HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AATF CONVENTION IN
LIEGE, BELGIUM, JULY 16-19, 2008
Mark July 16-19, 2008 on your calendars! The 81st annual AATF convention will be held on those dates at the Palais des congrès in Liege, Belgium. We are planning a number of exciting activities as well as the usual excellent professional program.
Academic Credit
We are again pleased to offer one graduate credit for attending the convention through Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. Click here for requirements and registration information. You may register using the Convention Registration Form, also found in the January 2008 National Bulletin.
Hotel Information
The convention will take place at the Liege Convention Center. Room blocks have been reserved at a number of hotels in Liege at rates varying from 69 to 120 euros for a single room and between 110 to 161 euros for a double room. Contact your preferred hotel directly to make your reservations. Click here for information on specific hotels. The deadline for reserving a room at convention rates was March 31, 2008. Note: A number of hotels still have rooms available. Contac the hotel directly to inquire about rates. Reservations are subject to all restrictions and cancellation policies of each hotel. Please read all information carefully. The AATF is working with an intermediary in Liege and has no direct contact with any of the hotels.
The late registration fee of $300 now applies. Space is still available for the meals (we can take reservations through July 7), the excursions to Spa and the post-convention excursions (through July 7).
The registration form can also be found in the January and April issues of the National Bulletin. It is also possible to now register using our on-line store.
Roommate List
We will again provide a roommate list for those wishing to find someone with whom to share a room. We provide the names and contact information for other members requesting the list, and individuals can contact others on the list directly. Please check the appropriate box on the Convention Registration Form.
Travel
Liege is very accessible. There are nonstop flights from the U.S. to Brussels from Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York, among other cities. Liege is only a short train ride from Brussels. The TGV Thalys leaves the Gare du Nord in Paris and runs several times a day, stopping in Liege. Liege is slightly more than two hours from Paris by TGV and two and half hours or so from Amsterdam [www.thalys.com]. Liege is barely three hours from London via Eurostar, and Eurostar ticket prices are good to any station in Belgium [www.eurostar.com]. We encourage you to explore multiple travel options to ensure you get the best deal.
Program Highlights
Keynote Speaker (Wednesday morning, July 16)
We are pleased to welcome Roger Dehaybe, former Administrateur général of the Agence intergouvernementale de la Francophonie, as our keynote speaker. Click here for more information.
Dictée (Thursday, July 17, 1:00-1:45 p.m.)
AATF member Marie-Simone Pavlovich, a finalist in Bernard Pivot’s Trophées de la langue française, will organize a dictée for AATF convention-goers. Come try your hand at this very French discipline.
Other Activities
Welcome Luncheon (Wednesday, July 16, 12:00-2:00 p.m.)
The Welcome Luncheon has become a popular feature of our convention. Members can meet for lunch to discuss the keynote speech and to meet others attending from their region. $50 per person. Menu: Classique de canette de Challans au vin d’Oranges, poireaux confits à la graisse de canard et rattes rôties, le véritable café liégeois. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
Exhibit Opening (Wednesday, July 16, 4:00-7:00 p.m.)
Our exhibit hall will open with a wine and cheese reception sponsored jointly by the AATF and the Cultural Service of the French Embassy. Celebrate the ending of the first day of the convention, and see what our exhibitors and sponsors have to offer.
Dîner pérégrinatoire (Wednesday, July 16, 7:00 p.m.)
Madame Marie-Dominique Simonet, Ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et des Relations internationales de la Communauté française de Belgique, invite tous les congressistes à un dîner pérégrinatoire qui suivra la réception pour l'ouverture des expositions.
Lunch (Thursday, July 17, 12:00-1:30 p.m.)
Lunch (Friday, July 18, 12:00-1:30 p.m.)The Palais des congrès is situated along the Meuse River. There are not enough nearby restaurants to serve all the convention-goers. Therefore, we are providing lunches on Days 2 and 3 of the convention as well. We strongly recommend that attendees sign up for the luncheons. $20 each. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
AATF Awards Banquet (Friday, July 18, 7:00-10:00 p.m.)
Join us as we honor the achievements of our members during 2008. The banquet will take place at the Château de Limont. Menu proposé: apéritif, duo de crèmes froides, assiette de la mer, magret de canard et gratin dauphinois, délice au chocolat, café $100 per person includes dinner and transportation. We are pleased to announce the participation of Raphy Rafael who will perform at the banquet. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
President Marie-Christine Koop has obtained funding to be able to offer 15 scholarships for a pre-convention seminar, one week in Geneva, Switzerland and one week in Liege, culminating with attendance at the AATF convention.
