The atmosphere is festive this Sunday, September 3 at the cultural center of Fleury-les-Aubrais. In all, 61 clubs and associations are present, for the pleasure of young and old. The various associations include sports clubs, theater groups, dance groups and charities. The queues are numerous, the activities very popular.
An influx that gives a smile to the volunteers of the various associations. After difficult years marked by the health crisisMuriel Audier, volunteer at CJF Handball, cannot contain her joy. “We feel that people really want to reconnect with community life”she expresses as several people stand in front of her stand. “I am very moved, I find the world before, the atmosphere of the association forums of three or four years ago. We meet again, it’s very good.”
An observation shared by Christine, a regular at the Fleury-les-Aubrais association forumwho came to enroll her 11-year-old daughter in the badminton club. “It necessarily has a festive side, an aspect of reunion. A normal life is always good, with smiles displayed and no longer hidden, it feels good to come back to the forum, I’m delighted.”
Loss of members due to the health crisis
However, some associations have experienced loss of members due to the health crisis, such as Gérard Merlot who has run the gymnastics club for 10 years. “We were closed for many months, we lost members, a hundred”, he explains even if the forum worked well for him “We have been registering for four days, again today. We are starting on a correct basis.”
Charitable associations are also numerous, Yannick runs the Restos du Coeur stand. The health crisis and the current economic difficulties bring it looking for more and more volunteers. “There has been COVID and the economic crisis now, the number of beneficiaries of the association is constantly increasing. We need to find enough volunteers to help the most deprived people, whom we must support.”
A forum that allows associations to come back in force
For the majority of associations, this 2022 edition will allow to return to a situation similar or even better to what it was before the health crisis. Jean-Luc Barboza, vice-president of the table tennis club has seen a marked improvement. “At the very beginning of COVID, there were players who did not resume their license. We went down to 40 licensees. After the crisis, we took on players for leisure, a few competitors, from 40 licensees, we are passed to 59. There has been a masterful progression. Today we have recovered five or six promises to come.”
The mayor of Fleury-les-Aubrais, Carole Canette, expressed his enthusiasm for this strong mobilization “It’s not just a fair for associations. It’s a forum for organizations of men and women who are committed to ensuring that Fleurys residents experience activities that convey good values. Their actions fully meet the expectations of residents. “
Sunday, September 4, it is up to the city of Orléans to honor more than 500 associations, as part of the “Back to school” day, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.