there are open seats, up to a maximum of 14 students. You may also request to be added to the waiting list if the enrollment is currently full.] AFduNS Membership is a prerequisite. Each 10-11 week series will not be offered unless 8 or more students have registered and pre-paid before the first meeting of the quarter. For current information, email the club at alliancefn@ yahoo.com or contact Mme. Mary Sproul. If you wish to audit one class to see if the level and format suit you, please email the club to arrange your visit.
If you are looking for other levels of French: call Mme Janine Pefley at 847-251-6517 or call the New Trier Extension office (NTX), Northfield, Illinois, to leave a message at 847-446-6600, or visit their "NTX Course Catalog Online" at http://www.newtrierextension.org/ where you will find 5 to 10 excellent courses for francophones offered on a semester-schedule (16-week).

AFduNS Cercles (for Members Only):

AFduNS Cercle des contes:
This conversation group usually meets the last monday of the month, in the early afternoon, at a member's home, to discuss a short literary work which was assigned at a previous meeting. The selection is usually suited to advanced-beginners and intermediate-level students of French. AFduNS Membership is a prerequisite. Enrollment is limited, so you might have to be put on a waiting list. Send us an email to request further details or ask Monique Whiting, Caroline Erbmann, or Chantal Shapiro.

AFduNS Cercle de Lecture:
This conversation group usually meets every 6 to 8 weeks to discuss a renowned, full-length francophone literary work. The reading and discussion level is suited for both very-fluent, advanced-level francophones and native speakers. AFduNS Membership is a prerequisite. Enrollment is limited so you might have to be put on a waiting list. Send us an email to request further details.

Cercle de lecture titles for the '10-'11 Season were:

1: l'Élégance du hérisson by Muriel Barbery
2., 3., 4.: Six contes moraux by Eric Rohmer (trois contes)
5: J'apprends by Brigitte Giraud

Cercle de lecture titles for the '09-'10 Season were:

1. Elle s’appelait Sarah by Tatiana de Rosnay (October)
2. Un secret by Philippe Grimbert (November)
3. L’été meurtrier by Sébastien Japrisot (January)
4. L’arrière-saison by Philippe Besson (March)
5. Les âmes grises by Philippe Claudel (April)

Cercle de lecture titles for the '08-'09 Season were:

1. Je l'amais by Annie Gavalda
2. La femme rompue by Simone de Beauvoir
3. Les jardins de l'Observatoire by Gilles Perrault
4. L'amour dure 3 ans by Frédéric Beigbeder
5. Victoire, la saveur et les mots by Maryse Condé

Cercle de lecture titles for the '07-'08 Season were:

1. L'attentat by Yasmina Khadra
2. Aliocha by Henri Troyat
3. Extension du domaine de la lutte by Michel Houelleberg
4. La dentellière by Pascal Lainé
5. La petite fille de Monsieur Link by Philippe Claudel

" Café Litteraire " (for Members Only):
Niveau: Posséder une bonne connaissance du français permettant une participation active à des échanges et des débats. On se réunir dans un café à Wilmette. Limite 12 participants. Veuillez contacter Mme.Rano c/o alliancefn[@]yahoo.com . Membership Required to join this activity. A literary work is often the focus of conversation, with the following titles currently featured:

CALENDRIER 2011 - 2012 CAFÉ LITTÉRAIRE

Soeurs Chocolat, Catherine Velle
La Cliente, Pierre Assouline
Le Testament Français, Andreï Makine
Un Aller Simple, Didier Van Cauwelaert
Le Rocher de Tanios, Amin Maalouf
L'Adversaire, Emmanuel Carrère
La Méthode Mila, Lydie Salvayre
La Télévision, Jean-Philippe Toussaint
Oscar et la Dame Rose, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt

AFduNS Ciné Club (usually for Members Only):

Ciné Club '11-'12:

Our next film will be shown on TBA, 2012 at 1:00pm
Film : ---

Sortie du film: ---, -- minutes.
Réalisateur: -----
Vedettes : ------

To be shown at the Auditorium of the Wilmette Public Library.

