Quick Look!

November-December 2005

by Ed Edgren

The Dallas-led mission to find prospects for new clubs in Bucharest, Sibiu and Brasov, Romania was successful in many ways. Follow-up to these contacts by all mission members will be necessary to ensure clubs are formed. And we were just advised on October 20th that a club has been formed in Brasov and the paper work is processing!

In 14 sun-filled days, twenty-two trip participants from TX, CA, CO, IL, TN, CT, NH, NC, and FL traveled 2600 KM (1600 miles) in a bright orange bus with driver and an English-speaking guide. Stepping back in time, we visited world heritage cities, Saxon citadels, and painted monasteries from the 14th century.

Dale Klosterman with children

Ambassador with children

Our trip started on Sep 7 in Bucharest where we brought in 6 computers and matching 9-inch monitors in bubble-wrap filled suitcases; customs waived us through. These were delivered to the School for the Visually Deficient, which handles over 200 students from 5 to 15 years of age. They now have a total of 12 computers reworked for the blind compliments of the Dallas Friendship Force club. On our last day in Romania, we returned to the school and were met by the students practicing their English. The computers and monitors were already in use. Their big "thank you" has already been acknowledged to Bob Langford for his leadership in this Bridgebuilder program of providing computers to the visually deficient across the world.

We had an organizational meeting with potential members of a FF club in Bucharest; 14 in all and they will need more effort to form a club this year. Next on to Sibui where we had 22 teachers, attorneys, doctors, an ex-opera singer, architects and engineer's and feel very comfortable that they will form a club this year. 

During the rest of the trip, we saw the beautiful Carpathian Mountains, forests, valleys, and many small farms just large enough to support one family's needs. Barter is a primary form of economic exchange in the north. We also passed larger acres of potatoes being harvested by hand by extended families of 10 to 20 people. We

stopped in villages of 10 to 20 homes where we were graciously invited inside. We felt like it was Christmas in September as we passed out more toys to the children; I think we had almost as much fun as the kids and their parents. Hand made woolen carpets, woven material piled high in a corner as a dowry for an unmarried daughter and wood burning stoves in the kitchen for cooking and winter warmth welcomed us. Teenage children were proud to practice their English as their mothers struggled with a welcome. We also stopped at schools that were just letting out for the first day and passed out pens, pencils, crayons and small dolls or hand held calculators. My personal favorites were finger puppets I gave to boys that looked like silly monsters.

If you have 30 minutes to spare at the next club dinner, ask Henny Houston, Mary Jane Wilson, Wanda Hamilton or Marge Edgren about the Romanian people we met throughout the country. They were extremely open and friendly. In our spare time, we gave out our Friendship Force cards to tourists we met from Austria, Belgium, England, France, Sweden and Turkey and well over 50 Romanians we met at our sponsored dinners. This missionary work was very rewarding and enjoyable.

In friendship,
Ed Edgren

NOTE: See the article in the November 2005 Friendship magazine on this mission trip.

Top

Dear Friendship Force Friends,

In my opinion, we really outdid ourselves during the Tottori inbound exchange. Many thanks to Jim Bourn, ED and the many members who assisted him. The new additions to our inbound attractions, including the Gaylord Texan Resort and the steak cookout, were well received. 

I personally had a great time and now have a new "sister" - Chisato - in Japan. Home hosts will get their photo CD [so ably compiled & created by Ken Walker and M.C. Meador] at the November meeting. The CDs for the Tottori ambassadors have already been mailed.

Also, our Bridgebuilders’ projects are continuing. Ed Edgren led a very successful mission to Romania where FF clubs will hopefully be established [see previous article]. He and his ambassadors delivered six more specially equipped computers (from Bob Langford's organization) and many talking/large readout calculators to the school for the blind in Bucharest, all purchased with proceeds from our March 1 World Friendship Day auction. Ambassadors from Cincinnati FF and Oklahoma have also pitched in. Cincinnati FF members recently visited Trujillo [see article in this newsletter] and delivered to the Tulio Herrera Leon School for the Blind the first 100 pounds of Braille paper and several talking calculators. FF Oklahoma members have agreed to take the remaining 100 pounds when they visit Trujillo in the spring. Myrna Ridings is writing an article on these efforts for publication in the February issue of FFI's "Friendship" magazine.

