“We love our association and we fight to keep it alive,” says diurnaphilist Jean-Paul Rey, president of the parody association of Yesterday and Today. And when it comes to fighting, he and his members are no fools: they fight tooth and nail to pay the rent for the premises and buy their supplies, to allow their “baby” to grow again and again…
Start of a great adventure
It all started in April 1968, when Jean-Paul Rey was hospitalized in Moulins. He noticed a major train accident in the local newspaper, cut out the article, then the rest of the events the following days, and off he went! “I have continued all my life, since it has been going on for 56 years! » smiled the president.
Launched alone into the adventure in 1968, he was joined by a person who came to help him with his little cut-outs and collages, in 2011. Another arrived in 2017 and the association was born in 2019.
“To date Yesterday and Today includes 23 members, 7 of whom are very active,” smiles Mr. Rey.
Nearly 2500 binders with 57 different themes
The association’s premises are located at 5 place Paul Cazin in Paray-le-Monial, opposite the tennis court. In this vast warehouse, we are amazed to discover an impressive collection of press articles classified and archived by theme over many years.
Entire walls of multicolored filing cabinets… No need for wallpaper! We are bordering on the edge of claustrophobia. No matter where you look, the binders are there!
They contain valuable information, addressing 57 social themes including police, justice, SNCF, personalities, News items, crimes, sporting events, civil status, etc. And this, in four departments: Saône-et-Loire, Loire, Nièvre and Allier.
In total, around 2500 binders. Which the public can consult, since the members of the association are present every afternoon of the week at the premises, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Note the warm welcome with coffee and cakes.
135 euros of newspaper purchases per month
In the association, everyone has a well-defined role. “At first, I cut out and glued the items at home,” says Jean-Paul Rey. Adding: “My wife helped me, but it was incredibly dusty. It was everywhere ! The paper particles were very volatile.”
Since then, in their new premises, Jean-Paul has been cutting his newspapers (the Journal du Centre, La Renaissance, la Semaine de l’Allier and le Pays Roannais) with the precision of a watchmaker. This costs him 135 euros per month, taken from his own funds!
For some time now, Ms. Mondelin, the mayor of Molinet (Allier), has offered them the newspaper purchased by the municipality. “One less expense” rejoices the president. Who would wish that the town halls of Nièvre and Loire would do the same. “It would really be a great action,” the man dreams.
And then, after cutting, the active members paste the press clippings, classify and archive them by theme.
Appeal to the population: don’t throw away your newspapers, think of us!
Despite strong appeals to the population via Facebook, people did not react much. The association asked them to find parish and municipal bulletins… Alas, three times alas!
“The residents prefer to throw them away than give them to us. For us, it doesn’t matter to us to travel 40 to 50km to collect them. So don’t hesitate to contact us…” indicates Jean-Paul Rey.
The rent of the premises, a heavy burden for the association
As the president indicates, the association must find 200 euros each month for the rent of the premises. A heavy load, which explains the open days of each first Sunday of the month.
On this occasion, the members of the association and their president welcome visitors who, faithfully, come to support them by purchasing their productions.
The succulent terrines are made by Jean-Paul Rey, the gingerbread and jams by the secretary Christine, the honey by Sylvie Gendre from la Chapelle-au-Mans, the flour by Mr. Carnat from Neuvy-Grandchamp, the caramels Polish by Nicolas Baudin de Digoin. There are also candles, syrups, postcards, preserves, etc.
Concretely…
Yesterday and Today buy the raw materials to make the terrines at the Leclerc store. When there are profits, following the sale of these products, the money is reused to buy meat, etc. “It’s a vicious circle” say the members of the association.
We also collect plastic bottles…
And as this is not enough to fill the boxes, the association collects the plastic bottles, which it brings to the sorting terminals at Leclerc, in order to receive vouchers for each recycled bottle.
“They are taken back for a cent per bottle, but we currently have 3,000 which will go to Leclerc shortly” reports Mr. Rey.
To pay for the special glue
These vouchers are used to purchase the special glue necessary for gluing the press clippings. It is a glue that does not yellow, and is super resistant. The other side of the coin: it costs the association a lot of money. 3.50 euros per tube and you need 2 to 3 tubes per week!
President Rey also thanks Emmaüs, which provides them with binders and white or squared sheets, because 400 sheets are used each week.
“You can actually go a month without using a single binder, but there are also weeks where you use 10! » laughs Jean-Paul.
Adding: “For example, we cannot classify the Middle East war with cooking recipes! Events like this must be classified alone.”
However…
“If our rent (him again!) weighs heavily on our meager budget, we are still helped by the municipality, which gives us a subsidy, by the Grand Charolais via Gérald Gordat, by Leclerc, Vincent Barbosa, director of the FPT factory de Bourbon-Lancy” said Mr. Rey, grateful.
So that our association lives, because we love it
So of course, the rent is a little hard to raise, but the president and the volunteers have only one credo: do everything to serve it, just because they love this association!
“When we have paid the 200 euros and we have a few “radishes” left, we buy fruit for the jams and products needed for the terrines,” says the man.
The book fair, a bright idea
The book fair organized by the association was, as we know, a real success. The president indicates that he knows Marc Petit and Mr. Chevillard and that he asked them what demonstration to put in place to…pay the rent!
The idea of a book fair appeared feasible, with the support of the two men mentioned above. And with Albine Novarino, godmother of the show.
“We are satisfied with this first edition, even if we would have liked a little more attendance. Especially for the authors” regrets Jean-Paul.
And three guaranteed rents, three!
The proceeds from the event (refreshments, meals, etc.) will allow the association to breathe for three months: the amount of profits earned this weekend.
And as the president says, “the organization was not perfect, but we learned from our mistakes. And this, thanks to the wise advice of the authors who suggested another layout of the room, a relocation of the catering area and a few other things to adjust.”
In any case, well done to these volunteers and their president, who are so invested in this association.
And don’t forget: the association is looking for newspapers, parish bulletins and plastic bottles.
Nelly Desplanches
See the article: Montceau News
