Friendship Force of Dallas Celebrates its 10th Year

It's hard for founding members to believe that Friendship Force Dallas is celebrating its 10th birthday in 2004. Since its modest beginning, FFD has grown into a known quantity in Dallas and around the world. It believes in caring and friendship in a world often filled with the opposite.

Friendship Force of Dallas is one of several hundred affiliated Friendship Force clubs located throughout the world. The purpose of the club is to promote international friendship and understanding through homestay visits. It hosts citizen ambassadors from clubs in other countries and visits clubs around the world.

The Dallas club was established in 1994 as part of the Friendship Force International program, founded in 1977 with clubs in 58 countries and growing. Dallas membership is over 100 people from all walks of life – professionals, seniors, singles, couples, families – anyone who loves to meet new friends at home and abroad.

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Jim's Jewels

from Jim Bourn, President

Help! I was sorry to receive letters from two of our new office holders that they could not continue in their elected positions due to personal reasons or time limitations. Nancy Monson has resigned as ED for Asheville and Lake Hartwell Inbound domestic exchanges as well as the International Inbound of Cleveland U.K. She also said she could not be Newsletter Editor. Mick Smith also resigned as outbound ED to Kiel, Germany and South Flanders, Belgium. They will be truly missed. Also, we still do not have a Vice-President in charge of programs.  In any case, your officers are working, most of our monthly  programs are already planned for the year, and our exchanges will happen. By the time you get this newsletter, the January Officers Board will have met and hopefully several problems will be resolved.

Our Outbound Exchange in June probably will have 25 openings to Germany and 16 to Flanders. I am immediately getting prices for airfares for several days in late May with a possible pre-trip to Denmark and a possible post-trip (after S. Flanders) to Paris. This would let people go on various combinations according to the time they have and the money they want to spend. I should have more information by the next general meeting on 8 February. I will be contacting those that have signed up as interested to get preferences for travel; then I will provide pricing and publish a final itinerary, dates and prices, Because of the market for travel today, once we have a quote on the airfare price, those interested will need to purchase airfare within a few days to lock in travel. Policies vary with different consolidators and travel agents. 

We still need an Inbound ED for Asheville. We need to adjust the schedule to shorten the length of each day as well as reduce the costs. The main concern is to provide a good event for our guests while conserving energy for the visitors and home hosts. Slight changes will allow more time for individuals to develop friendships while choosing from different options to occupy free time. UPDATE: Chris Michalek has been appointed ED. 

I just returned from a wonderful Southwest Regional Conference in Austin. Mary Williams received an award from our club for all her hard work. Mary, Ray Enstram and I all gave presentations and led discussions. FFI President Susie Smith has resigned and will be leaving in April. The new President of FFI should be announced by mid-March. Despite financial setbacks and cancellations of exchanges, FFI is well on the way to being better than ever. There are several new ideas and programs that look very interesting. (See article on FFI News.)

I will attempt to cover the empty chairmanships, but programs may be shortened or altered if help is not forthcoming, It is important that we complete our International Exchanges to fulfill both National commitments and the mission of our club. Dallas is well-thought of in the region and the nation for our active inventive programs and the best members anywhere. The new year promises to be the most fun year that we have ever had, If we all stick together it will be easy to maximize the fun and minimize the work. I look forward to hearing from you.

Jim

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Southwest Conference Held in Austin  

Representatives from ten Friendship Force clubs in the Southwest Region met in Austin January 23 and 24^th for the annual exchange of ideas and fellowship. Representing Dallas were Jim Bourn, Ava Vorosmarty  Rowe, Ray Enstam, Mary Williams and Marilyn Wilson. Susie Smith, Friendship Force International President, was the featured speaker. She introduced Rosalie Summers from Kansas as the new Field Representative for our region. Field Reps are available to help clubs with ED training and with other issues. 

Speakers were:

All presentations were very informative and participants got lots of new ideas, renewed friendships and made new friends. A dinner at a local restaurant featured awards given to outstanding members of each of the clubs. Mary Williams received the award from Dallas. Next year’s Southwest Conference will be in Fort Worth.

