President’s Message – March 2025

Dear Members

As we prepare to return to classes and group meetings after the half term, it is hard to believe how quickly the time is passing.

The Open Evening last September seems a distant memory, although I am very pleased to see so many of our new members enjoying the ACFAA groups, language classes and events.  Our membership numbers have grown year on year and we look forward to sharing further information at the AGM planned for 22nd May, 2025.  I do hope that you will join us.

Since September the Social Committee have hosted a number of well attended events.  Autumn offered two days out for members, Allemans du Dropt and Chateau Roquetaillade and the Bazas region and these were followed by the Christmas coach trip to Libourne.

The Association once again supported the October Rose month, in collaboration with the Mairie d’Eymet, and raised over 1700 € through the fund-raising walk, and donations from individual ACFAA Groups.

The Association played host to our third school visit of 2024.  The students enjoyed a tour of the town with volunteers from the Tourist Office, followed by a visit to Roses Traditional Tea Shop.  After their pique-Nique lunch, they enjoyed English lessons with the ACFAA Language department, supported by our member volunteers.  Requests for these visits, to improve English language skills, are becoming increasingly popular with French adult learning groups, Lycées and elementary schools and we are grateful to those who volunteer their time to help at these events.

In November, ACFAA Line Dancers, the Agnac Crazy Stompers, came out in the cold to support the Fete St. Catherine.  The audience is always pleased to see the dancers strutting their stuff and this occasion was no different.  A huge thank you to the Group for their continued support at this event.

The Christmas event at the end of November was a festive Afternoon Tea at La Gare, with entertainment from the popular Quartette Jazzique.  This event was well attended by our members and with generous donations from the raffle, we raised over 500 € for the Secours Populaire, Eymet, a charity that supports local families.

In December the children at the Centre de Loisirs, received presents from Santa.  The team suggested purchasing recycled presents, an idea proposed by their teachers.  Santa gave out the presents and the children sang Christmas Carols in English.

The ACFAA Atelier Group took part in the Eymet Christmas celebrations, producing wooden Christmas trees to decorate the Rue du Temple and the week before Christmas, Cantabile Choir and the children of the Notre Dame school entertained locals in Eymet square with traditional Christmas Carols.  ACFAA Committee served delicious hot chocolate, with the profits from sales donated to the Resto du Coeur.

In January members enjoyed a trip to Bordeaux, a Quiz Night, in Agnac and a “well being” demonstration by our Meditation Group Leader.

Please visit the ACFAA Life page to view photos of all these events and to keep updated on forthcoming events and trips during the coming weeks and months.  Also take a look at the yearbook videos dating back to 2002 under About Us.  I enjoyed looking back at our members enjoying the events throughout the years.

My Best Wishes to everyone

Claire Riley, ACFAA President