Bordeaux Women's Club (BWC)

Meet the 2025-2026 Board

Anne-Sophie Belloeil

President

I joined the Club in late 2018 after returning from a long stay in the USA. Leaving my college freshman daughter behind, I found a welcoming group of women in the BWC who helped me navigate the challenges of moving back to France, an empty nest, and an 18-month Covid separation. I am French and I am honored to be the first non-American president of our Club. As a French teacher, I shared my passion for French literature, and now I love to share my country’s culture with my girlfriends. I am always eager to get to know each of our members —these well-traveled, interesting women, with diverse backgrounds, ages, and interests, are generous with their friendship.

Cynthia Hart-Soden

Secretary

I’m American by birth and a naturalised French citizen. After earning my MS Degree from the University of Michigan, I began my working career as an environmental engineer then moving on to teaching after moving to Europe. Finally settling in Dordogne 29 years ago, I raised my 2 sons alone in a small village in Dordogne, I appreciate first-hand how important a supportive social network can be. I joined the BWC in 2008 and while my work timetable did not allow me to attend many lunches, the Club still provided me with a welcoming group to turn to. Now retired, recently remarried and a budding ceramicist, I am looking forward to my role as Secretary in this dynamic team!

Susan Hautefeuille

Vice President

Membership Coordinator

After having lived in four Midwestern states in the US, Japan, and Australia, we moved from New York to France "for one year". It's been over 25 years... Living in another country is "continuing education", and in conjunction with active involvement in the BWC community, it has enriched the "Life Tool Box" of skills and insights. On-site learning is the best teacher! There is an intuitive connecting understanding between those who are/have been world residents as well as within female friendships. For me, the BWC combines and embodies this essence of multicultural perspectives, identity, and vision, and is a welcoming little family in this southwestern corner of France. Growing is always better when shared!

Gill Tucker

Treasurer

I am English and was born and lived in London until I married . Having holidayed in the Landes for many years, in 2004 we purchased our dreamed of French home just outside Bordeaux and moved permanently there in 2015. After which, My neighbour Kit very quickly suggested I might like to join the BWC and she ask me to join her at a BWC Luncheon, I have never looked back, enjoying the company and friendship of such an amazing group of ladies. I have now been appointed as Treasurer and hope to use the knowledge that I gained in my working life, as an Accountant, to good use for the benefit of this Wonderful Club.

Lynn Appleton

Officer-at-Large

I retired to Bordeaux in April 2023 and joined BWC shortly thereafter. BWC has made my life so much richer in both friends and experiences. I spent half of my working life as a civil litigation attorney near San Francisco, California, and the other half pursuing my passion for patisserie. After training as a pastry chef at Le Cordon Bleu in London, I opened a French Pâtisserie, tea house and café, which I owned and operated for just over 16 years. I look forward to continuing to share my passion for patisserie with club members in additional pastry workshops and my love of wine with my fellow Dames due Vin!

Linda Dench

Officer-at-Large

I’m British and have been living in France for over 40 years, the last nine of which in Pessac. I’m involved in several associations and try to give something back to each of them. I was delighted to discover BWC, because part of me was missing the intercultural mix. The more I see of Bordeaux Women's Club, the more impressed I am. Lively, intelligent and enthusiastic women. And I can honestly say that I know of no other organisation which is so well structured. You just KNOW that it is the result of years of hard work and good team work. And BWC ladies are SO generous with their time. For the last couple of years, I have been a joint neighbourhood coordinator for the South-west suburbs.

Jennifer Maisonnave

Officer-at-Large

I'm a new member having joined Bordeaux Women's Club in January of 2025. I arrived in Bordeaux with my fiancé in July of 2024 but didn't really feel like this was home until I became a member of the Club. This Club has been a lifeline for me in my transition to France. I'm American and my fiancé is German and we moved to Europe to be closer to his family and France specifically to enjoy the wonderful lifestyle that this beautiful country provides. We are both attending the University to improve our French and immerse ourselves in our new life here. I'm an Officer-at-Large and share the role of Bordeaux North Neighborhood Coordinator with another member of the neighborhood.

Susan Young-Moore

Officer-at-Large

When my kids became independent we embraced a long-held dream and moved to Bordeaux in 2024—we haven’t looked back. I’m Canadian a city girl from Toronto who later built a career in Phoenix Arizona. Soon after arriving I joined the BWC to find friends and learn about French culture. I was immediately struck by the warmth and strength of the community. Life evolves and part of that journey is finding a place where our passions belong. I’m lucky to have found that here through the many enriching activities at the club. I now serve on the Community Outreach Committee where we explore ways for us ladies to give back to this wonderful place that truly feels like home.

