News	Penobscot Collaborative for  Teaching Languages

 

Department of Modern Languages and Classics - University of Maine - 5742 Little Hall - Orono, ME  04469

   

Minutes
Collaborative Meeting
January 4, 1999
Hermon High School
Hermon, Maine

    Claudette O'Connell, Anette Rodrigues, Raymond Pelletier, and Janice Clain met to review the performers suggested by John Patches for the Fall FLAME Conference.  The group selected is Hart-Rouge, a singing and instrumental group originally from Manitoba and currently working out of Montreal.  They perform French, English, Native American, and even Spanish songs.  They will also be available to us for at least part of the Saturday morning workshop.  We have several suggestions for that session, including a round table discussion or a presentation on multiculturalism, language acquisition, or diversity awareness.  We would like to include the topic of teaching diversity in our workshop as it is integral to the Maine Learning Results and a natural adjunct to teaching culture in a foreign language classroom.
    The next meeting of the Penbscot Collaborative will be Wednesday, January 27 at 3:30 p.m. at Hermon High School.  At that time, we will consider plans for the per-performance "event" (reception, buffet, etc.).  We will also work on the actual schedule for the Saturday morning workshop and begin to design an informational brochure.  Claudette will report to us on hotel availability.

 

Minutes
Penobscot Collaborative
January 27, 1999

    Ray Pelletier, Anette Rodrigues, Claudette O'Connell, Janice Clain and Betsy Arntzen (Outreach coordinator for the Canadian American Center) met to work on plans for the Fall Flame Conference, scheduled for October 15-16 at UMO.   The MCA performers have been engaged, and have said they are willing to meet with our group during the Saturday morning workshop.  We'll concentrate on the topics of cross cultural connections and comparisons, one of the elements of the guiding principles of the Maine Learning Results, in our workshop organization and presentation.
    The tentative plan for organizing the workshop is as follows:

FRIDAY     5:00 on         registration (set the desk at the bottom of the stairs to Bodwell)
                   6:00-7:30     reception (buffet?)
                   7:00-7:45     pre-performance orientation
                   8:00-10:00   (approx.) performance
                   10:00-10:30 invite/greet the performers (tentative)

SATURDAY    8:00-9:00    continental breakfast in immersion sessions (1944 Hall)
                        9:00-9:15      greeting/address by college president?
                        9:15-10:00    panel discussion on topic of multiculturalism/ cross cultural connections/ diversity (Minsky Hall)
                        10:00-11:00 performance/ discussion with performers (time to be chosen by performers)
                        11:00-12:00 wrap up/ interchange

Tasks to be considered:

food (Ray)               

brochure/ publicity (Claudette)            

 map                                                

check hotels (Anette)

entertainment           

exhibits (Ray)                                     

 meeting rooms (Ray)                        

moderator

CEU's                      

registration (Krista?)                           

program/conference folder (Janice)  

evaluation

cost analysis (Ray)    

mailing labels

Questions:  Do we allow registration on site?

    Betsy also explained progress to date and elicited input on the collaborative web site.   This site will offer news, teacher resources, announcements of job openings, e-mail addresses, information on the various embassies, and an "ask a language teacher" feature.  The work on the web site is being done through the Canadian American Center and with a work study student.   It will probably be another two months before it is operational.

 

Minutes
Collaborative Meeting
February 24, 1999
Hermon, Maine

    Ray Pelletier, Anette Rodrigues, Claudette O'Connell, Claudette Kydd and Janice Clain met to continue plans for the Fall Flame Conference/ Cross Cultural Connections and Comparisons (taken from the Maine Learning Results).   The date of Homecoming has been changed and now coincides with the conference, which can be an advantage to us, as we can advertise that alumni participants will have the opportunity to be on campus to join in weekend festivities.
    The Bodwell Lounge has been reserved for the pre-performance buffet and orientation, as well as for a post performance reception sponsored by the Canadian American Center.  Reservations for Minsky Hall for the following morning are in process.  The next step in this area of the conference will be to determine the menu for the buffet, and Ray already has samples and a rough price estimate for that.
    Claudette O'Connell has agreed to prepare the brochure for the conference, which we hope to mail to arrive to teachers at their respective schools in early September.  Ray will check to see if the Canadian American Center can finance the mailing.  The Center will also prepare a post cared to be mailed in the spring to signal teachers of the planned conference and a flier to be distributed at the FLAME Conference in Portland March 11-12.  We also devised a logo to highlight the theme of cross cultural connections.
    Krista Culina, FLAME treasurer, has agreed to take registrations for the conference and to be on site to take late registrations (if we determine that we will accept on site registration).
    The next meeting is March 31 at 3:30 at Hermon High School.  At that meeting, we will consider the issue of cost of the conference.  Ray will check with John Patches to determine the price of concert tickets.  Further information is available from Janice Clain (848-3365 or Janice_Clain@hermon.net), Claudette O'Connell (989-4140) or Ray Pelletier (581-4427 or Raymondp@maine.maine.edu).

Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative
Minutes March 31, 1999

    Ray Pelletier, Anette Rodriguez, Cecile Hachey, Claudette Kydd, Claudette O'Connell and Janice Clain met to continue working on plans for the Fall FLAME conference scheduled for October 15-16, 1999.  Claudette is preparing a brochure for mailing to all FLAME members, to arrive at their respective schools early in the school year. She is using the brochure for the latest FLAME conference as a guide.   She will provide a logo.  There was also discussion of the visual to represent the conference theme of Cross Cultural connections.
    Some commercial exhibitors have contacted various members of the collaborative to inquire about displaying their merchandise.  The group decided not to engage exhibitors, but will provide bulletin board space to display information about cultural organizations and opportunities.
    Ray reports that the cost for tickets to the performance by Hart Rouge will be $15-20.  Costs for Bodwell Lounge are $50 and for Minsky Hall (still not confirmed) are $100.  The caterers can provide a varied buffet for under $20 per person.  Suggest costs for attending the conference will be $50.
    The group decided to make a special effort to publicize this event to teachers in northern Maine.  Janice will contact Mary Dinsmore, leader of the REFLECT collaborative, to inform her of plans and elicit suggestions for reaching other members of her group.
Ray reports that the web site is being reviewed and updated.  Notes from the collaborative meetings as well as a list of members is available over the net.
The next collaborative meeting will be Wednesday, April 28 at 3:30 at the Cohen School in Bangor.  Contact Janice Clain (848-3365 Janice_Clain@hermon.net) Claudette Kydd (941-6230 Claudette_Kydd@K12bangor.maine.com) or Ray Pelletier (581-4427 Raymondp@maine.maine.edu) for further information.

 

Minutes of the April 28, 1999 meeting

Members present: Christina Anderson, Janice Clain, Claudette Kydd, Claudette O’Connell, Raymond Pelletier, Anette Rodrigues.

Most of the work of the meeting centered on preparation of a brochure for the Fall FLAME Conference. Claudette O’Connell noted that she had used the diskette provided by the FLAME (Spring) conference committee and revised it to fit our purposes. She indicated that she needed more information on Hart-Rouge, which Raymond Pelletier agreed to obtain from the Maine Center for Arts. I was agreed that brochures must be mailed in late August so that they will get to teachers early in the new school year. It was also agreed that the brochure will clearly state that pre-registration is required and that registration forms must be postmarked by October 1, 1999. As per FLAME procedures, the organizing committee of the Fall conference will be exempted from paying the conference fee.

Raymond Pelletier was asked to prepare a post card that would be mailed to all foreign language teachers in the state alerting them to the Fall FLAME Conference. Post cards will be mailed by June 1, 1999 in order to reach teachers before the close of the school year.

Leaders of the AAT’s have been contacted and an offer was made to make time and space available for them to meet in the context of the Fall FLAME conference. To date, only FLES has indicated interest. Claudette Kydd will call all ATT presidents once more to verify their intentions. Janice Clain will contact Mary Dinsmore, REFLECT leader, to advise the language teachers of northern Maine of the upcoming conference.

Check the Web site! (www.umaine.edu/mlccollab/). (Site no longer working--Flame webmaster 7/10)) It’s a work in progress. All teachers are invited to contribute items for posting.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 on Wednesday, May 26. It will be an informal social gathering at Bahaar, the Pakistani restaurant on Hammond Street in downtown Bangor. Those interested in attending are asked to contact Janice Clain (848-3365 / Janice_Clain@hermon.net) or Claudette O’Connell (989-4140) by May 25 to reserve a place.

