President’s Message

WOW!!! What an exchange that was!! Paula Rose and her crews put together and conducted a fantastic exchange for 18 ambassadors from Haliburton Highlands, Canada [see her article in this newsletter]. It was great to visit with the Haliburtonians, learn about their lives and hobbies [like curling], and learn about the other land of the lakes [the video shown at the Welcome party sure made me want to visit]. But it was just as great to see lots of FF Dallasites pitch in and help organize events, be home & day hosts, join in on the outings, help setup & cleanup, take photos, and - last but definitely NOT least - make memories and new friends. THIS is what Friendship Force is all about - making friends near [in our club] and far [from other clubs]!! THANKS to all who helped make this exchange run smoothly and fun!!

And with that one in the record books, more opportunities are just around the corner to make more friends near and far:

Future events include:

Hope to see you at an upcoming event as we explore, understand, serve, and make friends near and far!!

en amistad, in friendship,
edward perez

Meetings

Our May meeting will be our Pot luck picnic and plant exchange. Bring your dish and your plant cuttings to swap.

May 16 – 6 pm, at the home of Kathy Morris. Check with her for address. 

Cost: $5.00, payable at the door, and your food dish.
   -If your last name begins with A through H, please bring a salad or veggie

    TO SERVE 8-10.
   -If your last name begins with I through R, please bring a main dish 

    TO SERVE 8-10.
   -If your last name begins with S through Z, please bring a dessert 

    TO SERVE 8-10.

Please reserve with Audrey Schlecht by May 12 at aschlecht@earthlink.net..

March Meeting

Nikki Ashcraft, one of our new members, spoke at our March meeting. Being a teacher of English as a second language has allowed her to live and work in many countries, most recently in Antofagasta, Chile. Nikki gave us a very professional and informative presentation about her stay in Chile. If you missed this you missed a good one. Now that is an involved new member. Way to go Nikki!

New Members Party

by Sandy Kaiser, 2nd Vice President - Membership

On April 10 we welcomed our new members with a party at the home of Brud Kisner. 

It was a lovely spring day on April 10th when sixteen of our 23 new members gathered at Brud Kisner’s home in Dallas for a new member’s party and orientation. The sun was shining, the flowers were blooming and a gentle breeze was blowing. The group enjoyed lunch together and had an opportunity to meet, ask questions and get to know each other. (Joleen Reynolds introduces herself below.)

One of the purposes of the meeting was to for our new members to acquire a deeper understanding of what the Friendship Force of Dallas and Friendship Force International was all about and what our purpose was in the world. 

Our desire was for the new members to get to know our board and meet some of the longer time members. We wanted them to know that we appreciated them for wanting to be a part of our club. During the party we had photos of past exchanges being shown on the television. 

We passed out information sheets of the most frequent asked questions about The Friendship Force and the answers. These same questions and answers can be found on the Club Membership tab of our website.

After an hour and a half of socializing we moved into the more formal part of our get-to-gather. Sandy Kaiser our membership chair welcomed our new members. During this party of the program, our new members were asked to introduce themselves and tell the rest of the group a little about themselves. 
Ray Enstam our International Exchange Coordinator did an overview of the FFI organization and showed a DVD presentation show on FFI. Ray explained about exchanges and why one should consider being part of an exchange. Ken Walker our newsletter editor and Peggy Benton our sunshine chair, talked about special exchanges and their purpose. 

Our president, edward perez, talked about the meetings throughout the year. 
Brud Kisner, our host for the day, and Sandy Kaiser, membership chairperson, discussed many of the opportunities to participate in both FFI and the Dallas club. 

Ken Walker talked about the FFI and the Dallas website and all the information which is available on these sites. The new members were encouraged to participate, to get involved and become active members of the club. 

This was the first membership party that we had had in awhile. From the response we had from the new members, it seems to be well received. We hope to have new member’s parties more often. During our inbound exchange from Halliburton Heights, Ont., Canada during April 17th -24th, we had many of our new members who were involved.

It is a very good way to really understand become part of the club. Just a reminder to all members, when you see a new member, please spend some time with them. Remember what
it is like to be a new member in an organization.

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New Members of FF Dallas:

• Susan Carpenter

Haliburton Highlands Inbound Exchange 

April 17-24 2010

by Paula Rose, Exchange Director

FF Dallas welcomed 17 ambassadors from Haliburton Highlands Ontario Canada with a huge party at Brud Kisner's home on Saturday, April 17th. With more than 70 in attendance, we braved the impending rain and had a really fun time. Thanks to Mary Latham, we had wanted posters with the ambassadors pictures, bandanas and other Texas themed goodies..Hilda Klosterman and Ana Marie Lee decorated both the welcome and farewell parties. Thanks to Pat Peters and Diana and Marty Behannesey who checked people in. 

Bob Cole (Haliburton President) gets a bandana from Charlene Cooper (wife of Haliburton ED).
 
Judy Cole can’t let a little rain interfere with a good party! 

Marilyn Cowley, Mary Williams, Elizabeth Umana and Peggy Benton get under an umbrella.

Mary Latham and Paula Rose

enjoy the fruits of their labors.

On Sunday we toured Mandolyn Horse Farm. Even though we experienced unprecedented cold weather, the Canadians reported enjoying this activity. It was great to see new members Helen and Ralph Borstmayer, Darlene Primm, Darlene Anyzeski, Joleen Reynolds and Leyla Akgerman there. We followed this activity with a huge BBQ lunch at Clarks Outpost in Tioga. Thanks to Ray Enstam and Pam Varney-Terrell for arrangements for this day. 