Closer to home, the board voted to sent money for hurricane relief to FF Baton Rogue, as suggested by FFI. We have received two letters of thanks and recognition - one from FFI and one from FF Baton Rogue. In addition, several FFD members have contributed money to this and other hurricane relief efforts and have given countless volunteer hours. 

The Tottori ambassadors raised and brought a large donation with them for hurricane relief. The board recently voted to send this money to Habitat for Humanity "House in a Box" project. HfH volunteers are building pre-fabricated homes here in Dallas and then shipping them to areas affected by the hurricanes for quick final assembly.

Most of you know that Dale Klosterman was seriously injured in a fall while working on a Habitat for Humanity house project in Dallas. He is in Baylor ICU. For now, please just send cards to their home address. If you can give Hilda rides to/from Baylor [she lives in NE Richardson], sit with her at the hospital, help them in the future, etc., then let me know [email me at paularose2000@hotmail.com]. Hilda has said she will call me when she needs anything. Keep Dale in your thoughts and prayers.

Mary Latham has an interesting and fun event planned for our November 13th meeting, which will honor our many new members who have joined FFD this year. See you there!

In Friendship, 

Paula

Top

November Meeting

Our November meeting will be held at the May Dragon Chinese restaurant where we will recognize new member and learn more about each of us.
     Date/time: Nov 13, 2005 at 5 pm
     Place: May Dragon Chinese Restaurant
     4848 Belt Line Road [Southeast corner of Belt Line and Inwood Rd]
     Dallas, TX 75254 Phone: 972-392-9998
Dinner/cost: Buffet dinner includes chicken, beef and vegetarian entrees, drinks (soft drinks, tea or coffee) and gratuity; wine may be purchased at the restaurant - $16
Send your reservation & check to Susan Cooper (copertuz@flash.net) by November 9, 2005. 

UPDATE:

December 11, 6 PM - Winter Gala (note time change)

Program: We will have games, music and lots of fun. Those who want may bring a small gift - not more than $10.00 for a gift exchange.

Place: Al Amir restaurant, 7402 Greenville Ave - across the street from the back of Presbyterian Hospital - in the shopping strip at Pineland and Greenville. 

Cost  for dinner: $16.00 - choice of beef, chicken or vegetarian entree. 

Your check and menu choice to Susan Cooper (copertuz@flash.net) is your reservation; reserve by December 7.

January 8, 5 PM

Dinner at the El Fenix Restaurant - LBJ and Skillman/Audelia - 5 pm. 

Program: Gary Paramore will be the presenter and will talk about his trip to Chiapas, Mexico as a teacher of ESL. 

Menu and price TBA.

Future Meetings

As we gain more members and have more friends and guests attending our meetings, we’ll need larger places in which to meet. So, if you know of a restaurant, clubhouse or meeting place that can easily accommodate a large (70-90) and friendly group, contact Mary Latham, VP for Programs at mjmcl04@yahoo.com.

Top

Board Meetings

The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday November 14th at Marilyn McRae's clubhouse. All Board Officers and Committee Chairs - please plan to attend so we will have a quorum for any decision-making. These meetings are open to any member or friend who wishes to attend. Be sure to call Marilyn McRae for directions and to be put on the admittance list if you wish to attend [the apt management has a doorman who checks all guests].

For a copy of past board meeting minutes, contact Pat Peters or Betty Mayeur.For information about our financial condition, contact Susan Cooper or any board member.

Newsletter Deadline

We publish our newsletter bi-monthly. Please send all articles, news items, photos, etc. to edward perez by December 20th for the next newsletter issue (via email erperez@acm.org or by fax 214-553-4547).

