French American Business Council of Arizona

Newsletter January 2010     

As we make our way to the goal of becoming a French American Chamber of Commerce, one of our challenges is to attain 30 memberships or more.  We must do this even before we send in our chamber of commerce application request.

 

Thanks to those who have joined us since our inception, we are almost halfway there.  Won’t you join us in order to move this project forward and share the stage with the other chamber of commerce chapters around the country?

 

In order to join FABCAZ, just download the application or join online using PayPal.  For those in attendance at the inauguration held on November 6th, the special pricing offered that evening will be maintained through December 31, 2009.  Time is running out; so join now!

 

 

http://www.fabcaz.org/EJoin.php

IT’S  NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US !

www.fabcaz.org

Save the date!

The French American Business Council of Arizona is pleased to invite you to a conference on Thursday, January 7, 2010 featuring Catherine Dufour, owner of "Au Petit Four," who will give a talk about her journey from the first thought about opening a business in the United States to her successful presence in Arizona ten years later.  She will be joined by Jeff Marathas, a lawyer who practices in Scottsdale, has an office in Paris, and specializes in immigration dossiers for those wishing to come to America from France to open a business.  The doors will open at 6:00 pm, with the presentations beginning at 6:30 pm.  Food and drinks will be available for purchase during this time.

As the event falls on January 7th,  we will have an extra treat in learning about the French tradition of the Galettes des Rois. (see article below).  The entrance fee for the event will be $5 for members and $10 for non-members (cash or check only) and will include a tasting of the galette des rois after the presentations.  Please RSVP online at www.fabcaz.org.  For more information and to make reservations for the event, please contact Karine at general@fabcaz.org.

· The FABCAZ has been officially launched in November 2009!

· It is official:  FABCAZ is a 501(c)6 tax exempt organization!

· Our number of members increase. Join Us!

· Next FABCAZ Event

What’s new?
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AU PETIT FOUR

2501 E. CAMELBACK ROAD

PHOENIX, AZ  85016

TEL/FAX:  602-852-9668

www.aupetitfour.com
Text Box: New Members of FABCAZ Text Box: Karine Kingston Doug Kingston Guillaume Briffard Text Box: Pamela Smith St. Gobain François Meurer Text Box: Leanne Debeurre Amelie Verilhac Emmanuelle Trefle

Emmanuelle Treffle

Treasurer
Text Box: fêtes de famille pour resserrer les affections domestiques. Il était de coutume de placer le plus jeune sous la table pour désigner les destinataires de chaque morceau de gâteau. De nos jours, la galette des Rois est un gâteau célébrant l’Epiphanie (6 janvier). L’Epiphanie est un mot d’origine grecque qui signifie « manifestation » ou « apparition » et dont l’utilisation est antérieure au christianisme. L’Epiphanie est devenue une fête chrétienne qui célèbre la manifestation de Jésus face aux rois mages. Text Box: La pratique de tirer les rois remontent à l’antiquité romaine. Pendant cette époque, les Saturnales étaient des fêtes célébrées en l’honneur du dieu Saturne, et les esclaves jouissaient d’une apparente liberté pendant ces festivités. Plusieurs autres dieux ou déesses étaient célébrés pendant cette période, comme Epona le 18 décembre. Il était d’usage de confectionner un gâteau avec une fève à l’intérieur qui désignerait le roi du festin. Les Romains utilisaient la fève comme « bulletin de vote » pour élire le roi du festin lors de ces Text Box: La galette des rois est une galette de pâte feuilletée fourrée à la frangipane. Le gâteau des Rois est une brioche aux fruits confits. Nous ne manquerons pas à la tradition, puisque nous vous proposons une dégustation de galettes des Rois « Au Petit Four » le jeudi 6 janvier 2010 lors de la conférence donnée par Catherine Dufour sur son expérience aux Etats-Unis. (voir annonce ci-dessus) Karine Kingston Text Box: L’origine de la Galette des rois Text Box: The inauguration of the French American Business Council of Arizona took place at the law offices of Bryan Cave in downtown Phoenix on the evening of November 6, 2009. FABCAZ was welcomed by Mr. Gerrit Steenblik, the Honorary French Consul in Arizona, during French Week 2009. After a few welcoming words, a presentation was given by Mr. Doug Kingston, an international tax consultant who is also a member of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce in Phoenix. He explained the advantages of international chambers of commerce for local businesses as well as those abroad. Wrapping up the conference was Leanne Debeurre, FABCAZ president; who detailed the mission and long-term goals of FABCAZ. As of November 18th, FABCAZ is a 501(C)6 non-profit Arizona Corporation whose goal is to assist in the development of trade Text Box: relations between businesses in France and Arizona. Over the next few years, the objective is to evolve into a French American Chamber of Commerce, the first one ever in the metropolitan Phoenix area. For this; we will be coordinating with the national headquarters in New York City. We will need to have a membership of at least 30 and a consistent history of serving the public with conferences; seminars and other events that back up our mission statement. We’d like to thank the 22 attendees who came out for the inauguration as well as our sponsors, Catherine Dufour of Au Petit Four who offered appetizers and Xavier Paillon and Dominique Quéré who graciously donated the wine for the event. A special thank you goes out to Melodie Degarmo, Facilities Manager at Bryan Cave, without whom our inauguration would not have been a Text Box: success. Additionally, the board members of FABCAZ volunteered a great many hours to organize this event: Amelie Verilhac, Vice-President, Emmanuelle Trefle, Treasurer; Karine Kingston, Secretary and Sophie Zitoun, Membership Secretary. Recently added to the board of directors is Guillaume Briffard; who will replace Sophie Zitoun as she returns to France with her expatriate husband. Please join us for our January event (see above). If you have not yet joined our organization and wish to do so by year’s end, click on this link and submit the membership form at your earliest convenience. Inauguration attendees will benefit from the special inaugural pricing through December 31, 2009. Leanne Debeurre Text Box: Le Mot de la Présidente Text Box: It is official: FABCAZ is now a 501(c)6 tax exempt organization !

French American Business Council of Arizona
Text Box: French American Business Council of Arizona , c/o L.Debeurre, 1602 E. Kathleen Road, Phoenix, Az, 85022