Dear Friends,

It has been a while since we have “Experienced Different Views, Discovered Common Ground”. Our Dallas FF club was hoping to have an inbound journey this fall but…. Covid still stands in our way. The club is hoping to experience Journeys next year but all are on hold.

Visit Friendship Force International home page. You just might find a journey with another club. I noticed that there is one to Wisconsin Sept. 13 – Sept 20, 2021. I’m sure it will be beautiful. Check out several postings on the FFI home page: www.FriendshipForce.org.  See Virtual Experiences, FFI Book Club, Coffee Chat in Spanish (hosted by FF Tuxtla-Gutierrez) and another in French.

Since overseas travel has not opened up, many club members have chosen to take “family vacations” here in the US – our own beautiful country. We can practice our FF motto – Experience Different Views, Discover Common Ground within our families. Stay Safe and Healthy.

See you at one of our zoom meetings soon.

Isabella Iverson, President

Top

Meetings coordinator – Paula Rose, paularose2000@hotmail.com

Were you unable to attend a past meeting? Want to "re-attend" a past meeting? You can view recordings
of our prior meetings at our club's YouTube webpage (click on "Videos" or "Playlists"). Recordings run
between 50 minutes and just over an hour. You can always "rewind" or "fast forward" sections.

You can watch them on your computer, tablet, smartphone or smart TV. .... FF Dallas' YouTube Channel at
https://tinyurl.com/FFD-YouTubeChannel  ...or search YouTube for "FFDallas Texas" (include the
quotation marks!)

---

July Meeting
Oven building in Guatemala, presented by Felicity Sentance

This month was about the volunteer trip Felicity Sentance made to the mountains of Guatemala to assist in the building of ovens to reduce the wood smoke fumes caused by the indoor cooking done by most people.

 
  
Top

---

Special Presentation
Composition to Improve Travel Photography, presented by Sharon Swallwood

On July 24, Sharon Swallwood, a professional photographer and a FF Sunshine Coast (Florida) member, gave us a presentation on "Composition to Improve Travel Photography."

 

Top

---

Meeting
Gems of Central Europe (part 1), presented by Mary Williams

Mary Williams has visited several areas in Central Europe that are off the beaten track and, therefore, not crowded. This month, she gave us a beautiful visual tour of some of them – Lake Bled and Ljubljana in Slovenia, Mostar in Bosnia, Kotor Bay in Montenegro, the waterfalls of Plitvice Lake in Croatia and a windmill museum and the German medieval town of Celle in Germany.

   
Top

---

The Travel Book Club
Chair: Barbara Taylor - be_taylor@verizon.net

The book club has celebrated its first anniversary and this week the group met and decided on books and associated presenters for
much of the upcoming year. You can see the list below.

Change in date and time!!! Meetings are now FOURTH TUESDAY of the month at NOON (12 PM) except November - Nov. 30.
No December meeting.

TITLE	AUTHOR	LEADER	DATE
My Life in France	Julia Child	Felicity Sentance	28-Sep
The Hundred Secret Senses	Amy Tan	Cathy Ignatin	26-Oct
Neither Here Nor There	Bill Bryson	Paula Rose	30-Nov
1st Ladies Detective Agency (new selection)	Alexander McCall Smith	Julia Cooper	25-Jan
TBD	TBD	TBD	22-Feb
Notes from a Small Island	Bill Bryson	Sandy Kaiser	22-Mar
Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane	Lisa See	Diana Behannesey	26-Apr
Come, Tell Me How You Live	Agatha Christie	Mary Williams	26-May
The Geat Railway Bazaar	Paul Theroux	Janis Robinson	28 Jun
TBD			26 Jul

  
We’d love you to join us at one of our Zoom meetings (even if you haven’t read the book for that month). If you’re not on the email list to receive the link, simply contact Barb Taylor at the above email address.

Thanks, Barb Taylor


Top

---

Dues

FF Dallas members,
It's been another interesting year of friendship and sustaining. While we have not gone on or hosted any journeys this year, we continued making friends and learning about places via our meetings and gatherings. Until the Covid situation changes for the better, we will continue holding our monthly, Third Thursdays at Three, and Book Club meetings over Zoom with some limited in-person gatherings.

We are hoping for some domestic journeys next year. Julia Cooper (international and domestic journeys chair) is working with various clubs to arrange them. Hopefully, we'll be able to go on international journeys 2023 !!! And when they restart, by being a member of our club, you can participate in journeys run by other clubs or FFI (including the "Festival at Sea" 8/28 – 9/11 2022 - visiting Amsterdam, Norway, Iceland, and Scotland).

