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From President edward perez:
Stragetic Planning
"To be a multi-cultural group that promotes peace and friendship
in the world by building global goodwill through personal friendships
and exchanges."
After several strategic planning sessions conducted by Ed Edgren in Oct
and Nov 2006, that's our
proposed statement of Friendship Force of Dallas's purpose. It's a slight
rewording of what's in our yearbook, with an added emphasis on our desire for
being a multi-cultural group. During the planning session, we also identified
several goals and plans to help realize that purpose.
In mid-December, Brud and Ann Kisner and I completed and mailed the 2007 Friendship Force of Dallas renewal form, with a recap of our 2006
activities. Where we are today is the result of the energies and commitments of
many members. Starting with the eleven members who, in November 1993, took
those necessary steps to form the Dallas club. Continuing with the charter
members and the many officers and committee chairs, especially the exchange
directors and committees for the 15 inbound and 14 outbound exchanges. Where we
are today is a vibrant club with a fairly active membership - interacting with
each other and forming friendships during each exchange.
Where we will be in the next year, the next five years, the next decade will be the result of what each of us does to help realize our purpose.
Consider the positive energies and friendships that FFD has brought into your world.
Consider the positive energies and friendships that you have and that you can
spread throughout our world. Then join me in renewing our FFD membership so
that we can "promote peace and friendship in the world" with our positive
energies and commitments.
Please fill out the renewal form (letting us now where you can help) as well as the info questionnaire (so we know more about you). You can return
it and your dues to Ann and Brud Kisner at the January meeting or
via mail by Friday January 12, 2007. (We know you don't want your Board of
Directors to lose any sleep, so we would appreciate your sending back as quickly as
possible)
In friendship,
edward perez, FFD President
Thoughts for the new year
As I enter the new year and begin my term as president, my FFD creative
energies have been focused on the 2006 retrospective & the membership
campaign, visiting and listening to many of you about FFD, planning for representing FFD
at the 2007 FF Southwest and International conferences, and preparing for our
three inbounds (Canada, Romania, and Peru) and one outbound (Colombia). Since I
firmly believe in collaborative leadership and creativity, I welcome your
suggestions, ideas, comments, and assistance as we embark upon FFD's 14th year
- which looks to be excellent, if not fantastic, year.
in friendship,
edward perez
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FFD Meetings
January Meeting
Our January meeting will be on Sunday January 14, 2007 at 1:30 - 4:00
PM NOTE TIME CHANGE!!
We'll meet at Sherlock's Baker Street Pub, 9100 North Central Expressway Dallas TX (NE corner of Central Expwy and Park Lane) 214-692-1111.
There'll be a choice of Fish and Chips, Chicken Pot Pie, British Sausage Roll Dinner, Chicken Primavera, Farmhouse Salad (can be vegetarian).
$11 per person includes gratuity and coffee or tea.
 Gary
Paramore,
who will be the ED for our next exchange, will present background information about Alberta province and
the Medicine Hat area and will distribute agenda we have planned for the
exchange. This is your chance to find out all the details and to sign up for
group events.
Send your check (payable to Friendship Force of Dallas) by January 10th, 2007 to Paula
Rose:
paularose2000@hotmail.com
February Meeting
As part of the Medicine Hat inbound (see below), the inbound activities
will replace our monthly meeting. However, in early February, we are planning a FFD member
orientation meeting at the home of Paula Rose and edward perez. Although the main focus
will be for recent members, others will also be invited. Stay tuned for more
details. Contact Paula or edward if you have ideas or would like to talk/present.
2007 Meetings
See the Events page for a list of the
tentative meeting dates for the rest of the year.
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FFD Past Meetings
December Meeting
Approximately 50 members and guests attended the FFD 2006 holiday gathering
and
party at the home of Myra and Darwin Smith in the historic Swiss Ave district. We had a wonderful assortment of appetizers and side dishes to complement the
turkey and ham and delicious deserts.
We honored Paula Rose, our outgoing
president, for her two years of service to our club. We ended our gathering with Ed Stahl leading Paula and the rest of the
crowd in several holiday and Christmas carols. Here's to a wonderful year.
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FFD Exchanges
Inbound: Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, February 19-26, 2007
Plans are underway to host 21 ambassadors from Medicine Hat, Canada (they head
to Houston the following week). Gary Paramore will brief us on the inbound and
Medicine Hat at our January meeting (see above).
