Report
on the visit of the Croissy Delegation to
Geneva
April 21-25, 2008.
The following pages include some
representative comments from Genevan participants and from our Croissy visitors
as well as a list of activities and participants.
Introduction:
A
framework to evaluate the recent visit by the Croissy delegation could be
extracted from our bylaws:
To
promote education, understanding and cooperation through exchanges between
Geneva
and receptive cities in other countries.
To
recruit as committee members
Geneva
area residents interested to develop personal and institutional relationships
with international partner cities and who can facilitate activities with
constructive outcomes for
Geneva
.
To
encourage activities involving a cross section of our respective residents.
To support and encourage the international exchange activities of
existing organizations.
To
act as a liaison with other governmental and non-government units regarding
educational, cultural and other dimensions which may relate to international
exchanges.
To convene
public meetings to acquaint
Geneva
area residents with international exchange opportunities.
The comments from both Croissy and
Geneva
indicate that most everyone must have had a good time.
Did
we achieve most of our bylaw objectives?
That
eleven Croissillons took time and resources (over $15000) to visit
Geneva
and well over 100 Genevans participated
in some way, are indicative that the quality of life in
Geneva
and Croissy can be enhanced through these exchanges.
In
addition to Croissillons’ investments, some specific outcomes might include:
There
were 6 host families who invested preparation, breakfasts, dinners and
transport. All of the hosts said to
me, at one time or another, that they’d gotten much more out of the visit than
their guests. Correspondingly, each
of the guests said to me that they really liked their hosts.
Additional
hosts facilitated 15 planned events, including lunches and dinners.
And, not counting encounters on the street, more than 100 Geneva-area
residents were involved (
Wayne
,
Batavia
,
St Charles
included). Included in this were
sixty (60) who attended the banquet and underwrote the expenses of our guests.
Extensive
newspaper coverage was achieved with the Beacon News (2 articles), the Daily
Herald and the Kane County Chronicle (printed following).
Finally,
there were further projects declared in meetings with local artists and museum
directors:
Barb
Steinke headed a group to discuss artists exchanges after presentations at City
Hall. The fact that Croissy has
changed the date of the Fete de la Grenouilliere to September makes artists
exchange more doable since plane fares will be lower.
A meeting will be held to follow up shortly.
A
multimedia presentation entitled "Tale of Two Cities" is being
prepared by
Geneva
History
Center
. Croissy will participate by
contributing materials and, perhaps, French language translations.
The presentation may be available in both cities this Fall.
Also,
following visits with David and Jeff Hunt and the songs presented by the St
Charles Singers at the banquet, Candy Kless will visit Croissy May 30 to view
venues for a visit by the St Charles
Singers.
Finally,
pictures taken by Brian DeWolf of Croissy will be printed in postcard form for
Croissy sans Frontieres to help raise funds through sales by tourist stores in
Croissy. Brian is discussing an
additional photographic visit to Croissy when Croissy sans Frontieres may host
an exhibition of his work.
Also
we know of
Geneva
b&b hosts planning reciprocal visits, some of which have taken place or are
currently underway. A
Geneva
merchant who did not participate in the program may visit Croissy and even host
a student visitor this summer. And
the Art Institute’s Impressionist era curator will visit shortly!
There are opportunities for exchanges or art that resulted from our
meetings.
Conclusions
and critique:
Everyone had a great time, Genevans as well
as Croissillons! They/we did a lot
in a short time, the host-guest pairings worked well and the events were
outstanding. It seems we met our
objectives.
For critique, members of the ICEC committee
contributed the following:
A.
We may have set a pace that was too rapid for some.
Making one afternoon optional or having less formal activities could
reduce the stress.
B.
Croissillons in their notes used the word “privileged”, which
may relate to the fact they only saw the “successful” and “settled” side
of Genevans life. We might want to
take a future delegation to social service institutions like the hospital,
women’s shelter, etc.
C.
Now that Croissy has a view of the breadth of what’s available
in
Geneva
, a next delegation may be queried about special interests they’d like to
observe. We can then plan
opportunities for those interested in specific things.
