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President's Message
 Spring has definitely sprung, and Dallas is showing off a rainbow of colors. As a gardener,
I consider this my favorite time of the year in spite of an occasional bout of sneezing! I love watching all of my flowers, bushes and trees grow.
Our Friendship Force goal is also to grow as a dynamic and relevant organization, promoting a network of friendships among people around the world and in our own country. We are making a difference.
Last month my husband John participated in one of the new humanitarian exchanges sponsored by Friendship Force, Int'l. He joined a national group that traveled to tiny
Brasilito, Costa Rica to teach elementary school kids English and bring them needed supplies. He and his fellow teachers became part of the fabric of the community, helping the children who will become this town's most important resource.
Club member Ed Edgren is initiating an effort to start a Friendship Force club in Bethlehem or Jerusalem in response to FFI's Pilgrimage Project. Two clubs already exist in Israel. Starting one or two clubs on the West Bank could lead to ambassador exchanges in both areas that could help build greater understanding.
In October our club will visit Turialba, Costa Rica and develop a wider network of friends in this Central American country. This July a Dallas contingent will visit the Harrisburg, PA club, a member of which taught with John in Costa Rica. The world is getting smaller as we reach out.
Your club is indeed making a difference. It is what attracts people to join. Help spread the word about what we're doing so that others are inspired to work with us in creating a better world.
Wendy Whaley
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Upcoming Meetings
By Paula Rose, Program Chair
 May Meeting
May 18th, 6 pm (third Sunday, because Mother's Day is second Sunday, and later in the day
to avoid heat)
Backyard of Kathy Morris
Bring your favorite picnic dish
Drinks and paperware will be provided
Please donate $5 toward this cost at the picnic
Please bring chairs and tables if you have them...at least chairs
Contact Paula with your reservation by May 15th so we can buy the correct number of drinks,
plates, etc.: paularose2000@hotmail.com
 June Meeting
June 8 - 5pm: Mission to Costa Rica
Greek Isles Restaurant, 3309 N. Central
Expressway, Plano (Parker and Central on West side of Expwy)
Presenter: John Whaley reporting on the FF mission to Costa Rica (school)
Other Meetings
July 13th - 5 pm: Small group dinners in homes
Coordinated by Henny Houston and Bobbie Boger
Aug. 10 - 5 pm: Morocco!
Presenters: Ken Walker and Peggy Benton
Oasis Palace (Mediterranean), 327 W. Spring Valley (just E. of Central
Expwy)
$13 plus tip for extensive buffet/coffee or tea. Tip extra.
September 14 - 5 pm: 50th Anniversary of Sister Cities in Egypt
Presenter: Zia Shamsy (probably at Oasis Palace again)
Oct 12th 5 pm - Small group dinners in restaurants
Need coordinator (Paula will find and reserve restaurants, but needs someone to take member reservations and assign to restaurants.)
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| Past Meetings
Meeting - March 9th
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The theme of our March 9th meeting at the Pasand (Indian) Restaurant was "Stories of International
Friendships - Texans reaching out to the world."
Our speakers told how their life had been affected by Friendship Force experiences.
- Peggy Benton.(left) spoke about a continued relationship with a Peruvian family she
hosted.
- Myrna Ridings (right) spoke about a young
visitor from Japan who returned another summer for a family visit in Wisconsin. |
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- Carina Vanlaet (center) who is from Belgium
but now living in the US, met international friends Dr. Nadia Tayari from Iran and
Jamie Forrest, whose family is from Armenia.
Guests at the March meeting included:
Sandee Hodges - Flower Mound
Ernest Williams - Flower Mound
Edwin Herrera - Mesquite
Jaime Forrest - Lewisville
Dr. Nadia Tayari - Allen
Parvin Kujoory - Plano
Wayne & Darlene Primm - Coppell
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Meeting - April 13
 Our April 13 meeting took place at the New New Chinese Buffet, where we always
have good food in an excellent meeting facility.
UTD faculty members, Dr. Ming Gu (left) and Professor Xuanchuan Liu spoke about the newly opened Confucius Institute at UTD
and the Chinese educational system.
The coordinator was Martha Durst.
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Member News
 Gary Paramore
Gary is undergoing treatment for cancer. Anyone who wants to keep up with his treatment and/or sign his guestbook may do so through this
link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/garyp. Gary says "I miss you all and hope to be back in shape for the Costa Rica trip this fall."
Get Well Wishes 
We extend best wishes to Diana Bosworth and John Funk for improved health.
Ruth Keehn
Some of you may remember Ruth Keehn, who was a member of our group several years ago and has visited since then as well. She died on March 6th of non-smoker's lung cancer. A memorial service was held at Unity Church of Dallas, on Sunday March 16th.
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| Club News
Friendship Force Pen Sets
Edward Perez will have Friendship Force pen sets for sale at the May Picnic. These make excellent gifts, especially for those going to Harrisburg and Costa Rica.
Available are single pens (wood grain, refillable) with Friendship Force embossed on them
$3, and pen and pencil sets (wood grain refillable) with Friendship Force embossed on the pens and on the wood grain box for $7. Cash or check to
Friendship Force of Dallas.
