Join the MJC

Last night was the AGM of the MJC.

The MJC is part of the Federation Française des Maisons des
Jeunes et de la Culture which was set up after the last European
war to reconstruct French culture, train the young and generally
do good. It functions as a cross between a village hall and an
institute for evening classes; strictly non-profit making. Which
means you can't charge to give a class, which limits what can be
done; but stuff gets done and jolly fun it is too.

To participate in anything you have to be an adherent - you
have to join. Its 20 euros a year and less if you're a kid. For this
you get the free use of a room for your purposes, if your
purposes tally with the MJC's - and you get to attend anything
you want, from art to yoga, help with your computer or French
paperwork and, incidentally, to join the library.

Rather critically, it is paid for by the Mayor who is always
trying to close it. His latest ruse is to cut off the heating for
some of the time. It costs 8,000 euros a year for the two
buildings - the Cultural Centre and the Maison Louis Alibert,
(over the footbridge.)

It seems to me that as 10% of our commune are members, they
can expect to be warm. The Mayor wasn't at the meeting last
night but sent his adjunct who announced the central heating
cuts and added when asked that they had no intentions to
re-decorate. OK - we wont be driven out by that dingy yellow -
but cold is another matter.

The office is open Tuesdays 11am-12am and English speakers
are on hand, so come and get involved. Its a really good way to
enter the local french community.