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Meetings

February

Time: Sunday February 8 at 5PM

Location: Two Guys from Italy - 11637 Webb Chapel  Road, Dallas, Texas (1/2 block south of Forest on Webb Chapel)

Dinner: A full dinner with soup, salad and drink (coffee, tea, or soft drink). Your choice of entrée:

1.      Lasagna 

2.   Mixed Vegetables Italian

3.   Cannelloni

Cost: $14.00 including gratuity. Alcoholic drinks are available at cash bar. Pay upon leaving. 

Reserve: Contact Paula Rose by Feb 6 and give her your choice of entrée - paularose2000@hotmail.com

Program: We will discuss the outbound exchange to Kiel, Germany and Flanders, Belgium.  Mary Williams will give a brief overview of Flanders, and Barbara Wolf, native of Germany will give a brief overview of German customs. Jim Bourn will give information on exchange plans to date.

March

Time: Sunday March 14 at 5PM

Location: Baha’i Faith Plano Center, 4200 Hedgcoxe Rd., Plano TX  75024 (214-227-1844)

Dinner: Potluck dinner – your favorite main dish, veggie, salad or dessert; we’ll provide paper goods and drinks (coffee, tea, or soft drink)

Cost: $5.00 

Program: Tour of the new Baha'i Center and short presentation on Baha'i. Zia Shamsy is our host.

Reservation: Please send your reservation to Zia Shamsy by March 11 or contact him at zshamsy@aol.com.

April

Time: 7 pm

Location: Plano’s Blue Mesa Grill - Dallas North Tollway at Legacy 

Program: Farewell Dinner for Asheville Inbound Inter-club Exchange

     Featured entertainers: Sandy Bell and Kim O'Connor

Cost: $20.00

Reservation: Please send your reservation to Chris Michalek by March 29 or contact her at: michalek@mindspring.com

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Club News

FFD Dues are Due

Annual dues cover January 1 through December 31 and are due by February 15. This allows us to put your name in our yearbook and send in your subscription to Friendship Magazine. Membership includes International dues, local dues, 6 issues of our newsletter as well as  four issues of Friendship Magazine. You may subtract $15 if you elect not to receive Friendship Magazine although we highly recommend that you take it. Dues are:

Individual - $40

Household - $45

Member of another club - $15 (does not receive Friendship Magazine 

or pay International dues through us)

Send your renewal check NOW to Membership VP Lillian Fipps. A membership form is on our webpage. This year, invite a friend to join also! Or, please let Lillian know if you DO NOT plan to join this year. Contact her at lillian@masterlink.net.

Treasurer's Report

Past Treasurer Eleanor Roylance Ewing announced a year-end combined balance and reviewed our budget. John Whaley and Brud Kisner will audit our Treasurer’s books for 2003. Incoming Treasurer Paula Rose will be putting our accounting information on Quicken.

Bridgebuilder

Ed Edgren announced that our Bridgebuilder project financed six computers to schools for the blind in Romania this past year. It costs about $100 to refurbish each computer and install Windows Eyes on it. The Board voted to allocate another $600 in 2004 to provide computers to the blind in St. Lucias, Nicaragua and in Honduras. We will be invoiced when the computers have been shipped by Bob Langford’s volunteers who are doing the work.  (See http://handicapability.org) The Rotary Club of Richardson will pay the freight costs.

Sunshine

The Board voted to donate $25@ to Hospice in memory of two members and a daughter of a member who died in 2003: Marijo Gibson, Lee Schomer and Debbie Erb, daughter of Beverly and Don Erb.

HELP!

A volunteer is needed to be the Newsletter Editor. This new format is in Word – YOU can do it! Instruction and template furnished. Contact Jim Bourn. 

If you can help telephone members when needed, contact John Funk at jfunk14031@aol.com.

Member News

Paula Rose and Edward Perez surprised all at the FFD holiday party by announcing that they formally tied the proverbial knot. Congratulations and best wishes are in order.

Pat Peters’ mother died on January 26. Our condolences to Pat

Please welcome new members:

Henny Houston - hennyjack@earthlink.net

Rev. Warren and Gloria Quinlan - spiritualsparkle@yahoo.net

These people have made some changes:

Contact the webmaster or president for new addresses and/or phone numbers for:

Mac and Gaby Mackenzie

Walter E. Brady

Allen Terrell and Pam Varney Terrell

Nancy and Al Hicks' North Carolina address

Please delete Shaaron Salyer's work phone number.

