| Company Profile: Lafarge North America |
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Lafarge is a French industrial company specializing in the manufacture of building materials. The company is focused in the manufacture of five principle products; cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum.
Lafarge was founded in 1833 by Joseph-Auguste Pavin de Lafarge. Since its humble origins the company has steadily grown. Today it is present in over 70 countries employing 71,000 people, with over 17 billion Euros in sales and a net income of 1.4 billion Euros in net sales. This continued growth has permitted Lafarge to establish itself, as the world leader in the production of building materials.
The presence of Lafarge in North America commenced in 1956, with the establishment of the Richmond cement plant in Canada. Today in North America Lafarge has:
- 21 cement production sites
- 299 aggregate quarries
- 305 ready mix plants
- 5 gypsum production sites
North America represents 5.116 million Euros in sales and employs over 16,000 people. The Lafarge offices in Denver are the Western United States regional offices, for the Aggregates and Ready mix concrete business. The Western United States region, represents 143 production sites, employing 2800 people, located in 6 states; Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Missouri. Total sales for 2007 were $774 million.
Lafarge is very active and committed to the long term sustainable development of the business in the Western United States region. Therefore whilst constantly assessing opportunities to develop the business in this region, it is aware of the importance of involving all the local stake holders in any future plans for growth, ensuring a long term successful relationship in the region.
For more information visit: www.lafarge.com.
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Upcoming Events |
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Euro Networking
Tuesday, August 18
 Join the French-American, German-American and Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce as well as the British-American Club for an animated evening of international networking in the historic Highlands neighborhood.
Cost: $12 members ($15 after August 13), $18 non-members. Appetizers included. Cash bar.
RSVP to 303-695-7818 or online by August 13.
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Members' Corner |
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Beginning August 1st:
Dish Network's New and Improved African Content
DISH Network is launching new and improved African content on its platform. From August 1st, the Afrotainment channel will offer programs in French & in English. Watch 5 award-winning African TV series including NAFI, Dr Boris, Gohou Show, Yeli la Blanche, Ma Famille and 4 movies from Nollywood - everyday! Afrotainment is available a-la-carte for only $14.99/month or included in the French package with 4 other French language channels for $19.99/month.
For more information on how to enjoy our French channels, call us at 1-888-262-2735.
Babolat Announces:
Sales Award Winners and Marquee Partnership
with John Newcombe Tennis Ranch
Babolat, leading manufacturer of tennis racquets, congratulates the recipients of the annual Babolat Sales Awards, recognizing outstanding retail partners and representatives within the company.
Dealer of the Year: Tennis Express
Sales Representative of the Year: Monte Long
In-house MVP: Patty Walker
Additional Recognition: John Ainsworth and Mike McCormic
Babolat is extending their partnership with the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch. Since 2002, Babolat has been the exclusive partner for tennis racquets and strings and sponsor of the John Newcombe Tennis Academy and adult tennis programs. ... John Newcombe has 26 Grand Slam titles, including three Wimbledon, two US Open, and two Australian Singles titles.
Summer Camps in August
Denver Montclair International School
 The Denver Montclair International School has moved to its new 6.4 acre campus in Lowry! DMIS is offering a variety of summer camps for children ages 3-11 through the end of August, including language camps in French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, as well as many different sports and arts camps. DMIS offers full-immersion bilingual education in French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese pre-K through 5th grade, starting as early as 3 years old. For more information, please visit our website or give us a call to schedule a tour!
206 Red Cross Way
Denver, CO 80230
Phone: (303) 340-DMIS (3647)
Fax: (303) 360-9426
New Benefits Just Added for FACC Privileges Program
FACC members can now take advantage of two new benefits:
- Unipresse: French publications available to purchase in US dollars
- Constant Contact: Save 20-25% on services including E-mail Marketing
and Survey Tools
Click here to view all of the local, national and worldwide benefits available to FACC members.
