Quick Look:

The Friendship Force is an international non-profit organization founded to promote friendship, goodwill and understanding among the world's people. The organization creates an environment where personal friendships can be established through international home stay exchanges.  

The Friendship Force achieves its goals through the travel of goodwill ambassadors to pre-assigned destinations. In each city, the ambassadors share the lives of their host families for one week.  

Established in 1977 by Wayne Smith with the support of President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter, Friendship Force has grown into an organization of 50,000 members in 58 countries. There are nearly 350 clubs around the world with about 135 clubs in the United States. The headquarters of Friendship Force International is in Atlanta with George Brown as President.

The Dallas club was established in 1994 and now has membership of over 100 people from all walks of life - professionals, seniors, singles, couples, families - anyone who loves to meet new friends at home and abroad.  The club has enjoyed wonderful outbound exchanges to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Brazil, Chile, England, Cuba, Japan, Belgium, Germany, Croatia and Columbia; this year we plan to visit Costa Rica. We have hosted clubs from Germany four times, Chile, Latvia (twice), Peru (twice), Brazil, Japan (twice), England, Canada and Romania.

For more information about Friendship Force International, club contacts and trips offered, please see their webpage at www.thefriendshipforce.org.  

See Friendship Force History.

Motto

"Changing the way you see the world!"

Dear Friendship Force Clubs,
Now you have seen the new logo, a custom design for us by Iconologic in Atlanta.

We’re wondering whether there is another name to call it by, besides the generic ‘logo’ So we thought we would ask all of you.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

*This logo represents who and what Friendship Force is today.
*The multiple colors connote diversity. Not just two people shaking hands but people of Many skin colors coming together.
I*t is an intentionally abstract symbol…meaning it can suggest to each person what speaks to them.
*It is doves of peace
*It is people joining hands
*Or, it is simply an energetic, sparkle of fun
*An invitation into the world of friends to get to know us better

So! What to call it??

If you have an idea, please send it to: Rebecca at rshaw@thefriendshipforce.org
Thanks!
The Staff at FFI

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Mission

To promote world peace and understanding by creating an environment where individual friendships can be established across the barriers that separate people.

Friendship Force International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the principle that each person can make a contribution to global goodwill. Home hospitality - the heart of a Friendship Force exchange- provides the opportunity for people of different countries and cultures to connect at a personal level. More than half a million participants have experienced the personal enrichment and cross-cultural understanding that results from a Friendship Force exchange. The ever-widening Friendship Force global network represents a powerful and growing force that can overcome differences between people and nations.

The Friendship Force Pledge  

As a member of the Friendship Force, I recognize that I can make a difference. I recognize that I have a mission. That mission is to be a friend to the people of the world. As I embark upon this adventure, I know that others will be watching me. I know that through my example to my fellow citizens and the people of other countries, the cause of friendship and peace can be furthered.  

I can make a difference!

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To: Friendship Force Club and Exchange Leaders
From: George Brown
Date: June 13, 2008
Re: New Website launches on 16 June!

On Monday, June 16, at 12:00 pm Atlanta time, FFI will launch the new Friendship Force website. The web address will be the same (www.thefriendshipforce.org), but it will have an entirely new look, reflecting the re-branding initiative that is part of our strategic plan. I invite all of you to take a look at the website in the days ahead and let us know what you think. It will be a “work in progress” for a while as we continue to make improvements.

As you and your members become familiar with the website, there are several features that I want to emphasize:

1. GETTING THE WORLD’S ATTENTION
We all know that FFI has a great story to tell. We also know that we live in an age of information technology. So, we are going to maximize our piece of cyberspace by using our website to help us get the word out about our organization and its activities. Our new homepage is designed to be fun, attractive and interesting to our members and to the general public.

2. ATTRACTING EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
The website will be useful in getting the word out about Exchanges. Here’s what the terminology means:
Featured Exchanges provides a sample of upcoming exchanges that are open to applicants from outside the originating club. Currently these exchanges originate in the USA but anyone, anywhere in the world, may apply. We will also be adding exchanges of interest to members from other regions in the future.

In addition to the Featured Exchanges we still have the “All Exchanges” listing as well as “Find an Exchange,” both of which provide a full listing of our exchange activity for 2008 and 2009.