Rotary apparently does a good job of pairing visitors with people and
activities of special interests.
D.
We should get younger Genevans involved.
Participants
Croissy Delegation
:
Karin DE MARCO (Croissy Sans Frontieres’
President)
Jean-Pierre
CLEVENOT
Rose-Marie DELANNOY
Annie-CRETEAUX
Catherine
ROUQUETTE
Jean-Louis AYME (Musee de la Grenouilliere)
Pierrick ROYNARD (Rotary)
Marie-Christine DAVY (Maison Fornaise)
Jonathan GARNER
Françoise LE GARRERES
René MARTIN (Alderman, Town Hall
Representative)
Geneva
’s International Cultural
Exchange Committee
Ernie Mahaffey, President
Sue
Khalaieff, Vice President
David
Bald, Secretary
Cynthia
Albright
Jeannine
Cowart
Susan
Shivers
Angela
Pool
Drivers
John Ford
(Head)
Barry
Marshall
Sandy
Kaczmarski
Brian
DeWolf
B&B Hosts
Kathy
& Bob Bourne
Marilyn
& David Bald
Sheila Penrose
& Ernie Mahaffey
John Ford
Theresa & Keith Ellis
Daphne
& Barry Marshall
Event
Hosts
Sheila Penrose
& Ernie Mahaffey
Chip
Barber, Susan Shivers
Dave
Oberg
Kathy
Hanley
Mayor
Kevin Burns
Mike
Simon
Margaret
Selakovich
Patricia
Maclachan
Pat & Dean Farr
Brian & Sue DeWolf
Jody Richardson
Jeremy
Lycan
Liz Safanda
Lynn
Dransoff
Jean
Gaines
Karen
Alexander (progressive dinner, Art Institute)
Marylou
Anderson
Janet
& Gerard Keating
French
Translators
Jeannine
Cowart
Anne Binet
Chrissy
Koch
Marilyn
Bald
David
Bald
Other
contributions
Joe
Stanton – Geneva Theater Marquee: “Geneva Welcomes - Croissy sur Seine -
Friends from
France
”
Charys Wheeler
– Train Tickets to
Chicago
Gift
Exchanges
City
Hall – Alderman Renee Martin presented a picture and book:
Mayor
Kevin Burns presented a “Key to the City”
Geneva
History
Center
– Croissy sans Frontieres & Musee de la Grenouilliers presented
commemorative plates from the Columbian Exhibition of 1893, Marie-Christine Davy
presented a signed reproduction of the Renoir painting of Ms. Alphonse Fournaise
at the Maison Fournaise.
Croissy visitors each received posters of the Fabyan Windmill autographed by the
artist, Bonnie Christiansen. Bonnie
attended the dinner reception at the Proud Fox Gallery.
Croissy
Delegation Visit to
Geneva
April
21- 25, 2008
Theme:
La Belle Époque…
Or
what was happening in
Geneva
when the
Impressionists
were painting in Croissy…
April
21(Mon) - Arrivals at ORD, 3:20pm – 5:30pm
- Meet & greet by
Geneva
drivers; transfer to host homes
-
630pm Reception at home of Ernie Mahaffey and
Sheila Penrose
April
22 (Tues) - 7am Rotary Int’l Meeting (for those who wish to
attend)
-
9am
Geneva
History
Center
Tour with
David Oberg
-
Noon Lunch – Les Tissue Colbert ~ Kathy Hanley
-
1pm City Hall – Greetings by the Mayor, et al.