BridgeBuilders
Beth Allen-Eden of Oklahoma City club is taking a computer from Bob Langford's TCPI center to the School for the Blind in
Trujillo, Peru - courtesy OKC club - and
ten Spanish talking calculators and braille paper courtesy of Friendship Force Dallas. She is going in May as a nurse to assist with eye operations in Northern Peru and will also visit Trujillo FF members.
In January, Ed Edgren delivered a computer to the Helen Keller School in Jerusalem. In the past
eight years our BridgeBuilders program has sent, taken personally or arranged other clubs to take 14
PCs to Romania,
two to Peru and two to Palestine.
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Humanitarian Exchange to Costa Rica
The FFD Board unanimously approved a $250 contribution for the Friendship Force Humanitarian Exchange to Costa Rica. Below is a letter of thanks from the Exchange Director. Thanks also to our many members who have donated school supplies or equipment fund money for the children of
Brasilito. We received the following letter:
Dear Members of Friendship Force of Dallas,
Thank you all so very much for your generous contribution for the FF Humanitarian Exchange to Costa Rica. There are 22 very enthusiastic and eager ambassadors anxious to arrive at Escuela de Brasilito and work with the children.
Your donation will be put into a fund for the school to purchase a computer, copier, and to renovate their lunchroom. Between ambassador donations and additional fund raising, we will have over $4000 to donate to the school along with suitcases full of supplies.
Thanks again for thinking of us.
In friendship,
Vicki Vance,
Exchange Director
Area Events of Interest
There are many area events taking place in the near future that you may want to attend. Please check
the Events page for details.
If you know of events you think may be of interest to our members, please let Wendy
Whaley know.
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Exchanges
By Ed Edgren - Domestic and Ray Enstam - International
Domestic Outbounds 20098
Our Harrisburg PA Exchange (July 1 - 7) can accept four more people. If you are interested, please contact Frits
Andeweg at fritsandeweg@sbcglobal.net.
Domestic Outbounds 2009
We may have a small group trip to San Francisco in July and a full group trip to Sacramento in
October of 2009. An ED has not been selected.
Domestic Inbounds 2009
We may have a potential group coming to Dallas from San Francisco in April of 2009. An ED has not been selected.
 International
Outbounds 2009
We have a firm trip scheduled to Sibiu, Romania in late May or early June. Ed Edgren will be the ED.
International Inbounds 2009
We have a scheduled inbound from New Zealand in November. An ED has not been selected.
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More FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
 Question:
What do you mean by the term "home host?"
Answer: You agree to share your home for seven days and nights with someone
from another country or state. Learn about another culture without leaving home. You will
have the opportunity to participate in a number of group/club outings so you won't have to
plan everything for you and your guest. There will still be time to share your special
interests and places with your guest. The cost of events, admissions and outside meals is
paid for our visitors by our club, using the fees the visitors have paid in advance. But as
you would host a friend in your home, you host without compensation for meals at home and
transportation in your car.
Question: Since I am a single woman, would I be matched with another woman?
Answer: Yes, that is usually the situation, while couples normally host another
couple. There are exceptions, but it is your decision. Frequently, the number of bedrooms
and type of bed(s) available play a part in matching hosts and ambassadors (guests) as do
interests and occupations. Also, traveling as a single woman is easier when you are with a
group and a family; you are not alone.
Question: Will I have the opportunity to communicate with my host or guest
prior to his/her arrival?
Answer: Usually that is the case. It is amazing how many foreign guests and hosts
have e-mail. Important: As soon as possible, contact your host/ ambassador by e-mail,
letter, or phone. For many, friendships, communications, and private visits continue for
years and even a lifetime.
Question: What are the responsibilities of a "home host?"
Answer: A home host invites his/her guest to be a part of the family for the time the exchange is in your community. Involve your guest in the activities of your family. Participate in all official functions that are planned and attend all scheduled workshops. If you have an obligation during the exchange that is of such a nature that you are unable to take your guest, inform the Exchange Director and a "day host" will be arranged to accompany/entertain your guest on your busy day.
 Question:
Exactly what is a "day host?"
Answer: It is someone who wants to participate in the exchange but, for whatever reason, is unable to home host. This individual volunteers to escort an ambassador for one or more days to a scheduled activity or, if it is a day when no group activity is planned, decides how and where to spend the day with the guest. It would be a good idea to discuss this with the guest so the activity you plan is something of interest to both of you. NOTE:
The German ambassadors at right were dayhosted for a day at the State Fair.
Question: What would be expected of me if I volunteer to be a "small group dinner host?"
Answer: You decide how many guests, in addition to the number in your family, you feel comfortable having for dinner on an evening specified by the Exchange Committee. The menu is your choice and generally you provide the main course and arrange for your invited guests to bring a salad, dessert, appetizer, or wine. It is entirely up to you. The evening is for you to plan whether you play a game or just visit. The whole idea is to share the culture of your guest and give them the opportunity to visit another home and meet others. When space allows, members, new and potential members are included as guests. Of course, the guest's host family accompanies them to your dinner. Sharing, fun, laughter and conversation are the goals for the evening.
Adapted from information from Friendship Force International in Atlanta by
Brud Kisner, Peggy Benton, Mary Williams and Ken Walker.
The complete set of FAQs is on
our Club Information page
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