Newsletter
Hi
friends.
A welcome back to all our adventurous members who have just returned
from the South America Festival at Sea and who all had a wonderful trip,
although with a mixture of good and bad times. FFI did a wonderful job
of organizing activities and events for all the Friendship Force members
and by the end of the cruise thousands of passengers were introduced to
Friendship Force. Unfortunately, as the ship headed south, it met the
fury of the Atlantic Ocean causing much distress to all the passengers.
As you may already know, the FF Denver group had to cancel their trip
here in May, due to low participation. In October we have been invited
to Cedar Rapids, which should be fun and for which we’re seeking a
Journey Coordinator (great experience for someone new to this job). In
2020, FFI has assigned us an inbound Journey from Taiwan for our
International match. We, unfortunately, were not allocated an outbound
but now are on the waitlist for Mexico or Canada.
May I suggest that for members who wish to travel to places to which our
club is not going, the e-flyer that FFI publishes is a great resource
for upcoming Journeys. You can apply to join another club which needs
help to fill a journey. I had a wonderful time joining the Oklahoma club
to Somerset, England in 2016 and in June plan to join Harrisburg club to
Olympia. In the February e-flyer there are 3 trips to different parts of
Germany, where there are spaces available. Just an idea.
Stay safe and happy travels.
Julia Cooper, President
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March Meeting - 25th Anniversary, 2019
Celebrate Friendship Day and the 25th Anniversary of Friendship
Force Dallas!
Date/time: Saturday, March 15, 1 – 3pm
Place: Chimney Hill Clubhouse – 9223 Emberglow, Dallas
Cost: Free. Bring lunch dishes to share. Drinks provided by the
club.
Displays and short talks about FFD and FFI by Mary Williams, Nancy
Hicks and others
No reservations needed. Info from Paula Rose at
paularose2000@hotmail.com
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April Dinner
The incoming Journey from Denver, the programme for April, was
cancelled so, at short notice, Paula organised an informal get
together at Nazca Kitchen for this month. This will be a great
chance to visit with other FFD members.
Date/time: Saturday, April 13th at 5pm
Place: Nazca Kitchen (South American & American cuisine)
8041 Walnut Hill Lane, Dallas (N.E. corner of Central Expressway and
Walnut Hill Lane)
Cost: Order and pay at the restaurant from the standard menu.
Reservations: RSVP to Paula at
paularose200@hotmail.com
by Monday, April 8th so she can give the restaurant the number of
attendees.
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January
Meeting -
Israel
Gerry
Arens gave an interesting presentation on FFD's Outbound Journey to Israel
in October 2019. The Dallas coordinators were Michael Wald and
Haiya Naftali who led the group of 21 to visit our hosts, based
mostly in Netanya, Israel - a resort town just north of Tel Aviv
on the Mediterranean.
Ambassadors were treated to meeting new
friends, most of whom had immigrated to Israel from all
over the world, and seeing many historical and natural sights
that we would miss on a normal tour.
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February Meeting - Japan
Intergenerational
For
the February meeting, Lou Ann King treated us to a talk and
presentation about the intergenerational trip she and her
grandson took to Japan last summer. It was attended by high
school students and their companions (parent, grandparent, other
relative) from all over the world.
It was such a success, that there’s to be a similar trip this
coming June.
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Our 2020 International Journey matching
results are here!
by International Journey Coordinator - Ray Enstam
Our international Journeys for 2019 are now set and the outbound to Cape
of Good Hope, South Africa departs on March 21st. Our proposed inbound
for this year was cancelled by the other party. In the past Friendship
Force International has offered us unplanned inbounds from visiting
groups that want to extend, but we have no idea if that might happen.
Our international journey for 2020 has now been received and
we will be
hosting Kaohsiung, Taiwan in June of that year. They will also be going
also to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and to Salvador-Bahia and Forteleza, Brazil. A
busy trip for them!
We will be seeking a Journey Coordinator for this inbound visit so,
should you be interested in applying or have questions, feel free to
contact me at
enstam@sbcglobal.net. The coordinator of the inbound
receives a $300 credit that can be applied against the cost of an
outbound journey by the Dallas Club during the two year period following
the end of the Journey coordinated.
