Welcome to the French Circle - History
DO NOT MISS our visites culturelles to Montreux-Vevey-Chateau-Chillon
-Lausanne-Ouchy-Geneva-French Swiss Riviera and Evian, France.

The French Circle began some Twenty Five years ago, when Professor James Williston of the French department of Connecticut College and Mrs. Emily Mitchell a recent Masters graduate decided to start the “French Circle” where people could meet and speak French.

Mrs. Emily Mitchell remembers…An enthusiastic group, among them Maurice Arfi, crowded in the Haines Room of Conn.College, on January 30 1980 for the first official meeting. Since then there have been four Presidents”. Let’s hear what they have to say about the French Circle:

Professor James Williston…"Pendant ma Presidence, c’est surtout Mme Mitchell qui s’est devouee pour trouver et inviter les Conferenciers et il serait injuste de passer sous silence la peine qu;elle s’est donnee, elle et Mesdames Williston, Deguise et Rachel Arfi, pour nous regaler de patisseries et rafraichissements lors de nos reunions.
….Nous sommes redevables a Monsieur Arfi pour attirer de nouveaux membres au Cercle et pour initier et diriger les classes de Conversation et Culture, l’organisation des Visites Culturelles, nouveau volet aux activites du Cercle…"

Professor Pierre Deguise…"Fonde par notre ami et collegue, le Professeur Jim Williston, le Cercle est reste a ses debuts proche du College…Conferences litteraires ou historiques ou sur des sujets francais d’actualite toujours suivis d’une reception amicale…Les diners du Nouvel An ainsi que la projection de films francais que nous devons a notre toujours devouee, Secretaire du Cercle, Mme. Mitchell au Cinema Niantic ont ete des le debut des traditions bien etablies. Depuis les activitees du Cercle se sont etendues. Et voila que grace a l’initiative de notre President Maurice Arfi, un cours de perfectionnement de Francais a ete cree et un programme de Visites Culturelles permet a une quarantaine de membres de visiter La Provence, Nice, Cote d’Azur, Grasse, St Paul de Vence et puis une croisiere jusqu’a St. Tropez…De bonnes conversations en Francais, beaucoup d’incidents amusants enfin une belle et nouvelle tradition pour le Cercle…"

Professor Jean-Yves Solinga…" Que ce soit Emily Mitchell, Master et Fondatrice ou bien Professeur James Williston du Conn. College, fondateur et premier President, cette facultee a ouvert ses portes et son Coeur a nos activitees. Maurice Arfi a eu un grand success en ajoutant a la liste de nos membres et en creant de nouvelles activitees.
…Les Classes de Conversation et Culture… les conference et discussions de films bases sur le oeuvres de Marcel Pagnol et beaucoup d’autres ou la Provence chere a tant de nos membres a ete mise a l’honneur.
….Le Festival annuel du Beaujolais Nouveau, et les films francais grace a Mme Emily Mitchell, ouvrant gracieusement les portes de son etablissement Le Cinema Niantic.
….Un sejour extravagant en Provence-Cote d’Azur, Nice Cannes, Monte-Carlo, Memton, Port-Grimaud anime par Maurice Arfi, notre President et puis les delicieux desserts-maison prepares par Mme Rachel Arfi...Concordes, ...Madeleines qui donnent un charme du pays a nos reunions et enfin grace a la participation de tous nos membres, nous retenons un petit morceau de culture francaise dans notre petit coin d’Amerique..”.

Welcome to the French Circle - Activities.
DO NOT MISS our visites culturelles to Montreux-Vevey-Chateau-Chillon
-Lausanne-Ouchy-Geneva –French Swiss Riviera and Evian, France.

To All members and prospective members:

The French Circle ( Le Cercle Francais) has just completed its 25th season, a year of activities that started with the Festival du Beaujolais nouveau, the complete work of Marcel Pagnol with Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources, Le Colonel Chabert de Balzac, extraordinary French Films at the Cinema Niantic. Extravagant Encore of one week in Provence-Cote d'Azur , including Nice, Port Grimaud, Menton and San Remo. The members enjoyed authentic French food and delighted in Mrs. Arfi's patisseries at our receptions. Many new members, members and friends took our Classes of French conversation and French Culture and took advantage of our reduced rate to " Le Journal Francais"

Soon we will start our 26th annual season. And this year we will continue with more delightful activities and more active participation from our members:

• You are welcome at our events. The Cercle was founded as a place to speak French, therefore make an effort to express yourself in French. To brush up on your French you are welcome to take one of our 12-week French Conversation and Culture Classes.
• Return the response coupon included in " the Petit Journal" for each meeting. Use the reply envelope. If you are bringing a guests, please indicate names on the coupon or call 608-8195
• Join fellow members on our Visites Culturelles to France and French-speaking countries. Friends and family are welcome.
• Annual dues remain nominal for the September 2004-2005 season which ends in May 2005. The rate is $22.00 for singles and $25.00 for family Annual membership. These are the activities of the French Circle:
  • Monthly meetings and receptions with French conversation
  • Lectures and talks on France and French culture
  • Viewing and dicussion of French Films
  • Festival du Beaujolais Nouveau
  • Annual dinner at a French restaurant ( Including Beaujolais Nouveau)
  • French conversation and Culture classes (Space always limited)
  • Visites Culturelles , France and French speaking countries. This season we will cover French speaking Switzerland at Montreux-Vevey-Lausane-Ouchy, Geneva and Evian in France.
  • Symposiums in Provence: Members can participate individually or as a group for 2-week session in * Culinary Art * French Language Fine Arts and many other activities...(Please call 608-8195)

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