President: Arsene Dupin
Arsene Dupin has been playing pétanque since he was five years old. His grandfather taught him in Bordeaux, where they won many tournaments together. Way back the first prize was often a kilo of sugar, which delighted his grandmother, who made the most wonderful cakes with it. Arsene founded the Heart of Texas Pétanque Club in Austin on May 14 2008. He recently won the 2014 Legation Boule Club, the 2013 Zaytouna tournament, the 2012, 2011,2010 Lafayette International tournament , as well as 2010 and 2009 HOT Tournament. He is a proud member of the Federation Petanque USA and was part of the Delegation representing the USA at the 2014 World Championship Tete a Tete in Nice, France.Vice President: Jim Schwobel
It all started on a 4-cent bus ride in Acapulco in 1974. That is where Jim met a couple of French guys who were also on vacation. After a couple of exchange visits during the next year, the French guys invited Jim to become a partner in a 43′ sailboat on the French Riviera. He sold everything in the USA and moved aboard the sailboat in St. Raphael – and that is where Jim was first introduced to Petanque. He continued playing the rest of the year in Toulouse where he went to university, played tuba in a Dixieland band . While serving on the Board of Directors of Alliance Francaise d’Austin, Jim began playing in weekly games with the members of that organization and subsequently joined Heart of Texas Petanque Club where he plays several times a week. Jim continues to make extended trips to France where he plays Petanque wherever he travels. In 2012, he even built a Petanque court at his home in central Austin.
Treasurer: Victor Alonso
I began playing Petanque only in the late spring of 2015 in Austin. Before moving to Austin I had never heard of the game. I enjoy playing the game; the camaraderie with the other players; and the exercise associated with it. The experienced players in Austin, have helped me with technique and suggestions. My goal is to practice more frequently and to continue playing for as long as my body allows it.
The Heart of Texas Pétanque Club 