 

Minutes of the May 26, 1999 meeting

Members present: Janice Clain, Claudette Kydd, Claudette O’Connell, Raymond Pelletier,Maureen McNichol, Pam Klekotka met at Bahaar, in Bangor, to discuss progress on the Fall FLAME conference and other issues of concern to local language teachers.

        The post card alerting FLAME members to the upcoming Fall conference has been sent. Claudette Kydd has contacted members of all AAT's, except AATSP, and all have indicated that they want time to meet during the conference on October 15-16. The conference committee will include time in the schedule. Ray will check that the rooms in the 1944 building are available. It may also be possible to arrange for catering to provide lunch for participants. (We'll have to consider that and adjust for the additional cost.) Brochures for the conference will be sent in late August, timed to arrive at schools soon after the opening of the new school year.
        Pam Klekotka has been serving as a local representative to the MEA planning committee. If any collaborative members have concerns or suggestions, they should be forwarded to Pam. (pklotka@yahoo.com)
        The Penobscot Collaborative web site has been revised and expanded. Ray has offered all AATs access to the site. He plans to propose to FLAME that this site be used as a statewide venue for communication. Ray continues to seek contributions to the website.

        The next collaborative meeting will likely take place in August. Janice Clain and Claudette O'Connel will contact members late in the summer.

 

Minutes of the July 16, 1999 meeting

Members present: Janice Clain, Claudette Kydd, Claudette O’Connell, Raymond Pelletier, and Anette Rodriguez  met to refine plans for the Fall Conference.

    The brochure will be ready to mail out to be at schools when teachers return in the fall. Claudette O'Connell has a few minor corrections to make, and will provide a copy to the Canadian-American Center, which will copy and mail.

    Claudette Kydd will contact the AAT's and FLES once more to confirm their plans. This committee suggests that they hold their meetings in Little Hall and that they contact Ray to arrange for box lunches, as it will be Homecoming Weekend, and local restaurants will be busy. Ray will check on prices for the box lunches. Claudette will also contact Jim Torbett to see if he is willing to introduce the pre-performance orientation on Friday evening.

    Janice will prepare the program for the conference. Final schedule will not be prepared until just before the Conference to provide for changes. The program folder, with a copy of the front page of the conference brochure on the cover, will include the following:

	conference schedule
	a map of the campus
	blank paper
	a form for C.E.U. credits
	an evaluation form
	publicity for the Penobscot Collaborative web site
	MCA program
	note or publicity from the Department of Modern Languages and Classics

    The following is a TENTATIVE schedule:

Friday:
    5:00-6:00 registration
        Krista Culina will staff the registration table, distribute program folders and door prize forms
    6:00- buffet
    7:30- pre-performance orientation:
            brief introduction by J. Torbert, FLAME president; C. Kydd will explain the concept behind the conference & its theme
    10:00 (approx.) Stephen Hornsby, Director of the Canadian-American Center, will host a reception for Hart Rouge (door prize- Hart Rouge CD)

Saturday
    8:00- continental breakfast by language (total immersion session)
    9:00- Ray Pelletier will introduce Peter Hoff, President of The University of Maine, who will make opening remarks and recognize the UMaine alumni present
    9:15- panel discussion on multiculturalism and experiences as life long learners. Invited guests include:
            Don Reutershan (moderator)
            Barney Berube
            Maureen Smith
            Anette Ruppel Rodrigues
            Laura Lyszcynska
    10:00- Claudette O'Connel will introduce Hart Rouge
    11:00- Janice Clain will conduct wrap up and evaluation (door prize[s]- MCA tickets?)
    12:00- AAT members will move to respective meeting places in Little Hall

NEXT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, August 26, 3:00
Hermon High School

AGENDA

·         Continue to discuss plans for the panel discussion and assign members to contact panelists

·         Finalize the program schedule

·         Choose the buffet menu

·         Plan questions for the panel discussion and Hart Rouge discussion

Discuss plans for inviting the press and media

Penobscot Foreign Language Collaborative
Conference Committee Meeting
August 26, 1999