The ambassadors (nine couples, three women) come from varied backgrounds
(teachers, builder, golf course marshal, farmers/ranchers) and range in age
from 58 to 68. Twenty members have signed up to be home hosts - Diana
and Marty Behannesey, Peggy Benton and Ken Walker, Marilynn
and Lee Cowley, Sandy and Roger
Kaiser (with Maureen and Mick Smith as their day hosts), Hilda and Dale Klosterman,
Mary and Lee Latham (with Patricia and Frits Andweg as their day hosts), M.C.
and Judy Meador, Kathy Morris, Myrna and Dick Ridings, Paula Rose
and edward perez, and
Mary Williams.
We still need several more day hosts. For info on
what's involved or if you'd like to help with any of the planned activities (welcome brunch,
visits/tours, farewell dinner, etc.)., contact Paula Rose
or Gary Paramore. Event signup sheets will
be e-mailed and mailed the week of Jan 15th. See the week's schedule on
the Medicine Hat page.
We are also looking for members to host a small
group dinner in their home. As you've probably experienced in the FFD small
group dinners, these are an excellent way to really meet our ambassadors and
other club members. Contact Martha Durst
to sign up or to attend a dinner. UPDATE: We have enough hosts for now,
but non-hosts will be able to attend dinners.
Let's extend our new friends a warm and friendly Texas welcome and show them
a great time!
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Inbound: Romania, April 1 - 8, 2007
If you would like to work on the exchange committee or
volunteer as a home host, contact the ED, Ed Edgren, at
texmared@aol.com. More information is on the Romania
exchange page.
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Outbound: Bogata, Columbia, June 4 -
11, 2007 with extension to Catagena 11-14th.
Ray Enstam has been selected as ED and there are enough people to go
from Dallas and Houston to make this trip a GO!
Mark June 4th to 14, 2007 on your calendar and contact Ray for an
application form. An optional follow up tour after the
exchange will be offered, with payment for the package upon arrival in
Bogota. This will be a
shared exchange with our friends in the FF of Houston. There is more
information on the Bogota page, including
the schedule for the week, an article on Cartagena and a recommendation
from a club who has been there recently. If you have any
questions or would like to be put on the list, contact the ED, Ray Enstam at
Enstam@sbcglobal.net.
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Inbound: Lima & Taropoto, Peru, October, 2007
Friendship Force International has now confirmed that we have an inbound from
Lima and Tarapoto, Peru with a suggested date of September, 2007. The visitors
will spend a week in Altotonga, Mexico before coming to Dallas. An Exchange
Director has not yet been appointed. This is an opportunity for someone who
would like to be the ED for this exchange. If you would like to volunteer for
this ED post, or nominate someone, contact the International Exchange Coordinator, Ray Enstam at
Enstam@sbcglobal.net. UPDATE:
Pam Varney-Terrell has been appointed Exchange Director.
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FFD Membership
Members
A BIG FFD WELCOME to all 2006 new members. Be sure to say hello and visit with
them at an upcoming meeting.
Please correct your yearbooks. Jeff Cornell's dad, who many of us met at the
holiday party, is Don Cornell (which does sound kind of like "Dawn").
Our
apologies, Don, for the mistake.
See "February Meeting" for info on the upcoming member orientation meeting.
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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 Brud
and Ann
Kisner, our Membership Co-Chairs.
If you need a yearbook or want the recent updates, please contact Teresa
Wilkin.
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FF Southwest
2007 Southwest Regional Conference
Remember that the 2007 Southwest Regional Conference will be in San Antonio on
January 26-27. The theme of the conference is Friendship, Deep in the Heart of
Texas, and we hope you find this a reality by the time you leave our city.
You can get a copy of the registration form on
our site or on the San Antonio Friendship Force web site:
http://friendshipforcesa.org. See our Events page
for more information.
The registration fee is $75 per person before December 30th; $85.00 per
person after December 30. Please make your own reservations directly with the
Radisson Market Square at 502 W. Durango Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78207
(210-224-7155) or visit http://www.radisson.com
to make your reservation.
In Friendship,
Donna Stewart
2007 Regional Conference Coordinator
NOTE: Paula and edward also have a copy of the registration form.