We were not assigned any outbound journey for 2020. In the past we have
been active in arranging our own exchanges/journeys with other clubs,
which we sent to Friendship Force International. They were more than
happy to accept our efforts and help and we were able to keep a full
calendar. Starting in 2020 there is a new policy that they won’t honor
journeys agreed between clubs except for return visits from a prior
journey. We requested a journey to northern Europe since we have not
been there for many years, but it is a very popular destination and they
weren’t able to honor it. We are on the wait list for possible outbound
Journeys to Canada or Mexico.
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2019
Festival at Sea
Seven Dallas members completed this 15-Day South American Passage from
Argentina to Chile aboard the Holland-American ship Zandaam February 21 to March 8, 2019.
The cruise was the third one sponsored by FFI, and had about 150
Friendship Force worldwide member participate. Julia has made some comments in her letter above and here are some
photos from Mary Williams.
President Jeremi Snook |
Daily FF sessions |
Holland American ship Zaandam
in Montevideo |
Penguins at Puerto Madryn, Argentina |
Patti Pierce, Mary Williams, Patty Niemeyer |
Mary Williams at Puerto Madryn |
Guanacos |
Penguins |
Dallas participants: Patti PIerce,
Anne Neal, Wendy Whaley, Patty Niemeyer, Leslie Parker, Jim Kerr
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Denver Inbound
May 1-8, 2019
An Inbound Journey with Denver was planned for May, but was
undersubscribed and canceled.
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Pre-Conference Hosting
July 19-23, 2019
Mini (4 night) Inbound to Dallas starting July 19th prior to the
International Conference in Boulder, CO.
It’s customary for Friendship Force International to offer pre and post
homestays along with the International Conference and Dallas is offering
one of these. As you read in Julia’s letter at the start of this
newsletter, we have two applicants for this homestay.
Pat Andeweg has been
appointed Host Coordinator for this event. Pleae contact her to host or
volunteer for this short stay at
patandeweg@gmail.com.
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Domestic Journeys
by Domestic Journey Coordinator – Sharri McIntosh
We have been invited to participate in an
Outbound Journey to Cedar Rapids, Iowa October 2– 8th, 2019.
We will be able to enjoy the autumn leaf colour with this club in October.
Possible sight-seeing in that area includes:
The Hoover Presidential Library.
https://hoover.archives.gov/
Grant Wood, regional artist of American Gothic, had his studio
here.
http://www.crma.org/Content/Grant-Wood/Grant-Wood-Studio.aspx
A must see is the Paramount, refurbished after 2008 flood
devastation.
http://www.paramounttheatrecr.com/
The Amana Colonies consist of seven German villages (Oktoberfest
will be held during these dates).,
http://www.festivalsinamana.com/oktoberfest.html
University of Iowa Hancher Performances
https://hancher.uiowa.edu
The Mississippi River at Dubuque is worth the short drive.
https://www.cityofdubuque.org/573/Eagle-Point-Park
Baseball fans, Field of Dreams is nearby.
https://fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com
The Board is seeking a Journey Coordinator for this trip. If you’re
interested, please contact either Sharri McIntosh at
mcintosh.sharri@gmail.com
or Julia Cooper
at
acjc1804@hotmail.com by Friday, April 5th.
The Board will appoint a Journey Coordinator at the
April Board meeting.
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Opportunities with Other Clubs
When you travel with another club you help fill their seats and make new
friends in another club as well as your destination club. See the FFI
openings:
https://www.friendshipforce.org/journeys/
They are also listed on our
Other Clubs
page.
If you are interested in any of these journeys, contact the Coordinator
ASAP. The decision for a journey to go or to cancel occurs at least 90
days preceding a scheduled date. Notice of remaining seats can be out of
date as journeys fill and there are cancellations. Contact the
coordinator concerned for the most current information.
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Board Meeting
The next Board meeting will be Monday, March 18th at 1:30 pm at Julia
Cooper’s house. All members are welcome to attend.
Remember - you can order your own FFD business cards from Mary Williams.
Give them to people who ask about Friendship Force. This service is
free.
