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| Upcoming Events | |
October 2011
* Wednesday, October 12th - Annual General Assembly
* October 27th - HFSF Drinks evening. More details to come.
More Info: HarvardClub.fr
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| Recent News | We stumbled upon this great article. Pass it along!
Having assisted in the death of many newspapers, technology will save those that adapt.
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| MEMBERSHIP |  Are you a member of the HCF? If not, join us today for good times and compelling events!
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Les Echos are resounding!
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Our esteemed club has made the press! If you didn't catch the "L'Enquete" in the Friday February 4th, 2011 edition of the newspaper Les Echos, it is online in perpetuity here.
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Harvard Mobile Web & iPhone Applications
| | Harvard has announced a University-wide initiative to deliver useful, usable, and mobile-appropriate content to the Harvard community locally and worldwide. To take advantage of this technology, go to m.harvard.edu, or download the Harvard app from the iPhone app store to see the latest news and campus information on your mobile phone. |
| More Advantages of being a Harvard Alumni |
The Harvard Alumni Association is going to reward you for your Harvard Club of France membership!
As a member of the HCF, in 2011 you are eligible to receive Harvard Magazine at a significantly discounted annual subscription rate.
The annual subscription form is here. Register now (login required). If you need assistance please contact Harvard to initiate your individual annual subscription and continue receiving Harvard Magazine at your preferred address.
Discounted rates for International Harvard Club members are 54% off reg. subscription price: Regular annual subscription price (six issues): US $65
Harvard Club member price: US $30
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 President's WelcomeDear Friends, Let me first extend a warm welcome to all alumni who have just joined the club over the past few weeks. I am glad to report that a large number of these new members (a fair number of whom were already living in France) have joined this club for the first time recently. I believe this is evidence of our full program of the past year - over 20 events - which make the Harvard Club of France one of the most lively university clubs in France! Please note the diversity of our activities: from social events to sport events, from Harvard speakers to out-of-town week-ends, not to forget bowling, debating tournaments, wine tasting, networking, mentoring and special Harvard events for women or young graduates. The other aspect I would like to point out is the diversity of schools and ages within the club: literally all Harvard's schools are represented, in addition to alumni from all ages and many nationalities. This makes our group fairly unique, as many of you probably found out at our Fall party on 29th at the Mona Bismarck Foundation. To make sure this community keeps thriving, we think the right way is to join the club - and preferably in the Fall, when activities start. We also encourage benefactors who would like to make additional contributions. On October 12th, you will have the opportunity to participate in our Annual General Meeting, and make suggestions for speakers or events. Quite obviously, these require help from volunteers: as the next three months' diary is already getting quite busy, I would strongly encourage members who have suggestions to come along with an implementation plan. A great example has been Anh Pham Vu's initiative to organize friendly weekends outside Paris - which really worked well in the Loire Valley last Spring. Please encourage your fellow alumni to join the club: as 2012 will be a crucial electoral year in France and in the United States, better stay tuned with what's happening in our immediate environment, and within the community we like. With our newly-formed Harvard Kennedy School Chapter team led by Benoît Rossi and Meriem Ait Ali Slimane, we are working on some political events in Paris in the coming months. Stay tuned! Let me end by saying a few words about the wonderful Executive Committee team who have been so supportive to me over the past twelve months: Claire, Benoît, Nicolas, Ned, Meriem, Felicia, Emmanuel, Carine, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Lynn, Marie, Carole and Larissa. Some of them have had to move on, and let me use this opportunity to thank them warmly for their fantastic contributions and great generosity. No doubt some new members, with no less energy and enthusiasm, will join the EC at the AGM for the year to come. I look forward to seeing you at our events - many of them will be branded for the 375th Harvard anniversary! Please also check the university's special website, www.harvard.375.eduBest regards, Philippe
Philippe Le Corre - President of the Harvard Club of FranceFrance Amériques
9, Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, Paris
Web: http://www.harvardclub.fr/ |
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Bastille Day Picnic ~ July 14th
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 It was a gloriously warm sunny day on July 14th and we took advantage of this nice weather to host a Bastille Day picnic in the Parc Monceau.
