The American Club of Lyon is gearing up to celebrate its annual President’s Day event, when it honors former presidents noted for their links to France.

The club uses this little-known American holiday to celebrate Franco-American friendship with a reception in Lyon City Hall’s magnificent Grand Ballroom, donated to the club by the city each year.

The 300-strong social club is for American or American-related members who wish to maintain their cultural ties with the United States.

Although a primarily family-orientated group, the club is sponsored by many local businesses and their network can refer people to qualified professionals for assistance like language courses and relocation services.

Exchange

Founded in 1987, the club prides itself on its intercultural exchange with the French community in Lyon and the surrounding area.

Jerry Cave, the Club’s president for the last three years, originally joined for social reasons but soon found himself becoming more involved.”

I was born in Lyon’s American sister city, St Louis, Missouri,” he said. “Last year the club was invited by the US Consul in Lyon to a breakfast meeting hosted by the local chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Hotel with the US Ambassador to France.

I was coincidentally introduced to Mayor Slay of St Louis, who was visiting Lyon during its world renowned “City of Lights” event last December.

“It was a wonderful experience and made me proud to be a part of the American Club of Lyon.”

The club has held a President’s Day event since 2001. Due to scheduling restraints, the event is planned independently of the actual legal holiday in the USA which falls on the third Monday of February.

The idea is based on the connections that past US Presidents have had to the French community: JFK, Lincoln, and Jefferson are a few they have chosen to honor in the past.

Activity

The event is sometimes themed to tie into another club activity. “Last year we hosted the Federation of Women’s Clubs Overseas conference,” said Mr Cave, “We picked former

First Lady Jackie Kennedy to honor at our President’s Day event - a formal dinner with guests including Lyon’s mayor and the US Ambassador to France.”

This year’s choice is Calvin Coolidge (1923 – 1929), a decision inspired by an annual intercultural exchange between a local Lyon music school - l’Ecole de Musique de Limonest and the Flint School of Music in Michigan, one of the top ten music schools in the USA.

Orchestras from the two schools will set the tone of the event with melodies from George Gershwin and his overseas rival Basque French composer Maurice Ravel – artists whose music marked the period of Coolidge’s life and presidency.

The event will begin with a cocktail reception, short speeches and greetings, including those from Lyon’s Adjoint au Maire and the US Consulate in Lyon, followed by the bestowal of the American Club Award - a certificate given to a member of the Lyon community who has made a significant contribution to Franco-American relations or who has promoted Lyon’s international reputation.

The winner of the annual charity raffle is also drawn and half the funds are donated to a chosen charity. Previous beneficiaries include the Lyon Public Library, the Salvation Army, Doctors without Borders, and GISPE. (Lyon Firemen who went to New York to help after 9/11).

Photo: American Club of Lyon