GREETINGS

WISH YOU ALL A MERRY CHRISTMAS and PEACEFUL NEW YEAR

2010 TELETHON

Telethon is a huge charity funds collecting all over France during 2 days (from Friday evening to Sunday). Generally, total amount is near 100 millions. This year due to weather conditions, it'll be less. Funds are used for medical research and medical treatments for "orphan illnesses". In Grandvilliers, quite all associations were involved  and our twinning committee gave 1€ per member. The cheque was given by one of our youngest member, Joffrey.

BEAUVAIS AIRPORT T2 TERMINAL OFFICIALLY OPENED

This afternoon, at 2.30, around selected guests, mainly  President of Picardy region , J.Lebrun (chairman of our county chamber), M. Michael O'Leary (representing RYANAIR), His Excellency the Ambassador of Slovakia in France, our county politicals, where hosted by Beauvais Airport Authorities for the official opening of new T2 terminal. New premises are 9400 sqm and they'll be 11 desks, shops, huge waiting room.... compared to T1 terminal .
M. Amoudry, director of the airport, thanks the attendance and specially investors and the working force of the airport.
Next Monday, 6th december, the T2 will be opened to flights.

Short visit

Some of our Athy's and around friends paid us a short 4 days and special visit during the St Cecilia's week-end fair.

OUR PARTNER, "L'ETOILE" IS NOW OPEN

Our partner, l'Etoile (the Star) has now open its new premises. Hotel, good food....best place in Grandvilliers. Frederic is a very good and professionnal chief.....

ST CECILIA'S FAIR 20th to 22d NOVEMBER

Tomorrow will arrive in Beauvais airport 7 friends from Athy and around. They come specially for the fair.
WELCOME TO THEM !

SENATE VISIT

Past thuesday, and even with strikes, rallies  in France and specially in central Paris, 31 members of our twinning committees federation were welcomed by A.Vantome, one of county senator in the Senate (High Chamber of our french Republic).
Before we visited the Jean Monnet house and had there a conference about this famous man life. Must be mentionned: this House is belonging to European Commssion so to anyone of us and open all over the year.

JOURNEY TO BOCKENHEIM (Germany)

Six of our members have been travelling to Germany for the Wine Festival in Bockenheim-am-Weinstrasse during past week-end. They enjoyed to meet people they see each two years in Grandvilliers and were tasting new and older wines.

2010 NATIONAL PLOUGHING CHAMPIONSHIP

Three people from our town visited the Ploughing during 2 days. They enjoyed very much (except traffic jams in town, due to that they had to cancelled 2 meetings) and so discovered the Irish Farms people and what is happening in this branch of economy. They visited the European Commission marquee and there met Diane Fennelly who was at the desk. Athy Travellers Group and Women Integration Network had a stall near these of the European Commission, where it has been explained, by games, what is Europe today. A great advantage for them, as some wish to join,as members, the twinning committee.
The area was so large that they just saw 1/2 of stalls in 2 days. They met 2 France ploughing champions (1 from around Angers and the other one from around Vesoul). They drove Michael O'Brien David Brown tractors in front the jury for Vintage Tractors competition. The evening was used for meeting with chairman of the twinning committee and some members at Clancy"s.

STUDENTS BACK IRELAND

After 3 weeks of training in farms, horses trainers, equestrian centers, 17 MFR students went back to France.

These 3 weeks were mainly spent to train and improve their english language.
Everything was ok, as usually.
Thanks to all involved.

GRANDVILLIERS 2010 PARADE

On each 1st Sunday of september is happening the Town Parade.
This year, as we had fine weather, we had big crowd attending. The 2 twinning committees (ie ourselves and Bockenheim TC) were in the parade with a trail waggon as this year theme was "the Far West".
Lot of fun with people we never met before.

MFR STUDENTS ARRIVAL IN ATHY

On next 23d Aug; 17 students will arrive around 3 in Athy. They'll be training during 3 weeks in farms, equestian centers, studs in and around Athy.
http://www.courrier-picard.fr/courrier/Actualites/Info-locale/Beauvais-Clermont/Trois-semaines-avec-des-chevaux-irlandais

2010 VISIT OF ATHY'S DELEGATES

"Bateau Mouche" - Paris on Saturday

Frday evening....

Friday evening....

On Friday 2d of July morning 26 visitors from ATHY arrived to Grandvilliers, including the new Athy Town Twinning committee, Cllr Thomas Redmond. Some have often came, some never. The group included representatives of minorities (Travellers, Non-national women...) as well as farmers or journalist. We had a great craic during these 3 short days. We have common projects of main interest for above groups, and we know we can do better, as we are european people of good willing.

Friday afternoon .....each one had said his word....about
poverty and exclusion, inclusion in twinning committees.

YOUTH 2010 MEETING - SUMMER UNIVERSITY

Due to lack of funding these two events are postponed to better times.

2009 AGM

Past Friday 12th at 7pm, took place our annual A.G.M . Chairperson J.P Vasseur rode annual moral report. Christian, vice-chairman,  rode activities report. Laurence, treasurer, rode accounts. We had a loss of 1533€ due to lack of grants from County council of Oise. No panic at all !
J.P rode projects for 2010.
Each report has been voted and agreed by the assembly.
Then Georgette Lahaye, chairwoman of F.C.J.O, congratulated our committee for so numerous activities.

M.F.R students, members of our new board. Right is our new secretary, Anaïs.

Jacques LARCHER, Town Chairman did the same.
Newspapers who attended Courrier Picard, Réveil and Bonhomme Picrd.
After official matters, each one had  food on the finger and drink..

GOOD BYE, FRANK........

One of first to speak about our town twinning, in 2003, was Cllr Frank ENGLISH. He came twice or three times  in Grandvilliers, anyone there in the twinning will remember him as a good and friendly man.
Sad news today, he passed away ..........God bless him.

This is now 2010 !!!!

FCJO AGM took place and we are sure now, Summer University will be from 5th to 18th July. Theme: circus. Accomodation will be in Compiègne.
Next 12th Feb, will be our own AGM. A lot of projects.......more later