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President's
Message
With spring comes renewal, and I want to share Friendship Force International’s strategic plans, which promise to bring new vitality to our organization. The plan calls for 4 objectives
1. Gain new relevance by focusing on current global challenges
How can FFI be more relevant? By linking exchanges to themes such as cultural understanding, international education, humanitarian assistance, global environment and interfaith dialogue.
2. Become recognized locally as well as globally
Friendship Force clubs need to become more connected with their local communities. Focusing our exchanges on global themes can attract the interest of the local media as well as other organizations with similar missions. FFI plans to launch a major initiative to raise awareness in communities around the world.
3. Create a sustainable club model that will expand membership
FFI’s future depends on a global club network with a new generation of participants joining current members. FFI will develop growth strategies based on actual experience of successful clubs throughout the world.
4. Overhaul the headquarters organization to improve communications and identify new financial resources
The Board of Directors will work with FFI to improve the corporate infrastructure, expand the use of internet technology to increase communications and implement a new fundraising strategy to support program development
We are already a strong, growing and happy club. And yet I’m sure you understand the need to remain relevant and become better known. I look forward to working (and having fun) with you this coming year as we make strides towards achieving these objectives. After all, we are an important force for peace in the world, and we should be as effective as we can.
In friendship,
Wendy Whaley
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Upcoming
Meetings
By Paula Rose, Program Coordinator
 March Meeting
Date/Time: March 9, 2008 – 5 pm
International Friendship Month
… Invite a friend from another country!!!
Place: Texas Palominas Buffet -100 S. Central Expwy (SW Corner of Beltline and 75/Central) 972-479-1771. Enter restaurant
on west side.
Food: HUGE buffet of salads, soups, Mexican food, pizza, meats, fish and many desserts
Cost: $10 including tip and coffee (sodas are $1.50) with coupon to be given at door. Pay at restaurant.
Reserve: Call or e-mail Paula Rose by March 3 so we know how many tables to reserve.
Program: Stories of International Friendships...Texans reaching out to the world
Bobbie Boger...Germany
Peggy Benton...Peru
Myrna Ridings...Japan
Carina Vanlaet...Iran and Russia
Door Prizes: Travel Memoir/Short Story books
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 April Meeting (tentative watch for the flyer)
Date/Time: April 13, 2008 – 5 pm
Place: New New Chinese Buffet 3822 Belt Line (SE corner Marsh and Belt Line)
Program: UTD faculty member about newly opened Confucius Institute at UTD
arranged by Martha Durst.
Cost: Pay at restaurant $8.99 plus tax, drink and tip for huge Chinese buffet
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Past Meeting
Notes
January 20th Meeting
Wendy Whaley, FFD President, gave pens and a welcome to new members at our Jan. 20 meeting.
Attending: Ralph Dority, Marylou Dority, Lynn Leon, Wendy Whaley, Martha Carrasco, Rafael Carrasco, Audrey Schlecht and Nishi
Bhatia. Not present were new members Carina Vanlaet and Sandra Kirk.
The Doritys met Ed Edgren when he was leading a group from Romania and they asked about FF. They came to some meetings and then joined!
Rafael and Martha Carrasco are cousins of Whaley's home hosts in Colombia. They joined FFDallas after a dinner at the Whaley's for their cousins Fabiola and Carlos when they were visiting the US.
Audrey Schlecht is a friend of Leo and Martha Durst.
Nishi Bhatia explored FFD several years ago and now has time to be involved since her daughter is away at university. She was born in India and came to US as a foreign student for university. She is a teacher in Plano. She attended the FF Regional Conference in Jan in Baton Rouge and has already recruited Suma Das our first new member for 2008!!
Sandra Kirk was on a trip. Carina Vanlaet will be one of our speakers in March.
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February 10th Meeting
The theme of our February 10 meeting at the Pasand (Indian) Restaurant was ‘Memories of Inbound Exchanges’ coordinated by Mary Latham. For the program, a member at each table told how an inbound exchange had affected their lives.
Bob Langford, Mary Williams, Frits Andeweg, Jim Bourn, Martha Durst and Nancy Hicks told us about deeply personal moments with
Ambassadors (visiting club members) from Chile, Peru, Canada, Japan, and Latvia.
Pictured
here are Audrey Schlect, Leo Durst, Marina Acosta de Flores, Lionel
Flores Sanchez (from Tarapoto, Peru), and Martha Durst during the
Lima/Tarapoto Inbound Exchange.
If you missed this program, you missed hearing some wonderful and moving stories. We heard of lifelong friendships, romantic relationships, and the experience of a blind child getting to know you by touching your face.
It was a thrill to hear from Bob Langford himself how the chance remark of a Viña del Mar, Chile, ambassador led to our Bridge Builders program. You can read how this program has enriched the lives of blind children in Peru, Mexico, Romania and Israel
in Dallas
Bridgebuilders on our Articles page, and see photos from 2007 on the
Computers to Romania
page. Bob and Mary Latham are pictured here.
