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Vive la French Alliance!

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By JESSICA BALANZA

jbalanza@tampatrib.com

Published: October 14, 2009

TAMPA - L'Alliance Française de Tampa, or the French Alliance of Tampa, is celebrating 40 years of sharing the culture and language of France.

The nonprofit organization is one of 125 chapters within the United States. To celebrate its 40th anniversary the group is meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Rusty Pelican, 2425 N. Rocky Point Drive.

The celebration will include French entertainment, speeches, singing and a buffet.

The organization boasts about 67 members, which includes those of French decent, students and those just interested in learning about France.

Yves Hamard, president, said when the group started it mainly consisted of French natives, but as the club has expanded so has the diversity.

On the third Friday monthly members gather to listen to a guest speaker or learn something about what's going on in France. Meetings are usually conducted in English and French.

At a recent meeting the theme was on the movie "Julie & Julia."

"We did something on cooking," Hamard said. "We learned about crepes and added vocabulary about cooking."

With the group turning 40, Hamard said, "Our challenge is to turn the technological point."

He said 40 years ago people wanted to get together and meet but now with Internet and television, "we are competing against ourselves."

To become a member, visit www.aftampa.org or (813) 632-9627.

Community producer Jessica Balanza can be reached at (727) 451-2342.

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