Officers

President: Paula Rose 

1st Vice President: Mary Suther

2nd VP, Membership: Herb & Juli Ziev 

3rd VP, Programs: Mary Latham

Treasurer: Susan Cooper 

Secretary: Pat Peters & Betty Mayeur

Committees

• If you know of any FFD member or friend who could use some Sunshine, contact Mary-Helen Lyons or Jean Beler.
• If you know of a group who would like to know about FFD, contact Jim Bourn.
• If you would like to volunteer for any committee or project, contact any board member.
2005 Friendship Force of Dallas, Texas Board

Committee Chairs

Parliamentarian: Mary Williams 

Ways and Means: Ed Edgren

Exchange Coordinator: Ray Enstam 

Exchange Treasurer: Ana Marie Lee

Exchange Director Tottori Japan Inbound: Jim Bourn

Newsletter: edward perez 

Publicity/Communications: Myrna/Dick Ridings

Website/Yearbook: Mary Williams 

Telephones: John Funk

Speakers Bureau: Jim Bourn

Bridge Builders: Bob Langford/Ed Edgren 

Hospitality: Waldrons, BeHanneseys, Fipps/Anker, Whaleys

Prospects/Member Packets: Lee Latham 

Sunshine: Mary-Helen Lyons, Jean Beler

FF of Dallas History Historian/Photo Album/Scrapbook: Marilyn McRae

Membership Dues & Renewals

It’s that time of year again – membership renewal time. In December, we will publish and notify all members of the deadline for sending your 2006 dues (no changes in amount) and to whom they should be sent.

Name Badges, Yearbooks

If you have recently joined but forgot to order a name badge or if you need a replacement name badge, please send your name and $5.50 per badge to Juli Ziev, our Membership Co-Chair - julimdesigns@sbcglobal.net

If you need a yearbook or want the recent updates, please contact Lee Latham - hlatham@swbell.net.

Top

Dale Klosterman Injured

Our prayers are with Dale who was injured in a fall. A few days after it happened, Hilda e-mailed this update:

Hallo to all of you in friendship force!
When Dale fell off the trusses right underneath the roof while working on a habitat house he broke his jaw, chin, wrist, ribs, hand and lost all of his upper teeth. After he got to downtown Baylor they discovered a ruptured aorta. They lowered his blood pressure immediately and did a surgical procedure called transection of the aorta and bypass. He was on the heart-lung machine during the 8 hour surgery. Monday he had 3 more surgeries. They gave him a trach before they could operate on his jaw and chin which keeps his mouth shut for 4-6 weeks. They also repaired his hand. Yesterday he had developed pneumonia and they tried temporarily to get him to breathe on his own because they think pneumonia was caused by the ventilator. He passed by this morning and is still breathing on his own but now he is getting little sedation and as a result he has become a wild man. He tries to pull his tubes. He already pulled out his feeding tube and demanded to have "wife now - Home". It is going to be a long recovery but all the prayers have helped him to survive very little odds. The surgeon just told me that his aorta repair was very, very risky. God must have blessed the surgeon's healing hands. Most people don't survive a ruptured aorta. Dale is not out of the woods now but his chances have improved significantly. 

Bless you all
Hilda 

Update Nov 4:

Here's the latest on Dale Klosterman from Jennifer Knoeber (Habitat coordinator who has been with the Klostermans daily) and Hilda Klosterman.

Great news! Apparently, Dale has turned the corner for the better and will be moved to the rehab area of Baylor, perhaps as early as this Sat, Nov 5th!

By Fri, Nov 4th, he will have the trach and IV lines removed, leaving only the NG tube for added nutrition. He is taking 6 cans of nutritional drink by mouth daily. He is still being treated for a staph infection at an IV site and for Diabetes.

He is off the pain meds, which were contributing to his restlessness and confusion, and is in much better control of his faculties. Hilda reports he will not need 24/7 support after this weekend. 

Hilda wanted to express her profound thanks to all who have helped. I know Jim Bourn, Martha Durst, Ed Edgren, Joan Nolan and Emily Dee have all been helping tremendously. She is concerned about getting thank you notes to everyone, which
is overwhelming at this time, so please accept this thanks from Hilda and Dale.

There is still much we will be able to do to help in the coming weeks. I'll keep you updated. Also, you can be added to Jennifer Knoeber's update list by contacting her at jknoeber@dallas-habitat.org.

