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Quick
Look!
| Meetings |
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April
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Sunday, April 9, 5 pm |
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Place:
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Olive Garden
4240 Beltline Rd [SE corner of Belt Line & Midway Rds]
Addison TX 75001 (972) 239-9096
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Program:
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Worlds of Music with Sherry Buentipo (Dallas Woman of the Year
in 2005) and Renee Tarczon
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Price:
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$14.50 (includes salad, entree, tea/coffee; other beverages and dessert
are extra)
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Reserve:
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Please reserve by April 3, 2006 to Wendy Whaley -
whwhaley@yahoo.com.
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| May |
Sunday, May 7, 5 pm |
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Place: |
Fadi's Mediterranean
Restaurant
3001 Knox St. (facing Central
Expwy service road - west side - just south of Knox St.)
Dallas TX 75205 (214) 528-1800 |
| Speaker: |
Vasna and Claudio Solano - "Beautiful Croatia" - Our May meeting will have a presentation on Croatia as well as our
quarterly business meetings. Flyer has been sent. |
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Price: |
$15.00 (lamb or chicken
sampler plate with vegetables and salads; tea or coffee)
$13.00 (vegetarian sampler
plate and drink) |
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Reserve:
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Please reserve by May 4, 2006 to Wendy Whaley -
whwhaley@yahoo.com
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Future
Meetings
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As we have many members, 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 Ray Enstam, Program Coordinator, at enstam@sbcglobal.net.
See June and July meeting
information on Events page.
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Paula's Roses
 Hello FFD and Happy Spring to you!
As many of you know, edward and I went on a FF mission to Cuba in mid-February.
This trip was extremely interesting. We traveled with 19 FF folks from Washington, California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Ohio, TX [Gerhild Rogers,
from Austin, who was on our Peru trip last year], Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
In addition to painting in a Senior Citizens home and interacting with the residents, I was able to visit the Havana School for the Blind and deliver several Spanish talking calculators, which were a gift from our club. I am exploring legal ways of getting some computers to this school. The
level of education and technology was amazingly close to that of schools in the U.S. The "Programa de la Tercera Edad" [3rd Age, or senior citizen, program] was also amazingly good. The Senior Citizens home was one example; the "Las Bon-Bones y Los Caramelos" [Bon-bons (women) and caramels (men)] in Santa Clara another.
Of course, we had FUN in addition to the mission aspect of the trip. We heard/danced to great Cuban salsa music three evenings [including edward and I leading a "field trip" to the "Casa de la Musica" - House of Music - one night]. Four of the seven nights we ate with Cuban families and formed some great friendships. The families either a) worked at the Senior Citizens
home or the Cuban Council of Churches [in Havana] or b) were members of a Methodist Church in Santa Clara [our host's name was Eddie Perez - no kidding!].
Two afternoons, we were able to walk around "Vieja Habana" (Old Havana) and visit other sights in the city. edward and I will give a presentation at the July FFD meeting on this most interesting FF mission. [edward will email his photo website's address after he uploads them to the Internet].
Ed and Marge Edgren are in Romania again working with the FF clubs they have helped establish there. We are hoping that members of these clubs will be able to visit Dallas in 2007. In addition, Ray Enstam, International Exchange Coordinator, has formally accepted inbound exchange invitations from
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada and Lima, Peru as well as an outbound exchange with FF Houston to Bogotá, Colombia [see article in this newsletter].
Gary Paramore has been named ED for our 2006 inbound exchange from Fortaleza, Brazil, which will be in mid-to-late September. We're still working on exact dates. I hear the Brazilians hit the ground ready to have fun. So, let's get ready to give and show them an excellent exchange.
Many thanks to Nancy Hicks for our World Friendship Day program and buffet in March [see photos on our website]. Also, thanks to Don and Bev Erb who have planned our April 9th program [flyer announcement being sent out]. Hope to see you there.
In Friendship,
Paula
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Member
News
Our condolences to the family of Eleanor Rawlings, a member of FF Dallas in the beginning. She passed away Feb 14 after a hip operation. She went on the first exchange to Germany and later hosted here in Dallas her German host.
[from Margie Tareilo]
A speedy recovery to Al Hicks, who recently had knee replacement surgery. He seemed to be moving very well at the March 12 meeting. Cards and emails
welcomed at aphretired@aol.com.
A speedy recovery to Wayne Garrett, who recently had a pacemaker implant. Cards and emails
welcomed to phharkey@aol.com.
From Wanda Hamilton on March
30th:
Dear friends,
Just want to let you all know that I will be going home tomorrow
(Friday, 3-31-06). After over four months in the hospital and rehab.
Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.
Wanda Hamilton
UPDATE 4/6/06 from Paula:
Wanda had sent an email announcing she was finally out of rehab after
months! Now, I have had an email from Kathy Morris saying Wanda has broken
her leg!!! Her email is wanda_h26@yahoo.com
I'm sure she'd appreciate a note of cheer.
[kinda late, but Chris Michalek wrote this late last year]
Dear Friendship Force...
First of all, just wanted y'all to know that we have "kept up" with you via the newsletters and remain members "in spirit."
As you may recall, Rudy's been on a contract for the last four years, working in
Kansas. At the same time, my job with AARP has me traveling 10 states plus
Washington, DC at least 75% of the month. So, each month, I check the calendar for the Friendship Force dinner meeting and come up with "can't do."
Mostly, it's because I may not be in town or am just plain "exhausted." And, of course, besides the business travel, we also have been involved in long
distance family-related care-giving issues. As we all know: "life happens!"
The good news is that Rudy has decided to not renew his Kansas contract in '06. So, he'll be back in Dallas. Right now, he hasn't any jobs lined up but we
trust that all will be well. And, our intent is to resume two activities that are near and dear to our hearts, e.g., Friendship Force and our choir
at All Saints. So, look for us in January and beyond,
Chris (Rudy too) Michalek
P.S. Two of the states in my region are LA and MS so, as you can imagine, our
lives have been totally changed.
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| Club News
Board Meetings
The next meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday April 10th at the home of Paula Rose & edward
perez. 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.
For a copy of past board meeting minutes, contact Lillian Fipps - lillian@masterlink.net.
For information about our financial condition, contact Wendy Whaley - whwhaley@yahoo.com
- or any
board member.
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.
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FFD Fun Fund Raisers
Taxi!!! [sounds better than "Shuttle!!!"]
Ever need to get to/from the airport but would rather enjoy an interesting
conversation w/ a friend along the way? Mary Suther came up with a great idea
to help you out and to help raise funds for FFD. After presenting it to the
board, they have approved it - "FFD Shuttle Service." So, how's it work?, you
ask. Easy - 4 simple steps.
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If you would be willing to take FFD-ers to/from the airport [either Dallas
Love or DFW], please contact edward perez - erpbase-ffd@yahoo.com
- and tell him you'd like to become an "FFD Shuttle driver." Tell
him the best way FFDers can contact you - ph# and/or email. He will add you to
the list of shuttle drivers. Mary Suther will coordinate the list after she
returns from her extended vacation in Italy. The following Board members have already said they will be
"FFD Shuttle drivers." Join them in this fun fund-raising
project: Paula Rose, Lillian Fipps, Wendy Whaley, Mary Williams, Dick
and Myrna Ridings, Ray Enstam, Ana Marie Lee and Ed Edgren.
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If you would like a ride to/from the airport, contact edward. He will give
you the list of shuttle drivers' names, you schedule your shuttle and,
as they say, "Have Shuttle, Will Travel!!" [well, ok, maybe Paladin's card
didn't say that, but mine will. -edward]
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After the shuttle trip, the shuttle driver will contact edward so he
can rotate their name to the end of the list. You're only committing to
offering shuttle service. Only agree to shuttle trips that'll fit your schedule.
If you cant do it, that's ok. But attempt to do it at least once a year.
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After the rider returns home, they make out a check for $30 each way
and
send it to Wendy Whaley [$40 if you live in or north of Plano]. [Taxis
from N.
Dallas cost about $40, shuttles about $25]. If you had a great time, send
edward a note for inclusion in an upcoming newsletter/bulletin.
See, pretty simple!! If just one person/couple uses this service each month
to/from an airport, FFD can raise over $700/year to help us get back in the
black [we've had operating losses the last three years]. So, contact edward and he'll let everyone know when the shuttles are
ready to roll.
Prizes!!!
Mary Suther came up with another inexpensive fund-raiser: make a $1 donation to
FFD at a monthly meeting and you may wind up with a very nice gift. The first
chance will be at the April meeting - a very nice wine cork puller, valued at
$75. If you have a very nice item that you no longer need, contact Mary Suther
- mary.suther@sbcglobal.net
- to donate it to the club. If 20 people make a $1 donation a month, FFD can raise more than
$200/year and 10-12 folks receive a very nice gift. Top Newsletter
Deadline
We publish our newsletter bi-monthly. Please send all articles, news items,
photos, etc. to edward perez by May 20th for the next newsletter issue (via
email erperez@acm.org or by fax 214-553-4547).