New Officers for 2004

President                                                     Jim Bourn

1st V. President                                  Susan Cooper

2nd V. President/Membership              Lillian Fipps

3rd V. President/Programs        (need a  Chair/VP)

Secretary                            Pat Peters/Betty Mayeur

Treasurer                                       Paula Rose Perez

Bridgebuilders                  Bob Langford/Ed Edgren

ED/Belgium/Germany (outbound)       (need an ED)

ED/Asheville                                          (need an ED)

ED/Cleveland County                           (need an ED)

ED/Lake Hartwell                                  (need an ED)

Exchange Treasurer                          Ana Marie Lee

Historian/Photo Album/Scrapbook  Marilyn McRae

Hospitality                Lilliana Hollister/Charles Anker

Exchange Coordinator                       Susan Cooper

Int’l Exchange Coordinator                     Ray Enstam

Newsletter                                         (need an Editor)

Parliamentarian                                    Paula Harkey

Prospects/Member Packets                  Lee Latham

Publicity/Communications         Myrna/Dick Ridings

Speakers Bureau Coordinator                 Jim Bourn

Sunshine                                        Mary-Helen Lyons

Telephone                                                   John Funk

Ways and Means                             Brud/Ann Kisner

Yearbook/Webpage                            Mary Williams

News From FFI

International Conference 2003 Award Winners

Congratulations to the following recipi­ents of our 2003 awards, which were presented last month at the International Conference in Budapest:

Outstanding Achievement: The Friendship Force of Dayton, USA and Horst Neumann of Varel, Germany

Excellence in Public Relations: The Friendship Force of Koriyama, Japan

Excellence in Programs: The Friendship Force of Whidbey Island, USA

Excellence in Service: Norma Hassinger of Atlanta, USA For U.S. Club

Open World Program

Since 1999 FFI has been participating in the Open World program, sponsored by the U.S. government for bringing leadership delega­tions from Russia. The program is in the process of expanding into Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Lithuania. FFI will submit a grant proposal to the Open World Leadership Center some time in January for our organization's participation in the program in 2004.

U.S clubs interested in hosting a delegation of 10 to 15 people in 2004 should contact Harriet Kuhr at FFI as soon as possible so that FFI can know the clubs’ hosting capacity for next year and make the appropriate request. Please also feel free to contact Harriet with any other questions you might have concerning this program at hkuhr@friendshipforce.org.

New Clubs

Our newest Friendship Force club is Kathmandu, Nepal. Congratulations to Shiva Shrestha for organizing Friendship Force International in Nepal! There are also three new clubs in Canada, two in Brazil, one in Bavaria, Germany and one in Arequipa, Peru.

Organizational Changes

The 9/11 attacks have greatly impacted travel organizations. Over the past two years, FFI staff has dropped from 23 to 12. This past year, Susie Smith’s first year in the President’s job, exchange cancellations were 30% (rather than 20%) due to an extremely low cash balance, rumors of war, the war in Iraq, SARS and the closing of Cuba to our trips there. However, the club is still alive. Magazines are behind, but the new one will be out soon. A new Manual for Exchanges will be completed soon. More volunteers are being used as staff and expenses have been reduced. The peace-making mission to Jordan was difficult, but rewarding. More are being scheduled for May and in fall. Festivals in 2004 will be held in Charleston, SC and in Malta. A humanitarian trip to Cuba will be organized soon.

Letters of appreciation sent to Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Carter last year after their withdrawal, along with Chip, from Friendship Force were valued and a cordial relationship exists. The Board has become more responsive to members, and members may now nominate Board members. A summary of Board minutes and financial statements are on the FFI webpage.

Conferences

The 2004 International Conference “Reach for the Stars” will be Nov. 4‑7 in Los Angeles.

The 2005 International Conference will be in Sao Paulo, Brazil in late October/early November 2005.

FFI President's Message

from Susie Smith, President, Friendship Force International – 12/2003

Dear Friends,

We approach a new year, full of promise for good things ahead. Thank you for being a friend to the people of the world. I trust that your friendships made in 2003 have been rewarding and that they will continue to touch you in beautiful ways throughout your life.

It is with great excitement that I share with you some happy personal news that will impact my role as President of FFI. Next year I will be getting married and will move to California to be with my future husband. While I am thrilled about my personal news, I remain committed to the well being of this wonderful organization. In order to ensure a smooth transition of FFI leadership, I will continue to serve as President until April 1, 2004 or as soon as the Board of Trustees has elected a new leader.