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| Economic News |
France Caters to Innovative Companies
and Offers the Best Research Tax Credit in Europe
The French government has three objectives:
- Improve France's fiscal competitiveness
- Consolodate R&D activities
- Make France an attractive country for innovation
Tax incentives have become a key element of public policy in favor of research and innovation. According to OECD figures, 20 OECD member countries had introduced research tax credit measures in 2007, compared with only 12 countries in 1995.
In France, the research tax credit (Crédit Impot Recherche -CIR) represents a reliable element of an innovative company's financial plan, and is particularly well adapted to the needs of SMEs. This tax incentive enables companies to increase their competitiveness by supporting their Research and Development efforts. (cont.)
Article from Invest in France Agency, March 2008 |
| Past Event Reflection |
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July's Small Business Roundtable:
Overcoming Your Biggest Challenge
 On Wednesday, July 22 the FACC held a Small Business Roundtable. This was the first time this event was open to non-members. The focus for this Roundtable was on the biggest challenge your Small Business is facing. Yolanda Duperret of Action Coach facilitated the event and provided very useful tips and strategies for each challenge we discussed. She touched on the 6-steps of any business, starting with building the  foundation with time, money, destination and delivery mastery. She also reviewed the 5-step process and offered lists of ideas on how to increase leads, conversion rates of customers, transactions & sales. Several guests said their biggest challenge was time management so we discussed the idea of having a Default Diary where you create a set schedule of when you work on different tasks each week.
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Alliance Française Events |
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5 à 7 French Conversation
Thursday, August 6, 5-7pm
571 Galapago St., Denver, 80204
 Sip a glass of wine with a slice of cheese, practice your French, enjoy our latest art exhibit, and meet other Francophiles from the Denver area. All levels of French speakers are encouraged to join us.
Cost: $5 AF & FACC members, students and seniors,
$10 non-members, FREE to those who bring something to eat or drink (please call ahead)
August Ciné-Club
Collection of French Animated Short Films
Wednesday, August 19
7:00 p.m.
Starz Film Center (900 Auraria Pkwy, Denver)
Cost: $7 AF and FACC Members, $9 non-members (includes film and reception)
RSVP: to 303-831-0304 or online
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Community News & Events |
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French Author Inspired by Colorado
Pierre-Antoine Courouble, author of the new novel "The Child who Talked to the Stars", was directly inspired by two holidays he spent in Colorado. In the book, M. Courouble conveys his love of astronomy in the shape of a philosophical and scientific tale about the universe and the meaning of life. "As a teacher, I had originally written the story for my 11-year old pupils to introduce them to astronomy and science. I wanted to awaken their minds to the fantastic reality of the cosmos through an approach that was at once poetical and fictional."
For the French writer and lecturer, lifting one's eyes to the stars is about focusing our mind on the infinite and widening our consciousness to worlds beyond our understanding. Studying astronomy is opening one's mind to scientific realities where the border between
the physical, the astrophysical and the metaphysical becomes tenuous, a space where philosophical viewpoints become vertiginous.
 Brief Synopsis: An adolescent grieving for his recently deceased grandfather who had introduced him to astronomy, discovers a mysterious site on the Internet. It offers to help him discover the secrets of the universe and understand the meaning of life. He enrolls in a school for "Astrosophical Wisdom", and sets off down the road of an unbelievable adventure, which takes the form of an initiation into the heart of the universe, of matter and in the end, of life itself. A philosophical and scientific tale that is also a beautiful love story. The adventure continues in volume 2, "The Logic of Infinity", and volume 3, "The Legacy of the Stars".
About the Author:
Pierre-Antoine Courouble is a teacher, journalist and writer. A lover of history, philosophy and science, he has published several books at Presses du Midi, of which some have been translated into English, Italian, Dutch and Chinese. He is keen on sharing his enthusiasm for astronomy and awakening in his public a taste for science and dreaming.
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The Rocky Mountain French-American Chamber of Commerce aims to promote the local French American business community as well as to support local French and American companies with their trade needs.
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