3. WEB-SITE VIDEOS
We’re entering the age of web-videos with the new website, providing the opportunity to include short videos for those with fast internet connections. The new website includes the video about the new logo and strategic plan that was sent to all club presidents.

4. VISIT THE FFI STORE
We have an on-line Friendship Force store for the first time. You can order merchandise with the new FF logo directly from an internet supply house called “Café Press”. In the weeks ahead we’ll be adding additional merchandise items including a standard logo lapel pin — that will be supplied from FFI in Atlanta. In July we will provide guidelines to clubs on how to use the new logo in their own materials or merchandise.

5. PRIVATE HOMEPAGE FOR FF LEADERSHIP ONLY
One of the most important features of the new website is a special section for club and exchange leaders. This new leadership section is much stronger. And to avoid confusion for members and the general public who may be using the website to learn about FFI, a password will be required for the leadership section. We want all active FF leaders — both club and exchange leaders—to have access to this section, which we’re calling the Leadership Forum, so the password is very easy to remember:

The user name is FFI; the password is friendship.
We are asking that club presidents give the password to exchange directors and other leaders who may have need of forms, manuals and other leadership information. The Leadership Forum section is also designed to be interactive, providing a way for you to communicate with each other and with the FFI staff on an ongoing basis, using “blogs” (web-logs). This means you can enter comments and suggestions that can be seen by FF leaders around the world. Give it a try! Or you can send an email directly to me through the website in the “Talk to George” section. I think it will be fun and also very productive.

6. NEW NAME FOR OUR MONTHLY E-MAIL TO YOU
Since we will now be calling our entire leadership section in the website Leadership Forum, the name of our monthly communication which you have been receiving by that name will now be called the “FFI Communiqué.” We’ll continue to send this via e-mail, with back issues saved on the website in the leadership section.

If you’re like me, this new technology can be quite confusing. But there is no doubt that the Internet is a tremendously powerful tool for a global organization like FFI. In addition to providing the world access to our story and our programs, it also enables us to greatly improve communications between FFI and our clubs. It won’t always go just the way we want, but we can learn together and in the process create a much more efficient and effective international organization. I’m looking forward to working with you to make this a reality!

Staying in Touch

The Friendship Force International (FFI) office is at 233 Peachtree Street, Suite 2250, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA on Jan 8, 2007.  Tel:  404-522-9490 or 9490; e-mail: ffi@thefriendshipforce.org. George Brown is President of FFI and Debbie Powell is our Program Service Coordinator in Atlanta.  

Check the webpage for Friendship Force International:

http://www.thefriendshipforce.org

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2007 FFI Board Meeting and New Board Members

The annual meeting of the Board of Directors was held in Atlanta September 9-11, 2007 with all 12 active members in attendance. The board received regular operations reports from the staff and approved a preliminary budget for 2008. A major portion of the time was spent looking to the future of Friendship Force with a strategic planning session, led by John Suddes who was one of the speakers at the 30th anniversary conference in Atlanta earlier in the year. The results of the strategic planning process will be announced later in the year. The board expressed its appreciation to all the club leaders around the world who responded to several surveys, which were very useful in helping shape the discussion.

An important part of the annual meeting is the election of officers for the next year and also filling of vacancies on the board. For 2008, the officers will be as follows: Donna Lambeth (North Carolina) will be Board Chairperson; Arifin Mochtar (Indonesia) will serve as Vice-Chair; Thomas Dortch (Atlanta, GA) was elected Treasurer; and Rita Powell (Oregon) will serve a second year as Secretary.

Four new board members were elected to fill vacancies. Each will serve a four-year term beginning January 2008 and ending December 2011. The new members represent different countries and have a variety of backgrounds.

Cang Jian (known to FF members as Jack) is from Nanjiing, China and is 42 years old. He is married and has a 12-year-old daughter. Jack has degrees from both Peking University and Nanjing University. Jack speaks English, Hebrew and several Chinese dialects. Jack is the director of the Department of International Liaisons at the Jiangsu International Cultural Exchange Center. This organization is FFI’s partner organization for the Nanjing exchange program that has been very effective in both hosting FF delegations and also in organizing outbound exchanges. He has participated and planned exchange programs to Canada, France, Japan, Russia and the U.S. Jack became involved with the Friendship Force in 1995. Since that time China has hosted nearly 40 inbound exchanges.