Be sure and join us next month when we will hear how outbound exchange experiences have touched the lives of our club members.
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 Exchange
News
By Ray Enstam, Intl Exchange Coordinator
Inbound Canceled
The club has been notified that the inbound exchange from Kempsey, Australia scheduled for May 2008 has been cancelled. The Australia club was unable to find enough members able to make the trip and Friendship Force International decided to cancel it. At this point we have no inbounds scheduled for 2008. Friendship Force of Dallas is on the stand-by list if an exchange becomes available, but the Board considers this unlikely. Efforts are being made to find a domestic exchange to replace this, but it is late in the season and most plans for 2008 are already made. We had 3 inbounds in 2007 and now none in 2008. Feast or famine!
Outbound to Costa Rica Set
The outbound exchange to Turrialba, Costa Rica has now been set for October 7 to 14, 2008, with an optional touring extension from October 14 to 20. This is a highly sought after destination and was our first choice! The cost of the exchange is $300 plus airfare. The extension is priced at $1,113 for double occupancy and $1,476 single. For more information or to sign up, contact
the ED, Ray Enstam, Information about the exchange and the itinerary of the extension can also be found on
the Turrialba link from the Exchange
page.
NOTE: In the original flyer the cut off date for the first round of applications for Costa Rica was March 9. The Board decided to move this up one week and set the cut off date at
March 1, 2008. The reason was that unforeseen openings to travel to Costa Rica with the San Antonio club
would be available in April if our trip was filled. By making the cut off on March 1, those who don’t make the list with Dallas will still have time to apply to travel with San Antonio. Anyone interested in traveling to Costa Rica with the Dallas club, please get your application and deposit in on or before March 1, 2008.
Harrisburg Outbound Exchange - July 1-7
Space for one more person is available on our exchange to Harrisburg PA, July 1-7. Contact
Frits Andeweg for information.
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Other Club Exchanges
Several clubs are looking for ambassadors to join them. See more
information on the Exchange Page about:
FFI Discover Guatemala Exchange
March 20 - April 1, 2008
Reply
needed ASAP!
Costa Rica trip with San Antonio Club April
7 - 14, 2008 Only
a few places left! Discover
Vietnam & Cambodia
April 15 – May 1 Reply
needed ASAP!
Moscow, Russia & Lugansk, Ukraine
(Houston and Rio Grande Valley
clubs)
June 15
Optional trip to St. Petersburg
Reply
needed ASAP!
Exchanges for 2009
Friendship Force International has offered the Dallas club an outbound to Sibiu, Romania in May 2009 and an inbound from Taupo, New Zealand in November 2009. The Board has accepted both exchanges and we are now waiting to see if the other clubs
accept. Sibiu was one of the two clubs from Romania that visited Dallas in March of 2007, and this will be a return trip to visit old friends.
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Costa Rica Humanitarian
Exchange
Dallas Club member John Whaley is joining a FFI Exchange to Costa Rica in March 2008. The group will travel to tiny Brasilito on the Pacific Coast where they will bring school supplies and teach English for the town’s school of 150 kids. The school has very few resources and needs a computer and photo copier. The group hopes to raise funds to provide these as well.
If you wish to donate school supplies for John to take down, please contact him directly.
If you would like to contribute to the equipment fund, you can send a tax deductible check made payable to FFI c/o John, or directly to FFI at 233 Peachtree St., Suite 2250, Atlanta, Ga. 30303, Attn: Anna Smulski.
John promises to tell of his adventures at a future club meeting.
The FFDallas Board has approved sending a $250 contribution for the school’s equipment fund.
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| Club News
For new members - Frequently Asked Questions
New members, and even members who have been around for awhile, ask
questions about Friendship Force - what we do, what is expected of them
as a member, and what opportunities they have. We have a new flyer that
answers these questions; ask at the next meeting for your own copy. Or, see the Club
Information section of this website for the complete list. This flyer was adapted for
Dallas from information from Friendship Force International in Atlanta by Brud Kisner, Peggy Benton, Mary Williams and Ken Walker.
The Frequently Asked Questions are being published a few at a time in our
newsletters.
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Thanks from Bob Langford
 Last fall, long-time member Doris Langford passed away. Recently, Bob Langford sent us the following note along with a $250 donation to
FFD.
Dear Friendshippers,
Last year, Doris and I received many favors from you. Doris needed to go to the doctors and prescriptions and I needed grocery shopping and other things. Without your friendship and assistance, it would have been more difficult. Enclosed is a gift in recognition of this valuable assistance. Thank you again from Doris and I.