-
Artists Exchange Meeting ~ Barb Steinke, Pierrick Roynard
-
Afternoon and evening at leisure
- Dinner with host families
April
23 (Wed) - Explore
Geneva
’s Downtown and
3rd Street
; visit shops and art galleries
-
Noon Lunch – Little Traveler ~
Michael Simon
-
1pm Historical Walking Tour ~ Margaret Selakovich
-
630pm Reception at Proud Fox Gallery ~
Brian & Sue DeWolf
,
Pat & Dean Farr
-
730pm Gala Dinner at “Niche”
Restaurant ~ Chef Jeremy
Lycan & Sommelier
Jody Richardson
April
24 (Thurs) - 9am Tour Fabyan Villa,
Japanese
Gardens
and Windmill ~
Liz Safanda
, Lynn Dransoff
-
Noon Lunch – Chamber of Commerce ~ Jean Gaines
-
Museums Directors Meeting ~ David Oberg,
Liz Safanda
, Jean Louis Ayme, Marie Christine Davy
-
Afternoon at leisure
-
630pm Progressive Dinner ~ Karen & Walter Alexander,
MaryLou Anderson
, Gerard & Janet Keating
April
25 (Fri) - 817am departure by train to
Chicago
-
11am Tour of Art Institute Impressionist Collection
-
Lunch
-
Guests depart for hotels or return to
Geneva
The following were some of
the thank you notes from Croissy visitors (Jony Garner, a native English
speaker, was speaking on behalf of others):
Thank
you so much for your "Hospitality sans frontières", your remarkable
organization and the friendly interest that was shown to us on our visit to
Geneva
.
I
have been delighted to take up with
America
again, but I never imagined that it could happen in so privileged conditions.
And I believe that we all feel the same way.
So
I am very pleased that Pierrick asked me to help him out to pursue and enlarge
our common projects for future cultural exchanges.
I
slept round the clock last night and I believe that Sue Khalaieff* can be proud
of her: her plan to "run us
ragged" has been achieved!
THANK
YOU SO MUCH once more. My warm thoughts to you all. Francoise
It
really was a tour de force, as well as a tour de plaisir (for us). Jony
Altho'
a little tired and jet-lagged - despite a pleasant flight - just a short word of
gratitude for the wonderful hospitality and warm welcome given to this hybrid
(and all the other Froggies). From
our initial reception at O'Hare to our return to terra
franca
, the fabled and well-deserved American reputation for friendliness, generosity,
and benevolence was bestowed and showered on us. (Jeanne Cummings providing the
service right to touchdown.) It's
what those limeys might describe as "a right, royal, red-carpet,
reception."
I
really can't think of a single hitch (nor hardly a spare moment) in what was a
super, highly efficient, and thoroughly fascinating reception program.
We were wined, dined, walked, talked, treated and greeted in high style
everywhere. And I think we all now
appreciate and are delighted to have found such a priviledged and special
sister-city, with such wonderful inhabitants.
Luckily we have a little more history to help keep us in the running with
your lovely town and surroundings. But
we definitely have now established a very firm and genuine friendship between
the two townships and I am sure we shall be building on the solid contacts we've
established and hopefully expand them for years to come.
We shall need to get working on the specifics, but the foundations seem
to me well and truly cemented. Thank
you again for everything, and even going beyond the call of duty to take me back
to my early roots and childhood homestead. It
was a moving and emotional moment in what was a magnificent and thrill-packed
week.
Mille
mercis et à quad bientôt. Jony
The program was perfect, with plenty of variety but just the right amount
of combining the official, historic, scenic and leisure.
The lunches, dinners, and tours in addition to the hosting and
chauffering, meant that a lot of locals put themselves out and giving a lot of
time, effort, and commitment to our party, so please convey to them all our
heartfelt appreciation and thanks.
Without
going on the deck of an aircraft carrier, I think you can proudly announce
"
Mission
accomplished." We now have a
firm, well-constructed, friendly base from which hopefully we shall be able to
expand in the exchanges and encounters. Apart
from the superficial (but not unimportant) similarities between the two
communities, much more important is the human dimension, and I believe the trip
has helped cement a host of friendships, so that the necessary contacts are in
place which we now need to work on to develop and diversify.
But like all marriages, we shall need to continue to work at it and not
rest on our laurels. To this extent
I believe we shall try to have a brainstorming session with the Croissy
participants this weekend, to try to draw conclusions and discuss future
projects.
So
again, many thanks for all the effort you have put into this partnership project
from the start, and the wonderful and most enjoyable visit you gave us all.