Recently highlighted member, Brian Jongseong Park brought a delicious Red Berry Cake and his guitar, 
with which he entertained fellow HCF (and Executive Committee) members Philippe Le Corre and Emmanuel Cassimatis. Club Coordinator Courtney Pulitzer brought along a nice healthy version of a potato salad with grapes, which went along nicely with the chips and cookies for a perfect picnic assortment. Jiajia Wang supplied some delicious juices that helped wash everything down. While it was a small group, the conviviality was large and we went off wishing each other a great rest of the summer.
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Special Avant-Première Film Screening ~ September 12th
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 More than 95 members and guests registered for a special avant-première of the award-winning documentary, "Page One: Inside the New York Times", on September 12th.
The captivating film provides unprecedented access to the New York Times' Media Desk, among others columnist David Carr, and tells the story of the ongoing transformation of the media landscape, from Wikileaks to the financial challenges facing the newspaper industry. The screening was held at the Foreign Press Center (Centre d'Accueil de la Presse Etrangère) within the Grand Palais and followed by a stimulating discussion with film director and Harvard Law School alum Andrew Rossi (HLS '98).
Attendees included several esteemed journalists and Harvard alums from the IHT / New York Times, including Paris Bureau Chief Steven Erlanger (COL '74) and Editorial Page Editor, Serge Schmemann (COL '67).
Officially selected at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, "Page One" premiered in France at the Festival de Deauville in early September and will be released nationally in French cinemas on November 23rd as "A la Une du New York Times".
Many thanks to Andrew Rossi, the Foreign Press Center, and Pretty Pictures, for helping make this timely, thought-provoking screening possible!
(Submitted by Ned Gubbins, Executive Committee Vice President)
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Member's Only Welcome Party ~ September 29th
| | This year we have been blessed with a temperate, sunny September and Thursday, September 29th was no exception. Guests arrived in ones and twos to the Mona Bismark Foundation's lovely and impressive building. After they climbed the marble staircase to two spacious rooms they were greeted by views of either the Seine and Eiffel Tower in the front room or an idyllic garden in the back one.
Champagne and wine flowed as members regaled with summer stories and met faces fresh to Paris. After guests sampled some of the delicious hors d'oeuvres, HCF president Philippe Le Corre introduced some of the Executive Committee members and then our featured speaker, comedy writer Reid Harrison. Mr. Harrison entertained the over 100 members in attendance with tales of working with Harvard graduates on such noteworthy shows as The Simpsons. After many good laughs and knowing smiles, Reid helped everyone feel at ease as they continued their conviviality well into the evening!
(Pictures here!)
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A Banner Year for Harvard: 375 Years!
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Throughout the 2011 - 2012 year Harvard will be featuring special events to celebrate its 375th Anniversary. It all kicks off on Friday, October 14, when the Harvard community will gather for an evening in Cambridge featuring colorful parades, musical performances, desserts and dancing. You can keep up with all the activities online and off, all around the globe, at: http://375.harvard.edu. And look forward to our own French celebration of the 375th at holiday time this year!
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Harvard Women France
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The new Harvard Women France initiative will officially launch with an event on November 23, 2011. It will be an exciting evening that will allow alumni women in France to network. Participants will also have the chance to get to know the HWF team, which is comprised of members from the HBSCF and HCF clubs.
For more information, you can contact Christine Valentin at the HBSCF or Carine Barco at the HCF. Check your email for more details soon...
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Harvard Kennedy School - France Chapter
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The Harvard Kennedy School France Chapter is another new development in 2011. They will be producing some small events this fall, leading up to a grand official "opening" early next year. The first of these smaller events is an intimate talk from Brigitte Alepin (HKS 2006) on the Looming Financial Crisis (evening of October 26th). A current topic that affects everyone in our world, this surely will spark a deep discussion.
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Special Thanks to our Outgoing Executive Committee Members
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Last year's activities were full of variety. And to support this, we relied on our hard-working Executive Committee members. Typical of a Harvard graduate, these professionals' careers and lives have taken them in new and exciting new directions. We would like to make note those who have moved on and Thank them for their hard work and devotion to the HCF.
Marie Baudron (HBS, MBA, 2003) in addition to overall support of the club, Marie brought her professional wisdom to the early planning of the Mentoring Network, and helped lay the foundation for our upcoming Mentoring Networking Night in January 2012.
