Hello everybody,

Well, the weather is cooling down and as I write the rain is falling. The Vancouver exchange has drawn to a close and I've heard have been really positive comments about it. It was lovely to meet all the ambassadors and I'd like to thank Pat Andeweg, Mary Latham and everyone on the organisational team for all they did. It really takes a team to put something like this together.

We now have a small exchange coming from Georgetown, TX on the weekend of November 13 - 15. Paula Rose is the ED and may be in need of help so should you be available, please contact her at paularose2000@hotmail.com. The club November club meeting will be that Sunday evening, so the ambassadors can attend, also.

The exchange from Nor Peru will Feb 3rd - 10th. As ED, I welcome any offers of help or ideas for activities. My contact information is in the member handbook.

All the best.
In friendship,
Felicity

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We will be hosting our new club, Georgetown, TX on the weekend of Nov 13, 14 and 15. This mini-exchange is the first one for our new neighbor club to get their feet wet. Paula Rose is Exchange Director.

See the Georgetown flyer to reserve places at any of the exchange events and the Nov Meeting Flyer for our regular November meeting. Please reserve by November 7 with your check to Paula Rose.

Schedule: Georgetown Exchange

November Meeting – 2015 Conference Report

Date/Time: November 15, 6:30 pm
Place: El Fenix Restaurant, 9090 Skillman Ave (just S of LBJ)
Food: Fajita Buffet, drink, tip - $16.
Reservation (check made to Friendship Force Dallas to Paula Rose - paularose2000@hotmail.com by Nov. 5.
See Nov Meeting reservation form.

Program: edward perez will present an overall view of the 2015 International Conference just completed in Vancouver.

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December Party

Date/Time: December 13 - 3-5 pm
Place: Chimneyhill Clubhouse, 9223 Emberglow, Dallas (off Abrams, north of LBJ)
Program: Holiday party
Food: Snacks brought by members
Cost: Free

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By Pat Andeweg

The thirteen Ambassadors visiting from Metro Vancouver arrived Saturday evening Oct 17th. They spent Sunday visiting various sights with their hosts until late afternoon when they were welcomed by FF Dallas members at the Welcome Dinner.

The week was spent visiting the usual highlights of Dallas. Added this year were the funky Bishop Arts District and great views from the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and from the Chase Tower Observation floor (of the Arts District). During their stay, some guests were taken to evening concerts, plays and various art shows. Others enjoyed dinner with their hosts. Several Ambassadors visited McKinney and enjoyed a party held by a Dallas host.

Inclement weather forecasts changed the plans for a Friday Arboretum tour to Wednesday which was a perfect fall day. The 75,000 pumpkins and their arrangements amazed everyone and inspired Dan Macmaster from Vancouver to write a pumpkin ditty... (see next page). On Wednesday evening Ambassadors enjoyed small dinner parties in Dallas members’ homes.

The Thursday Fort Worth Day included tours of the FW Stockyards and Bass Performance Hall, a barbecue lunch and Tex-Mex dinner at Joe T. Carcia’s. Some Ambassadors showed up at the Water Garden and Sid Richardson Museum also.

Despite torrential rains on Friday, the Ambassadors braved the weather to visit the Bush Library. Despite most getting soaked, they dried themselves off with hand dryers in the restrooms and proceeded to find the Library very interesting. Some Ambassadors explored NorthPark, the Meadows Museum or Biblical Arts Museum during afternoon free time.

The Farewell party Friday evening was a great success with plenty of delicious BBQ at Sonny Bryant’s and harp entertainment by Lorenzo Gonzalez. The Ambassadors entertained us with singing and expressed their thanks for a most enjoyable and interesting stay. On Saturday Oct 24th they left for San Antonio, leaving behind warm memories.

The Exchange would not have been a success without all the help received from the coordinators, home and day hosts, and dinner hosts. Many thanks to a great team. Special thanks to Mary Latham who helped this first time ED while I was running around India!

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Pumpkin Song ( to tune of “ I've Been Everywhere, Man )
(inspired by FFMV exchange visit to Dallas Arboretum, Oct. 21/15)

Pumpkins, squash and gourds, man
Come see 'um while you can, man
At the Dallas Arboretum
You must not try to eat 'em
They're laid out just to see 'em
Try to name 'em or to count 'em

Apple Gourd, Monster Gourd, Birdhouse Gourd,
( some you've never heard )
Peanut Pumpkin, Big Mac Pumpkin, One-too-Many Purple Pumpkins
Speckled Hound, Homeward Bound, Knucklehead,
( now scratch your head )
Kamo Kamo, Long Neck Swan, Caveman Club and World of Color
( I'm out of breath, please call my mother )
Jack O'Lantern, Magic Lantern, Red and Warty Hubbard Pumpkin

Pumpkins, squash and gourds , man ( repeat v.1 above )
...............