La Belle Epoque was revived and relived in full, to the point that we
consider it's as good if not better today!.... Jony
Thanking
you both for the warm welcome you gave us, is not enough, it is a special
feeling we all have, and you have done it so perfectly that we have the feeling
beauty and gratitude. I
have read the E-Mail of Jony, it translates exactly the impression we all have
of this visit….Karin
But,
let me thank you once more for all you've done for me, you and the Commitees'
members. I keep a marvelous memory, each moments had been a great pleasure.
Sorry
for my very bad language. I shall be
working hard my English for the next time ! ! Marie Christine
Thank
you for your very professional organization and your so kind welcome in
Geneva
and in
Chicago
.
I've
very much enjoyed my stay in your country and hope that Croissy sans frontieres
become "Impressionists without frontiers" now.
My
congratulations to all your staff : Karen, David, Brian and all others that I've
forget only the name but not their "gentillesse".
See
you next time in Croissy. Very
friendly yours, Jean Louis
The following were selected from some
emails from
Geneva
participants:
I so
enjoyed this week and am glad I got more involved… The folks from
Croissy are truly wonderful and interesting people. It was a pleasure to spend
some time with them.
Do tell
them for me a sincere wish that we all meet again soon and that they have a safe
and enjoyable return trip.
Re: "Croissillons"
farewell night in
Geneva
....this
was a wonderful week! And, simply wonderful for
Geneva
. Thank you!
I just wanted to thank you for including me in several of the activities with
the Croissy delegation. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them. What
a delightful group of people!
Last
night's banquet - What a delightful evening! My two French-speaking guests
[American] so enjoyed themselves.
Geneva
to roll out red carpet for the French
April 10, 2008
By Michele du Vair Special to The Beacon
News
Imagine a picture-perfect community on the banks of a scenic
river. Wooded trails wind along the water's edge. Historic homes line the
streets in this longtime last stop on the commuter train. There's even a
windmill.
If it sounds like
Geneva
, think again. It's Croissy-sur-Seine, a quaint suburb of
Paris
that shares more than a mere likeness to
Geneva
. Since 2006, it's shared its most valuable resource, its people.
This month,
Geneva
will host an 11-member delegation from Croissy-sur-Seine as part of a
community-wide effort to promote cultural connections beyond
U.S.
borders. The French contingency, set to reside with host families April 21-25,
will begin their four-day serenade with a reception at the historic home of
Ernie and Sheila Mahaffey.
"I think it's the person-to-person thing," said
Ernie Mahaffey. "That's what these things are all about."
Plans also call for a tour of the
Geneva
History
Center
, an architectural walking tour, lunch at places like Les Tissus Colbert and
Little Traveler, as well as a banquet at the French restaurant Niche.
Mayor Kevin Burns also intends to greet his city's guests, and
Batavia
photographer Brian DeWolf will host a slide show of the photos he took last
year in Croissy-sur-Seine. There's even a tour of the Fabyan Windmill on the
schedule.
"We're going to run them ragged while they're here,"
laughed Sue Khalaieff, member of the International Cultural Exchange Committee
and
Geneva
High School
teacher.
The ICEC, a 40-member subcommittee of
Geneva
's Strategic Plan Advisory Committee, is charged with connecting the dots of the
many community groups seeking to ensure a positive experience for the French
visitors.
That's just what the French afforded the Americans last year
when
Fox
Valley
residents toured Croissy, said Mahaffey.
"They have the
Seine
. We have the Fox. They have
Paris
. We have
Chicago
. They have historic homes dating from the 800s. We have historic homes from the
1800s." said Mahaffey. "But I think what the French have done most for
me is help me to see just how wonderful this place is."
The French-American connection started when Croissy-sur-Seine
approached
Geneva
with the idea of forming a "twinning" relationship, much like sister
city programs without the formalities. A suburb of
Paris
, Croissy is in the heart of the impressionist region with its river's edge
setting forming the backdrop of numerous famous paintings. Parker Palmer, of
Palmer House fame, bought many impressionist paintings and donated them to the
Art Institute of Chicago, making the
Windy
City
a prime center of impressionist art.
"They know where the impressionist art is, so they knew
they wanted to be near
Chicago
," said Mahaffey.
