Dear
Friends,
It’s hard to believe it’s already November and the start of the holiday
season. This month also marks the end of my tenure as President. I’ve
enjoyed my time as President and look forward to contributing to FFD in
other ways in the future. Isabella Iverson and Sandy Kaiser were
unanimously elected to be our new President and Vice President at our
last club meeting. They are enthusiastically looking forward to 2021
with club activities and anticipating the time when we can resume
journeys.
I hope you’ve had a chance to check out the FFI virtual journeys on the
FFI website, our ‘3rd Thursday’ gatherings hosted by Edward Perez and
the 4th Tuesday Book Club hosted by Barbara Taylor. Don’t forget to
‘Zoom’ into our next meeting on November 14th. These are all great ways
to keep us together and to keep spirits up until we can meet in person
again.
Even though this has been a very unusual and difficult year, we all have
much to be grateful for and I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and a
very happy Holiday Season.
In Friendship,
Carolyn McMurray, President
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'Let us rise up and be thankful for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little,
and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die;
so let us all be thankful.’
Buddha
Meetings coordinator – Paula Rose:
paularose2000@hotmail.com
September - England
Our September meeting featured Art Cooper who told us about the
journey he and Julia trip took, with the Oklahoma club two years
ago, to Somerset England and their ensuing independent trip to
Cornwall. Their hosts Malcolm and Sharon Lake lived in a stately
house, Stratton House, with prehistoric stones in the pasture and
some interesting old furnishings inside.
They explored the historic towns of Bath, Wells and Glastonbury
before moving on to the sights in Cornwall.
If you would like to see Art's presentation, check out our YouTube
video (it's about 37 minutes in length) -
https://tinyurl.com/FFD-SWEngland-2020-09-12a
October - Bhutan
Our October presentation was given by Gerry Arens and featured the
adventurous trip he and Isabella took to Bhutan - a small, rugged,
landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas. It measures only 190
miles east to west and 90 miles from south to north and in that 90
miles rises from 1,000 feet altitude to 24,000 feet. Travelling from
place to place requires driving on mostly dirt roads and crossing
dicey-looking bridges. Not a country for the faint of heart!
If you would like to view Gerry's presentation, check out the video
on our YouTube channel (it's about 1 hour long) -
https://tinyurl.com/FFD-Bhutan-2020-10-10
Recordings of other past meetings are on the
Meetings page.
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Meetings coordinator – Paula Rose
paularose2000@hotmail.com
A full calendar of the revised meeting schedule for 2020 can
be seen on the
Meetings.page.
November Meeting – Petra and Wadi Rum, Jordan and Baha’i
Gardens, Israel
Presented by Mary Williams
Date/time: At 3 - 5pm on Saturday, November 14th
Location: Zoom online
The Zoom link will be sent to members several times before the
meeting.
Guests: please contact edward perez for the link.
erperez54@gmail.org.
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December Meeting – Arboretum
Presentation by a speaker from the Dallas Arboretum
Date/time: At 1-3 pm on Saturday, December, 13th
Location: Zoom online
The Zoom link will be sent to members several times before the
meeting.
Guests: please contact edward perez for the link.
erperez54@gmail.org
.
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There will also be Member Connections get-togethers on Third
Thursday and Book Club on Fourth Tuesday. See
Member Connections.
Because of the pandemic, all journeys, both international and
domestic, are cancelled for this year. However, the ones below, for
2021, remain in place, pending more clarification of the trends of
Covid-19.
International Journeys
Coordinator
–
Kaiser, coachsandykaiser@gmail.com
Outbound – October, 2021 - Dallas TX to Coatepec,
Mexico
Domestic
Journeys
Coordinator – Julia Cooper acjc1804@hotmail.com
Inbound – May, 2021 - Wisconsin-Madison to Dallas
Outbound
–
May, 2021 – Dallas to Charleston SC
FFI Tours
Remember, we won’t be stuck here forever (although it feels like it at
times) so, looking to 2021, Friendship Force International has several
Journeys on their website for which you can express interest with the
caveat that we have no idea if we’ll be able to go on them. The Journey
Coordinator for each Journey is ‘testing the waters’ to check interest.
