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Who hasn’t always revered Paris’s iconic Notre Dame cathedral? Who wasn’t positively devastated over the fire five years ago that did untold damage? We are so fortunate to have one of the most preeminent experts on the restoration of the cathedral regale us on the painstaking efforts to bring this world-class gem back to life.

Michel Picaud lives in Paris but is extending a previously planned trip to the U.S. just to be available for the local chapter of the English-Speaking Union. He is president of the leading non-profit international organization, known as Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris, dedicated to raising funds for the rebuilding and ongoing maintenance of this magnificent treasure.

Prior to his involvement with Notre Dame, Picaud has served in major leadership positions with a variety of public policy, communications, technology and human resources companies. He is married with six children and two grandchildren. He’ll be accompanied by Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris board member Nick Trivisonno of Charlotte.

The event will take place on Thursday, March 20, at the Country Club of Salisbury with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 and the program at 8. Cost is $50 per person for ESU members and $70 per person for non-members. Reservation cut-off is Monday, March 17. For more information, contact ESU president Gerry Wood at gerry@oldyorkllc.com or 704-213-6008.