November 15, 2007

Dear Members and Friends,

Ten years ago, the months of November/December 1997 found Alliance Française members, students, and friends looking to the new year with great expectation with the purchase of “a home of our own” in the Minneapolis Warehouse District.

The chance to move in January 1998 from three small rented classrooms in St. Paul to an historic two-story building was a thrilling new chapter in the life of the Alliance Française de Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Many generous contributors participated in this monumental venture in support of our commitment to offer comprehensive French language instruction, social programs and cultural events -- from outstanding programs of the past, to more recent events -- Ambassador Levitte’s visit last fall, an immersion school panel with area academic experts (October 25), and the appearance of Paris’ Quai Branly Museum President Stéphane Martin (November 3). 

In the decade since putting down new roots at 113 North First Street, we have benefited from the use of a spacious Grande Salle to offer more cultural and social programs, and to expand our library collection. An annex of four classrooms was added in 2001 to meet the demand of increased enrollment.  A place to offer a unique experience of “all things French” to our 700 members and numerous guests has been a source of pride for our teachers, staff, and Board of Directors.

But like any home that serves its family well over time, it requires proper maintenance to keep it safe and sound.  To help control costs, we turned recently to AF volunteers who heartily pitched in to paint several well-used classrooms and a portion of the building exterior. This past summer, we made extensive repairs to the basement, the roof, and a malfunctioning cooling system to stem water damage.  More work, however, is needed for other repairs and upgrades to better serve our members.  And with these needed expenses, we must still balance our budget and plan for the future of our building when our mortgage of $240,000 comes due in January 2009.

I am writing to ask for your support.  We have set ourselves a goal of $50,000 for our 2007-2008 Annual Fund campaign to help us maintain our historic treasure and meet our operating needs, a most important undertaking if we are to continue our mission of promoting the French language and culture in the Twin Cities in our prime location.  Unfortunately, tuition and membership fees alone cannot fully meet these needs. A successful Annual Fund campaign is critical to allow us to fund our operations without a deficit and to focus our efforts on timely strategies to pay our mortgage in early 2009.

Please consider a donation to help us achieve this goal. Your participation is essential in helping us maintain a strong and flourishing AFMSP.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of a gift to the Alliance Française.

Sincerely,

Peggy Linrud

President of the Board of Directors

Do you have time and talent to contribute to the Alliance Française?

We can always use the help of our members and volunteers for events, projects and fun.  For more information please contact Ambre Crim, or have a look at the AFMSP Volunteers Group. 

2007 Deficit Reduction/Fiscal Year-End Campaign Donors

Adams, Marie-Rose                  

Anderson, Mary                        

Andrews, Woody & Cynthia       

Bailey, Patty                            

Beery, Martha                           

Benson, James & Ruth Ann       

Bidwell, Andrea                         

Blyth, Peter                              

Brewer, Daniel & Maria              

Brynolfson, Amy                       

Butler, Ben                                           

Catambay, Margaret & Al

Coughlin, Ed

Damien, Eric                            

Davin, Thomas                          

Davis, Susan                            

Demers, Richard                       

Dombouy, Gary                        

Drake, Dr. Robert & Dorothy      
                                            
Evans, Christine

Fisk, Carolyn                            

Garvie, Mary & David Means      

Gekler, Jean Marie

General Mills Foundation

Gesell, Teddy                           

Gonder, Jan                              

Guisan, Catherine & Steven Dickinson               

Hale, Roger

Harrop, Loring

Harrison, Ingrid

Hess, Wendy

Hewett, Nelly

Hillier, Frederic & Laurel

Hornicek, Nora Lee

Hruby, Maryanne

Hughes, Margaret

Janssen, Barbara

Jackson, Angela

Johnson, Sharon

Kaase, Susan

Kakou, Dag

Kiernan, Peter

King, Roland

Kohl, Kartra

Komjathy, Gabriel & Debra

Krogh, Ivanka

Leibundguth, Barbara

Levy, Morris & Dorothy

Lewis, Tamara

Lien, Jeffrey & Christine

Linrud, Peggy

Marret, Franck                                                              

Martineau, James & Sara

Mayer, Steven E.

Means, David

Minnetti, Caryl

Minuitti, Terri                                                                

Mowery, Carolyn

Oskram, Marri

Parks, Patrick

Peter, Stephan

Peters, Hélène

Peterson, Jean & Lynn

Pfannkuch, Hans & Georgette

Poston, Lawrence

Proffitt, Kimberly

Ramsay, Norma

Raup, Phil & Marian

Rayfield, Russ

Reilly, Jim

Rengel, Elizabeth

Richardson, James

Sampson, Monica

Schaffner, Mary & Robert Lee

Schubert, Virginia

Schuh, Jeffrey

Shapiro, Richard & Mary

Smythe, Deana

Sontgerath, Elodie

Stern, Gary & Mary K.

Stover, Sue

Surine, G.

Taylor, Robert

Thibault, George

Thies, Irma

Thorliefson, L. Harvey

Thunnissen, Annette

Weber, Matthew

Weiss, Fern

Wells Jr., David

Wentz, Karin & Mark Otness

Youngdahl, Sandra