Reservations are not required but seating is limited to 50 people.
The showings are followed by discussion in French as a group, exploring aspects of the film.
(Séance suivie de discussion animée par une/un membre.)
FILM Titles shown at our '11-'12 Ciné Club were:
-- La Cage au Folles
-- Les Invasions barbares
-- [other titles not available at time of publication]

FILM Titles shown at our '10-'11 Ciné Club were:
-- Venus Beauty Institute
-- [other titles not available at time of publication]

FILM Titles for our '09-'10 Ciné Club were:
-- Le diner des cons, and
-- xxxx[title not available at time of publication]
-- xxxx[title not available at time of publication]

FILM Titles for our '08-'09 Ciné Club were:
-- La Petite Lili, and
-- xxxx[title not available at time of publication]

FILM Titles for our '07-'08 Ciné Club season were:
--Au revoir les enfants,
--Être and Avoir, and
--Avenue Montaigne/Fauteuil d'orchestre

AFduNS Membership Form: Print, then snail-mail it Membership Form

AFduNS Officers and Committees through May 31: Conseil
The success of our club relies on active participation of our members. What is your favorite aspect of our AFduNS activities? Please consider helping out. You will also have the benefit of making new francophone friends. Just mention your interest to one of our current committee members. Your ideas and participation are awaited.

AFduNS History (Historique): view our chapter history

AFduNS ByLaws: view our chapter ByLaws

AFduNS Guest Speakers of past Lecture Seasons: ...past speakers and topics...

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- OTHER RESOURCES/ORGANIZATIONS/INFO for local francophones: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

-- Parisian Salon Concerts in Northbrook-- always a Friday, always Free, always 7:30pm. First FRIDAY of the month at Northbrook Public Library. Now in their 13th season. Various talented musicians perform. Parisian anecdotes are offered, in English, by hosts Didier and Jane Lepauw. For upcoming program details, visit them online at http://www.northbrook.info/page/parisian-salon-concerts Oftentimes, several audience members speak French together after the music program concludes.

-- LesBavards -- NW Suburban Chicagoland (O'Hare area) -- First Wednesdays of the month, 6:30pm dinner, at a fine-dining restaurant north of O'hare Airport. Informal conversation in French during the meal. This popular monthly dining group was founded in 1999 by Sally Lipscomb. Contact lesbavards @ yahoo.com or visit http://lesbavardsfrancophones.blogspot.com

-- LesBavards du Nord -- NW Suburban Chicagoland (Buffalo Grove Area)-- Third Saturdays of the month, lunch at a casual restaurant in Buffalo Grove. Informal conversation in French. This popular monthly dining group was founded in 2004 by Janet Evans. Contact lesbavardsdunord @ yahoo.com or visit http://lesbavardsfrancophones.blogspot.com

-- LIAISON newsletter -- Francophone activites & listings for Chicagoland, updated monthly by the staff at the Consulate General of France in Chicago. See a sample at http://www.consulfrance-chicago.org

-- Evanston Public Library -- EPL circulates over 140 films in French. The films are on VHS or DVD, and require a $1 fee in addition to your library-card-in-good-standing ( Wilmette or Skokie cardholders: bring proof-of-residence and photo-ID to register for EPL privileges).

-- Wilmette Public Library -- WPL circulates over 100 films in French, they are listed on a three-page list called "Foreign Films on VHS"; Additional titles on DVD.
- - - -The Village of Wilmette is named in honor of Antoine Ouilmette, a French-Canadian fur trader. For his part in persuading local Native Americans (Potawatomi) to sign the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1829, the U.S. government awarded Ouilmette 1,280 acres (5.2 km²) of land in present-day Wilmette and Evanston. In 1848, he sold the land to farmers and developers and it eventually evolved into modern-day Wilmette.

