Mediterranean Currents – what a buzz

 

 

 

 

AWG hosted a Regional meeting in Montpellier in January 2010 that included guests from the FAWCO-affiliated clubs in Paris, Lyon and Barcelona.  The following is an account from one participant: 

 

 

 

I walked into the meeting room on Saturday morning, and the room was alive with women in animated discussions, in the pre-presentation coffee and croissant half-hour.  One’s eye was surprised by the garden decorations – long twigs festooning the walls and fresh mimosa on every table –

 and a sense of anticipation for the day ahead of us prevailed.

 

 

And we weren’t disappointed.  Denise kicked off the sessions with a meticulous, gracious welcome and thank you to the team of AWG members, led by Linda, Kim, Genette and Jan, who made this event a reality.  The sessions – the first detailing FAWCO history and current initiatives, and the second describing FAWCO Foundation activities - followed along smoothly; they were detailed and substantive, but not so formal as to prevent some fun and laughter along the way.  A balance was achieved through the presenters’ style of being informative yet remaining informal. 

 

Last up before lunch was Consul Philip Richards from the US Consulate in Marseille, and he continued in the same vein, catching the tone of the group.

 

Chef Marie prepared our tasty Mediterranean lunch. Accompanied by a glass of red wine, we sat randomly and caught up with new friends from the previous night’s apéro, as well as with old friends from within AWG and from the Paris, Lyon and Barcelona clubs.  It was hard work to dislodge people from their wine, delicious desserts and their conversation to get them up the road for the group photo – but in the end a crocodile made its way to the Corum where Philip C snapped us chatting and laughing. 

 

Back for the afternoon’s sessions, the first being Maquita and Julie harnessing their immense knowledge of public health issues to the issues that FAWCO asks its club members to care about, specifically relating to women and children.  Then followed a presentation on issues – tax, banking, citizenship, voting – to which all US citizens must adhere (even though we don’t always wish to).

 

The last part of the afternoon offered participants the opportunity to participate in one of four roundtables. These included a continuation of the ex-pat issues, led by Lucy; a discussion of the experience of attracting non-US citizens into member clubs, led by Kim and Orla; a discussion of Mediterranean cooking and eating, led by Sue and

Phyllis, which included hints regarding the Mediterranean diet and its benefits to health, the traditions of Provence and Languedoc, and recipes in the Mediterranean cooking tradition; and a discussion of the media tools, both electronic and print, used to communicate with members, attended by the Paris club Presidents (there are two affiliated clubs in Paris) and by the President of the FAWCO Foundation, which allowed for a full exchange of club experiences. Amazingly, the AWG of Paris runs in excess of 100 tours/events in their September to June club year.  

 

The day was full of substance, and there just wasn’t enough time to share all the ideas that everyone brought forth, or to talk one-on-one to each individual there.  At this Regional meeting, in the heart of the Midi, warm Mediterranean Currents of friendship embraced us.  

 

 

27 January 2010