Dues this year

Due to limited activities this year, your board has approved a reduction in 2022 membership dues.
2022 Membership dues are $25 per person. Secondary membership are $10.

*** If you decide to renew, download the renewal form from this link and print it:
FFD Membership Renewal Form 2022.pdf

- Please complete and return the renewal form (with your check payable to "Friendship Force of Dallas")
  by DECEMBER 15, 2021.
- When you fill out your form, let us know how you can help your club with your skills, time, and energy.
- Mail it to Friendship Force of Dallas - edward perez (address on form)

If you have any questions about your membership, our club, or FFI, reply to edward perez at erperez54@gmail.com  or any board member. Your support and generosity helps FF Dallas and FF International now and in the future to further the cause of peace, friendship, and understanding.

NEW! Also, if you renew your membership AND you signup for FFI's new website, https;//my.friendshipforce.org, by Dec 31, you will be entered into a drawing. Two members will have their 2021 FFD membership dues covered by the club.

*** If you have decided NOT to renew your membership, please let edward perez know.

In Friendship,
edward perez
Vice-President, Membership
FF of Dallas

Top

---

Shuttle Rides
Shuttle Coordinator Aurora Madrigal - aurora487@sbcglobal.net

For those of you still doing some traveling, or for running errands, remember, use our volunteer shuttle service (see page 45 in your yearbook). Make a new friend or learn about a friend's journey/trip during that ride to/from the airport. Send an email to ffdallas-shuttle@googlegroups.com with info on date, time, and place for pickup and/or drop-off. Want to become a shuttle driver? Send an email to Aurora Madrigal aurora487@sbcglobal.net for more info.

Business Cards

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/.

Board

Board meetings are being held via Zoom. All members are welcome to attend. Please contact our president, Isabella Iverson ( Iiverson12@sbcglobal.net ) for dates, times and a link to Zoom if you wish to attend. In July the Board meets on July 12 at 1:30 pm.

Top

---

Newsletter Apprentice Wanted

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HELP FRIENDSHIP FORCE DALLAS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CLUB FROM YOUR HOME? DO YOU HAVE WRITING, COMPUTER AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS?

Then you might like to apprentice with Felicity as editor of this newsletter sent to members every other month. The role of editor involves:

- Attend the board meeting each month via Zoom
- Keep up to date with club activities
- Obtain email updates for the upcoming newsletter
- Transfer this information to the newsletter template

If you’re interested in learning more please contact Felicity Sentance at fsentance@gmail.com.

Top

Isabella Iverson and Gerry Arens enjoyed a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico last month with family.


*****


Mary Latham enjoyed a train trip in Alaska this month. She says her “mental health” trip was very successful. Pictures to come later.

Cathy Ignatin had some stents put in her legs to improve her circulation.

Michael Wald’s latest blog is on the Katy Trail in Dallas:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10165865882775647&set=a.235257115646

Mary Latham shared a link for free e-books:
https://lifehacker.com/how-to-read-e-books-for-free-without-pirating-them-1847187739

Mary Williams celebrated her 85th birthday with her entire family of 22 – coming from four states. Also celebrating July/August birthdays were daughter Ann, and grandchildren Zachary, Douglas and Ethan.



Top

by Vice-President Membership - edward perez, erperez54@gmail.com
 
Membership News and Updates

Here come the leaves again Falling on my head like a memory ... (with apologies to Annie Lennox & The Eurythmics) Still, more great FFD meetings & events! Thanks to Paula for arranging speakers and to Sandy & Felicity for recommending restaurants! And a new year
is right around the corner! If you would like to help your club in a committee or board officer role, please talk with any any board member. Board officer elections will be in November; the new board year begins in January. 2021

edward perez, Vice President Membership
erperez54@gmail.com

New Members

We have TWO new members, bringing our member count to 70 members (incl 1 Emeritus) in 55 households. .... Lee Fischer (joined in July; lives near Midway & W. Northwest Hwy; introduced to FF by a friend) .... Jian Li (joined in August; lives near Preston & Belt Line; attended a meeting a few years ago) Say hello to them when you see them at our next online meeting. And, hopefully, at an in-person meeting or gathering!! And, please share about Friendship Force with your friends - invite them to our meetings and events.

Membership Connections

On July 29, 17 members and friends met at Scalini's Pizza & Pasta in Lakewood for our "3rd Thursday"
- lots of conversations, sharing life experiences, and great Italian food.



