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 |
| 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)
June 8 - 5pm: Mission to Costa Rica Greek Isles Restaurant, 3309 N. Central
Expressway, Plano (Parker and Central on West side of Expwy)
Other Meetings
July 13th - 5 pm: Small group dinners in homes Coordinated by Henny Houston and Bobbie Boger 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. Presenter: Zia Shamsy (probably at Oasis Palace again) Need coordinator (Paula will find and reserve restaurants, but needs someone to take member reservations and assign to restaurants.)
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June Meeting
| Past Meetings
Meeting - March 9th
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Our speakers told how their life had been affected by Friendship Force experiences.
- 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:
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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.
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." 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. |
| 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. 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. 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: 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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By Ed Edgren - Domestic and Ray Enstam - International
Our Harrisburg PA Exchange (July 1 - 7) can accept four more people. If you are interested, please contact Frits
Andeweg at fritsandeweg@sbcglobal.net. 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. We may have a potential group coming to Dallas from San Francisco in April of 2009. An ED has not been selected. We have a firm trip scheduled to Sibiu, Romania in late May or early June. Ed Edgren will be the ED. We have a scheduled inbound from New Zealand in November. An ED has not been selected. |
International
Outbounds 2009
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 |
Question:
Exactly what is a "day host?"