Think of the Alliance Française de la Peninsule de Monterey as a little piece of France. Our mission is to promote the French language and Francophone cultures through fun cultural activities and events. We welcome francophiles and all levels of French speakers from those just beginning their French journey to native speakers. Join us for monthly opportunities to mix and mingle, share meals and conversation, and celebrate cultural events with French speakers from a variety of countries.
Origins of the Monterey County Alliance
The first mention of a local chapter of the Alliance Française was in the local newspaper in 1931. The club initially met at the Hotel La Playa in Carmel. However, little else is known about this early beginning of the Alliance Française.
Mme Jehanne Biétry-Salinger Carlson
Later, a club known as “La Causerie Française” was established in the 1950’s. In the early sixties, Madame Jehanne Biétry-Salinger Carlson, born in France, a celebrated lecturer and journalist whose articles appeared in the San Francisco Examiner and San Mateo Times, was instrumental in transforming this club into a branch of the Fédération des Alliances Françaises aux Etats Unis. She served as president from 1962 to 1964. The first meeting was held in October 1961, at the Carmel Art Association. Twelve years later on December 26, 1973, The Alliance Française de la Péninsule de Monterey was incorporated in the State of California.
History of the Alliance Française
The Alliance Française France was created in Paris in 1883 to encourage the propagation of the French language and culture and to foster friendly relations between France and the rest of the world. It is a non-governmental, non-profit organization with the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. Today, there are 840 Alliance chapters in 135 countries and more than a 100 in the US.
Alliances Françaises in the USA
Our Past Presidents
| 1961 | Pierre Messerli |
| 1962-1964 | Jehanne Bietry-Salinger-Carlson |
| 1964-1966 | Henri Corbat |
| 1968-1969 | Joelle Hathaway & Jacqueline Flavin |
| 1969-1970 | Madeleine Dowdakin & Frances Bradley |
| 1970-1972 | Jehanne Bietry-Salinger-Carlson |
| 1972-1975 | Danielle Chavy-Cooper |
| 1975-1976 | Nicole Longfellow |
| 1976-1982 | Danielle Chavy-Cooper |
| 1982-1984 | Lucie Heyman |
| 1984-1989 | Isabelle Armitage |
| 1989-1991 | Pauline Cantin |
| 1991-1994 | Isabelle Armitage |
| 1994-1995 | Isabelle Armitage & Gisèle Kapuscinski |
| 1995-1996 | Isabelle Armitage |
| 1996-2003 | Pauline Cantin |
| 2003-2004 | Gisèle Kapuscinski |
| 2004-2005 | Gisèle Kapuscinski & Danièle Vagnini |
| 2005-2006 | Danièle Vagnini & Michèle Neisess |
| 2006-2007 | Marie-France de Sibert & Janine Fierro |
| 2008-2011 | Melissa Olvera |
| 2011-2014 | Marie-France de Sibert |
| 2014-2016 | Christian Viollaz |
| 2016-2018 | Chantal Bailey |
| 2018- | Catherine Zahm |