Annual Report 2014
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ANNUAL REPORT 2014 i CONTENTS Annual Report 2014 A Message from the Chairman of the Board..........................2 A Message from the Executive Director .................................3 2014 in Numbers ........................................................................5 Learning French at the Center .................................................6 Community Outreach Programs ..........................................10 The Library ...............................................................................12 Cultural Events ........................................................................14 2014 Cultural Events Calendar ..............................................16 Bastille Day ...............................................................................18 Gatherings and Fundraising Events .....................................20 Membership .............................................................................24 Merci! .........................................................................................27 2014 Financial Information ....................................................31 Trustees and Staff of the French Cultural Center ...............32 A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Perhaps you have a favorite corner somewhere in the French Cultural Center. Mine is la salle de lecture where, ensconced in a side chair, I can browse newly arrived periodicals and exchange a few words with staff members and friends who happen to pass. From my roost, I sometimes marvel at the number and variety of people who bustle into the Center to take part in the extraordinary range of activities that we offer. You will discover for yourself further on in this report how this stream of arriving Francophones and Francophiles resulted in excellent results for the Center in 2014. Let me simply express immense pride at the quality and depth of the language classes, cultural activities and library/media programs—the core of our mission—that bring so many visitors through our doors. I take satisfaction as well at our growing community and outreach activities. People—our talented staff, our dedicated trustees, our generous supporters and our enthusiastic volunteers—account for the Center’s excellence and reputation. It is impossible to thank each person by name in this brief comment. However, in this review of 2014, one individual in particular deserves special acknowledgement. After 14 years on the board of trustees, Gérard Moufflet retired in December from his position as chairman. The positive impact of Gérard’s long and extraordinary tenure would be difficult to overstate. Under his leadership, “The French Library” became the more broadly defined French Cultural Center, with appropriately expanded activities. Along with his wife Brigitte, Gérard brought many new people into the French Cultural Center family. Gérard built and continually refreshed the board of trustees with individuals of distinction. I would also like to sincerely thank Dominique Baly, Brad Curley, Vincent Martin and Joan Wood who also retired from the board last year. Even as he prepared to depart, Gérard shaped the Center’s future by launching a board-level review of our overall strategy. As his successor, it falls to me to guide the strategy deliberations to their conclusion. The new plan will incorporate new ways to celebrate and advance the French language and culture and the worldwide phenomenon that is la Francophonie. It will recognize the evolving interests and priorities of members and friends. And, while ambitious, the plan will be—indeed, must be—realistic, achievable and financially sound. It will, in short, strengthen the Center. And I, for one, look forward to rising from my place in la salle de lecture to greet the new faces coming through the door. Steven P. Galante Chairman, Board of Trustees 2 A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR When asked, it’s always with great enthusiasm and the sense of belonging to something quite wonderful that I speak of the activities and the raison d’être of my favorite institution. Its impressive past, rooted in historic French-American friendship, makes it a very special part of Boston’s cultural landscape. To think that the full-fledged cultural center we know today started in 1945 as a small circle of friends who enjoyed French literature leaves me in awe. Today, we offer an enviable collection of over twenty-eight thousand French books, documents and CDs/DVDs, year-round French classes for all ages and levels, as well as a multitude of cultural events. We also reach outside our walls, and serve the community through several initiatives, such as our Accent on Success program in nine underserved Boston area schools. Through the years, we have held on to a long tradition of hosting known personalities, thereby creating opportunities for enriching encounters and exchanges. In 2014, we were honored to host programs with master perfumer Christophe Laudamiel, prize-winning author Lola Lafon, French physical chemist Hervé This and French violin virtuoso Léo Marillier, to name just a few. We were also delighted to host a sumptuous gala featuring spectacular wines of Château Mouton Rothschild, which helped us raise funds for our outreach and education programs. Of course, we are proud of our accomplishments, but what matters most to us is how we connect to all our members and visitors every day. The French Cultural Center aims to offer an immersion experience in a welcoming, inclusive environment. We like to say that it all begins with bonjour. Through the celebration of our diversity, through the teaching of another language, through the experience of other cultures, we believe that we bring the world that much closer to those national values of fraternity, equality, and freedom which are both American and French. While the French Cultural Center is one of a kind in New England, our members are many of a kind; indeed here you will meet like-minded, culturally savvy friends of all ages and backgrounds. Culture truly transcends generations and borders. I invite you to join us, discover our wonderful offerings and support us in our mission. Just step in and say “Bonjour!” Catheline van den Branden President, Executive Director 3 The French Cultural Center of Boston brings the Connecting richness and diversity of France and the French- speaking world to New England residents through New England arts and education programming. with French Founded in 1945 by a group of Americans who were dedicated to fostering Franco-American cultural language, relations, the Center has grown to become one of the leading institutions of French culture in the United States today. It is the home of the Alliance Française culture and (Boston and Cambridge Chapter) and of the second- largest French lending library in the United States, art de vivre with nearly 1,000 active users. In 2014, more than 1,700 students registered for French classes and 3,500 visitors attended lectures, live performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, wine tastings and family events at the Center. In addition to serving local Francophone and Francophile communities, we continually strive to engage wider audiences in discovering French language, culture and art de vivre and to provide a welcoming, fun and vibrant space for all. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which operates from private funds and without any financial contributions from the French or U.S. governments. It is with the generous support of our members, donors and sponsors that we are able to implement our programming and achieve our mission year after year. 4 2014IN NUMBERS BOSTON AREA 1,180 volunteers schoolsBENEFITING FROM OUR FREE FRENCH AFTER-SCHOOL &81 PARTNERS 9 PROGRAM SPONSORS 15,239 ITEMS BORROWED CULTURAL DIFFERENT 62 72,450 52 from the WEBSITE VISITORS LANGUAGE EVENTS COURSES LIBRARY with FACEBOOK3,345 3,500 2,000 likes ATTENDEES BASTILLE DAY 301KIDS & TEENS party goers enrolled in 1,730 SUMMER IN FRENCH CLASS FRENCH REGISTRATIONS 10,021 E-NEWSLETTER 2,388 SUBSCRIBERS HOURS of 20NATIVE PRIVATE FRANCOPHONE INSTRUCTORS LESSONS 10,157 28,593 ELECTRONIC FRENCH BOOKS RESOURCES DOCUMENTS on 1,401 CDS AND DVDS CULTURETHÈQUE 5 Members IN OUR LIBRARY LEARNING FRENCH AT THE CENTER What makes our language school unique in Boston are the native French-speaking instructors and the world-renowned Alliance Française immersion method taught in the classroom. In 2014, we offered 52 different group language courses and 2,388 hours of private lessons. PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS Our courses are designed for all levels of French and include grammar, conversation, intensive programs and thematic classes in literature and humanities. Small class sizes (maximum 10) create intimate settings where students receive personalized attention and timely feedback from their instructors. Group courses run in 10-week sessions and are offered on weekdays, in the evenings and on Saturdays to accommodate busy professionals’ schedules. LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY EXamS During the 10 exam periods this year, 112 candidates took the official language proficiency exams DELF (Diplôme d’Etudes en Langue Française) and TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français) at the Center. Successful candidates were awarded formal certificates by the French Ministry of Education, which many Francophone countries require for naturalization and job and university applications. OPEN HOUSES The Center opened its doors to the general public during March, September and December open houses. Visitors met with our French teachers, toured