We already have made a great deal of progress in strengthening FFI in 2003. I believe this is due to the dedication and enthusiasm of thousands of people like you who participate in Friendship Force throughout the world. I hope that you will continue to work with each other, your club leaders, the FFI Staff and Board to keep our organization moving forward in a positive direction.

The opportunity to serve as President of FFI has been a life‑enriching experience. I am grateful to have had this chance to play a small yet meaningful part in the life of our organiza­tion. Since I will continue to work with you over the next several months, I will not say good­bye yet. Instead, I look forward to working with you to further friendship and peace in our world as we carry on with our plans for the coming year.

Exchanges Being Planned for 2004

Mark your calendars! 2004 is shaping up to be a busy exchange year with three ex­changes already in the planning stages. Here's what's coming up.

Inbound...

You should have received information in the mail by now about an incoming April exchange with The Friendship Force of Western North Carolina at Asheville. This exchange has been slightly revised to give ambassadors and hosts a little more free time and to lower the cost. You will receive more information about it. Exciting plans are in place for the entire FFD club to be involved. Save the week of April 3-7 for this fun time.

An incoming exchange in October with FF friends from Cleveland County, England is on the drawing board.

FFD has also invited The Friendship Force of Lake Hartwell, GA to make a return exchange visit to Dallas. They are awaiting confirmation of their plans for their inbound exchange before they set a date with us. We may try to find a date for them to visit us next year.

Exchange Directors are needed for each of these incoming exchanges.  

UPDATE: Chris Michalek has been appointed ED for Incoming Asheville; Ray Enstam has been appointed ED for incoming Cleveland County, UK.

Outbound...

Belgium/Germany 

from Mick Smith  

Plans are underway for an upcoming June exchange to Kiel, Germany and South Flanders, Belgium preceded by a trip to Denmark.  For information regarding this trip, see Jim’s letter. Please contact Jim Bourn at airbourn@comcast.net if you are interested in being the ED for this exchange, or if you would like to go.

Belgium is a small country about the size of our state of Maryland with a population of 10 million. It is divided into three regions, Flanders being the region of our destination. Flemish (similar to Dutch) is the lan­guage spoken in this northern area but English is often spoken throughout the country. Flanders is known for its master weav­ers, silversmiths and breweries and has a wealth of historical sites to visit.

Kiel is located in the German state of Schleswig‑Holstein in northern Germany on the coast of the Baltic Sea. It is considered the "gate to the North" by visitors and is quite close to Wolfsburg, Germany, home of our FF friends who visited our club in 1998. Did you know that Kiel, Germany was FFDallas' first inbound exchange in 1995? Our Kiel hosts have great memories of this exchange and would like to relive some of those memories with you.

An Exchange Director is needed for this exchange. If you are interested in heading this exchange or participating, contact Jim Bourn. There is a rapidly growing list of those wanting to go.

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Cleveland County, England

Formerly known as Teesside, this county of northeast England is industrially oriented around the Lower Tees Valley and estuary. It is bounded by Durham to the .northwest, North Yorkshire to the south, and the North Sea to the northeast. Winters are long and hard, Spring late and short, and summer temperatures generally cool. The annual rainfall (about 635 mm) is among the lowest in the country, thanks largely to the county being located in the lee ("rain shadow") of the Pennine uplands.  

UPDATE: Ray Enstam has been appointed Exchange Director for this exchange and has begun working.

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Exchange Surveys 2005

Ray Enstam reported on results of the 18 surveys he had returned representing 25 people. Receiving most votes were Canada, Latin America and Western Europe. Twenty-two countries were mentioned, including 14 for Peru. The Board voted to request two outbound exchanges next year to La Libertad, who would like to host us, and to Canada; we will request Tottori, Japan, who elected not to travel this year because of the economy. They would like to come to Dallas in 2005,

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Exchange Opportunities

There are exchanges that still have openings for Ambassadors. See a partial listing by clicking on: Other Club Exchanges. Please contact the Exchange Director directly.

Also check out special partnership exchanges with Elderhostel offered exclusively to Elderhostel alumni and Friendship Force members. Details are available through the Elderhostel web site at http:// www.elderhostel.org/programs/

(For a complete listing of upcoming Friendship Force exchanges, visit the exchange page on the FFI Web site, www.friendshipforce.orgltravellexchanges.htm.)

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