Elza Maria Fernandes dos Santos (known to FF members simply as Elza) is 51 years old and lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil with her husband Eduardo de Cillo. In addition to Portuguese, she speaks English and Spanish. Elza graduated from Ibero Americana University and worked in human resources and sales before opening her own business. She is now retired. Elza joined the Friendship Force in 1988 and served as club president from 2001 to 2006. She was the host chair for the 2005 International Conference in Sao Paulo, and has recently served as Vice Chair of the FF Council of Brazil. Elza has traveled extensively with the Friendship Force and participated in a three-month homestay with a family in Colorado with another organization.

Andrew Sterling is 62 years old and from Ottawa, Canada, but he was born and raised in Adelaide, Australia. He has degrees from the University of Adelaide and Flinders University of South Australia. After completing his education, Andrew moved to Canada where he worked at Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd. before retiring. He speaks both French and English. Andrew and his wife are widely traveled around the world. They joined the Ottawa club in 2001 and have participated in 15 outbound exchanges since that time. In 2002 he was elected to the Ottawa club’s board of directors and has served as president. During his professional career, Andrew traveled to Japan on 12 occasions and multiple times to countries throughout Europe, Asia and the South Pacific.

Dave Kalan is 52 years old and from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has lived his entire life in the U.S. He has engineering degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and Marquette University. Dave worked professionally for S.C. Johnson Wax for 21 years. While there he traveled frequently while supporting offices in London, Amsterdam and Sydney. Since retiring seven years ago, Dave has spent much of his time volunteering. Dave has been active with the Friendship Force for 17 years and has been on 16 Friendship Force exchanges and exchange director on 9 exchanges. He held the positions of Midwest field representative, club president, club vice-president and club treasurer. In addition to Dave’s travel with work and the Friendship Force, he travels with friends on a regular basis. He recently traveled with a friend to Senegal, West Africa.

International Conferences

2007 International Conference

Atlanta, Georgia

February 28th, March 1 and March 3

A report and some photos are in the May 2007 Newsletter.

Awards at this year's conference went to:

30th Anniversary Volunteer Leadership Award Winner, Lesley Pratt, Hertfordshire Club (our hostess at the welcoming party for our exchange there)

30th Anniversary Volunteer Leadership Award:
Mary Bryant of Lincoln, Nebraska
Bruce Murray of Sydney, Australia
Lesley Pratt of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Bob Schwagerl of Charlottesville, Virginia

30th Anniversary Outstanding Club Award:
The Friendship Force of Hamburg, Germany
The Friendship Force of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Friendship Force of Ottawa, Canada
The Friendship Force of Tokyo, Japan

Congratulations! Friendship Force is proud to have all of you as goodwill ambassadors of peace.

The 2008 conference will be held October 2-5 in Gold Coast, Australia.

The 2009 conference will be held in Okinawa, Japan - November 19-22, 2009.

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Make plans to attend the next conference: October 2- 5, 2008 at the Marriott Hotel, Gold Coast Australia. Where Queensland meets New South Wales on the east coast of Australia is the Gold Coast. The airport is at Coolangatta. Just south of  Brisbane, the Gold Coast boasts of 35 miles of white sand beaches, islands, perfect temperatures, nearby mountains, wildlife and national parks, and friendly people. It's sure to be followed by homestays nearby or a tour - we will keep you posted!

2009 International Conference

This event will take place in Okinawa, Japan - November 19-22, 2009

FFI Changes - August 7, 2007

From: George Brown, President, FFI
Re: FFI e-mail and website notice

As some of you may have discovered, the FFI website no longer contains information related to Friendship Force International. The domain name friendshipforce.org has been taken over by a domain broker. This happened because of a lapse in our domain name registration. The lapse occurred because the domain was created in 1999 using a different website hosting company. While the website was managed by our current company, the domain name or web address was managed by the previous company. Because of this, we were not provided with proper renewal notification before the domain expiration date.