Facebook
You can also let your friends and family know about Friendship Force by
sharing yours experiences on your social media account(s). Invite them
to attend an upcoming monthly meeting, an event or an inbound or
outbound journey. FF of Dallas has a Facebook page that you can like and
follow as well as share with your other FB friends.
https://www.facebook.com/FriendshipForceDallas/
However, remember Facebook rules: Anyone may post comments or photos on
our page, but only posts about FF are acceptable. The club can get in
trouble with the IRS for posts that advertise or endorse commercial
products or businesses, so please do not do that.
Sunshine Report
Cathy Ignatin, Sunshine Chair
cignatin@hotmail.com
Jim Bourn has been hospitalized for surgery on his toes.
If you know of anyone who needs anything from Sunshine, please give me a
call: sometimes I don’t hear of a need until they are well. Thanks.
FF
Photo Club
Join the FF photo club to practice you photography skills, share photos
will FF members everywhere and get ideas of subject to practice on.
Dallas members are Mary Latham, Mary Williams and Al Currie. Please
contact Roz Worrall, FFI Photo CC Coordinator at
ffiphotocc@gmail.com and copy
our members, if you’re interested in jparticipating.
Shuttle Service
The shuttle service is available to any FF of Dallas
member who needs transportation from their home to either airport or
from the airport to your home. You can also use this service to
destinations other than airports. After your ride, you make a donation
to FF of Dallas.
If you need a ride, send an email to
ffDallas-shuttle@googleGroups.com and all
club members who are shuttle drivers will receive your request.
If you would like to be a shuttle driver, contact edward perez
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.
If you would like to manage the shuttle driver list, contact
edward perez and he'll help you learn how to manage the list. It's very
easy - you just need access to email and the internet.
In friendship,
edward perez
Shuttle Service Manager
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by Vice-President Membership - edward perez
Welcome to spring and the start of the 26TH YEAR of Friendship Force of
Dallas!!!
Let's keep Exploring and Discovering Common Ground!!! THANKS TO ALL OF
YOU WHO HAVE INVITED YOUR FRIENDS TO MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
Word of mouth is one of our best ways to attract new members!! If you
know of a group or organization to which we can present info about
Friendship Force of Dallas, please let me know.
Membership Updates
With a few new members, our club now has 75 members - 70 members, 3
emeritus, and 2 associates.
Three members joined in January. Please extend a hand and welcome them
to our club!
- Mary Driver (friend of Mary Williams)
- Aurora & Felix Madrigal (friends of Joan Mirabal and Al Mirabal - past
members)
Welcome to these new members!
Remember - if you move or change your contact information (phone number,
email address(es) or need a replacement badge $14, $10.50 if you pick it
up in Richardson), let me know via email
to
erperez54@gmail.com. I'll update
the records and let others know (telephone tree, email list manager,
etc).
Doris Rodriguez (who joined our club in 2017) leads our telephone tree -
she and her team contact members prior to monthly events. If you haven't
been receiving calls, contact me so I can make sure you are on the
calling list. Also, if you know a member who has not be attending
recently, please give them a call and invite them, perhaps offering to
carpool with them. Your yearbook has members sorted by zip code (pages
23-25).
Friendship Gatherings
If you have an idea for a friendship gathering (food tasting, arts
event, festival, etc.), please let me now (see contact info below).
If you want to coordinate these events, let me know -
erperez54@gmail.com
Meals with Gatherings
On Sat Mar 9, 16 members met for a small group lunch gathering at
Islamorada Fish Company on the west side of Lake Ray Hubbard. THANKS to
Doris Rodriguez for making arrangements and other East Dallas members
(Kathy Jacobs, Gerda Kreyer, Patty Neimeyer) for co-hosting. We met the
Madrigals, created and extended friendships, and enjoyed a great meal.
Gerda even taught us a few German phrases.
We hold these casual events (either at lunch or dinner time and either
on weekdays or weekends) to allow you time to meet with other club
members and share stories about our lives and journeys.
If you know of a restaurant than can accommodate 10-20 in a separate
space or would like to coordinate these events, please let me know at
the email address above.
Wine Tastings Update
THANKS to Anne Neal for hosting a wine tasting in January.
