Forum des associations

As I mentionned in my last post, it's 'La rentrée' and one feature of this period is the 'Forum des associations'.  Each village or commune organises a sort of salon where the different associations or clubs present their activity to potential participants.  There are clubs for every activity; football, tennis, climbing, painting, music, yoga, in fact almost any activity you can think of is represented.  There is so much choice that some people have to set themselves a limit, one sport and one artisitic club for example, if not the cost and time would be crippling.  Many clubs take place on Wednesdays as there is no school.   A lot of mothers don't work on Wednesday and spend the day ferrying their offspring to and from different clubs.  Others take place in the evenings or on Saturday mornings.  Most French people join at least one association and their kids often two or three.
In France the 'vie associative' is taken very seriously, so seriously in fact that in 1901 a law was passed governing the organisation of these clubs, you may well hear people talking about 'la loi mille neuf cent un'.  This law sets strict rules about the committee who runs the club and any paid employees.  In addition the role of the 'bénévole' (volunteer) in the association is very important, again most French people do some form of volunteering with associations.  They act as treasurer, secretary or just offer their time to help the association.  Associations are a part of life like school and work and help fill the time between the famous holidays.