Walking Tours CLOSED
Itinéraire Simenon (Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18, 4:00-6:00 p.m.)
Simenon a passé son enfance et son adolescence à Liège. Plus tard, reconnu pour l'immensité de son oeuvre, il ne dissimulera pas que, tout au long des sa vie, il a souvent puisé son inspiration littéraire dans le souvenir des paysages, des personnages, de l'ambiance de Liège. La promenade invite à retrouver, en compagnie du père de Maigret, cette atmosphère typique du premier quart du vingtième siècle, une époque où Liège gagna son surnom de "Cité ardente" et offrit à la littérature francophone un de ses plus illustres représentants. $20 per person. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
Le Coeur historique (Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18, 4:00-6:00 p.m.)
Liège est née entre la Meuse et le tombeau de Saint-Lambert. Toute son histoire peut encore se lire entre le fleuve et le pied des coteaux. Depuis le coeur même de la Cité, avec le Palais des Princes-Evêques, l'Hôtel de Ville, la place du Marché et son Perron, vous saisirez une collection d'ambiances. Hors-Château, en contrebas d'une ancicenne colline jadis plantée de vignes, offre quelques beaux exemples de rénovation urbaine à travers ses pittoresques impasses et la Cour Saint-Antoine. Vous apprendrez à lire l'histoire de la cité entre les pierres de ses monuments remarquables et vous pourrez enfin découvrir l'ancienne collégiale Saint-Barthélemy entièrement rénovée et ses fascinants fonts baptismaux du XIIe siècle. Visite rapide de l'Archéoforum qui, grâce à sa scénographie moderne et didactique, vous permettra de remonter le temps. Traces préhistoriques, murs d'une villa gallo-romaine, reste d'édifices religieux médiévaux dont de nombreux vestiges d'une cathédrale gothique sont autant de témoins de nos racines. $20 per person. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
Excursions
Pre-Convention Excursions
Bruxelles, capitale européenne is a one-day excursion on Tuesday, July 15 which will include a guided bus tour of the historic center of Brussels and visit of the European Union. Tentative cost: $70. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required) CLOSEDItineraries now available.
Spa et le CERAN is a day-long excursion on July 15 proposed by CERAN Lingua which includes a visit of the school and meeting with teachers, followed by a guided tour of Spa and, in the afternoon, a visit of the thermes in Spa. Cost: $30 which includes entrance to the thermes. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
Post-Convention Excursions and Activities
Route de la Bière: un circuit dans l’art du terroir et des traditions is a day-one excursion on Sunday, July 20 which will allow convention-goers to learn about the beers of Belgium and their history. Cost: $80. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
Anvers, centre mondial du diamant is a one-day excursion on Sunday, July 20 during which participants will visit the historic city of Anvers, the city of Rubens. The visit will include a tour of a diamanterie. Cost: $75. (Spouses and guests welcome; preregistration required).
Séjour à CERAN Lingua
Boost your level of conversational French and discover Belgian culture during an intensive French immersion experience at the most famous language school in Belgium! From July 20-25, 2008, CERAN Lingua will offer a special 1-week program for attendees of the annual convention. The program will give participants a chance to learn how to introduce the Belgian cultural heritage, literature, music, history and gastronomy in their classroom. Teaching in small classes (max. 6 participants per group), constant support from instructors and the unique CERAN methodology will ensure progress in conversational French. Cost: 1700 euros includes tuition, course material, full board and accommodation. To learn more, visit [www.ceran-us.com].
Activities for Family Members and Students
Give your students and children a chance to skyrocket their level of French while you attend the AATF convention in Liege. In Ferrières, just 30 miles from Liege, CERAN JUNIORS provides intensive language programs for kids 10-18 during the summer. The full immersion programs include classes, fun activities and excursions (everything in French) and are attended every year by teenagers from all over the world. A unique opportunity to improve conversational French and live a memorable multicultural experience. Programs are organized in one-week modules with price starting at 1170 euros/week, including tuition, course material, sports and leisure activities, excursions, full board and accommodation. To learn more about CERAN JUNIORS, visit [www.ceran-us.com/junior].
Excursion and meal prices are subject to change in the event of a significant variation in the exchange rate.