The rivers, the historic downtowns and, of course, the train
line, all pointed toward
Geneva
being a good fit.
On the fourth and final day of their visit, French and
Fox
Valley
residents will board the Metra train, bound for The Art Institute. The French
will peruse the creations of their countrymen, take a gander at the works from
our side of the
Atlantic
. The Americans will do the same. And they'll do it side by side.
"From my perspective, being a teacher that tries to
promote international understanding, efforts like this are such a step in the
right direction," said Khalaieff.
Exploring a French connection
By AMELIA FLOOD
- aflood@kcchronicle.com
Kane
County
Chronicle 4/24/08
GENEVA
–
Geneva
and the French city of
Croissy-sur-Seine
have a lot in common: Vikings, railroads and picturesque river views. Now the
two are hoping to expand these bonds into a cultural exchange.
Residents from Croissy, as they call it, were in
Geneva
on Wednesday to see the sights and exploring their connection to the
Fox
Valley
. The 11 Croissy residents toured downtown, took in a photography show, and were
to dine at Niche restaurant.
The exchange will focus on culture, those involved
said. French students will begin arriving in
Geneva
this summer, and there are plans to bring
Geneva
painters to Croissy in the future. The
Geneva
History
Center
is planning an exhibit called “Tale of Two Cities,” as well.
“I wanted to have cultural exchanges,” said Karin
De Marco, the leader of the Croissy group. “That area is so rich in history,
in art, and we wanted to share that.”
Sister-city arrangements are partnerships between
cities, usually in different countries.
The road to the exchange started with a chance
meeting. De Marco acted as interpreter for Marcia Capriotti, who fell ill on one
of De Marco’s tours near
Caen
. After Capriotti, a
Geneva
resident, was released from the hospital, she later visited De Marco in Croissy.
“She said, ‘Hey, that looks like
Geneva
,’ ” De Marco recalled. “It all bloomed from there.”
When De Marco became the head of Croissy’s
international partnership committee, she began looking for cities to work with.
Capriotti and De Marco had stayed in touch. Capriotti recommended
Geneva
.
De Marco began working with First Ward Alderman
Charles Brown. She and Pierrick Royhard, president of the Chatou-Croissy Rotary
Club, came to
Geneva
on fact-finding visits in 2006 and last year in September.
“We found a good number of common points which we
could never think of before,” Royhard said.
Croissy is about six miles west of
Paris
on a “loop” in the
Seine
River
. It was a favorite spot for Impressionist painters to visit and developed, like
Geneva
, when a railroad came through town.
Before he returned to
France
from his first
Geneva
visit in September 2007, Royhard took photos of the
Fox River
.
“Everybody in Croissy thought it was the
Seine
,” Royhard said.
It's a tour de
Geneva
for group of French travelers
About
a dozen people from
Croissy-sur-Seine
,
France
, took a walking architectural tour of downtown
Geneva
Wednesday afternoon that included a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house owned by
Patricia MacLachlan, right.
George
LeClaire | Staff Photographer
By Susan Saukauskas - 4/24/08 Daily Herald
Geneva
couldn't have presented itself any better Wednesday to visitors from its sister
city of Croissy-sur-Seine,
France
.
First it offered lunch in the Garden Atrium at
The Little Traveler store, followed by a tour of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed
home. Then it was over to Graham's 318 for coffee and a little snack, followed
by a special dinner at Niche restaurant.
And it all took place under sunny skies and balmy
temperatures that brought out the daffodils and tulips in many a yard throughout
the downtown historic district.
"It is just beautiful. I've met fantastic
people," said Karin de Marco, president of Croissy Sans Frontieres, which
brought about a dozen residents of the
Paris
suburb to visit this week. They are staying with families throughout town.
This is de Marco's second visit to
Geneva
.
"Everybody opens the door and poof! It is
just fantastic," she said of the hosts.
Croissy Sans Frontieres is affiliated with
Croissy's official sister city organization, which has had ties for many years
to a city in
Great Britain
and one in
Germany
.
