Outreach & Activities
2005 Outreach & Activities
The following is not meant to be an exhaustive account of the wide variety of activities in which APP Rennes is involved. Instead, it is intended to give readers an idea of the types of activities supported by APP Rennes, and to encourage French and American partners to come up with additional ideas for other projects furthering Franco-American relations.
The APP staff will be pleased to take part in any discussion, that might help ameliorate knowledge in different spheres of American life. You may call our office on 02.99.23.44.09.65 in order to get further information on the subjects.
Dec. 15 Explaining U.S. Positions on the WTO. Consul outlined U.S. objectives for the December 14-18 World Trade Organization ministerial in Hong Kong for 30 MBA students at the Institut d’Administration des Entreprises in Caen.
Dec. 13 Security Presentation: A security specialist from Embassy Paris delivered a presentation on personal security for local Americans during a visit to Rennes.
Dec. 9 Recruiting Future Diplomats: Consul spoke with 40 U.S. college students studying abroad in Rennes about careers in the Foreign Service.
Dec. 5 Internships in the U.S. Consul addressed an audience of 40 engineering students at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Ingenieurs in Brest on the subject of graduate studies and professional internships.
Nov. 28 Tables du Monde: The Consul joined AFP journalist Jérôme Rivet in leading a tour d’horizon of U.S. politics and culture at the Rennes Press Club.
Nov. 24 Giving Thanks: Consul Murray addressed a crowd of 120 Americans, family and friends, at the Franco-American Institute’s annual Thanksgiving dinner.
Nov. 11 International Education Week: To mark International Education Week, Consul Murray spoke to 60 American high school students studying in Rennes under the School Year Abroad program.
Oct. 22 Battle Monuments: The Consul and the Air Force Attache attended the unveiling of a stele dedicated to four U.S. airmen whose plane crashed in 1943 while on a bombing mission over the city of Guerande.
Oct. 21 Back to School: APP Rennes greeted U.S. students studying abroad at Nantes’ “Welcome Forum”.
Oct. 18 FRAME’s Photographie Exhibit: The Consul spoke at the opening of an art exhibit at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Rennes. La Photographie Pictorialiste en Europe 1888-1918, was prepared jointly with curators from the Saint Louis (Missouri) Museum of Art under the French Regional American Museum Exchange (FRAME) program.
Oct. 8 Support for Hurricane Katrina Victims: The Consul was guest of honor when the city of Pontivy held a day-long series of fundraising events for its sister city of Napoleonville, Louisiana.
Sept. 17 Music Festival In Moncontour For Heritage Day: Cultural Assistant
participated in a debate entitled “Leaving for the United States: Dream or Fantasy.”
Sept. 17 Caen Sister-City Celebrations: The Consul and Cultural Assistant joined in a celebration to mark the sister-city relationships of Caen with Alexandria, Virginia and Nashville, Tennessee.
Sept. 2 Deauville Film Festival: Ambassador Stapleton inaugurated the 31st American Film Festival in Deauville (Normandy). Deauville's highly publicized American Film Festival is a much sought-after opportunity for American filmmakers to introduce their work to the French public.
July 21 Sister City Relationship. Commercial Specialist traveled to Laval, where APP Rennes was one of the guest institutions at a ceremony in for a delegation of Americans from Modesto, California. The Mayenne Department has been twinned with Stanislaus County in California since 1989.
July 15 Tall Ships Gathering in Cherbourg. The Consul visited the Coast Guard cutter Eagle and met with a group of American students from the University of Tennessee visiting Cherbourg.
July 12 Conference: The Sixties. Commercial Specialist gave a conference on the social and political changes of the 1960s, the space race, the rise of the media, the Cold War and American foreign policy at the Sous-Préfecture of Bayeux.
July 4 Independence Day Celebration at Caen City Hall. Together with the City of
Caen, APP Rennes hosted an Independence Day reception, featuring the choir from Caen’s sister city of Alexandria, Virginia.
June 23: Port security seminar in Nantes
June 16: Reception at Anglophone Library in Angers
June 6: D-Day ceremonies in Normandy
June 4: Opening of Dead Man’s Corner Museum in St. Côme sur Mont, Lower Normandy
Memorial Day. On May 29, Consul Clements addressed large audiences at the American Cemeteries in Normandy and Brittany France. The events were attended by local political and military leaders, as well as hundreds of local people. In his remarks, Consul noted that this year's Memorial Day celebration marked the end of a year full of commemorations of the 60th Anniversary of the liberation of France, and fell on both Mother's Day and the day for voting on the European Constitution. All of these events combined to recall the sacrifices made to maintain freedom, and the duty to remember those who made those sacrifices.