-- Glenview Public Library -- One Saturday per month there is a francophone conversation circle, centered on a pre-selected topic, with friendly conversation.(847) 729-7500
-- Evanston's Levy Senior Center -- On Thursdays there is a francophone conversation circle with friendly conversation. 847.448.8250
-- Mount Prospect Sister Cities Commission -- Mount Prospect has established sister cities status with Sèvres, France. Spring and Fall activities with visitors from Sèvres are open to the public and francophones. Check the latest news at www.mountprospect.org/sistercities

-- American Association of Teachers of French, AATF, Chicago/Northern-Illinois Chapter. Their web site: http://www.aatf-chicnorthil.org

-- Alliance Française de Chicago -- The Chicago chapter of Alliance Française has scores of classes and francophone activities every week, at 810 North Dearborn Street Chicago, supported by hundreds of active members and is a non-profit, 501(C)3 organization. Visit their site at www.af-chicago.org for the latest info.

-- Alliance Française of Dupage, du Comté de DuPage, Illinois (Naperville) -- The DuPage County chapter of Alliance Française has francophone activities to the west of Chicago. Visit their site at http://www.afdupage.com for the latest info.
- - - - The DuPage River took its name from a French fur-trapper and trader who had settled on the stream below the fork prior to 1800.

-- U.F.E.- Chicago -- L'UFEC assure la défense des droits et des intérêts des Français de l'étranger et aide les expatriés et les entreprises qui les détachent à bien réussir leur installation, leur intégration et leur retour. There are numerous Chicagoland francophone UFEC activities and outings visible at their website, http://www.ufechicago.org (Fluent francophones are welcome to participate in their events.)
--Facets Multi-Media, Inc. -- founded in 1975, is a non-profit, 501(C)3 organization, and a leading national Media Arts organization. There are often screenings of foreign-language films, or classes addressing aspects of francophone films. 1517 W. Fullerton Ave, Chicago. http://www.facets.org

-- French In Chicago .com -- FrenchInChicago.com is a recently-founded, not-for-profit, local website owned and managed by the ChicagoWorldCup LLC and is a site serving the French community to provide listings to access activities, stores, cultural, sports events, social groups, etc...related to the French/francophone/francophile community in Chicago. Visit their site at http://www.frenchinchicago.com & you may choose either French or English for the latest info and events.

-- Palatine, Illinois' Sister City -- Palatine has established relations with Fontenay-le-Comte, France. Learn more at http://www.palatinesistercities.org/fontenay.htm

--Chicago, Illinois' Sister Cities -- Chicago has over 27 Sister/Partner/Friendship cities. Three of them are: Paris, France + Casablanca, Morocco and Lucerne, Switzerland.
- - - Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable was declared the "Founder of Chicago" by the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago on October 26, 1968. Pointe du Sable's father had sent the young Jean Baptiste (born in the French Caribbean before 1745) to study at a catholic school in France. Jean Baptiste first arrived on the western shores of Lake Michigan about 1779, where he built the first permanent nonindigenous settlement as a fur-trading post, pre-dating Fort Dearborn by about 30 years.

-- Centre de la francophonie des Amériques, founded in Québec, Canada -- Learn more at www.francophoniedesameriques.com The Center has quite a few exciting programs and contests for fellow francophones to get to know one another. (Estimated 33 million francophones in the Americas: 11 million in USA, almost 10 million in Canada, almost 10 million in Caribbean, almost 3 million in Central+South America.)

-- French Meet-up There are a number of small Chicagoland francophone conversation-social groups organized under the meetup.com resource as French Language Meetup.

. . . . Contact AF du NS at our e-mail address to make any request for your not-for-profit, Chicagoland, francophone activity or resource to be considered for mention here, alliancefn [@ yahoo.com .

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Other sites you might enjoy:     favorite_links

Federation News:
" One Book - One Federation " is a program sponsored by the "Federation of Alliances Françaises USA" to promote French literacy throughout the United States by encouraging the reading of the same book by all chapters during a single year. The 2010-2011 selection was revealed in August by the AF-USA committee.