In Friendship,
Bob Langford
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 Treasurer’s Report
By edward perez, Treasurer
At the February board meeting, I presented a brief analysis of 2007 income and expenses relative to the past few years. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, the club had an overall deficit of around $3350, due to reduced income and higher expenses than expected. The good news is that in 2006 and 2007, by trimming expenses and tigher controls, we had surpluses that made up for the previous deficit. We are now solidly in the black with sufficient funds in our checking, bridge builder, exchange, and savings accounts.
I also presented, and the board approved, a budget for 2008 that is nearly balanced. Approximately 40% of our income will be from membership dues, 45% from monthly meeting fees, and the remainder from fundraising and donations. Approximately 51% of our expenses will be for monthly meetings, 23% for club operations (printing, postage, website, software, conference assistance, etc.), 16% for membership (fees to FFI, badges, etc.), and 10% for fundraising. During the meeting, there were several discussions about funds needed for the upcoming Southwest Regional Conference that we will host, possible assistance to home hosts during inbounds, and other membership related expenses. No decisions were made on these topics.
If you have any comments on the budget, suggestions for fund-raisers, ideas for events or activities to benefit our members and inbound ambassadors, or would like more information about our budget and accounts, please contact me.
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From the New Newsletter Editor
 With everyone’s help, I will strive to keep this publication interesting and informative. Please feel free to send me your comments on and suggestions for the new format. Thanks to all who have contributed to this issue.
If you have any information that you think might be of interest to our club members send it to me, email or snail mail, by the 15th of each odd-number month. That is, I need articles for the May-June Newsletter by the 15th of April.
Ken Walker, Newsletter Editor
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Officers and Committee Chairs
Officers:
President : Wendy Whaley
1st Vice President: Teresa Wilkin
2nd VP, Membership: Brud & Ann Kisner
Program Coordinator: Paula Rose
Secretary: Georgia Sigalos
Treasurer: edward perez
Administrative:
Parliamentarian: edward perez
Ways and Means: Mary Suther
Communications:
Flyers, Website, Yearbook: Mary Williams
Newsletter: Ken Walker/Dale Klosterman
Prospects/Member Packets: Teresa Wilkin
Publicity/Communications: Martha Durst
Speakers Bureau: Jim Bourn
Technology/Media: Ken Walker
Telephones: Patricia Andeweg
Exchanges:
Intl Exchange Coordinator: Ray Enstam
Domestic Exchange Coordinator: Ed Edgren
Exchange Treasurer: edward perez
Exchange Ambassador Gifts: Pam Varney-Terrell
Outbound - Harrisburg, PA: Frits Andeweg
Outbound - Turrialba, Costa Rica: Ray Enstam
Outreach:
Bridge Builders: Bob Langford
Hospitality Coordinator & Scheduler: Paula Rose
Sunshine: Judy Cornell
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Southwest Regional Conference
The 2008 FF Southwest Regional Conference was held Friday-Saturday January 11-12th, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Select in Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge club followed a Mardi Gras theme and provided interesting speakers, including our President George Brown who spoke on the FFI strategic plan; informative workshops, great food, and a good time. Conference planners worked very hard to provide a smooth-running conference and were delightful homestay hosts for an extra day in Baton Rouge for sightseeing. Bob Duncan, FF Baton Rouge, was the Conference Chairman.
Attending from Dallas were Teresa Wilkin, Paula Rose, Nishi Bhatia, Mary Suther, Wendy
Whaley (who was elected Queen of the
conference),
edward perez, John Whaley, Mary Williams and Jim Bourn. More photos from
the conference:
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John Whaley won the door
prize |
edward perez
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Cajun performer |
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Paula Rose and
Nishi Bhatia
Wendy and John
Whaley
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Area rep Jim
Young (FW), Berry Bock, Mary Suther and
FFI President
George Brown |
Baton Rouge Mayor
Kip Holden and FFI Pres George Brown
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Mary Suther
and Baton Rouge home host Tom Moore in a Cajun market
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Wendy
Whaley, Jim Bourn, John Whaley, Mary Suther, Teresa Wilkin celebrate
Mardi Gras |
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Southwest Regional Conference 2009
The Dallas club will be host for this conference next year. If you
would like to be involved in planning, be at the first planning meeting
on Saturday, Feb 23 at 10 am at Wendy
Whaley's house, or notify her that you are willing to volunteer.
Your ideas and assistance are needed!
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| Events
These events may be of interest to our members; see the Events
page for more information about::
Richland College Emeritus Spring Symposium - Inter-faith Program - Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Dallas Dinner Table - Wed March 19th, various DFW locations
International Conference Gold
Coast Australia - Oct 2-5. Details, homestay
info and application form are now available on www.thefriendshipforce.org.
More information is also available on our Events
page.
Note: The FF International website at www.thefriendshipforce.org
will have a new and improved website in March. The new webmaster is James Ecklund, editor of the FFLincoln NB newsletter and webmaster of the excellent Lincoln website. James gave
Ken Walker advice and assistance in learning how to set up the format he
is using in the newsletter.
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