Tocqueville Bicentenary. Consul Clements attended the opening of an exhibit May 27 on the life of Alexis de Tocqueville, author of Democracy in America, organized by the La Manche department in Normandy, Tocqueville's home region. University of Virginia professor Olivier Zunz gave a lecture entitled "Of Democracy in America: Tocqueville as read by 19th Century Americans". Ambassador Howard Leach served on the Organizing Committee for the 200th Anniversary Commemoration of Tocqueville, and APP Rennes provided assistance to the La Manche Department with its planning for the commemorative events.
Book donation. On May 25 the Franco-American Institute of Rennes (IFA) held a ceremony for a book donation from the embassy. The 200 new English language books for children included both fiction and non-fiction touching on various facets of the history, culture, language and civilization of the U.S. Consul Clements attended the ceremony which received prominent coverage in local TV news (France 3 and TV Rennes) and print press (Ouest-France).
Sister Cities. Throughout the week of May 9, Consul Clements participated in events to mark the 20th and 25th anniversaries respectively of the Nantes/Jacksonville and Nantes/Seattle Sister City relationships. Events included receptions and lunches for the U.S. delegations, a tour of the castle owned by the current Marquis de Goulaine whose ancestor founded the first permanent European colony in America near Jacksonville, and a roundtable discussion featuring college students who have studied in each other's cities.
Bouvron. On May 11, in conjunction with ceremonies marking the 60th Anniversary of the German surrender of the Pocket of Saint-Nazaire, France, Consul Clements participated in a ceremonial folding of an American flag and its presentation to the Mayor of Bouvron, the site of the surrender. Four American World War II veterans also participated, with one reading prepared remarks in French to thank the French people for honoring his fallen comrades.
VE Day. Commercial Assistant was guest of honor at a VE Day ceremony in Cap Fréhel honoring the U.S. forces who liberated Brittany in August 1944. Five hundred residents, a number of former French resistants and ten local elected officials attended the event, which included the laying of a wreath, a series of speeches and the inauguration of an exhibit. On May 24 the Franco-American Institute of Rennes showed a film entitled "The War That Had to be Fought" featuring interviews with Rochester, NY-area veterans of the Second World War. The film was a gift to the City of Rennes from Rochester, it's Sister City. In the gallery outside the theater the Institute presented the VE Day paper show produced by the State Department.
Lord Russell. On May 6 Commercial Assistant addressed the Lord Russell Association in Dinard on French and American cultural differences. Emphasizing the many similarities and historical ties that linked both countries, he sought to dispel misunderstandings about French and American society. He also reminded the 50-member audience of the ongoing cooperation between the two nations in terms of trade, international aid and cultural exchanges.
The South: On May 4, Consul Clements opened a conference at the University of Lower Normandy on the American South. Speakers, including American writer Percival Everett, shared their views with 90 students about the history, geography and culture of the American South.
Lions' Regional Meeting. On April 23 Consul Clements was the featured speaker at the Spring Congress of District 103 West of the Lions Club. In his remarks to the nearly 200 Lions Club members from throughout Western France, Consul emphasized how U.S./European cooperation is helping to bring about peace, stability and prosperity, and is creating new opportunities for people in developing countries. Consul praised the Lions for their devotion to community service.
June 14: Lecture on Women's Rights to the U.S. Soroptimist Club of Rennes
Paul Miller. On April 15 Paul Miller, curator of the Newport Preservation Society, lectured 90 students and professors of l'Ecole d'Architecture in Rennes. In his conference entitled " La Troisième république triomphante, décors parisiens pour l'Amérique de 1880 à 1914", Mr. Miller gave an in depth presentation on the importation and replication of French designs and "savoir-faire" into the summer homes of wealthy American families such as the Vanderbilts at the turn of the last century. Showing photos of both Newport interiors and their Parisian models, Mr. Miller stressed the similarities between the two. Prior to the conference, APP Rennes hosted a lunch for Mr. Miller and leading figures in the local arts community
Bretons in North America. On April 12 Consul Clements made opening remarks at a lecture by Christiane Jamet on “The Bretons in North America”, the subject of a recently published book that she co-authored. The event was sponsored by the Franco-American Institute of Rennes and attracted an audience of nearly 100 local residents.
Internships in the U.S. On April 5: Consul Clements participated in a panel discussion sponsored by the Rennes chapter of Rotary International regarding student work opportunities abroad. After the formal presentation we shared information on exchange sponsor organizations with several of the over 100 students in attendance.
