President's Letter

WorldFest

One World, Many Cultures, Loads of Fun.....
...that was the tag line for this year's WorldFest event - held the last full weekend of October in the Festival Park in Addison Circle. And Friendship Force Dallas was there, lending its voice and presence to the celebration of multiculturalism in the Metroplex and sharing in what was indeed a fun filled weekend.

Opening on October 24, United Nations Days, the event was enlarged to a two-day, all weekend festivity this year in recognition of the success it sparked during its first iteration last year. Consular Corps representatives from around the Metroplex marched proudly in the Parade of Nations, carrying the flags of their respective nations. Students joined in to carry the flags of their native or adopted countries where a consular representative was not available. 

Entertainment emanated from not one, not two, not three, but six stages located around the grounds which had been cordoned to represent six geographical regions of the world. The Main stage hosted performances by Chinese acrobats from Hebei province in China, as well as a conservatory folk dance troupe from Izmir, Turkey, the next international exchange destination for FFD. The Americas stage was the center for a popular Mariachi contest, featuring colorfully costumed dancers and musicians from all over the state, as well as from Mexico. 

But entertainment was not the only manifestation of the multicultural makeup of our community. Local restaurants participated by selling delicious national specialties from India, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Italy, and Cuba among others so that one could literally dine around the world over the course of the two day event.

Additionally, cultural clubs and entrepreneurs offered wares for sale from all over the world, creating a veritable international marketplace right in the middle of our urban home.

Twenty members of FFD volunteered two hours of their time to staff the FFD booth, talking up our program and answering questions and promoting membership for those who stopped by to learn more about Friendship Force and its mission. Several FFD members found the event so compelling that they returned on the second day of the event in order to see a particular act or eat that special empanada from Colombia, or buy that caftan from Morocco they may have missed on the first day.

We anticipate welcoming several newly recruited guests at our next meeting later this month, so be sure to seek them out and encourage their interest so that our club can continue to grow.

Teresa Wilkin
VP, FFD

Photo coming: Zia Shamsy & Teresa Wilkin staff the FFD Booth

President's Letter

It’s hard to believe the year is almost over, but FFDallas has had a busy and productive 2009. Here are the highlights of our year in review: 

There’s no doubt that FFD had opportunities to Explore, Understand, and Serve in 2009, and I am proud to be part of an organization that promotes peace and friendship in the world.

Since this is my last year as President of FFD, I would like to thank all of you for working with me to help promote FFD’s mission of building world understanding through personal friendships.

See you at the next meeting!

Wendy

November Meeting

Celebrating our Founding

Sunday November 15 - 1:30 PM

Place:

12817 Preston Rd, Dallas @ SW corner of I-635
972-392-0190

Food :

Indian Buffet

Cost:

Program:

The Fort Worth club is visiting Dallas this weekend. Our program will consist of an informal "telling" of the combined history of the Fort Worth Club and how the Dallas club was established by some of our charter founding members.

Reserve:

Please send your checks ($14.00) to Dora Stahl by Nov 8th or pay $16.00 at the door. edstahl@swbell.net

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Holiday Party

Celebrate the holidays on December 13 - 3:00-6:00 pm
Swiss Ave home of Myra & Darwin Smith
Bring Party Food and $5 (payable at the door)
Reserve to Dora Stahl (edstahl@swbell.net) by December 8 (and get address if you need it)

Exchanges

Outbound to Izmir, Turkey - ED: Zia Shamsy
   Cultural and historical tour of Turkey: Oct. 7 to 17, 2010 ( 10 days )
   Home stay Exchange in Izmir: Oct. 17 to 24, 2010 ( 7 days )
   Tour of Turkey and Home stay: Oct. 7 to 24, 2010 ( 17 days )

Outbound to Greater Denver, CO - TBA (either before or after Montana) ED: Jim Bourn

Outbound to Great Falls/Helena. Montana - Aug 21-27, 2010 EDs: Henny Houston and Cathy Ignatin

Inbound: Halliburton Highlands - April 17-24, 2010 - ED: Paula Rose

Inbound: Harrisburg - June 13-19, 2010 - EDs: Dale Klosterman and Annette Dempsey

The Board approved requests for 2011 exchanges; we asked for two inbound exchanges, and outbound exchanges to either South Pacific Area (Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia), Brazil or Japan with at least two weeks of home hosting.  Notification of assignments will be made in January.

Committee Opportunities

A message from President-Elect edward perez:

As I have written in the past, FF Dallas exists because many people contribute their ideas, energy, time, presence, and money to support and further the goals of our club. Along with the 2009 board members, I give a great big THANKS and hug of appreciation to those who have done so. 

There are many ways that you can contribute - attending meetings, hosting small group dinners, checking in attendees or being a greeter at meetings, participating in inbound and outbound exchanges, presenting info about FFD at organizations, and working behind the scenes to keep our club running. 

As president-elect for 2010, one of my tasks is to identify and nominate people to head committees for some of that behind the scenes work. We have the following chairs open - ready for someone to take over and help out:

So, please seriously consider helping out your club on any of these committees (you could chair a committee yourself or get a buddy to help out.) Training and assistance are available. Let me know via email or phone if you can help.