Tiger Stripe, Cheddar Squash,Yeller Smeller Buttercup,
Mini White Baby Boo, Mystic Plus and Cinderella,
Crystal Star, Fairy Tale,Table Ace,
( now hang in, fella )
Turkish Turban,Grey Wolf Pumpkin, Carnival,
( now ain't that somethin' )

Now I think I'll end this ditty of pumpkins ,gourds
All odd...but pretty.
Dallas – you're appreciated
Your welcome wishes reciprocated

( modestly composed by Dan Macmaster DUI ( Dallas – Unreservedly Impressed )

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On September 13 at 6 pm the club met at Cedars Restaurant for a delicious Mediterranean buffet and a presentation on the Outbound Exchange to Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Mary Williams showed some pictures she and other participants took on the two-week homestay to Baku and Tbilisi clubs plus two weeks travel in each country. Zia Shamsy also talked about the makeup of the participant group and some of the cultural differences the group experienced.




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International Exchanges 2016

For 2016 we have an inbound exchange from the Nor Peru club (located in Trujillo, Peru) and an outbound to Santiago, Chile. The inbound from Nor Peru will be from Feb 1 to 7, 2016. Felicity Sentance has been appointed the Exchange Director. The Peruvian ED and her husband are just returning from an outbound exchange and Felicity hopes to hear from them soon. Since this will be a February inbound, most of the activities will be indoors [first time we've hosted in winter]. For questions or to volunteer please contact Felicity at fsentance@gmail.com.
UPDATE: This change has been canceled due to lack of enough participants.

The outbound exchange for 2016 is to Santiago, Chile - April 20 to 28. The club in Santiago has limited hosting and can host only 16. The exchange is now fully subscribed and we are maintaining a stand-by list. Ray Enstam is Exchange Director. For more information please contact him at enstam@sbcglobal.net.

UPDATE: This exchange has had one couple cancel and can now take either one single or one couple for the exchange and the extension. Click here for a pdf flyer for Santiago.

There are three other FFI exchanges led by FFD members and exchanges for 2016.

Panama: Michael Wald will be leading his third trip to Panama January 20 to 27, 2016, which is sponsored by Friendship Force International. The trip includes 5 home hosted nights in Santiago, Panama, touring of Panama City, and an optional extension of touring to Boquete, Chiriqui (the most popular ex-pat location, high in the cool mountains of Western Panama, close to Costa Rica) and surroundings.
See the detailed Discover Panama flyer.
The exchange is a “GO”; contact Michael if you like to be added to this group: mwald999@gmail.com.

Myanmar: Tour Myanmar with Tin Aung Moe - our speaker at a recent meeting; optional 5 days at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Dates are February 13-25, 2016. Jim Kerr, ED. Included are sights you saw in Moe's presentation: Yangon city tour, Pindaya, Taunggyi, Inle Lake, Bagan, Mandalay, Mingon, Maymyo.
There are no clubs in Myanmar at this point, so all accommodations are in 3-star hotels with all breakfasts and some other meals included (8 lunches, 6 dinners). Also included are all transfers and transportation within the country (air and bus), baggage handling, English speaking tour guide, entrance fees, tips, FFI fee.

See the Myanmar flyer and/or the complete Myanmar itinerary .

China – NEW!: Zia Shamsy is leading an FFI Discover China trip to Beijing, Xian, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Zhujiajiao, China - April 2 to 14, 2016. This exchange presents you with plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the rich culture of China: the historic Great Wall, a traditional Peking duck dinner, an introduction to the silk spinning industry, a boat ride on Hangzhou’s West Lake, a visit to a pearl factory, dinner and show at Circus World Shanghai (optional), and much more.

Although there is no home hospitality provided on this exchange, there are opportunities for people-to-people interaction with locals.

Sightseeing Highlights:
Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Wall of China, Beijing Zoo
Xian: Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum
Suzhou: San Tang Street, the Lingering Garden, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hangzhou: Boat ride on the West Lake, Green Tea Village
Shanghai: Nanjing Road, Shanghai Museum, The Bund, China’s financial center
Zhujiajiao: Fangsheng Bridge, Baoguo Temple, Zhuxi Garden

See the complete China Itinerary in pdf file:
Contact Zia at zia_shamsy@yahoo.com.
An International Application is available; you can complete it online and send it from your computer.