 The technical and programming expertise Kai Carver (College, BA, 1985) offered the HCF went far beyond our early initial needs. He helped propel us, however, smoothly and swiftly into a new digital age of communication. Kai's talents weren't reserved for behind the screen as he impressed fellow members with his deft sportsman skills at the Jeu de Paume event, brought home successes at the Harvard/Columbia Bowling Tournaments and his verbal skills helped the team for the Debating Tournament.
Graduating just three years ago, Jonathan Kamler (College, BA, 2007) has made his mark on the HCF. His assistance with Recent Grads, the Monthly Happy Hours and facilitating a Holiday Party at the noted Le Laboratoire in 2008 have delivered on the HCF promise of fun and unique events.
Our most recent treasurer, Larissa Pommeraud (College, BA, 1999), left the committee for two reasons: her twin children born on July 4th 2011. These bundles of joy are ample reason for a break from Larissa's hard work on the committee and as Treasurer. Her deep insights to challenges presented to the club were often paired with her bright smile and enthusiasm, affecting us all.
Like many Harvard graduates, Lynn Yu (College, BA, 2007) wasn't satisfied with just a BA and decided to go back for her MBA at the esteemed Harvard Business School. We retain our ties with Lynn, who's on campus, and we are grateful for her enthusiasm and support to such endeavors as the Louis Vuitton Foundation Tour, Holiday parties, the Monthly Happy Hours, and many other Recent Grad events. Her style and charm and acumen will be missed on a regular basis.
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| HCF Spotlight: Courtney Pulitzer | | Since I've been working for the Harvard Club of France for just over one year now, the Executive Committee decided I should be interviewed as well.
 Before moving to Paris in December 2007, to live with my French boyfriend, I had been living (in the same apartment) and working in New York City for 18 years! New York City was where I got my undergraduate degree--at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. After graduation, I began my career as an actress but then transferred my "character analysis" talents to "corporate analysis," working for a corporate identity consultant. One day he came into the office exclaiming, "we have to get on the Internet and get a Web site!" I looked at him questioning, "Internet? What's a 'Web site'?" Well, once I found out, the rest was, as they say, history. I quickly honed my skills as a Web site designer and began working for several Madison Avenue advertising companies in their Interactive divisions. During this time I began writing a column about the increasing "dot com" parties for an online newsletter. Between my writing, and starting up my own monthly "dot com" networking party, my career was taking off in new directions. I began my own business, focusing entirely on my own newsletter ("Courtney Pulitzer's Cyber Scene") and events ("Cocktails with Courtney"). I hosted the "CWC" events every month in NYC and in sixteen cities nationwide between the years 1998 - 2002. I even traversed the Atlantic on several occasions and held some in Cannes and London. Business was expanding until the dot-com bubble burst and I decided it was time to regain balance in my life and seek new opportunities. The Rockefeller Group hired me and I worked in their office until April 2006 when I met my future husband at a mutual friend's wedding in China. (Our friend is French and he married a Chinese woman.) After a year of letters and emails (and practicing my French), I came to visit my then-boyfriend. Well, you know what they say about "April in Paris." Eight months later I moved here, in December 2007! Life in Paris has been an adventure. I didn't know what to expect and I've grown through the experience. I've adapted to the French way-of-life and with my free time I swim in some of the great Parisian pools and have renewed my passion for riding horses. I never tire of looking at the wonderful Parisian architecture--from basic apartment buildings to the majestic museums. Today my husband and I are happily settled in a beautiful part of town and this September we celebrated our baby boy's second birthday! Working for the HCF has been a real pleasure. I am getting to do all the things I did so well with my business, but without the pressures young entrepreneurs face. I love helping the Executive Committee plan the events, all of which are so varied and interesting. And, of course, I love seeing HCF members at the cocktail parties. Being a bit of the geek that I am, I also relish working behind the scenes on the Web site and other online tools we use. I am really excited about my second year with the HCF and the opportunity to help this organization grow in depth and breadth. |
Calling All Harvard Professors!
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| If you (our dear readers) have any connections with a Harvard professor, please let us know! Many of them travel to Paris and we would love to see if they might have availability to speak for us during their stay.
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Coordinator's Corner
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As always, we hope you enjoyed this newsletter. Please send us any comments. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event, Courtney Pulitzer, Club Coordinator
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