the essential
The French 41 Club, a network of men aged 41 and over, arrives in Toulouse. This Friday, November 22, its members will be received by Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc. Focus on this friendship club.
Club 41 Français is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Toulouse club. Founded in 1961 in Brest, it was inspired by the Round Table created in 1927 in England by Louis Marchesi, a member of the Norwich Rotary Club. “Originally, Rotary members created a club for 18-40 year olds: the Round Tables. Once past this age, they wanted to continue and thus created Club 41,” explains Jérôme Aguesse, one of the members.
This network dedicated to mutual aid and friendship donates funds to associations. With 6,500 members and 345 local clubs, it mobilizes more than €300,000 per year for projects like Les Voiles de l'Espoir, which offers a week at sea to children in remission from cancer. “We gain nothing financially, but humanly yes” underlines Vasco Véronèse, national president.
“It’s not as Manichean as people might suggest”
Jérôme Aguesse specifies that, although reserved for men aged 41 and over, Club 41 belongs to the Quatalagor association, which also brings together the Table Ronde (18-40 years old), the Ladies Circle (women under 45 years old) and the Agora (women aged 45 and over): “It's not as Manichean as we might suggest. Spouses participate in our activities, and we work closely with the female counterpart.” The aspirations are not the same depending on the age, but these clubs all have the same functions and meet every year to discuss. An international presence is noted in 30 countries (England, United States, Morocco, Portugal, etc.). Each organization adjusts its initiatives to local specificities.
The former Midi-Pyrénées region is particularly active with nearly 300 members spread across two structures in Toulouse: Club 41 and Table Ronde 216. For the half-century of the Toulouse Club 41, a gala evening is planned at the Congress Center Pierre Baudis this Saturday, November 23.