“One Book - One Federation” Selections:

2011-12 - Le Banquier et le Perroquet by Philippe Simiot.
2010-11 - Soeurs Chocolat by Catherine Velle.
2009-10 - Héroïnes Françaises, 1940-1945: Courage, Force et Ingéniosité by Professor Monique Saigal.
2008-09 - not available at time of publication.
2007-08 - Victoire: les saveurs et les mots by Maryse Condé.
2006-07 - Le gone du Châba by Azouz Begag.
2005-06 - Les âmes grises by Philippe Claudel.
2004-05 - Le testament Français by Andrei Makine.

Bienvenue! You are visitor NUMBER [an error occurred while processing this directive] .
  Since our web debut during October of 2000 (over ten years ago!), we have had over 50 visitors per week.
   Please come back again soon.

Our site is generously hosted by The Wilmette Public Library's hosting service for community-based organizations.

Dernière mise à jour : le 21 avril 2012 par webmestre olearymel [@ yahoo.com

Efforts have been made to provide accurate and up-to-date information. The material contained on this site is given for informational purposes only; information relating to current events may be incomplete and cannot be guaranteed; the purpose is to inform and assist Internet users in locating francophone activities in the suburbs north of Chicago, also known as the northern Cook-County area.

Program Date @1PM.	Lecture Topics ('11 - '12)
Sept. 19, 2011	*«La vie avec le tamtam dans la République de Guinée» , in French, with M. Fode Camara, drummer, and educator Helen Bond of Medusa Drums.MedusaDrums.com.*
Oct. 17, 2011	« Une Haïti Nouvelle », in French, with M.Ludovic Comeau Jr.,Ph.D., Faculty, Economist and novelist. Depaul.edu
Nov.21, 2011	*«l'écriture transculturelle de Romain Gary», in French, with Ms. Tsira SVANADZE, PhD Candidate at Michigan State U; The author, Gary, received two Prix Goncourt, and had multiple careers.*
Dec.12, 2011	«Le chocolat dans le monde» , in French, with Mme. Marie Douailly, owner-manager of two local Leonidas Chocolate Cafés (Wilmette and Chicago). The Leonidas Belgian Pralines are flown in freshly and have been a chocolate-coated delicacy since 1913 in Brussels.
Jan. 9 , 2012	«Causerie», in French, an annual opportunity for conversation circles centered on various pre-selected Discussion-Topics: Art et Architecture, Politique, Technologie, Litterature, Tourisme (all fluency levels welcomed).
Feb.13, 2012	«France 2012 : perspectives et enjeux», in French, with Mr. Jean-François Rochard, Deputy cultural attaché of the Consulat général de France à Chicago, www.consulfrance-chicago.org He will outline important challenges that France will be facing in political, economic, cultural and social affairs in 2012. At this point of the year, AFduNS Memberships are now available at half-price (to run through balance of fiscal year) and may be purchased at the door or by mail. Become a Member! Print Membership Form from this site: MembershipForm.
Mar. 19, 2012	«Deux femmes poètes de la Renaissance: Louise Labé et Gabrielle de Coignard», in French, with Sylvie Romanowski, Ph.D., Faculty at Northwestern University Department of French and Italian.Northwestern.edu
Apr.16, 2012	**«Le grand parcours de Thierry Macé et l'histoire de Froggy's à Highwood* » , in French, with Mr. Terry Mace, Director of Catering. Froggy's Catering***
May 14, 2012	*Déjeuner de printemps:* Our annual Spring Luncheon, in French, will be held at "Michael", a fine dining restaurant of the North Shore. Begins at NOON. Pre-paid Reservations MUST be received by our Treasurer by May 4th. $40.00 for Members, $45.00 for non-Members. (Tax and Tip included, Menu listed near top of this webpage)