Mardi Apéro Virtuel (in English) and Non-judgmental Français (in French) – Alternating Tuesdays at 6 pm

We care about our members’ spiritual well-being in times of social distancing, so we’re hosting Mardi Apéro Virtuel and Non-judgmental Français via Zoom.

Join us alternating Tuesdays, 6:00 pm, for Mardi Apéro Virtuel and Non-judgmental Français
Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 746 830 157

Password required, sent via e-newsletter to members, request it at info@parisamericanclub.org.

Prepare in advance and login five minutes before 6 pm, especially first-time participants:

• Logging in from a laptop is better, but a phone or tablet work, keep in mind your background, avoid glare;
• Make sure you are using the latest version of Zoom and that your audio (speaker and microphone) and camera are working on both your device and in Zoom;
• Hit download app when prompted, then enter meeting ID and password, click use computer audio;
• Format: 10-minute mutual greetings and updates, 15-minute presentation, 10-minute questions and comments;
• Etiquette: MUTE your Zoom app (bottom left of screen) during the presentation and only un-mute to ask a question or comment, give others the opportunity to speak;
• Enjoy your favorite apéro and hors d’oeuvres;
• The Apéro and Non-judgmental Français will end at approximately 6:45.

August 4th | Non-judgmental Français

August 11th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Larry W. Greenly, author of Eugene Bullard: World’s First Black Fighter Pilot

Pioneering black aviator Eugene Bullard, descended from slaves, became the world’s first black fighter pilot, though he was barred from serving the United States because of the color of his skin.

Growing up in Georgia, Bullard faced discrimination and the threat of lynching. He ran away from home at twelve and eventually made his way to France, where he joined the French Foreign Legion and later the Lafayette Flying Corps. He saw fierce combat during World War I and was wounded multiple times. He returned to the United States with a chest full of medals, but once again faced discrimination. Bullard was all but ignored in the United States, even as, at age sixty-four in 1959, he was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. Eugene Bullard’s is a remarkable story of accomplishment despite racial prejudice.

Armed with degrees in physics/math, architecture, civil engineering and chiropractic, Larry Greenly has led a multi-faceted life as a teacher, engineer and doctor of chiropractic. His career as a freelance writer/editor of myriad non-fiction articles began over 25 years ago with a long-running medical column in professional journals. Along the way, Greenly garnered a number of writing awards, including the Parris Award and a National Federation of Press Women 2nd place national award for his literary page in a local magazine.

His book, Eugene Bullard: World’s First Black Fighter Pilot, was named a 2015 Booklist Top Ten Multicultural Nonfiction Book for Youth; is a current finalist in the SCBWI Southwest Region Crystal Kite Award; won a Gold Medal in the 2014 National Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, won Best Young Adult Book in the 2014 NM/AZ Book Awards, earned a starred review from the American Library Association (ALA) and earned a recommendation from Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA). Greenly lives in New Mexico

August 18th | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

August 25th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Marcelline Block on French film director Michel Gondry

Sept 1st | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

Sept 8th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Dr. Lisa Koenigsberg, Ph.D., President of the Board of Trustees of the Morris-Jumel Mansion

Sept 15th | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

Sept 22nd | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Speaker Gaëtan Bruel, Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy in the event that the Sept 16 dinner is cancelled

Sept 29th | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

Oct 6th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Speaker Pat Duffy on “Synesthesia: a hot topic of 19th century Paris salons”

Oct 13th | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA in the event that dinner is cancelled

Oct 20th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Speaker Jean-Pierre Heim, Architect, HeimDesign.com

Oct 27th | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

Nov 3rd | US Election Day Mardi Apéro cancelled

Nov 10th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Speaker TBA

Nov 17th | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

Nov 24th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Speaker TBA

Dec 1st | Non-judgmental Français: Topic TBA

Dec 8th | Mardi Apéro Virtuel: Speaker TBA

2021 Program TBA

Non-judgmental Français is an opportunity to practice your (possibly fractured) French at all levels around various topics on alternating Tuesdays.

“The French conversation hour was great. Made me realize that I need to speak French more (as in more than never). Mathieu you’re a fantastic moderator!” –Terrence M. Bennett, Attorney-at-Law, Bennett & Samios

Non-judgmental Français: French conversation at all levels, moderated by Mathieu Legendre.

A different topic for discussion is proposed for each session, while practicing French, Franglais allowed! Topic TBA. 

Mathieu Legendre is a French member of the Paris American Club and its board. Living in New York since 2016, Mathieu, a former lawyer and political activist, is now spending his time between writing books about French history and teaching French to American francophiles.

Recently, the group discussed: Comment rendre notre société plus inclusive, moins raciste?  Ils ont raconté leur dé-confinement et ses challenges, la période d’histoire préférée et leurs habitudes personnelles (les bonnes et les moins bonnes), les vacances,  the thing they missed most during la quarantine, and favorite French idioms, expressions and argot were l’ordre du jour several weeks ago.  You may download the list here.

Calendar of Live Meetings 2020 (As of 8/3/20)

Registration generally opens one month in advance of each event, so mark your calendar and come back to register once open.