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International Exchanges for 2017

Ray Enstam has notified FFI that FF Dallas would be able to host two exchanges in 2017 and made our requests for outbound exchanges. By mid-January we should have our proposed destination(s) for 2017. If you have any questions, suggestions or requests, please contact Ray or any member of the Board. We value your input.

Ray Enstam, International Exchange Coordinator, enstam@sbcglobal.net

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Domestic Exchanges are shaping up nicely for 2016 with both an Inbound and an Outbound.

Dallas will host our friends from Columbia Cascade (Portland/Vancouver, WA) October 22-29, 2016. If you are interested in being the ED for this exchange, please contact Patty Niemeyer at peanutpatti1@verizon.net. It isn't too early to step up.

An Outbound Exchange has been confirmed with the Birmingham, Alabama club for May 27-June 3, 2016 and an ED is also needed for this exchange. Birmingham is able to host 15 Ambassadors and offers tours of the Civil War Museum, the National Historic Landmark Sloss Furnace, and Arlington House (Antebellum mansion) among other activities.

In 2017, Dallas will host Birmingham in the spring. An Outbound exchange for 2017 is being investigated with several clubs. If you met people from the U.S. at the International Conference possibly interested in an exchange with us, contact Patty.

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Remember that you are welcome to join other clubs on their exchanges if there is room. Please contact clubs well in advance, as an exchange may cancel if the Exchange Director doesn’t know about your interest.

See where some clubs are going on the Other Clubs page.

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The extended dates are Sep 16-19 with registration on Sep 15 allowing more time with friends and more opportunities to explore beautiful Marrakesh. (Plan to arrive on Sep 15 in order to fully participate.) Centrally-located accommodations are at the Kenzi Farah Hotel with its cooling pools and traditional hammam, nestled in 3 hectares of lush palm groves.

- Meet FFI’s new President and CEO, Jeremi Snook, at his inaugural conference
- Learn what other clubs are doing with Friendship Force global club updates
- Expand your Friendship Force knowledge in a variety of workshops, interactive presentations and leadership training
- Exchange ideas with friends from around the world to build a bright future
- Enjoy delightful music and dance performances, representing the different regions and traditions of Morocco
- Learn to cook a traditional tagine or how to make argan oil
- Try a morning belly-dancing class
- Some workshops, breaks and meals outside under the palm trees (weather permitting)
- Have a sumptuous Moroccan feast in the 11th century Medina on our optional evening out
- Travel the world all in one night at our World Bazaar, under the stars in the hotel gardens
- Take an optional half day tour include navigating the maze of souks and the lively Medina, horse drawn carriage rides through Marrakesh’s impressive gardens, watching the sunrise from a hot-air balloon, a historical journey through the old city and her monuments, 18 holes for the golf enthusiast, riding a mule up to a stunning perched lunch spot in the Atlas mountains, and for the adventurous - a chance to
- Zipline across a 700 foot gorge!
- Enjoy FFI’s traditional “World of Friends” gala banquet with high-profile keynote speaker: “Muslim Women in a Changing and Emerging Morocco”
- Join an exciting pre- and/or post-conference tour around Morocco
- Participate in a post-conference homestay tour program courtesy of The Friendship Force in Morocco

Further details and registration in December.
For questions, contact Debbie Powell, World Conference Director, dpowell@thefriendshipforce.org

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2016 Southwest Regional Conference

The next SW Conference is scheduled for April 1-3 in Austin. Details later.

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Dale Klosterman reports: Hilda is home from the hospital. She is still being treated for the infection, but after all this time they have finally identified the infection and can now treat it effectively. She still does not have her hip in place and cannot get out of bed and move around. The doctor is very optimistic and they have surgery to replace the hip scheduled for Nov 5.

In the meantime, she still has an IV and containers attached to her hip to collect fluid from the infection. Dale and daughters are doing nursing care and everything else. Hilda is using her tablet to “stream” movies that keep her occupied and make it possible for her endure being on her back all of the time. She has six gigabytes of space so she can stream almost constantly if she wishes. We dealt with bed sores by getting an automobile inner tube to use to give her butt a break when necessary. I believe that her new mobility will be our Christmas present, and we will be back to our old selves with the beginning of the new year.

New Members and Updates

Welcome back rejoining member: Kate Echols, address and phone (contact President or webmaster)kate.echols@gmail.com

Change: Judy Cline's address and phone (contact President or webmaster), judygcline@gmail.com

Change Georgia Sigalos' address (contact President or webmaster). Her phone is unchanged.

