Winchester Jumelage

President's Message

March, 2006

Dear Members:

Our Summer Intern program is one of our lesser known but most successful programs.  Each year two or three youths from St. Germain spend a few weeks in Winchester, hosted by a local family and spending weekdays “interning” with one of our downtown businesses.  In recent years BookEnds, the Patisserie and Kidstock have all been steady supporters of this program, which has received enthusiastic praise from the participants.

A heartfelt “thank you” is therefore due to the Donnelly and Sheperd families, who welcomed into their homes last Summer’s interns, Antoine L’Hermitte and Geoffroy Binet.  Brian and Carol Donnelly, and their enthusiastic brood, hosted Antoine, who interned at Bookends with Judy Manzo.  Jill Shepherd and her daughter Caitlin hosted Geoffroy Binet, who interned just across the street, with Brian Milauskas at Kidstock.  Both Antoine and Geoffroy were delighted with their stays in Winchester, and deeply grateful for hosts who went far out of their way to make their stays memorable.

And incidentally, our own youths (ages 17 to 21 or so) who may have an interest in living and working in France for a month (sorry, no salary permitted under the foreign visitor rules) are welcome to contact us.  Our St. Germain counterparts will find you a job, a home, and a warm welcome.

Last September we celebrated the 15^th Anniversary of the Jumelage in grand style, with a week long excursion to DownEast Maine for a busload of St Germain visitors and a matching set of Winchester Jumelagers.  Anyone who has participated in one of our joint excursions, whether here or in France, can testify to their unique combination of international friendship, vacation value, and just plain fun.

The official 15^th Anniversary celebration was held on the last night of our DownEast trip, and featured a cocktail party hosted by Al and Judie Muggia, followed with a festive Texas barbecue complete with the music of Bertrand Laurence and his trio, whose combination of American blues, jazz, and Parisian “chansons” had everyone on their feet (and was made possible by a very generous gift to Jumelage from Kevin and Susan Drum).

Over the years Jumelage has sponsored exchanges of many different kinds, from firemen to garden hobbyists.  All have been enjoyable, and all have also had the serious object of providing opportunities to meet families from a different, fascinating culture, and to make lasting friends from these contacts.  This year’s planned excursion is a week long trip to the Perigord region of Southwest France, home to the Lascaux prehistoric cave paintings, cassoulets and foie gras, a beautiful region dotted with fortified medieval towns perched on hilltops.  There may be room left on the bus for you!

I look forward to your continued support for Jumelage, and your participation in our activities.

Bien amicalement,

Philippe Koenig, President