IC French Open Cocktail Reception

Paris’ Annual IC Soirée
Mark Winters

On the first Tuesday evening of Roland Garros, (in this case, May 24th), it is customary for the International Club of France to host a Cocktail Reception, at Le Roland-Garros Restaurant, for members from around the world. Since it is spring in Paris, the sky, dimpled with clouds, was poised to open up. Fortunately, the rain remained only a threat, but the resulting cool temperatures required the fashionably dressed ladies in attendance to wear coats that may or may not have been suitable formal attire to help combat the chill.

There was an array of notables on hand including the likes of Frew McMillian and his charming wife Sally, and the ever-personable Mansour Bahrami. The usual US attendees, meaning USIC President Dan Waldman and his wife, Joanne, along with Mark Lindblom, Jim Lowenstein, my wife, Cheryl Jones and me, were among those present at the event that was crowded with men sporting the distinctive steel grey and pink stripped ties and the women wearing similarly colored scarves that represented their country.

The annual gathering reflected the spirit and meaning of the International Club. The passion for the game shared by those on hand was clearly evident in the reminiscences that were shared. So was the rich camaraderie that exists between all the IC members. This was clearly evident when Thierry Pham, International Club of France President, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, announced that he was stepping down because his final term was coming to an end. The fact that he always made everyone feel so welcome, almost like they were guests in his home, at these yearly affairs, was commended. His hands on direction will, indeed, be missed.