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FF International
Friendship Force International's 30th Anniversary Celebration
Don't forget FFI's 30th Anniversary Celebration. Join friends from all over the world to remember, unite, and build a
world of friends. See our Events page for more
information.
When: February 28th through March 3, 2007
Where: Atlanta City Tours. Conference Hotel, Sheraton at Colony Square,
Downtown Atlanta ($129/night, double occupancy, tax not included
March 1st Leadership Development Seminar ($25)
March 1st 30th Anniversary Gala Event ($150)
March 2nd-3rd 2007 International Conference ($140)
March 3rd Depart from Atlanta: 7th Homestyle Homestays in the Southeast
($160): Georgia, Tennessee, North & South Carolina, and Alabama
Registration fee is $140 per person before January 5, 2007. Add $50 if you
register after January 5, 2007. Final Registration deadline is January 15,
2007. Register online or download registration form at http://www.friendshipForce.org
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Selected Exchanges
Here are some upcoming exchanges. Contact the listed ED or club for more info.
See our Other Clubs listing of exchanges (for
more information about these and other exchanges), or if you want a copy of 2007 exchanges (PDF
format), contact edward perez. For a
complete listing of upcoming Friendship Force exchanges, visit:
http://ffido.friendshipforce.org/test/exchange/tabletest/exchange.asp.
If you would like to be added to FFI's mailing list to receive
monthly
exchange updates, please send your name, postal address, and email
address to
ffi@friendshipforce.org.
 | Kern County, USA to Saitama, Japan: March 27 to April 4, 2007; Estimated Cost: $2000.
ED Marie Krasuse:
mglass@copper.net or
Trish Goossen: bgoossen@bakrr.com. |
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The Asia Pacific Festival in Aichi, Japan: April 4-8, 2007.
Estimated Cost: $680 (land only) Contact Debbie Powell:
dpowell@friendshipforce.org.
Followed by April 8-11, 2007: Homestays provided by The Friendship Force of
Gifu, Shizucka, Mie or Nara. |
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Discover Morocco: April 9-20, 2007. ED Joanne Schuetz: aschuetz@msn.com |
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Tbilisi Georgia: April 17-25, 2007.
Estimated Cost: $1500 Catherine Cameron:
Cam55@rcn.com |
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Discover the Middle East - Jordan and Egypt:. April 29 - May 9, 2007.
Cinda Clark: clarksmail@msn.com. Followed by 5-day tours of Jerusalem or Nile River Cruise. |
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Club News
Board Meetings
Board meetings are held at 7 p.m. on 2nd Monday of each month at the
home of edward perez. These meetings are open to
any member or friend who wishes to attend.
For a copy of past board meeting minutes, contact Lillian Fipps.
For information about our financial condition, contact Wendy Whaley or any
board member.
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Newsletter deadline
We publish our newsletter bi-monthly. Please send all articles, news items,
photos, etc. to Dale Klosterman by February 20th for the next newsletter issue
(via email daleKlosterman@sbcglobal.net).
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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. |
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2007 Elected and Appointed Officers of Friendship Force of Dallas
Elected Officers:
President Elect: edward perez
1st Vice President: Mary Williams
2nd VP, Membership: Brud and Ann Kisner
Program Coordinator: Paula Rose
Treasurer: Wendy Whaley
Secretary: Lillian Fipps
Administrative:
Parliamentarian: OPEN
Ways and Means: Mary Suther
Exchanges:
Exchange Coordinator: Ray Enstam
Exchange Treasurer: Ana Marie Lee
Medicine Hat Inbound: Gary Paramore
Sibiu and Brasov, Romania Inbound: Ed
Edgren
Bogota and Cartagena, Colombia Outbound: Ray Enstam
Lima and Tarapoto, Peru Inbound: Pam Varney-Terrell
Exchange Ambassador Gifts: Pam
Varney-Terrell
Communications:
Flyers, Website, Yearbook: Mary Williams
Publicity/Communications: Myrna
and
Dick Ridings
Telephones: John Funk
Newsletter: Dale Klosterman
Prospects/Member Packets: Teresa Wilkin
Speakers Bureau: Jim Bourn
Outreach:
Bridge Builders: Bob Langford/Ed Edgren
Sunshine: Susan Cooper
Hospitality: Paula Rose (coordinator & scheduler)
FF of Dallas History:
Historian/Photo Album/Scrapbook:: OPEN
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