We'll host several of these throughout 2019. If you're interested, you
signup, pay the host a fee to purchase the wines, and bring an appetizer
or snack to share. Then, we meet, enjoy the wine and visit with our
friends. You can invite non-members, but the host will have discretion
as to how many can attend.
If you would like to host a "Wine Tastings with Friends" or would like
to coordinate these events, please let edward perez know at the email
address above.
Remember to attend our programs, events and journeys. Invite your family
and friends to attend an upcoming monthly meeting, an event or an inbound
or outbound journey. Just forward our meeting announcements and/or
newsletters.
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World Friendship Day
2020 Journey Fee Announcement
After nearly a year-long discussion about the rising cost of doing
business, the International Board of Directors unanimously approved a
small increase to FFI Journey fees starting in January 2020.
It has been five years since Journey fees have increased, and in that
time, global inflation has increased nearly 8%. Friendship Force
International continues to use both Journey fees and donations in
efficient, cost-effective ways. These funds support existing clubs,
create and sustain exceptional friendship-building programs, and help
establish new opportunities to encourage peace through friendship around
the globe. This small increase in Journey fees will help us to remain in
step with rising business costs worldwide and better support our mission
now and for years to come.
The Board is optimistic about the upcoming launch of FFI’s new strategic
plan as well as several new clubs that are currently in development.
Although we cannot avoid fee increases from time to time, our greatest
strength remains the sustainability of our clubs and growth of new ones
to carry us into the future. Thank you for your continued involvement
and support of Friendship Force!
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Additional Address for FFI
In an effort to expedite mailed checks, letters, and other items to FFI
Headquarters, we have acquired a P.O. box designated for immediate
receipt of mail. Please use this mailing address for any and all
payments or other mailings that you need us to receive immediately:
Friendship Force International
Attn: Finance Department
P.O. Box 570
Asheville, NC 28802
U.S.A.
Please note that our current mailing address is still active and open
for use; this new P.O. box is just to supplement that. Be sure to have
both addresses in your address book! Our current mailing address is
still:
Friendship Force International
400 West Peachtree Street NW
Suite #4-980, Atlanta, GA 30308
U.S.A.
2019 Board:
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e-checks
As an alternative form of payment, FFI has introduced e-checks for
payment for travel insurance, Journeys and club dues. This will be a
form of payment directly from your bank to theirs. Unlike credit card
payment, which are immediate, the process will take up to 7 days to
process but, like credit card payments, are secure. For more information
look for the ‘Payments’ tab under the member resources section of their
website here
https://www.thefriendshipforce.org/resources/
If you have any questions, please contact
finance@friendshipforce.org.
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Stories of Friendship
Send stories of your FF experiences that have helped eliminate barriers
that separate us and bring us closer together. Send to:
http://storiesoffriendship.org/
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International Conference
in 2019
2019
World Conference Registration - Now Open!
Registration for our 2019 World Conference is open now! Reserve your
spot to join us and members from around the globe in beautiful Boulder
in July for a one-of-a-kind Friendship Force experience!
Conference location is Boulder, Colorado July 23 – 27, 2019. You should
have received the registration information via email or you can register
on the FFI webpage:
https://www.eventleaf.com/2019FFWorldConf
World Conference Package includes:
3 nights on-campus accommodation, with twin size bed in a room for two
and community shared bathroom, July 23-26
1 dinner, July 23
3 breakfasts, July 24, 25, 26
2 lunches, July 24 and 25
2 full days of updates and training, July 24 and 25:
- a general session with campus welcome, recognition of countries, host
cup ceremony, FFI updates, and keynote speaker
- 5-6 workshop sessions with at least 16 different topics to choose from
- Conference bag and gift
- Friendship Force's "Bluegrass in Boulder" Night: Our private party in
downtown Boulder with barbecue buffet, bluegrass band, dancing and
awards
Optional 2-Night Campus Stay Extension includes:
2 nights on-campus accommodation, with twin size bed in a room for two
and community shared bathroom, July 26-28
2 breakfasts, July 27 and 28
"Registration and Options" - has a list of optional activities during
the extension
A
Conference-Only package is available for those who
prefer not to stay overnight on campus and have arranged their own
accommodation locally. Please click on the "Register" button to read
more about that package.
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