    Collaborative members, Claudette O'Connell, Claudette Kydd,
Annette Rodrigues, Ray Pelletier, Krista Culina and Janice Clain, who
have been planning the fall FLAME conference, met to review progress on
the preparations for the October 15-16 event.
    Claudette O'Connell again reviewed the plans for the conference
at the FLAME board meeting on August 25. Jim Torbert, FLAME President,
has agreed to introduce the pre-[performance orientation session. He
also needs a few minutes for FLAME business. In spite of the efforts
of this committee to keep the leaders of the AAT's, as well as the
membership at large, informed of the conference, there seems to have
been a break down in communications. AAT leaders at the FLAME board
meeting felt that their organizations would still plan their own full
day conferences in the fall, though they may use time on the afternoon
of Oct. 16 for a business meeting. They requested that notice be
included on the mailing announcing the conference. Unfortunately, the
brochures are printed and ready to be mailed.
    The Hart Rouge performance has been advertised in publicity for
the MCA. Ray will check to see that conference attendees will have
preferred seating. (Ray reports that we have a block of orchestra
front seats, and costs will fit our earlier projections). MCA has
offered tickets to a later performance to be given as door prizes.
(We'll buy a Hart Rouge CD as another door prize). We are also
considering including a box lunch in the conference fee, which has
already been set at $50. Krista can check with attendees as they
register to see if they want a box lunch.
    The menu for the opening reception has been chosen (Cranberry
Carvers w/cranberry mushroom sauce, falallfel with sun dried tomatoes
and fresh basil pesto, roasted red potatoes, sautéed vegetable,
spinach, apple and pine nut salad and New York style cheesecake).
    Ray will contact the panelists for the discussion on multi-
culturalism. Anette will set the format for the discussion. Hart
Rouge has agreed to meet with conference attendees during the 10:00
slot.
    The conference committee will meet again on Sept. 23 at 3:30
at Claudette O'Connell's home. (future meeting Oct.12 at 3:30 chez
Claudette).

AGENDA: costs/who's exempt from payment
    questions for Hart Rouge
press/media

    The next FLAME board meeting will be an interactive ATM meeting
on Monday, September 27 at 3:30. Participants may join the discussion
from several meeting points throughout the state.

 

November, 1999

 

Present: Ray Pelletier, Claudette O'Connell, Claudette Kydd, Anette Rodrigues, Janice Clain

Meeting: Hermon High School, Hermon, ME, 3.30pm 

 

Conference members Claudette O'Connell, Claudette Kydd, Anette Rodrigues, Ray Pelletier and Janice Clain met to wrap up discussion and evaluation of the fall 1999 FLAME conference and to determine a direction for the collaborative to take for future conferences.

According to Krista Culina, the fall conference FLAME treasurer, the conference was financially self-sufficient.  While it did not bring in large revenues, it also did not cost FLAME, and it had the advantage of bringing in early FLAME membership dues.

There was considerable discussion of the format and direction of future collaborative projects.  According to the evaluations from conference attendees, the highlights of the recent conference were the performance itself and the dinner preceding it.  The consensus of committee members therefore seems to be to organize a dinner networking and social opportunity to precede one of the regularly scheduled performances in the fall of 2000.  The committee also felt that a German production might be preferable as one of the concerns of the AATG for not participating in this conference was that it seemed to have no interest for their members.  Ray has contacted John Patches to find out what has already been scheduled for next fall.  (Performances include Cyrano, the Ballet de Bahla and Veriovka, a Ukrainian dance group).

If the collaborative chooses to organize a pre-performance networking and social occasion, the committee would secure discounted tickets from the MCA, would arrange for a dinner similar to the one for this fall's conference and would send invitations to language teachers, there would be no follow up conference as there was this year.   this model would give teachers a chance to meet and network with colleagues and enjoy a cultural performance.  The following fall, in 2001, the collaborative would organize and present another conference similar in format to the one presented this year.   That event should be centered on a performance from a culture other than French in order to attract teachers of other languages.

The committee noted that trying to include the various AAT groups in the recent conference added confusion and was counterproductive.  There was inadequate communication between AAT leaders and the conference committee and that produced extra work for the committee with little advantage to the conference.  The AAT leaders who did participate in the conference did not attend the Saturday morning session and therefore were unaware of the content and the benefits to their members.

Ray reported that Marianne Knauff is aligning the Penobscot collaborative web site to the FLAME web site.  She will serve as web master.

The next collaborative meeting will be January 13 at 3:30 at the Cohen School in Bangor.  Informational letters will be sent to all the schools in the area including those where elementary and middle school programs have recently been established.

Respectfully submitted,

Janice Clain