Committees *If you know of any FFD member or friend who could use some Sunshine,
contact Susan Cooper. * 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. Top
2005 Friendship Force of Dallas, Texas Board Officers
President: Paula Rose 1st Vice President: Martha Durst
2nd VP, Membership: Herb & Juli Ziev Program Coordinator: Ray Enstam
Treasurer: Wendy Whaley Secretary: Lillian Fipps
Parliamentarian: edward perez Ways and Means: Mary Suther
Exchange Coordinator: Ray Enstam Exchange Treasurer: Ana Marie Lee
Zagreb Croatia Outbound: Mary Williams Fortaleza Brazil Inbound: Gary
Paramore
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: Joan Nolan &
Klostermans; BeHanneseys; Langfords; Wrights
Prospects/Member Packets: Lee Latham Sunshine: Susan Cooper
Historian/Photo Album/Scrapbook: Mary Suther Top |
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Exchanges
Zagreb, Croatia Outbound -
May 27-June 3. 2006
Mary Williams, Exchange Director
This exchange is a GO! We have only seven people, but the Zagreb club
has agreed to take us anyway. We are open to taking more people - up to
16. So if you can find a way to get there, please join us. The exchange
is priced at $327 for the one-week homestay and does not include
airfare. See the Croatia information page
and let Mary know ASAP if you can come - txtravel@flash.net.
Top
2007 FFD Exchanges
Ray Enstam, International Exchange Coordinator
Recently, FF International informed FFD that we had been offered the following
exchanges for 2007: an outbound to Bogotá, Colombia [around June 2007] and
*two* inbound exchanges - Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada [around Feb 2007] and
Lima, Peru [around Oct 2007] [it appears that those clubs asked to come to
Dallas]. WOW!! After canvassing the FFD Board, twelve board members voted to
accept both inbound exchanges and the outbound exchange. Some of the newly
formed clubs in Romania may also set up an exchange to Dallas. Ray and Ed are
working to see if there's another club in the Southwest region that could host
for a second week. So, start packing your bags for a trip to Bogotá and start thinking of
ideas for the two inbounds. (i've got a stash of "Welcome to Texas" postcards
[that the US Postal Service issued] for the Brazilians -edward]
Some links to Bogotá, Colombia:
http://worldfacts.us/Colombia-Bogota.htm
http://www.bogotadaily.com/
Some links to Medicine Hat, Alberta:
http://www.medicinehat.ca/
http://www.medicinehatnews.com/
Some links to Lima, Peru:
http://www.go2peru.com/lima_travel_guide.htm
http://worldfacts.us/Peru-Lima.htm
http://www.limapost.com/
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Limburg, Belgium 20th Anniversary
Received recently from Smeers Arthur of Belgium:
Dear friends,
Hereby, we invite you to join us in August 2006 to celebrate the 20th
anniversary of FF Limburg [see more info at http://www.friendshipforce.org
(click flag/photo underneath LIMBURG FESTIVAL at bottom) or at http://friendshipforce.org/Events/LimburgFestival.htm]
Hope to see you all in Hasselt, Belgium.
In friendship,
Smeers Arthur
Top
Recruiting for Exchanges
From Lauren Tepley, Communications Coordinator, Friendship Force International
There are two questions club leaders always seem to ask:
How can we get new members?
How can we fill our exchanges?
FFI has worked with experienced volunteers to develop answers to these questions, answers that are practical and based on proven results. The
purpose of the World Exchange Recruiter program is to begin to give concrete
steps to expand membership AND fill exchanges. The goal is to fill 200 spaces on exchanges through the World Exchange
Recruiters and connect with 300 hosts in the Friendship Force community.
How? World Exchange Recruiters will:
* Be up-to-date on all upcoming exchanges
* Actively recruit members from within their club to travel with other
clubs
* Be responsible for distributing the monthly on-line FFI e-flyer to all
members
* Be the contact for new and current members to discuss all exchange opportunities available in the United States
* Promote all outbound US exchanges in whatever way your club authorizes
FF World Exchange Recruiter
Want the early scoop on upcoming FF exchanges? Want to help get these exchanges
filled so friendships can be formed around the world? Below is information on
a new program that FFI is starting. If you are interested in becoming FF
Dallas' "World Exchange Recruiter," contact Paula Rose at paularose2000@hotmail.com.
Top
Exchanges with Other Clubs
For info on the *many* exchanges from other clubs check out the Other
Clubs section under Exchanges.
For information on the SW Region's
Open Doors long weekend events, see the Events page.
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. (These are also posted on our website in the Other
Clubs section.)
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