Sisters with a French accent

A gathering of Central Oregonian Francophiles met in Sisters over the weekend to speak French and catch up on the latest news. The French group is one of the oldest foreign language clubs in Central Oregon and was started in 1982 in Bend.

Several members of the group reside in Sisters.

The group meets monthly, usually at a restaurant in the Bend area, but twice a year they come to Sisters to visit the home of David and Mary Ann Smith.

"We like having the group here during this time of the year. The road can be a little bad during the winter, and people don't like to come here then, so we try to have our events in the spring, summer or fall," said Mary Ann Smith.

"I was the person who started the club in 1982 as a way for people to learn French and to put French speakers together, so that they could keep up on their French," said Elizabeth Casey, a retired college French teacher. "It started when I was in Drake Park and heard a woman speaking who had a French accent. When I spoke to her in French, she was delighted. I knew that it would be a good idea to put together a group."

There were French speakers and English speakers at the gathering, and the language flowed back and forth from French to English like the tides. The meal was a potluck, and the fare was more typical of what one would expect during a picnic in the south of France. Of course, the wine flowed, and before long it seemed like a family gathering, even though there were people at the event who were making their first appearance.

"There are about 60 people in the group, although not everyone comes. I would guess that at least half are native French speakers. There are people from France, French Switzerland and Quebec. A lot of them are married, and their spouse may not speak any French, but they come anyway and always have a good time. There are a few from Sisters," said Casey.

During the early days of the club, the group was considered a fixture at a famous Bend landmark.

"When we first started we used to only meet in the Pine Tavern (in Bend). When they remodeled, we no longer had our little niche where we could go," said Casey.

Now the event has spread around Bend, Redmond and Sisters. "So now what we do is choose a different restaurant every time. We call ahead and ask for a table and tell them how many we think will be coming. We usually have dinner, although not everyone has dinner and no one is obligated to have it. We just talk and have fun. It often goes from 5 to 9 or 10 at night," said Casey.

"Everyone is welcome, even if you have just started learning French. It is good to come and listen so that you can pick up the accents. At any event there are usually a number of native speakers there. In many cases it will be a French person married to an American," said Casey.

The parties that are held during the year are a major draw for people of all ages. At the Smith house in Sisters, there were young adults as well as retired folks, and there was no distinction between the ages.

For more information contact Daniele Nisewanger by e-mail at [email protected] or call 312-4983.