Délégation de Croissy a Geneva du 21 au 25 avril 2008.
What follows is a little pre-reporting on the events in Geneva from April 21st, when the fabulous delegation of “Croissions” arrived through the farewell evening on April 24th, including some quotes from emails and notes I’ve received from Geneva participants …
The owner of the marquee below had read about the visit in the Beacon News (attached) and asked if we would like to use it as welcome. Fresh from their arrival at the airport, I drove Karin, Jean Pierre and Marie Christine down State Street (one of our main streets) so they might enjoy this as a first surprise!
There were many events, as you’ll see from their schedule following. This was taken from the Fabyan Forest Preserve on the Fox River - Colonel George Fabyan’s Japanese garden.
And there were many presentations, including the one following. Dave Oberg and our Geneva History Center now have many things to show in preparation for their program in the Fall on the “Tale of Two Cities”. More on that later!
The presentations and gifts at City Hall and the Banquet were extraordinarily apropos of the theme – La Belle Époque! Thank you!
Croissy Delegation Visit to Geneva
April 21- 25, 2008
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Mardi 18 septembre 2007 - VISITE DE LA DELEGATION DE GENEVA
Le rapprochement entre Geneva (Illinois-USA) devient plus officiel suite a la rencontre entre Mr Davin, maire de Croissy et Mr Ernest Mahaffay, président du comité de jumelage de Geneva.
M. Kevin BURNS maire de Geneva a souhaité un avenir fructeux entre sa ville et Croissy. ( lettre de Kevin Burns)
De nombreuses associations (Jeunesse de Croissy, ADG, AAC, Piano Pleyel, Jazz en Liberté) ont participé à l'élaboration de projets d'échange entre les deux villes.
La délégation américaine en visite ce mardi 18 septembre était composée de :
- Ernest Mahaffey - représentant du comité http://www.emahaffey.net/
- Du photographe Brian Dewolf et son épouse Sue www.briandewolf.com
- John Ford est un résident actif de Geneva de longue date
Le comité de Jumelage de Croissy est composé de
- Karin de Marco,
- Jonathan Garner
- Jean-Pierre Bonneteau.
De gauche à droite:
Brian Dewolf
Sue sa femme
Karin de Marco
Jony Garner
Jumelage means twinning. It is a movement started with Karin demarco 'Président du Jumelage' which bring together municipalities, giving an opportunity to:
find out more about the daily lives of those in other places, talk to them and exchange experiences, and develop joint projects.
Many associations of Croissy have made lasting friendships with our American visitors.
Please contact Karin Demarco if you care of that partnership.
A WORD FROM Ernest Mahaffey
Thank you for your kind invitation and warm reception of our delegation. We very much look forward to welcoming Croissiones to Geneva and the Fox Valley (just west of Chicago).
Brian DeWolf’s photography has helped us to see the beauty of our community, so we are excited to see and show Chatou-Croissy-LeVesinet through his photographs. You live in a very beautiful community.
Coincidentally, this was Brian and Sue’s first visit to France, and part of their honeymoon (just married on June 8th)! They had a wonderful time.
John Ford is a long-time resident and community activist in Geneva. It was his first trip to France as well, and I think he liked Croissy better than Paris! I know he enjoyed both.
We all thank Karin de Marco, Jony Garner, their wonderful spouses, the Amis de Jumelage and many Croissiones for so many courtesies, fine food and wine, the great exchange ideas to develop and a generally GREAT time!
We welcome you to Geneva, the Fox Valley and Chicago. Sincerely, Ernie
 Reportage d'Yvelines Premiere sur Geneva et Croissy
(extrait du journal du lundi 24 septembre 2007)
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Visite délégation française à Geneva septembre 2007
Durant cette même période Pierrick Roynard était en visite à Geneva en tant que représentation des associations du Rotary Club de Chatou-Croissy et des Amis du Jumelage.
P.Roynard et Chip Barber, le président du Rotary Club de Geneva
M. Kevin BURNS (maire de Geneva)
P. Roynard a passé deux jours à Geneva comme ambassadeur de bonne volonté pour le projet de partenariat, logé dans une famille dont le mari est au rotary club et la femme présidente du club des artistes de Geneva. Chaque soir, il y a eu une "open house qui lui a permis de rencontrer beaucoup de "geneviens" auquels il a pu présenter Croissy à travers des photos et un film.
Il a visité l'école (1900 éléves pour une population de 20000, ce qui montre qu'il s'agit d'une ville avec beacoup de famille et de jeunes!) parlé dans 5 classes de français, visité le musée de la ville. Il a été invité à la Mairie et j'ai fait une présentation de Croissy au rotary club de Geneva, en utilsant les deux vidéos fourni par le service communication de la ville ainsi que la présentation power point qu'il avais préparé.
Pierrick a aussi déjeuné dans un restaurant en bord de la rivière locale, qui pourrait bien devenir la première "guinguette à la française" aux USA. Entre Croissy et Geneva, de nombreux points communs, même un ilot de la Grenouillère.
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Visit of Sue Khalaieff and her students in Croissy the 21st of June 2007
Sue Khalaieff who was the first official representative of Geneva to visit Croissy last year, returned on June 21st with 14 of her students. She is taking them on an extensive 2 weeks tour of Europe, which began in Edinburgh, and includes Oxford, London, a channel ferry crossing, the Normandy beaches, Paris, TGV to Nice, Monaco, Florence, finishing in Rome.
Our American friends took in the Chateau de Versailles and Chateau Malmaison before being introduced to Croissy with a guided tour conducted by Pierrick Roynard of the Chapelle, the Musée de la Grenouillère, and Chateau Chanorier, a walk down to the river Seine, then tea and refreshments at the Maison Fournaise.
Their visit ended with a Garden Party at Fabienne and Jean-Philippe Pochez's home, attended by the Mayor of Croissy, Jean-Roger Davin and his wife, and numerous local families. As this was Music Festival Day, Remi Pochez enlivened the gathering with his piano playing,
which then inspired an impromptu piano and song performance from the young
Americans.
The ambiance was very relaxed and friendly, and we were sorry to have to take Sue and her party off to the station at 11 p.m., in preparation for an early start the next day. We hope this first encounter with the youngsters will be the start of a permanent flow of exchanges and build a long-lasting partnership between our two communities.
Click here to see the photo gallery
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Son site web
Read the Daily Herald article about Geneva and the partnership.
