The History of France-Amériques

Gabriel Hanotaux, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, founded the "Comité France Amérique" in 1909. His idea of creating an association was triggered by the way the Ministry of Foreign Affairs classified America, which at the beginning of the 20th century was still placed in the "other countries" category.
The Comité had a simple but ambitious mission: to alert opinion leaders, in the public and private sectors, to America's global importance.
In 1927 the Comité acquired a town house, the hôtel Le Marois, built in 1863 under Napoléon III in what was then a dynamic new area around the Champs Elysées.
Almost a hundred years later, the Association's mission has been broadened, and now it aims to strengthen ties and mutual understanding between France and all the countries of North and South America.

Membership categories include: Individual and/or couple, "Jeunes" (under 35 years old), Foreign Residents, Corporate, Association, and University Clubs.
In a letter of introduction to the Membership Board , the candidate gives his reasons for wishing to join France Amériques, and indicates the names of the two members who are sponsoring him. A one-off entry fee, and the annual membership dues, are payable when the candidate is accepted.

From Yesterday to Today

Today France-Amériques has become a privileged meeting place for French and American opinion leaders from the worlds of diplomacy, defense, business, universities, and cultural institutions.
Events organized by the Association in its town house are extremely frequent and varied. Its members regularly receive invitations to breakfasts, luncheons-debates, seminars, lectures, concerts, literary prizes and dinners.
The diversity of the Association's activities is reflected in its committees, which are based on countries (USA, Canada, Mexico, Latin America), or on special themes (Art and Culture, Economics Commission, Security and Defense, Medicine and Sciences), plus a Young Peoples Committee for those under 35.
In keeping with its origins, diplomatic dinners, held in honor of newly accredited ambassadors from the American nations, are one of its oldest traditions.
Every year between September and mid-July, over 60 events are held in the salons, making France Amériques the most intellectually stimulating circle in Paris. A newsletter, La Lettre de France Amériques, focuses on many of these occasions.

France Amériques lists among its members many associations and chambers of commerce who have a similar international vocation (The Anglo-American Press Association, the "Société des Cincinnati", The National Committee of French Foreign Trade Advisors, The Friends of Mexico, the Fulbright Scholars Association, France Venezuela Association, France-Canada Chamber of Commerce).
Many American and Canadian university alumni clubs are also members of France Amériques (Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Harvard Business School, MIT, McGill, Stanford, Stanford Business School, Wharton among others).
Often events are jointly organized with The American Club of Paris, Afplane, or the Olivaint Conférence.
Lastly, many French, as well as multinational companies, are also members.