The Extended Board

Anne Laffitte

Community Outreach Coordinator

I’m excited to be co-leading BWC Community Outreach alongside Susie. After spending 8 years in New York and 11 years in the UK, I’ve recently returned to my hometown of Bordeaux. I’m grateful for the warm welcome I received from the BWC last year and I am happy to give back. Together with Susie, I look forward to building on the work done in previous years and introducing new initiatives, especially focused on supporting women and children in the wider Bordeaux community through fundraising and volunteer opportunities.

Team: Susan Young-Moore

Gratienne Guillo Lohan

Luncheon

and Events Coordinator

I am French and lived in the UK with my family for a while. A few years after I retired, I moved to Bordeaux to be closer to my aging father and my country house in the Landes. I wanted to meet international people from all over the world who had moved around and who lived different lives from mine. So I joined BWC just after Covid. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I love the spirit, the friendship, the cooperation and the amazing range of activities you can find there. I have been part of the Luncheons and Events team for 3 years with Deirdre and Elisabeth who have become very close friends.

Team: Elisabeth Rivasseau

Denise Jobin-Welch

Activities Coordinator

I retired from the U.S. Foreign Service on August 31, 2022 and moved to France on September 1. Since then, my husband and I have settled into Barsac with our two dogs, and I have enjoyed getting to know and love our new home among the vines in the Sauternes region. My first BWC event was the anniversary cruise in 2023, during which I was invited to serve on the activities committee. Since then, I've made a lot of lovely new friends through the club, and am looking forward to deepening those relationships this year. For fun, I love playing board games, reading (especially Sci-Fi and women's literature) and travelling. Along with our resident "fur-babies" my husband and I have two amazing non-resident daughters; one lives in Northern Virginia and the other in Northern England.

Team: Barbara Lubout

Alaina Kennedy

Newsletter Editor

When I made the leap from Chicago to Bordeaux, I was searching for a tribe of amazing, open-minded, and earnest women with diverse backgrounds. Little did I know that I would stumble upon the incredible BWC! These ladies are not just supportive and inspiring; they are loving, creative, and downright fantastic! Writing has been my passion and profession for as long as I can remember. I'm proud to serve as the editor of the BWC newsletter, where I get to weave together the stories and experiences of our incredible members. When I'm not behind the keyboard, you can find me biking around the city, exploring Bordeaux's culinary scene, learning history, and immersing myself in the French language; I'm putting in the hard work to master it like a pro!

Team: Sabine Cornic (Graphic Design)

Mary Ann de Lares Norris

IT Coordinator & Webmistress

I'm a native Californian and moved to France 25 years ago—for the best reason: love. Since then, my family has lived across France, Spain, and the US. We settled in Bordeaux in 2016, and I joined the Bordeaux Women’s Club a few years later. As a nerd and non-joiner, I was hesitant to become a member—but I have zero regrets! The incredible women in the Club continue to inspire me, and I’m proud to be part of this tribe. Professionally, I’m a serial start-up COO. I hold a Master’s degree from the MIT Media Lab.

Team: Anne-Sophie Belloeil

Sara Babin

Facebook Manager

I’m originally from San Francisco but was swept away by my French boyfriend in the early 90’s. We have lived in 6 countries since we met. In 2008, we decided to settle in his hometown, Bordeaux. We’ve lived here ever since with our two boys.

I joined the BWC right away and have never looked back. I’ve had the pleasure of holding several roles on the extended board and was president of the BWC for 3 years. The BWC has been a place of friendship every step of the way with a dynamic group of international women that understand the challenges and joys of living a global life.

Linda Martin

Neighborhood Groups Coordinator

I've been living happily in Bordeaux for a long time (27 years), where I raised my family. I am American, with French nationality as well, and have been working locally as coordinator for teaching "English for Nursing and Radiography" also for many years.

I have been Vice President and President of the BWC. So this association and its members are dear to my heart. I'm very much looking forward to participating in BWC's newest evolution.

Team: Gill Fortescue

Lindsay Mégraud

Statutes Committee Chairperson

A young American woman from New Jersey (that's me!) moved to Bordeaux for love many moons ago. Those were the days when it was difficult to make friends quickly, especially as a non-French speaker. So what a wonderful treat to discover the Bordeaux Women's Club where friendship is the key and the richness of the club's international composition a pure delight. English being the common language in order to encompass such a wide and varied group allows immediate contact and sharing.

A past Vice-President and Secretary, I am currently the Statutes Committee Chairperson, and consider it a great privilege to serve the BWC as a member of its Extended Board. I look forward with great expectation to meeting new faces at our future meeting-luncheons and various activities.

Committee members: Anne-Sophie Belloeil, Susan Hautefeuille and Kit Seguin

Elections Committee Chairperson

Coming soon...