At present, cards to the home address are best and limited visits if you are especially connected to the Klostermans.

Update Nov 11:

Dale Klosterman probably will be released from Baylor Hospital on Friday. He will be recuperating and convalescing at his home. He and Hilda will still need assistance during the upcoming weeks. Let Paula Rose know (PaulaRose2000@hotmail.com) if you can help out and how.

Update: Charter Member Dale Yost

Mary-Helen Lyons reports with much sadness that one of our most beloved, lively, interesting, and original charter members, Dale Yost, recently passed away due to complications from liver cancer  [I believe he was 94 years young]. There will be a memorial service on Mon Nov 21st at 2pm at the First Unitarian Church [Preston Rd. and Normandy]. I imagine there are plenty of Irises that are saddened to see him go. 
More information as we find out.     Paula

Top

Condolences

Our condolences go to Dora Stahl and family. Her mother recently passed away in San Antonio.

Condolences to Allen Terrell, whose mother died. Pam said: "Allen's mother was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer the first week of September and passed away on the 28th of October. We had a beautiful Funeral service for her in Belton, TX on November 3rd. It has been a difficult year losing both my dad and Allen's mom especially since they were the last of our four parents. They both lived long and happy lives and we hope to do as well ourselves."   Pam and Allen

Condolences also to Rosalie Summers who was SW FF Field Rep until recently when she resigned because of her husband's illness. He passed away Wed. Nov. 2nd from complications of pancreatic cancer. Rosalie's email is eisor@aol.com. A memorial fund has established with Oklahoma City University in memory of Eldridge M. Summers. Checks should be made to MEINDERS School of Business, OCU. Note: In memory of Eldridge M. Summers. Mail to: Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder, Oklahoma City, OK 73106. To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit www.cornerstonecremationsociety.com. Jim Young of Ft. Worth is now our regional rep.

Top

Yonago, Totorri Prefecture, Japan Inbound

by Jim Bourn

A big thank you is in order for all the hard work and efforts for hosting and entertaining the ambassadors from Yonago, Totorri Prefecture, Japan. The ambassadors are all back home and all agreed they had a great time. 

A tree was planted at the Arboretum in memory of the visit and a plaque is being made to honor our ambassadors.

Two of our members have stayed working on the exchange. Ken Walker and MC Meador not only took pictures of every event, but also have a compiled a photo CD of the Dallas-Totorri and Totorri-Dallas exchanges. The CD will be sent to Japan for distribution to the ambassadors, the original ED and their president. The FFD home hosts will also get copies. If you are interested in purchasing a copy, let me know. We will have them available for cost at the November monthly meeting to save on postage. This will be a nice close to the exchange. We will also show the photos at the November meeting.

Each exchange is different. The learning process is one of the great experiences, but sometimes a big "ah-ha" happens. Especially when one finds customs that are very different between the east and the west. I found out that the Japanese wanted one home that all the Japanese women could use to cook a meal in honor of the hard work that the Americans had shown during the exchange. The Japanese finally understood that I insisted that a minimum of their home hosts be invited. That is why 22 people ended up at Ava Rowe's house. We did not even hear about it until 5:30 PM! It became a rush to get enough silver, plates, seats and tables. If other dinners for 8 were scheduled, I insisted that those be honored. 

For most inbounds, we have either cooked a meal for our families or taken them out for one meal. This might be for two families but never for the whole group. It was amazing to see nine women cooking, cutting, preparing, and serving at the same time in a short period in one small kitchen!! They all had specific assignments and it worked well. Just as quickly, everything was washed, cleaned, and put away. Another difference - we do not save the cooking oil and pour back in the bottles to use later. [my mom used to save bacon grease, but that was another time and place -edward].

After most exchanges, the exchange leaders and club officers discuss the good and not so good of the exchange's activities so that future exchanges will be new, different, and both cost and time effective. 

For those of you that did not have a visitor in your home, the Brazilians will be coming next year. We will need a new group. Come join the fun, you will never forget the experience as well as the new friends. Thanks again, I could not have finished the exchange without all the help.