The name “Friendship Force” is a registered trademark and there are legal steps we will take, if necessary, to have the domain name returned to us. Unfortunately, this may take as long as two months. During this time we have no control over the domain name or website located at friendshipforce.org.

To insure communications for our organization can move forward without disruption, we have secured the domain name www.thefriendshipforce.org. Please note that the only change is the addition of the word “the” to the former address. The same change is also required for all staff email addresses. So my email address will be gbrown@thefriendshipforce.org. In addition, you should know that any email messages sent since Sunday, August 5th, were not received and should be resent to the appropriate new addresses. We anticipate our new email addresses to be functional beginning Thursday, August 9th.

Also, any club websites that include links to friendshipforce.org need to be changed and directed to the correct address. If you have questions regarding changes to your site, please contact Ken Wilson at kwilson@thefriendshipforce.org.

We are very concerned about the confusion and inconvenience this will cause our members and leaders around the world. Please know that we are doing everything possible to correct the situation and to protect the good name of our organization.

Thanks for your understanding.

George Brown

NOTE: Only links on this page have been changed. If you see other links to FFI on other pages, please insert THE to the name: www,thefriendshipforce.org.

Communiqué/Leadership Forum

August, 2008 Communiqué

1. FFI Communiqué: This is the first issue of the FFI Communiqué, replacing the earlier Leadership Forum. As you may recall, we are now using the term “Leadership Forum” to refer to the entire leadership section of the new website. We will be sending an updated issue about once a month. Please be on the lookout for it in your email inbox—and let us know what kinds of items you’d like to see presented in future issues.

2. Leadership Forum Password: The Leadership Forum on the website is for FF leaders. You and others in your club who are in leadership positions can easily access this section by entering the log on: FFI (all uppercase) and friendship (all lower case) as the password. If you have any difficulty, please contact Rebecca Shaw: rshaw@thefriendshipforce.org 

3. New Logo Guidelines and Options: Within the next ten days we will be sending guidelines on how you can customize the new logo for use by your club. If you need information before then, please contact Rebecca, rshaw@thefriendshipforce.org.

4. Annual Awards. We are now seeking nominees for our annual awards for outstanding clubs and individuals. The criteria the awards committee will be looking for are excellence in club and exchange programs, as well as outstanding individual leadership accomplishments by Friendship Force volunteers. If you have someone in your club (or in another club) please send a short description of the individual or club achievements. Send your nominations to George Brown, gbrown@thefriendshipforce.org. The winners will be announced at the International Conference in October.

5. International Conference deadline extended. We now have reached the 300 mark for registrations for the International Conference and anticipate an excellent program, hosted by the Gold Coast, Australia club. The deadline for registration has been extended until September 12You may register online at www.regonline.com/conf2008 or contact Debbie Powell at FFI (dpowell@thefriendshipforce.org)

6. Planning for 2010. Even as planning begins for our 2009 exchanges, the FFI staff has begun work on the exchange assignment process for 2010. The online planning form will be available September 1. The online form should be submitted to FFI not later than November 1. Full instructions will be sent by email prior to September 1.

7. Hosting opportunities for English teachers: In 2008 we completed two very successful exchanges with English teachers from Thailand and Indonesia. We are hoping to expand this program in the future. We are looking for clubs in the USA, Australia and New Zealand that may be interested in the possibility of a teacher exchange as a special hosting opportunity. If your club is interested, send an email to Allison Lindsey and she will provide full details, alindsey@thefriendshipforce.org

8. FFI Staff Update: We recently welcomed two new Program Coordinators. Barbara Stonebrink-Martin, originally from Munich, is the new Program Coordinator for Germany and the United Kingdom. Elena McCarty, a native of Moscow, Russia, is working with our Russia and the former Soviet Union. Allison Lindsey and Minh-An Arthur are former staff members who have returned on a part-time basis. Allison is working on specialized educational programs while Minh-An is working on new exchanges with an environmental theme.

9. FFI Staff concern: Kathy Thomas, FFI manager of Exchange Operations, will be out of the office on medical leave beginning August 18. She will be undergoing major surgery and will be away for about four weeks. I know all of you join the FFI staff in extending to Kathy our thoughts and prayers for a full recovery. During her absence if you have any questions that you would normally be discussing with Kathy, feel free to let me or another staff member know so we can provide whatever assistance you may need.

