Our General Meeting 2024

Held at Forum 104 on February 15

Dear Friends

Over a hundred members turned out at Forum 104 for the highlight of any association’s year: the Annual General Meeting. It’s an opportunity to hear about the association’s (healthy) financial situation and to get an overview of the year’s activities.

François Cartier, who agreed to take over as Treasurer in April 2024, presented the accounts and explained the composition of both income and expenditure.
The good rate of new memberships supports the decline in new memberships observed by all associations.

Monique Jacob, General Secretary, presented the many activities of the Société Française, illustrated by photos, which attest to the vitality of the association.

President Patrice Bernard expressed his wish for a climate of cooperation between the jacquaire associations, all of which work for pilgrims and the “Camino”.
He reported on the representations made in recent months:

• Camino Europa Compostela,
• Agence des Chemins de Compostelle,
• Compostelle France Federation, …

The Chairman welcomed the presence of Michel Redrégoo, from Bordeaux Compostelle and winner of second prize in the photo competition, and Louis Chevalier, President of the Paris-Sens-Vézelay association, also from the Confrérie Fraternelle des Jacquets de France.

Anne-Marie Podesta, Vice-President, announced the activities planned for 2025:

• new features such as discovery walks in Paris,
• preparation for the cycling pilgrims, with a preparatory outing in the Vexin region in April,
• a visit to the Mazarine Library, etc.

As 2025 is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, a delegation will travel to Santiago for the Fête des Français on August 25, Saint Louis Day.
An anniversary evening will also be held for members on October 3.

The winners of the 2024 photo competition were announced. Each presented his or her photo and the circumstances in which it was taken. They received their prizes from the President:

Last but not least, pilgrims who obtained the Compostela in 2024 and applied for it, received the Distinction Jacquaire from the Société Française des Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. With this distinction, the Society pays tribute to the human adventure that each of them has brought to a successful conclusion on their way to Compostela: it was an emotional moment to listen to each of them speak of their experiences, greeted by the glass of friendship that brought the day to a close.