In friendship,
edward perez
treasurer, ff dallas 2009
president-elect, ff dallas 2010
erperez@acm.org

New Members

Please welcome new 2009 members:

Nikki Ashcraft
Maxine Bearden
Susan Beaudry (formerly Susan Cooper)
Sylvia Brown
Susan Carpenter
Chi Chi Hoquee
Joleen Reynolds
Samylu Rubin
Myrna Schmitt
Carolyn Williams 

Dues are Due!

Your dues for single or couple membership are due by December 15th. We must give International a membership list by the end of the year. Please send dues of $30/single or $35/couple to Sandy Kaiser (coachs@abilene.com). (An application was sent out earlier in fall.) The yearbook will be published at the beginning of 2010 based on who has paid their dues on time and our budget for the year will be based on our membership. As a bonus for paying by the Dec 15th deadline, those paying on time will receive their name badge with our new logo on it FREE!

Club Fund-raiser

Schedule an airport shuttle ride! Many members make a contribution to FFD using this volunteer service to get to and/or from DFW or Love Field airport for a fraction of the cost of public shuttles/taxis or parking. In 2008, members contributed close to $900. So far this year, members have contributed over $650. Contact edward perez (erperez@acm.org) for a list of the drivers who will pick you up at your home and take you to the airport, or will pick you up at the airport. Or, tell edward you would like to be a driver. Your mileage is also a contribution to the club.

2010 Southwest Conference

Rio Grande Valley club invites ALL Members of our Friendship Force Southwest Region to the next Southwest Conference. 

Dates: Feb 5 and 6, 2010

Cost: $100 Conference fee (before Jan 4) plus your hotel - register directly with the hotel 

Place: Grand Casa Real Hotel, McAllen TX

200 W. Expressway 83 (off 2nd St), McAllen, TX. 78501
956-686-2471. frontdesk@grandcasarealhotel.  www grandcasarealhotel.com

Hotel registration: Mention FFI Conference when registering
The hotel has been completely renovated. Our SPECIAL rate is $40 - Single $50 -Double (2 to a room) plus tax. 

Complimentary breakfast - 7 to 9 AM
Facilities - Indoor & outdoor pools, laundry facility, shopping mall & airport less than 5 minutes away. Just a short trip to Mexico (bring passport). 

Many of your favorite restaurants nearby.

From Jean Ellis:

I bid you welcome to come to our Conference to be held in the Rio Grande Valley “The Land of Two Summers.” We anticipate temperatures to be in the high 70ºs with lots of sunshine and some wind. Isn’t that better than snow and ice? 

We hope while you’re here you will visit some of the spots we take our Friendship Force Ambassadors when they are here. A SAFE town in Mexico is just a few miles away. While there, without an appointment, you can get dental work done at about ¼ the cost in US in CLEAN dentist’s offices. Or perhaps you’d like a haircut, corn rows or a pedicure. Maybe its Margaritas and dancing or shopping with vendors bargaining with you.

Padre Island is fun with its sandy beaches, sea food restaurants Dolphin tours and museums (no public transportation to Padre) On the subject of Museums we have several in our area.

And isn’t it a great hotel rate? Of course there are LOTS of other Motels including a Motel 6 Studio. Restaurants—we have all the Chains PLUS Ethnic (not including Mexican & Chinese) JUST ASK US !!!

We think we have a great conference scheduled. Remember ours in 2001??

Just fill out the reservation form and send it (with your money) AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Cuz--we only have a few working members.

Flying: If you are flying, Continental and American come into Miller International in McAllen. We will try to meet you there or you can rent a car—However if you are just coming for the conference, you shouldn’t need one.

Driving directions: If you are driving, these directions should get you here without a problem. Falfurious is a town about 60 miles North of McAllen on US 281. Continue South from there on this lovely divided highway. (Be careful going through Piedmont as it has a speed trap). You will hit civilization a little north of Edinburg. From there, there will be many exits. When you see the one for Pharr, get into your Right lane (McAllen) as US 281 divides at an overhead Y. This R. lane will automatically take you onto Exp 83. Don’t take Sugar Rd. or Jackson or Sam Houston but DO get into the Right lane for 2nd-10th St exit. As soon as you are on the frontage road, stay in the right lane; you will exit at 2nd St. (2 way traffic) VERY shortly (50’) make a sharp left turn into our Grand Casa Real Hotel. It is on 2nd & Exp. 83.

PLEASE COME – We hope you will see 100 of your FF Friends here.

Click here for a Registration form.

New Performing Arts Center

Since Donald Winspear introduced the Arts Center to us at our SW Conference, we've been looking forward to seeing it.  Take a look at  photos taken by edward perez of the opening of the Performing Arts Center at: http://erperez.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album47

The photos at the bottom are of the mandala that some Tibetan Buddhist monks created at the Trammel Crow Collection of Asian Arts. The monks also gave a dedication to the PAC, shown in earlier photos.