Reception for President Celeste Schenck
by Joe Ruth

On her first trip to the United States as University President, Celeste Schenck met April 5 with twenty AUP alumni, parents, and friends at a reception hosted by the AUP Alumni Chapter of the Greater Washington DC Area (AUPDC) and AUP Board Chair, Judith Hermanson Ogilvie, and her husband Keith.

We all enjoyed hearing President Schenck present an inspiring look into the near- and long-term plans for AUP along with a great assessment of the progress that has been made so far. President Schenck explained that she and the Board of Trustees had recognized the strong desire of most alumni and students to maintain AUP's strong identity and presence in the 7th Arrondissement rather than to move to the suburban Ile Seguin. She added that world economic crisis and falling real estate values actually presented AUP with opportunities. For example, she thought that AUP would be able to purchase the key building at 6, rue du Colonel Combes that houses many classrooms and administrative offices.

President Schenck also explained that AUP and NYU had ended the arrangement that some alumni feared would threaten AUP's independence. At the same time, AUP would continue to cooperate with NYU as it does with several other universities. Alumni present expressed support for these initiatives and thanked President Schenck for agreeing to take on her new role.

There was also an amazing spread of food and wine to enjoy, courtesy of Judith and Keith. It was wonderful to learn about recent developments while enjoying fellowship with a wide range of AUPers, from recent grads to alumni who where there when it was still a two-year college. Those of you who could not come missed a great opportunity to connect with Celeste and members of AUPDC. We hope you will be able to join us at a future gathering.
View more photos from the reception
All photographs courtesy of Chapter Treasurer, Brad Amador

Visiting France in North America
Libby (Fellows) Dudley , Class of 1966, and her husband enjoyed a day trip to St. Pierre et Miquelon, France, while on a cruise of the North Atlantic last year. She shares thoughts and photos about this taste of France in North America.

In late August 2008, our cruise ship made its way cautiously through the gray, dense fog of the North Atlantic off the southwest coast of Newfoundland. Finally, we glimpsed a rocky hillside, a cement pier, and black-bereted dock workers. Most places, longshoremen don't wear berets, so we had arrived ... in France! In North America! St. Pierre et Miquelon, France's tiny, overseas territorial collective of two groups of rocky islands, home to 7000 citizens.

On this short visit, on a rainy day, we couldn't explore enough to do the islands justice, but what we saw, and heard, was enough to encourage fellow Francophiles to consider a stopover there. The capital city, St. Pierre, was almost asleep until mid-morning, now that the main summer tourist season was over. Our footsteps echoed as we explored the fog-shrouded streets, the Place de l'Eglise with the Church of St. Pierre, the Place Lt. Colonel Pigeaud with its array of flowers and Seaman's Memorial.

The islands are, naturally, intimately linked to the sea, and fishing boats, both historic old dories and newer trawlers, still line the shore, along with small, speedy ferries to Canada.

A more modern link to the sea is the 1920s Prohibition era, when the islands were a major entrepôt for gangsters such as Al Capone. Large stone and concrete warehouses bearing dates from the '20s still stand along the waterfront, some converted to offices and workshops. Nearby, Hotel Robert, where Al Capone stayed during his visits, is still in business; its building so modest that I didn't think to enter or take a picture!

Many St. Pierre buildings are modest. That said, new apartments for families of the gendarmerie are sleek Euro-style and faced with a colorful red, and shacks along one shore are painted cheerful primary colors that help distinguish them through the swirling fog.

When the bakery, patisserie, tiny souvenir shops, post office, and ubiquitous wine and liquor stores opened for business, they were thronged with cruise passengers seeking a bit of France to take away with them. Around seventy years after the Prohibition era, liquor still appears important to the islands' economy; the wine shops are filled with large, elegant displays.

Most visitors are Canadians making the trip to enjoy the short summer season, and St. Pierre welcomes them with festivals; the Basque Festival had recently ended. It also cheers visitors, as it did us, with tents along the pier filled with the atmosphere and sounds of France. We departed to the sounds of the best corny old French tunes played on an accordion.

This vignette is most definitely not the full panorama of sights and explorations available on the islands; there are walks and sailing and views and berries and restaurants and museums. But even on a day in August, St. Pierre provided rewarding history and geography lessons, particularly memorable through the aura provided by the fog, and the voices, signs, products, and air of France in North America.

To begin your own explorations on the Internet see www.st-pierre-et-miquelon.info.

Upcoming events
Details about these upcoming events will be announced soon. You can also check the AUPDC web site for the latest information about upcoming events.

Friday, 8 May, 8pm: "Tartuffe" by Molière
Join alumni and friends to watch a production of Tartuffe at Cedar Lane Stage in Bethesda, MD. Tickets are $15/adults, $13/senior citizens, $10/students. The theater is located at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Church. Some chapter members are planning to meet at La Madeleine (near the Bethesda metro station) ~6pm for dinner first, and then car pool to the theater. If you plan to attend, and especially if you think you might need a ride from La Madeleine, please e-mail so that arrangements can be made to be seated together.

Saturday, 13 June: Wine and Cheese tasting
Come practice your french while pairing different wines with cheese at the home of Chapter President, Peggy Montgomery, in Falls Church, VA.


Saturday, 11 July: Bastille Day picnic
Celebrate another Quatorze Juillet with AUPDC friends at the next annual Bastille Day picnic at Fletcher's Boat House along the banks of the Potomac.

Got an idea?
To suggest an event, please send a note to
.

Keeping Up with France in the DC Area
The French Embassy's Maison Française offers a wonderful range of music, film, and other activities. For information about upcoming events, visit www.la-maison-francaise.org.

Alliance Française offers films, music, wine tastings, gallery tours,and other gatherings in addition to language courses at all levels. For details about upcoming events or to subscribe to their newsletter, visit www.francedc.org.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, contact Peggy Montgomery, President, at .