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June 2007 Leadership Forum 

To: Friendship Force Club Presidents, Field Representatives, Members of FFI Board of Directors and Exchange Directors 

From: George Brown, FFI President 

Call for Nominations for the Friendship Force International Board of Directors: At the end of this year, three members of the FFI Board of Directors will complete their term of service: Mac Mackenzie (Florida), Julian Sewell (Brazil), Diana McIntyre (Canada). In addition, Kazuo Aichi will become a member of the FFI International Advisory Council and will be leaving the board. New board members will be elected by the board of directors at its upcoming meeting on September 11, 2007. The new members of the board will begin a four-year term of service on January 1, 2008. 

In keeping with established board policy, we encourage our club leaders and members to provide the board nominating committee with suggestions for new directors. We are requesting that you send us the names of possible candidates, along with a brief statement (not more than one page) as to why you feel the person would make a good Friendship Force International board member. You may nominate someone you know, or yourself if you would like to be considered. Attached is a more detailed description of the board of directors.

While you should feel free to consult with the person you are nominating, that is not required. The nominating committee will take all the names that are submitted and consider them carefully. From this initial list, the committee will select a list of finalists who will be contacted directly for their full resumes and to determine their interest and availability to serve on the board. The committee will then make its recommendation to the full board. Send your nominations by June 30, 2007 to gbrown@thefriendshipforce.org.

We look forward to receiving your nominations in the near future. 

Travel Guard Travel Insurance: Please continue to use Travel Guard as your preferred travel insurance provider if you are traveling on a USA outbound exchange. The policy is available online at www.travelguard.com. Click HERE for instructions to book your policy online.

Club Promotional Materials: Friendship Force International is now offering a box of promotional materials for your clubs. The box includes the following items and can be purchased for only $75 USD including shipping within the US (international shipping not included). The materials are worth $150 USD if sold individually. The materials are great gifts for speakers, new club members or ambassadors. If you are interested, please email Linda Ector at lector@friendshipforce.org and she will send you a box. 

Club Promotional Kit: 
5 travel mugs 
2 sports bags
2 tote bags 
100 brochures 
3 pens 
5 When the World Sings (cassette tape) 
FFI balloons
2 FFI Stories CD set – (30th anniversary) 
2 FFI DVDs
5 30th Anniversary Friendship Publications

Fund-raiser: What if FFI earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can! GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results. 

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter “Friendship Force International” as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year. Please be sure to spread the word!

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Nominations for Board of Directors: At its next meeting (August 24, 2008) the FFI Board of Directors will be electing five new members to serve four year terms beginning January 1, 2009. We are now seeking nominations for these positions. If you would like to make a nomination, please review the attached material and send your recommendation to George Brown at: gbrown@thefriendshipforce.org not later than 15 June 2008. 

International Conference: Reserve your space today for the International Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, October 2-5, 2008. This will be a great opportunity to learn more about FFI’s future plans while enjoying outstanding Aussie hospitality. All the details are on the FFI website or at: www.regonline.com/conf2008.

2009 exchanges: As of May 15, there are 292 confirmed club exchanges for 2009, with several more still being planned! As each exchange is confirmed a document entitled “It’s A Match!” is emailed to the participating clubs’ presidents. This is your club’s cue to identify a qualified and enthusiastic Exchange Director (ED) for the exchange and to send the ED’s contact information to FFI as quickly as possible. Then the FFI staff person overseeing your exchange will be in touch with the ED to assist with plans.

Another outbound? If your club is interested in adding an additional outbound exchange next year to your program, please contact Meghan Skelly at FFI. There is hosting currently available in Australia, Burundi, Germany, Ghana, Nepal, New Zealand and the USA. We would love to hear from clubs interested in making new friends in any of these destinations. Email Meghan at mskelly@thefriendshipforce.org.

Ready to Lead? To supplement the 290+ club exchanges for 2009, Friendship Force is also organizing a small number of exciting specialized exchange programs. These programs are open to ambassadors from any country, so the group would represent several different nationalities, not just one! Over the next few months we will be working on the content and itineraries for these 2009 programs and are looking for experienced, enthusiastic and effective exchange leaders from any country for the following. Please contact Debbie Powell at dpowell@thefriendshipforce.org if interested in learning more.

