The Spring Meeting was hosted by Jackie Thomas at Texas A&M University in Kingsville on Saturday, April 18, with members from Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Kingsville attending, as well as several student presenters from the university. MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Anne Hilmy and Dayna Chimelski made a presentation on the Coastal Bend French Contest they put on in Corpus Christi in April. Schools from Corpus Christi, Kingsville, and San Antonio took part. Anne also showed us student work from a literary project, based on the Gilles Vigneault song "Mon Pays," which she did recently in her French III class. Several of Jackie Thomas' students at Texas A&M Kingsville made multimedia presentations on their recent trip to Paris and Versailles. Jackie also gave us information on web sites for French news. An excellent déjeuner à la française was served by the French-owned university caterers Sodexho.
During the business meeting, Anne and Dayna were voted an AATF Small Grant of $350, which will be matched by the National AATF, to continue and expand the Coastal Bend French Contest. It was also decided that teachers of National French Contest winning students will be honored at the Fall Meeting to be held in Castroville on September 26. A by-laws change will be proposed at the Fall Meeting to make the Chapter presidency similar to that of TFLA, with a president-elect, a president, and an immediate-past-president, individuals serving one year in each of the three positions. (More information to follow.) Finally, the election of officers was held, in which Joel Mayer was elected vice-president and Jackie Thomas was elected Program Chair. There being no candidate for Secretary-Treasurer, Heather Alonso agreed to continue in a caretaker capacity until the Fall Meeting, when we will elect her successor. |