I had planned a "3rd Thursdays" for August, but that pesky newbie Delta reared its head. Four of us met online (Mary Williams, Isabella Iverson, Kathy Jacobs and I). We discussed memorable summer travels when we were kids as well as when young adults and some recent travels.




Quick Member Quiz:
Who traveled from their home state to California on a motorcycle?
Who traveled from their home state to California on Route 66?
Who traveled from their home state to Washington and back in a little 2 door hatchback?
Think you know? Send your guesses to me at erperez54@gmail.com.  Winner gets a bottle of red wine or beverage/deli item of their choice. Look for announcements in your email for upcoming "3rd Thursdays".

Have ideas for Membership Connections topics and/or locations ? Like to volunteer to organize and/or host a gathering, field trip, picnic, tasting, etc. ? Know of a great restaurant for lunch or a great place we can visit ? If so, let me know so we can plan a Membership Connections event

Top

---

Membership Anniversaries

The following members are celebrating a membership anniversary this year. Next time you see them,
congratulate them on their anniversary - and ask them about some of their FF experiences.

5 yrs
2016-08 : Leslie Parker
2016-12 : Barb Taylor
2016-12 : Camille & Jerry Daugherty

1 yr
2020-02 : Terri Shepard

Top

---

Let People Know About FFDallas!

In October, Jim Young (FF Fort Worth) and I will present about Friendship Force Intl to "Ambassadors For Aging Well", an organization based in Arlington which aims to "educate, advocate, and consummate innovative changes in our communities to make life good for older adults."

THANKS to those members who have invited your friends, family, and members of other clubs to our meetings and events. Please continue to share with your friends about Friendship Force and invite them to our meetings and events - just forward club emails to them. If you know of a group that might be interested in learning about FF, please contact me (edward perez). 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/

Word of mouth is one of our best ways to attract new members! So, invite folks to attend an upcoming monthly meeting, an event, or an inbound or outbound journey. Just forward our emails to them about the event and/or our newsletters.

Top

---

Changes and Updates

If you move or change your contact information (phone number, email address(es), etc.), let eward perez 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

Top

---

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. edward perez

                              
                    

Top

if you’re are not receiving it or other emails from FFI, you can go to the FFI home page
https://www.thefriendshipforce.org/  then go to the bottom, put your email address in the "email address" box under "Newsletter", then click Subscribe.

FFI VIRTUAL EXPERIENCES Remember, FFI hosts Virtual Experiences presented by FFI staff and members of clubs around the world. There are several "Faces and Places" events. You can see all upcoming events at the following webpage. Toward the bottom of that page is a list of previously recorded events. .... https://blog.friendshipforce.org/virtual-experiences/

Check the FFI website for other possible adventures for 2021-2022 as travel begins to open up. 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/.

Top

---

Sign up for NEW international website: https://my.friendshipforce.org

Join Friendship Force International's website:

Friendship Force Intl has launched a members-only website https://my.friendshipforce.org (myFF.org) with security and privacy built-in.

Currently, each myFF.org registered user has a profile (name, email, country, club, contact info, journeys, etc.). In addition, each FFI club also has a profile (info, photos, founding date, location, and contact details, journey history). FFI has and will be publishing organizational, club, member, and journey news items ONLY to myFF.org (public items will be distributed via a separate email distribution list).

Overtime, users will be able to view information about other clubs and users; view & send messages to other clubs and users (helpful for JCs as well as allow journey participants to keep in touch); and view a personal and global event calendar. Journey coordinators will be able to publicize and manage journeys, while users will be able to apply for and pay for journeys that they've been accepted on.

Other features under consideration include "interest groups" (groups of users who can discuss various topics, hobbies, etc.), virtual experiences and member resources (both being moved from the public websites), communications for your region, and payments for various items.

See the link to the document for signup instructions. You'll need to provide your name, email address, and indicate which club you're a member of. There is other optional information that you can supply.

As an incentive to signing up for my.friendshipforce.org, if you renew your 2022 FFD membership AND you signup at myFF.org by Dec 31 (instructions on the link), you will be entered into a drawing. Two members will have their 2022 FFD membership dues covered by the club.

See the  step by step instructions for signing up for http://my.friendshipforce.org

Let me know if you run into any obstacles or need assistance. Edward perez will be holding some Zoom meetings to walk you through the process. If you do not have access to a computer or tablet, he can help you get signed up. ereperez43@gmail.com

edward perez
vp, membership
ff of dallas

So, please take some time to signup for my.friendshipforce.org - you might be a winner in the drawing!!

---