Humanitarian programs in Costa Rica, Mongolia, Romania and Tanzania. These programs include a homestay and have a service-related focus, such as bringing donations of medical or school supplies, working light construction at a new school or women's refuge, working with orphans, teaching English etc). 

Discover programs in China, Croatia, Eastern Europe (H), Guatemala, New Zealand (H), Norway, and Vietnam (H). These programs provide us a close encounter with the locals by way of cultural touring and activities such as meals and home visits with local people. Those marked “H” also include a homestay of at least five nights. 

Bridgebuilders programs in Colorado for skiing with a homestay, or northern Europe for biking with home visits. Bridgebuilders programs are based on a specific theme, either interest-based (such as sports, hiking, music) or based on profession (such as medical professionals, agricultural workers). Please contact FFI if you are a skier or enjoy cycling in the countryside (or perhaps your club wants to host a themed exchange like this and you want to tell us your idea!).

FFI Staff Changes: Some of you will remember Minh-An Arthur who was a Program Services Coordinator for Asia at FFI a number of years ago. We are delighted to welcome Minh-An back on a part-time basis as she helps develop some specialized programs focusing on environmental concerns - such as wildlife conservation, sustainable energy, eco-tourism and so on. If you have any ideas about projects of interest in your community, or if you would be interested in leading such an exchange program in 2009, please contact Minh-An at marthur@thefriendshipforce.org.

Club Survey: All club presidents have been sent an on-line survey to complete. This will provide important information to assist FFI in the implementation of the strategic plan. As of May 14, more than 130 have responded. If you haven’t yet responded, please do so as soon as possible. If you are having any difficulty or have questions, please contact Rebecca Shaw: rshaw@thefriendshipforce.org.

Opportunities Open to All Friendship Force Members, Worldwide: See Other Club Exchanges for some great opportunities for FF members around the world to join each other for some very unique experiences. New exchanges are to Italy and All Europe to Vietnam & Cambodia, November 5-25, 2008: Come with friends from around Europe to enjoy a 16 day program in Vietnam and four day tour of Cambodia. The highlight of the program will be home hosting in Hanoi and Hue. Cities in Vietnam you will visit are Hanoi, Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Ha Long, Hue, Hoi An, Danag and Ho Chi Minh. During the tour in Cambodia you will visit Siem Reap, home of the Angkor Wat temples and Phnom Penh, the capital city. To join the program in Hanoi, the estimated cost is 3150€ from Brussels or Amsterdam or would be 2200 € to join in Hanoi. For all the details contact Martin Cobbaert in Belgium at sb242234@skynet.be.

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Back Copies of Leadership Forums

Note: No Leadership Forums from FFI were available to post during from 2006-2007. Click here for Leadership Forums from 2003-2005. None were made available from that time until June 2007.

Other correspondence from FFI is posted here:

FFI Changes - cover letter with links to the next documents

Letter from Tony Coates - 11-02

Changes in Leadership Changes in Leadership - 11-02

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International Club of the Year: The Friendship Force of the Isle of Wight, UK

US Club of the Year: The Friendship Force of Long Island, NY

International Volunteer of the Year: Carlos Alberto Herra Guillen, The Friendship Force of Heredia, Costa Rica

US Volunteer of the Year: Craig Cornwell, The Friendship Force of Montgomery, AL

2006 Humanitarian Awards: The Friendship Force of Baton Rouge, LA and The Friendship Force of Tweed Valley, Australia

2006 Legacy Super Stars: Williams and Joan Blaine, Mac and Gaby Mackenzie, The Friendship Force of Greater Atlanta, GA, The Friendship Force of Greater Milwaukee, WI, and The Friendship Force of Memphis, TN

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World Friendship Day
March 1, 2005

As previously announced, we are requesting Friendship Force clubs around the world to celebrate the 28th anniversary of the founding of our organization with a special event on March 1, 2005. We are also using this occasion to raise funds to support the Legacy Campaign, our tribute to Wayne Smith. All of the funds raised will go to support the creation of new Friendship Force clubs around the world and to train a new generation of volunteer leaders. The World Friendship Day events will begin in New Zealand and conclude 24-hours later in Hawaii as clubs in each time zone join their friends around the globe in celebration. Already, many clubs have indicated that they will be joining. But we need every club to participate to make this a truly global event. The planning begins now, and by following three easy steps, your club can have a very successful event.