Grand Tour of Italy
April 10 to April 24, 2021
Helcio Lanzoni, FF Ribeirao Preto, Journey Coordinator
Click for Details >
https://www.friendshipforce.org/journeys/grand-tour-of-italy/?utm_source=Friendship+Force+Members+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=3d0a58ecd9-MARCH_JOURNEY_CATALOG_2020_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5feca96946-3d0a58ecd9-86901893
Croatia & Slovenia: The Old-World Adriatic
July 10 to July 21, 2021
Click for Details >
https://www.friendshipforce.org/journeys/croatia-slovenia-the-old-world-adriatic/?utm_source=Friendship+Force+Members+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=3d0a58ecd9-MARCH_JOURNEY_CATALOG_2020_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5feca96946-3d0a58ecd9-86901893
Best of Scotland
August 29 to September 8, 2021
Click for Details >
https://www.friendshipforce.org/journeys/best-of-scotland-2/?utm_source=Friendship+Force+Members+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=3d0a58ecd9-MARCH_JOURNEY_CATALOG_2020_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5feca96946-3d0a58ecd9-86901893
FFI – Virtual Journeys
And if actually traveling is still in the future for you, try a
Virtual Experience – a class, a part of the world, a lecture. Here’s
a direct link to the Virtual Experiences page:
https://blog.friendshipforce.org/virtual-experiences/
Let’s Paint Party – Floral Watercolor Doodles
Saturday, November 7, 2020, 11:00 a.m. PST
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Host: Kathy Hart, FF Sacramento
FF Sacramento - Infection & Immunity
Sunday, November 8 at 3:30 p.m. PST
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Host: Linda D. Caren, Ph.D.
Trivia Quiz
Monday, November 9, 2020, 8:30 p.m. CET
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Host: Kerstin Hogan, FF Staff
Faces and Places: Sibiu, Romania
Tuesday, November 10, 2020, 9:00 p.m. EET
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Host: Camelia Grigore, FF Sibiu
Fulfilling Our Mission While Minimizing Our Climate Impact
(Session 1)
Thursday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m. CET
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Hosts: Valerie Malfara, FFI Staff, Kurt Haefeli, FF Solothurn, Gaya
Vanstraelen, FF Leuven & Belgian Coast, and Lyn Hargreave, FF
Western Michigan & FFI Board
Fulfilling Our Mission While Minimizing Our Climate Impact (Session
2)
Tuesday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m. CET
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Hosts: Valerie Malfara, FFI Staff, Kurt Haefeli, FF Solothurn, and
Gaya Vanstraelen, FF Leuven & Belgian Coast
Let’s Paint Party – Christmas Cards
Saturday, December 5, 2020, 11:00 a.m. PST
CONVERT TIME ZONE
Host: Kathy Hart, FF Sacramento
PLUS recordings of many past Virtual Offerings – see:
https://blog.friendshipforce.org/virtual-experiences/?utm_source=Friendship+Force+Members+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=89723ca37d-COVID-19_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5feca96946-89723ca37d-86901893
Access Virtual Experiences Catalog Here!
https://blog.friendshipforce.org/virtual-experiences/
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by Vice-President Membership - edward perez,
erperez54@gmail.com
Membership
News and Updates
Based on conversations I've had and heard, it sounds
like folks are staying healthy, safe, and upbeat as we continue to
navigate this pandemic. My opinion - keep at it and encourage others to
be safe so we have a fighting chance of reducing the effects! Hopefully,
next year we will be able to travel and go on journeys!
I know I am looking forward to a journey to Surrey BC, Canada (suburb of
Vancouver). During the 2019 FFI World Conference, Paula and I
successfully bid on a 5-night stay with a FF couple. That region is one
of our favorites. I'm sure that Joanne and Norm Smyrski will share some
of their favorite places and experiences. Where are you hoping to
journey to?? Wishing you a safe and healthy autumn!
edward perez vice president, membership
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Membership Renewal
At the October board meeting, your board of directors
voted to reduce club dues from $40 per person per year to $20 (for 2021
only). THANKS to the 13 members who have renewed as of Oct 28 !!!