Les Fleurs de la Mémoire. Consul Clements was the featured guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Association Les Fleurs de la Mémoire in Deauville on April 3. Addressing the audience of 500 members of this organization dedicated to decorating the tombs of American soldiers buried in Normandy, Consul thanked the members for keeping alive the memory of these soldiers and the values for which they fought. The event, which was also attended by the President of the Lower Normandy Regional Council and the Mayor of Deauville received extensive coverage in local print media.
Nantes Polytech. Consul Clements spoke March 24 to over 30 students at the Nantes Polytech school on study and work opportunities in the U.S.
Melissa Clegg-Tripp. APP Rennes hosted deputy press attaché Melissa Clegg-Tripp on March 21 for discussions of the regional press in western France. Clegg-Tripp responded to questions on Bush foreign policy during a luncheon with the editorial board of Ouest France newspaper. She also met with the director of TV Rennes to discuss resources that could be made available to this fast-growing local station.
Bob Dylan. On March 10 Consul Clements was the opening speaker at a three-day conference on “Bob Dylan’s Performance Artistry” held at the University of Caen. PA Paris provided a grant for the colloquium that attracted academics from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and France. The colloquium included several concerts, student projects, and internet-based resources that enabled a large international audience to gain a greater appreciation of one of America’s contemporary cultural icons. For more information see www.unicaen.fr/musa/accueil.php or call 02.31.56.60.77
Getting around the region. During February we paid a courtesy call on the General Council President of the Loire Atlantique Department. We also made our first official trip to Vannes, the capital of the Morbihan Department, where we met with the mayor, the General Council President, and the President of the University of Brittany, South.
Vendée Globe sailing race. On February 26 APP Rennes congratulated Bruce Schwab on being the first American sailor ever to complete the Vendée Globe solo non-stop around the world sailing race. Despite his 9th place finish several days after the winners, several hundred people lined the piers, many waving American flags, to pay tribute to this courageous mariner. In his remarks to an audience of over 500 local residents at a press conference following Schwab's arrival, Consul Clements thanked him for sharing oceanographic data and other scientific information, as well as his personal reflections on the long sea voyage, with school children around the world through the steady stream of e-mails he posted on his website during the race.
Ethnic and religious diversity in the U.S. On February 10 Commercial Assistant gave a conference in Bayeux on the demographic mozaic in 21st century America. The talk was co-sponsored by the Sous-Préfecture in Bayeux and the Caen chapter of the France-Etats-Unis Association. Before an audience of 70 people, Commercial Assistant presented historical patterns of immigration to the United States and compared them with recent trends, using the latest U.S. census findings. He also emphasized the resilience and cohesiveness of American society, institutions and government in guaranteeing civil and religious freedom for all Americans.
Flannery O'Connor Symposium. On February 9, Clements opened a two-day symposium at University of Rennes II on American author Flannery O’Connor. Specialists from the U.S. and several other countries presented their research to 150 graduate students. In his remarks Consul expressed the hope that through a greater understanding of O’Connor’s stories the symposium participants would gain a clearer appreciation for American values and culture.
U.S. Fulbright Scholars Annual Meeting. For the second consecutive year the American Fulbright Scholars in France held their mid-term meeting in Rennes February 6-9. In addition to presenting their work to their colleagues, the Scholars attended a reception in their honor at Rennes City Hall, and participated in a presentation on the French regional press hosted by Ouest France newspaper. APP Rennes assisted the Fulbright Commission with arrangements for the visit.
Bush II Foreign Policy Lecture. On February 3, Consul Clements addressed 200 students at St. Vincent high school in Rennes on the role of an American consul in France, the last American elections, and expectations for the second-term foreign policy of President Bush. The students asked questions on American politics, the death penalty, the interaction of religion and politics, and U.S. relations with China, Iran and Europe.
Victory Medal to French Resistant. On January 28 during a ceremony held by the Rennes chapter of the National Federation of Former French Forces in Germany and Austria, Consul Clements was invited to present a "Victory Medal" to Louis Bertet, a French resistant who had also served as an interpreter for American troops during World War II. In his introduction of Mr. Bertet, Consul Clements thanked him for sharing his World War II experiences with young American students studying in France. Consul and Commercial Assistant, who were both honored at the ceremony, joined the nearly 100 members of the organization in sharing a traditional Epiphany "King's Cake". The ceremony was reported in local print press.
Fifth Anniversary. The January 18 edition of Ouest-France newspaper featured an article on the fifth anniversary of APP Rennes. The article described the many functions of the APP, and noted our participation in several upcoming events. The article also introduced our new public affairs assistant to Ouest-France readers, and pointed out that there will be a change in Consul next summer.
Encyclopedias to Angers. On January 11, Consul Clements delivered a set of the Encyclopedia Americana to the Anglophone Library of Angers that had been donated by the IRC.