We Need YOU!
FQC is involved in many meetings and events. As a volunteer organization we need YOU, our membership, to join the members of the Board of Directors in supporting such efforts.
Right now, we are looking for members to join board member Vincent Marcello on a new task force to address parking issues in the French Quarter. Please contact Vincent at Vincent@frenchquartercitizens.org if you are interested in the aspect of French Quarter life.
Volunteers are also needed to help set up for the Quarterly Meeting on October 18th. Contact Randy@frenchquartercitizens.org to volunteer.
Finally, volunteers are needed to help with the FQC Annual Dinner on November 2nd. All types of help are needed, especially in the solicitation of donations for the auction. Contact bwiggins@frenchquartercitizens.org for more information.
To find out more about other volunteer opportunities, contact bwiggins@frenchquartercitizens.org.
FQC Welcomes New Members
The Membership Committe and FQC are pleased to welcome new members Brenda Maitland and Tim McNally, Chuck Garber and Rodney Villarreal (1000 block Esplanade Avenue), Kay Barnes Baxter (1000 block St. Philip St.), and Jennifer Kelly (1000 block of Esplanade).
Board Member Profile: Gioia Furness Petro
Gioia (Joya) Furness Petro is the Communications Committee Chair and editor of the FQC weekly publication, the eWrite and the FQC Write, the now annual printed FQC newsletter. A passionate advocate of life in our Vieux Carre neighborhood, Gioia agreed to join the FQC Board as a way of giving back to her beloved community and to help preserve what she finds so alluring.
Leadership and passion for all things French Quarter runs in the family; Gioia’s Father, Brian Furness was President of FQC in 2011. Gioia says working as the FQC eWrite editor is an ideal way to preserve the tradition of leadership started by her Father and hopes that the new weekly publication will extend the influence of our Association.
She welcomes input for the eWrite from our members because as she says, “our outreach is only as good as the communication we have with our members.” Gioia hopes the eWrite will foster more dialog between the Board and membership so that FQC becomes more fully what it is intended to be – a powerful advocate for FQ residents.
Gioia and her husband Alan Petro are 13 year residents of the French Quarter, choosing to settle here after a lifetime of living in various U.S. and international locations (Venezuela, Italy and Brazil). What drew her and her family here is that the French Quarter is a preserved but living neighborhood. Similar to European cities, the buildings may be hundreds of years old, yet modern life goes within these old walls. She loves the overall tout ensemble of the FQ and still marvels that one need not leave the 100 square blocks area to enjoy world class food, music and shopping.
Professionally, Gioia has worked most recently as a Technical Editor under contract to the U.S. Navy and the Department of Interior. Currently she endeavors to keep the wordy part of a new DOI mapping system on track and readable. She is also a licensed New Orleans tour guide.
Gioia is also well known for her scrumptious desserts – always a hit at the quarterly Membership meetings.
To contribute your articles and ideas to Gioia for future issues of the eWrite, please contact her at gioia@frenchquartercitizens.org. Submissions are requested by Wednesday, Noon, of the week they will appear.
Mark Your Calendar!
- FQC Quarterly Meeting on October 18th at the home of Bill Miller and Linda Malin, 611 Dauphine St. 6-8pm. Its a Pot Luck Dinner so start planning your goodies!
- FQC Annual Dinner is coming! November 2nd, details to be announced.
Street Closures
Paths to Progress road/lane closures, during construction hours of 5AM-7PM :
- Burgundy from Dumaine to Barracks.
- Dauphine from Esplanade to St. Philip
- Royal from St. Ann to St. Louis.
- Decatur from St. Louis to Dumaine, riverside lane
- Dec.atur from Dumaine to St. Louis, southbound lane closure.
- Esplanade N. Rampart bound: travel lane closure from Royal to N Rampart. Parking lane is now a travel lane.
- Esplanade N. Peters bound: travel lane closure from N Rampart to Royal. Parking lane is now a travel lane.
- Esplanade/Bourbon St intersection, from Barracks to Esplanade is currently closed due to a roadway patch on Esplanade Ave. There may be periodic travel lane closures due to the movement of construction equipment. A flag man is on-site to direct traffic.
- Burgundy from Toulouse to Dumaine closure.
For more information about Paths to Progress, please direct all inquiries to: Paths2Progress@gmail.com
Facebook: Paths2Progress