BOSTON/STRASBOURG SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION
Minutes: Annual Meeting
June 19, 2007 3:45 PM
Novel Restaurant/ Boston Public Library
President Mary Louise Burke opened the meeting by welcoming everyone. She extended special thanks to the Boston Public Library and president Bernard Margolis for hosting the meeting. She also expressed special thanks to Consul General Francois Gauthier whom she termed “ambassadeur extraordinaire.”
For his part, Consul General Gauthier responded with some brief remarks about the full and rich program of the BSCCA during the past year. They included the Tomi Ungerer show (which some 10,000 people attended) and the visit of Strasbourg mayor Francoise Keller and her entourage of eleven. He thanked the Association for its many activities and for the student exchange program in particular.
President Burke called attention to the Keller program and the return visit to Strasbourg in January 2007 which she, the mayor’s wife Angela Menino, and Julie Burns made.
Julie Burns, Mayor Menino’s Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events congratulated the BSSCA. As noted, she accompanied Angela Menino, whom she said was most impressed with the reception her party enjoyed in Strasbourg. Burns offered a brief summary of their trip and mentioned some of the possible projects they discussed there, including a Christmas Fair which might possibly be held at Faneuil Hall.
Honorary President Ann Collier read a list of the names of new members. Then she read the slate of Directors, Officers and Trustees to be elected. A vote followed in the affirmative for Directors, Officers and Trustees.
Katherine Kane, Treasurer, gave her annual Statement of Income and Expenses for the fiscal year of July 1, 2006 to June 19, 2007. Total income $13,614.00; Expenses: $3674.09. As of June 17, 2007, the BSSCA Checking Account held $20, 010.03. There were no questions so the Statement was approved.
Vice President Paulette Johnson summed up the recent membership figures. In 2005 there were 87 paid members; 93 in 2006; and 98 in 2007. To date, however, there are only 36 paid members for 2008. She urged everyone who has not yet paid to do so.
Christina Dimitrova from Boston College’s Office of International Programs (a new name she indicated ) spoke of BC’s new focus on undergraduates who spend a semester or an academic year in Strasbourg. There were 13 students there last year; several more this year. A week’s orientation in Bordeaux is being discussed. All students have advanced level writing as well as speaking proficiency. Carol Simpson has been hired as the new on-site director.
Vice President Lia Poorvu paid tribute to Charles Munch, who, in March 1960 when director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, proposed a jumelage between the two cities. She cited former mayor Catherine Trautmann’s official message to Boston on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Munch (attached). This wonderful union Poorvu observed, was also commemorated in 1998 by Accent 4, a non commercial radio station of the Strasbourg region which was able to play previously unpublished concert recordings of the BSO to mark the 20th anniversary of Charles Munch’s death. BSO archivist Bridget Carr secured the necessary permissions. This month Accent 4 is programming 8 hours of Munch’s recordings in the context of the Colmar Music Festival, again with the assistance of Bridget Carr.
She went on to recall the 1992 official visit of a Strasbourg delegation to view an exhibition on Charles Munch in the halls of the BSO.. The Strasbourg delegation was among those attending the reception the BSSCA hosted after the Friday afternoon concert. Soloist Yo Yo Ma spoke briefly. Poorvu concluded by noting that the dynamic interplay of volunteers and professionals reminds us of the truly people to people nature of our projects.
Jennifer Thomas-Starck, now at Wellesley College, also noted the musical links in the College’s programs. A possible focus being studied is to send students to Aix-en-Provence for part of their practicum.
Kim Caverly, indicated that a Teacher Exchange is being considered for 2008-2009, with French teachers visiting in 2008 and the American counterparts in 2009. The last such exchange was over a decade ago. This year Andover High School has a group of students in Strasbourg. Students from the Lycee Kleber will visit Andover next year.
Boston Public High School Exchange chaperone Patricia Chouinard presented an update on the current exchange. The ten students from Strasbourg will benefit from a rich program that has been arranged for them. Nine local families volunteered to host the students. She referred us to a handout of their program.
Lia Poorvu offered a brief summary of the Alfred Schweitzer Fellowship program and introduced two representatives from the program in attendance. The Fellowship of America has been based in Boston since 1992 and is affiliated with the Schweitzer Hospital in Lambarene. Schweitzer was both a relative and friend of Charles Munch. Thus far over 1,000 US Schweitzer Fellows in health-related professions work with the under-privileged communities throughout this country. Strasbourg students will meet with members of the Gellowship during their visit here and see a film dedicated to his work. She summed up Nobel Peace Prize winner Schweitzer’s philosophy as “Reverence for Life.”
President Mary Louise Burke in her concluding remarks noted that the Strasbourg Youth Orchestra would like to come here to celebrate their 20th anniversary. She has been involved in looking into possible contacts such as Boston Latin School, etc. The Commonwealth School and other exchange possibilities are being examined. Members attention was called to the lengthy list of the last year’s activities. As the Consul indicated, a highlight of last spring was the Tomi Ungerer exhibition at the Boston Public Library. The exhibition was the culmination of several years effort by BSSCA officers. The opening reception was very successful. During the exhibition a distinguished panel of speakers discussed his work one afternoon in the context of the power of satire. As noted earlier, during its tenure the show was very well attended.. A two page summary of the Association’s many activities and events during the 2007 fiscal year was distributed to members. Burke issued an SOS for a Strasbourg artist who needed housing here for a few months. This is but one of the many grass root activities of the BSSCA, she noted.
The meeting closed at 5:12 PM. Members were then treated to an extensive and very knowledgeable visit to the Alexandre Vattemare Exhibition in the adjacent BPL gallery. Our host was Earle Havens, who helped curate the show of this exceptional Frenchman who helped found the BPL, among his other exceptional undertakings.
A Reception followed the Gallery Talk in the Novel Restaurant.
Respectfully submitted by Margaret Collins Weitz, Vice-President.