For everyone else, please fill out the membership renewal form and send
it along with your check to edward perez by
December 15.
Get a FFD
Membership Renewal Form 2021-1.pdf right here.
If you have moved or changed any of your contact information (phone
number, email address(es), etc.), indicate that on the form. And let us
know how you would like to help your club in it various activities
and/or leadership positions.
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Membership Connections
Our
September "
3RD THURSDAY"
meeting was about things or memories you obtained while on a journey, FF
or not. Our October "3RD THURSDAY" meeting was held IN-PERSON at Haggard
Park in Downtown Plano. 13 members attended and caught up on happenings.
Those attending got to say "Farewell" to Jackie Wald as she and Michael
prepare to move to Albuquerque. We will miss them! Afterwards, several
of us went to a local restaurant for pizza, desserts, beverages, and
more conversations. Keep an eye open for upcoming 3rd Thursday
announcements. All are welcome!
Read elsewhere in this newsletter about the new TRAVEL BOOK DISCUSSION
group being organized by Barb Taylor.
If you have an idea for a topic or a meeting -or- if you want to
organize and/or host any sort of gathering, field trip, outing, etc.,
please let me know.
And if you know of a group that might be interested in learning about
FF, please contact me. Or share your experiences on your social media
account(s). 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/
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Membership Updates
As a result of a presentation about Friendship Force and the Dallas club
that I gave to the Casa Linda AARP Chapter (Al Currie of our club is
their President), we have a new member. A BIG FRIENDLY WELCOME to
Philip Mendershausen !!! (email is
bayRumVanilla@gmail.com)
Please continue to share with your friends about Friendship Force and
invite them to our meetings and events. LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT FF OF
DALLAS!
THANKS to those members who have invited your friends and family to
meetings and events. Word of mouth is one of our best ways to attract
new members! So, invite your friends and family to attend an upcoming
monthly meeting, an event, or an inbound or outbound journey. Just
forward our emails to them about an upcoming meeting and/or our
newsletters.
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Gatherings
with Friends
As decided by the board, we won't be having any in-person gatherings for
the foreseeable future. Keep thinking about options for future
gatherings when we can meet again.
- Meals with Friends - enjoy visiting with your friends while enjoying a
delicious meal.
- Tastings with Friends - enjoy sampling wines, beer, or beverages along
with savory and sweet appetizers/snacks.
- Exploring with Friends - check out a new small business, visit nature
preserves/gardens, learn some local history.
If you would like to host or organize a "Gathering with Friends," please
get in touch with me! Let people know about FF Dallas!
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Changes and Updates
If you move or change your contact information (phone number, email
address(es), etc.), let me know.
Replacement Badges
Need to replace a lost or damaged badge? Need a replacement magnet? If
so, please contact
edward perez who
will order a new one. Replacement badges are $14 (mailed to your home)
or $11 (pickup in Richardson). Magnets are free.
edward perez, vice president, membership:
erperez54@gmail.com
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Zoom
I've helped several members get Zoom installed on their computer, get
Zoom running, and learn how to share their desktop or a program. If you
would like some assistance in anything Zoom, please contact me. I hope
that everyone is staying healthy, safe, and upbeat in your physical
distancing! It’s been good seeing folks during our online meetings.
A note from edward about our virtual information from FFI.
FRIENDSHIP CONNECTION - if folks are not receiving it or other emails
from FFI, they can go to the FFI home page
https://www.thefriendshipforce.org/ then go to the bottom, put their
email address in the "email address" box under "Newsletter", then click
Subscribe. I can’t remember if they get a confirmation page or another
form to fill out.
Go to the FFI home page
https://www.thefriendshipforce.org/ and click on "News & Updates"
for the Blog page and "Virtual Experiences" for the Virtual Experiences
page.
Here's a direct link to the FFI Blog which has links to the Friendship
Connection newsletters.
https://blog.friendshipforce.org/
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Festival
at Sea Cruise: Northern Europe
The
Travel Book Club 
And
then there was all the people she got to know as extended family....
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