Dinner at Mary Suther's house         

In Friendship, Jim

MORE PHOTOS

Top

Zagreb, Croatia Outbound

This exchange is scheduled for late May - early June 2006 to take advantage of lower priced airfare and tour. Mary Williams, Exchange Director, is in contact with the ED in Zagreb. Because this is a joint exchange with Rio Grande Valley club, they will have some of our 16 home stay places, so we anticipate a full exchange. There will be a "start date" in the fall to reserve a place with a deposit that will be publicized to everyone in both clubs. If you have any leads, contacts or info about Croatia, contact Mary - txtravel@flash.net. More info later.

Top

We need to move computers from space lent to us by King of Glory Lutheran Church - westbound service road LBJ between Hillcrest and Preston. Meet at 1 pm with your truck or car. Thanks!

Tulio Herrera Leon School for the Blind in Trujillo, Peru

Recently, members of the Friendship Force of Greater Cincinnati traveled to Trujillo, Peru for an exchange with Nor Peru, one of the other clubs there. Paula Rose contacted the exchange director and they agreed to take some much needed Braille paper to Trujillo. Here are excerpts from a note from Carol Fencl, the ED. Photo on next page.
We carried almost 100 pounds of paper in our suitcases, as well as the calculators, all donated through the efforts of our group. The Oregon couple that joined us brought the 30 batteries needed.

This picture shows Janet Carril, the Exchange Director for Nor Peru, at the school with the director and one of the students. The machine is the embosser that she picked up in Dallas when visiting in the US and then took it to the school.

After a tour of the facility, the children presented a lengthy program of music and dancing. They had obviously done a lot of preparation for this. Carol Fencl presented a check for $200 on behalf of FFGC. It will be used to purchase a security system for the front door. A picture was taken of our group showing the supplies we had delivered.

After the program was finished and refreshments served, several of the children came up and asked members of our group to dance with them or to take a photo of them. Altogether, it was a very moving experience. The need was certainly great and the staff appears to be doing a good job with limited resources.

We were glad to be a part of this international effort. In my "speech" at the school, I talked (in Spanish) about how important it was that we not just have a one-time visit, but that this was part of an ongoing relationship between Friendship Force clubs in the US, in Trujillo, and their school in Peru.

Carol Fencl, 2005 Exchange Director
Friendship Force of Greater Cincinnati
www.friendshipforcecincinnati.org

Then, Ray Enstam received this note from Nelida Orbegoso, the director of the school in Trujillo.

Dear Friend Raymond,
I send my greetings and I thank you for the paper and calculators that you have sent with the friends of the Friendship Force (Cincinnati). They were with us this morning and the students presented their artistic numbers for them. It was beautiful.
Give my thanks to the people who donated the paper and calculators.
I send greetings from all the teachers.

With affection, Nelida Orbegoso

FF Cincinnati delivering Braille paper to Tulio Herrera Leon School, Trujillo, Peru

Student and alumni playing music for the program.

Top

The next Open Doors will be in Baton Rouge LA Feb 2006 (Spanish Town Mardi Gras Parade). Contact Jim Young (jim_and_berry@hotmail.com) for more information.

Top

FF International Conferences

This year’s conference will be in Sao Paulo, Brazil from November 3 - 6, 2005. Ray Enstam will be our official representative; Zia Shamsy is also planning to attend. Check out FFI’s website at http://www.friendshipforce.org/BrazilConference.html for more details.

Friendship Magazine

Featured articles from Friendship are now available on-line!
http://www.friendshipforce.org/Events/Features.html

Other FF Exchanges

Go to http://www.friendshipforce.org and click on “Find an Exchange” for details on upcoming exchanges. To receive monthly updates about future exchanges, send your name, postal and/or email address to ffi@friendshipforce.org. Mention you'd like to receive the FF exchanges updates. (We post these notices on our website in Exchanges/Other Clubs.)

Humanitarian Missions

Missions will depart to Cuba in November and December 2005 and in January and February 2006. Paula Rose and edward perez will be ambassadors on this mission to Cuba to help in the restoration of an Assisted Living Communities in Havana and Santa Clara. See http://www.friendshipforce.org/Events/Cuba.html for details.