1.  Schedule It (club president and board)
     - Put March 1, 2005 on your calendar of club events
     - Send out a "save the date" announcement to your club members
     - Appoint an event chairman and small support committee
     - Contact FFI to confirm your participation in this important event. Use your regular 

       communication channels or send an email to our special email address - 

       aroundtheworld@friendshipforce.org.

2.  Plan It (event committee)
     - Determine the type of event you will have. It can be as simple as a "pot luck" evening, or as

       elaborate as a catered banquet.
     - Select a venue. If possible, choose a location that has Internet access (or that will allow you 

       to bring a computer that can be linked to the Internet.)
     - Determine price. Don't forget this is a fundraising event for the expansion of The

       Friendship Force. FFI is suggesting that $10 US be added to the cost per person as your 

       contribution to the Legacy Campaign. But you can be creative in how to raise this money. 

       Try a raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses; or look to local sponsors to help with the

       cost of the event. Make the fundraising part of the fun, with all members knowing their contribution

       will help in our common goal of creating a stronger organization.
     - Promote World Friendship Day with mailings to your club members. But look beyond your

       regular members. This can be a great way to introduce new people to your club. Include the

       media-they may be attracted to the fact that you are participating in a global event. A sample

       press release is available here.

3.  Enjoy It (everybody!)
     - Make sure it is a very friendly event, with people sharing FF experiences
     - Plan to show the new FF video (in dvd or VHS format) which will be provided all participating

       clubs well in advance of March 1, 2005)
     - Be ready to go "on line" to add your event to all the others that will be taking place as part of our

       global celebration.

If you would like some additional ideas or guidance on how to plan a great event-or if you want to share with other clubs what you will be doing on March 1, 2005--please contact us at aroundtheworld@thefriendshipforce.org.

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Recruitment for New Field Representatives
Date: May 5, 2004

From George Brown, President FFI

As you may know, Friendship Force International (FFI) operates Field Representative systems in several countries around the world to provide expert assistance from experienced volunteers to Club Leaders, Exchange Directors, and members. We are now soliciting applications for six vacant Field Representative positions, and we hope that you or someone you know will be interested in this opportunity for service! 

The job description outlines a most challenging and important role for these Field Representatives in serving FFI clubs, exchanges, and members to fulfill the mission of our worldwide organization. The appointment process allows for new talent to join this cadre on a regular basis while assuring stability through staggered terms of service for all Representatives. 

U.S. Field Representatives will be appointed to a two-year term of service with the opportunity to be reappointed for one additional term, thus serving a maximum of four years in the position. The term of office for those applying now will begin on July 1, 2004 and will end on July 1, 2006. 

Laurie-Ann Scott will continue to serve as the U.S. Field Representative Coordinator and will chair the selection team made up of FFI leaders and staff. Those interested should submit their applications directly to Laurie-Ann Scott by May 31, 2004. You will find contact information for Laurie-Ann on the application form.

Many thanks for considering this exciting service opportunity and encouraging any others you feel qualified to apply. All applications will be considered with care.

See www.thefriendshipforce.org for attachments for: 

U.S. Field Representative Description of Responsibilities 
U.S. Regions and Field Representative Assignments
U.S. Field Representative Application

34 Peachtree St., Suite 900, Atlanta, GA 30303 USA
Phone: 404-522-9490 Fax: 404-688-6148 

E-mail: ffi@thefriendshipforce.org
www.thefriendshipforce.org

What if FFI earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Well, now we can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter “Friendship Force International” as the charity you want to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year. Please be sure to spread the word!

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Blog - 2007

Friendship Force International launched a new blog this month, titled Blog for Friendship. The term “blog” is short for web-log and is a user-generated site that presents information in a journal format. The website allows staff and club members to share their experiences, ask questions or chat with a friend on the other side of the globe.

Blog for Friendship can be found at www.thefriendshipforce.wordpress.com