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The Dallas Club normally reimburses the President $1000 for attending the International Conference as a delegate from our club. Our President, Felicity Sentance, did not attend this year, but 19 other members did. The Board voted to return this money to our general fund. At the Board meeting in September, the Board voted to donate this $1000 to FFI for database/website renewal.

Strategic Plan

Mary Latham hosted a meeting where Board members discussed possible changes in FF Dallas operations and bylaws based on FFI's strategic plan and other take-aways from the international conference. More to come.

Election of Officers

Due to our exchange in October, election of officers are being held at our November meeting. The Nominating Committee composed of Ray Enstam, Paula Rose and Felicity Sentance presented the proposed slate for 2016 Board Officers:
  President – Felicity Sentance
  Vice President – Mary Latham
  Vice President Membership – Pat Andeweg
  Secretary – Ruth Barrow
  Treasurer – Lou Ann King

Volunteer to be a Shuttle Driver

We could use more shuttle drivers who are willing to drive to and from our airports; contributions to our club by recipients of this service are a MAJOR source of club funding.
Contact edward perez – erperez@acm.org to volunteer.

When you need an airport ride, send a request to the Yahoo Shuttle Service list – see instructions on page 39 in your yearbook. Reply to all when responding. Then when your ride is complete, make a donation to the club. Easy!

Newsletter Editor

Send your news to Dale Klosterman at daleklost@gmail.com.

Sunshine

Let Cathy Ignatin know who needs a card or a call.

Shuttle Service

Remember to support our airport shuttle service. The passenger(s) make a donation of $25 per ride ($30 north of Plano), helping our club. See page 42 in the Yearbook for detailed information or to be a driver. Or, just go to ffdallas-shuttle@googlegroups.com

If you would like to be a shuttle driver, send an email to edward perez (erperez@acm.org) and he'll add you to the list. Take this opportunity to help out your club while meeting and learning about your fellow club members. You are not obligated to handle every request, but please do what you can. We need more drivers.

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Our organization needs your support.
Consider making a donation of $50 to the database/website project at FFI.
Consider joining a Friendship Force exchange to fill our exchanges rather than taking a commercial tour.
Consider paying exchange fees with a check rather than credit card.
All of these actions help Friendship Force financially. The Dallas Board has approved a donation of $1000 to the fund to redo the FFI website and information system. (This was money that had been allocated for a representative to the Vancouver Conference but was not used.)

At our World Conference in Vancouver, we presented a two goal challenge to our conference delegates.
These goals are designed to help Friendship Force build its bright future based on the `2015-2018 Strategic Plan’.

GOAL 1: To raise with your club or personally donate $50 for a new database and website development by December 31, 2015.

GOAL 2: To create and lead a fun, global `special’ exchange in 2016-2017 and be open to new ambassadors and hosts. The exchange can be themed, NextGen, humanitarian, multi-club, tandem, part home-hosted/part non-home hosted, or whatever model works best for the target group.
We asked the membership to commit to one or both of these goals by saying “I’m In” and join us in reaching them. Since that time, individuals and clubs have stepped up to raise $17,500 in donation - almost halfway to our target of raising $40,000 by the end of 2015. We want to extend a big “Thank You!” to those who have donated thus far.

Welcome to our new CEO

Ceclile Latour, as Chairperson of the Friendship Force International board, announced the appointment of Jeremi Snook as FFI's sixth President and CEO, effective November 9, 2015.

Jeremi has a Master’s degree in Business Administration and experience as a senior executive in the non-profit sector as well as the experience of starting a small business that quickly earned him and his partner the Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies’ award. He worked successively with United Way, with the Uptown Emergency Shelter and most recently as Chief Operating Officer with Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield, New Hampshire, a leading community-based provider of educational services for children with neurological or behavioral challenges. Those on the Search Committee who have met him believe that he has the vision and management skills to lead FFI to the stability and sustainability we want for the organization. Most importantly, he has the values to embrace the mission that matters enormously to all of us.

Please welcome Jeremi to Friendship Force family and give him the support he will need to grow our mission and our membership. He will introduce himself to club members around the world in a short message and video that you can watch on your screen after his start date November 9th. Cecile thanks the CEO Search Committee led by the Board Vice-Chair, Bob Duncan, who reviewed 180 applications and worked tirelessly over the last three months to bring us to this day.

See updated policies for 2016 on the FFI page.

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