Representatives of the 140 chapters of the Alliance Franaise in the United States will convene at the Sheraton Colony Square Hotel in midtown Oct. 15-17 for their national convention.

      The event is expected to be attended by some 200 members, including Franois Bujon de L’Estang, the ambassador of France to the U.S. Jacques Viot, the former ambassador of France to Canada and Great Britain who is the current president of the organization worldwide and Jean Harzic, the Paris-based director general of the Alliance, also are scheduled to attend.

      The event will be co-directed and hosted by Atlanta management consultant Nigel Richardson, past president and board member of the Atlanta chapter as well a member of the national board, and Atlanta attorney and honorary consul of Luxemburg Georges Hoffmann, the current president.

      The Atlanta chapter is the third largest in the U.S. with nearly 1200 members and nearly 1,000 students enrolled per year.  Its executive director is Claude Wegscheider.

      The meeting will include educational workshops including marketing, language instruction and fund raising for representatives of local chapters.

      The national board will discuss more broadbased strategic plans for the 30,000-member organization including promotion of French language and culture throughout the U.S.

      For more information, Mr. Richardson may be reached by calling (404) 355-5202 or send a fax to (404) 351-8943.  His e-mail address is nigel@mindspring.com To learn more about Alliance Franaise programs here, call (404) 875-1211.

by Mark Pierson