The international cultural exchange subcommittee
of
Geneva
's strategic plan advisory committee organized the visit with the theme of
"La Belle Epoque … or What Was Happening in Geneva When the
Impressionists Were Painting in Croissy."
The Belle Epoque, or beautiful era, was a mostly
peaceful time in
Europe
from about 1870 to the beginning of World War I. During that time,
Impressionist painters including Renoir and Monet frequented Croissy, inspired
by its beautiful setting on the
Seine
River
. The area is known for its large collection of Impressionist paintings.
Wednesday, the French group learned about a 1906
Wright-designed house on
Fifth Street
, peppering the owner with questions about Wright's Japanese influences, the
similarities in style to the British Arts and Crafts movement that inspired him,
and the more stark German Bauhaus movement that came later.
About three years ago, de Marco met a
Geneva
resident and thought it would be a good idea for the group to find an American
partner.
Since then, high school students and other
residents of
Geneva
have visited Croissy, and people from Croissy -- including its Rotary Club
president -- have visited here. French students are expected to visit this
summer.
"There is a strong interest from the
European and French side to find contacts and have an exchange in
America
," said Jonathan "Jony'" Garner, vice president of the Croissy
group. (Garner is actually British but has lived in Croissy for 30 years. He was
born in
Chicago
to a British mother during World War II.)
"We're trying to see what we have in common
and what is uniquely American," said Jeannine Cowart of Geneva, acting as
an unofficial translator Wednesday.
April 27, 2008 Beacon News
Michele du Vair
A number of years ago, I happened to be walking past Aurora's David L.
Pierce Art and History Center and caught my first glimpse of a photograph
taken by Brian DeWolf. Naturally, I had to blow off whatever it was I was
supposed to be doing and walk inside. It was that good.
Since then I've marveled at his ever-expanding collection of scenic
Fox
Valley
images in area shops. His attention to detail and sense of light are
first rate. His technical skills and composition are pretty unbelievable.
Last week, I had a chance to finally meet the photographer I've admired for
years. DeWolf was part of the American contingency that showed off the best
of
Geneva
to their French compatriots from Croissy-sur-Seine. The evening
started with a reception at the Proud Fox Gallery & Custom Framing. Here
DeWolf's photos from last year's trip to Croissy were on display. The group
then moved on to Niche, where the best American cuisine I've ever had was
served with impeccable style. From artists to aldermen, high schoolers to
high society folk, both places were packed. And the sounds of my father's
native tongue mingled unreservedly with my own.
"The purpose of this whole thing is to gather together with two communities
to enhance the quality of life in both communities and to do so in as broad
a spectrum as possible," said
Ernest Mahaffey
, the evening's host.
Not a bad way to put it, if I do say so myself. Though I see the primary
role of a sister city program is to unite people who would ordinarily never
meet.
People like DeWolf. Not exactly the jet-setter type, this retired
St.
Charles
police officer had never left the country prior to his trip to
Croissy-sur-Seine last year. Forever self-effacing, he is constantly
downplaying his talent.
"I'm not an artist," he said that night. "I'm just a guy with a
hobby."
Yeah right, and Picasso was just a guy with a crayon. OK, so maybe that's
not the best example.
The point is DeWolf doesn't speak a word of French, doesn't frequent
wonderful restaurants like Niche. Yet there he was last Wednesday, in a room
full of people who do.
People like Karin DeMarco from Croissy. I love watching what unfolds when
you join two seemingly different worlds together. Given the chance, people
often dispel notions of differences and discover commonalities.
"I think we came here for a cultural exchange system and I feel now today
it's more of an emotional exchange," said DeMarco. "It's much more
than
culture, it's more about friendship."
DeWolf and his wife, Sue, said their trip last year to
France
was
breathtaking. "
Paris
was amazing," said Sue DeWolf. "I spent the entire time
there with my mouth open." Yet it wasn't the
Eiffel
Tower
that made their
trip so meaningful. It was the bonds they formed in Croissy.
"I don't know how to say this without sounding corny," said DeWolf.
"But it
really is all about the people."
md837@comcast.net
Submitted
by Ernie Mahaffey with comments from several committee members.
June 3, 2008