Ralph Mintz and Jean Clark 

Dave Ray, manager, gave 

an excellent tour. 

Lunch at Clark’s Outpost 

        

On Monday the weather cleared so we had a great day for showing the Arboretum. The azaleas were out in full force and the ambassadors learned some Texas history at the little houses area. 

Ralph Mintz, Liv Anderson, Sandy Duchemin, Martha Durst, Dick Duchemin see early Texas buildings, gardens and a real covered wagon      

Andy Cooper, Ray Baker, Dale Klosterman

In the evening, small group dinners were held arranged by Ruth Barrow and Pat Andeweg. Everyone seems to enjoy these smaller gatherings. 

Dinner at Henny Houston's house:

Liv Anderson, Mary Williams, Ralph Mintz, Henny Houston, Sandy Duchemin, Dick Duchemin, and Darlene Primm

Dinner at Paula and edward's:

  Andy & Charlene Cooper, Diana & Marty 

  Behannesey, edward perez, Paula Rose
 

Tuesday we toured downtown Dallas on a bus arranged by Jim Bourn. It was great to see the faces of our guests as they spied the huge longhorn sculptures and viewed our new arts venues. 

 Paula and DART tour guide Bridget 

                         Ralph Mintz, Helen and Ralph Borstmayer, and Liv

                         Anderson take DART to downtown

Fountain Place:

After lunch at the Dallas Museum of Art, we went to museums of our ambassadors' choice. 

On Wednesday we did something new...Texan Day. Meeting at White Rock Lake for coffee and snacks brought by Ray Enstam and Hilda Klosterman, we had a fun walk by a portion of the lake. 

Then we saw the small but interesting White Rock Lake museum in the Bath House. 

A down home Texas lunch at Dixie House Lakewood followed. Founders Lanell Naughton and Jackie Bluhm came to this event....good to see you!!! 

Later we went north to a huge field of bluebonnets to do the quintessential Texas picture taking in a field of our state flower. Charlene Cooper is shown here.

On Thursday we took the TRE train to Ft Worth, enjoying a picnic lunch on the train. We were met at the station by Jim Young of FF Ft Worth who led us on a walking tour of downtown Ft Worth. We then toured the Sid Richardson western art museum. 

Then FF Ft Worth members led by Taylor Stephens- Parker took us to the stockyards for shopping, a trail drive reenactment and a three club dinner. 

Afterwards we went to Billy Bob's Honky Tonk for line dancing.

On Friday, several ambassadors and Dallas FF folks went to Delaney vineyards for a tour and wine tasting. Others shopped or rested. 

On Friday evening a well-attended farewell party was held at Chimneyhill Clubhouse. Thanks to Mary, Ray Enstam (again!) and a great set up/decorating crew, everything was really nice. There were western themed decorations and Canadian and US flags. Bob Umana made new flag holders for the club as well. 

We enjoyed a BBQ dinner and entertainment consisting of songs from the Canadians and a Texas band playing Texas favorites. We sadly said farewell to our Canadian guests who went to San Antonio the next day. They were a great fun bunch! 

          Happy trails to you
          ‘till we meet again.
          Happy trails to you,
          keep smiling’ until then.

Thanks to home hosts Dale and Hilda Klosterman, Brud Kisner, Ed and Dora Stahl, Myra and Darwin Smith, Sandy and Roger Kaiser, Darlene and Wayne Primm, Mary Williams and Betty Mayeur. Unfortunately, Marilyn and Lee Cowley’s guests had to cancel at the last minute due to health reasons. Home host chair was Martha Durst.

Thanks to day hosts Pat Andeweg, Peggy Benton, Leo and Martha Durst, Nancy and Al Hicks, LaNell and Jim Naughton, Joleen Reynolds and Zia Shamsy. Henny Houston was day host chair.

Small dinner hosts were Pat and Frits Andeweg, Nancy and Al Hicks, Henny Houston, Brud Kisner, AnaMarie Lee, LaNell and Jim Naughton, Paula Rose and edward perez, and Mary Suther.

A VERY SPECIAL thanks to Ken Walker for the photo CD and presentation, and to edward perez for tech support.

I had a good time! This was our first international exchange (inbound) in 2 years!

See more photos on our Haliburton Photos page.

Friendship Force Dallas Exchanges for 2010

Home hosts are: 

Don and Ginny Covaleski hosted by edward perez and Paula Rose

Harriet Steele hosted by Mary Williams

Peter Calcagno by Ed and Dora Stahl

Sandy Marrero hosted by Jim Bourn

Gene and Annette Ventura (from Raleigh NC) hosted by Ava Vorosmarty Rowe

 

Contact Jim Bourn to volunteer to day host or coordinate or host small group dinners.

          Tentative Schedule: 
          Sat 12th: Morning arrival. Tour Grapevine area near airport. Evening - Barbecue dinner and

               Mesquite rodeo 
          Sun 13th: Free day for church and museums. Evening: Welcome party at Jim Bourn's home
          Mon 14th: Morning at Arboretum with picnic lunch; Bathhouse.. Evening - small group dinners
          Tues 15th: Downtown Dallas tour; lunch at YO Ranch Restaurant; museums
          Wed 16th: Transfer to Fort Worth
          Thurs 17th: Fort Worth club
          Fri 18th: Fort Worth club
          Sat 19th: Depart

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Exchange News

These members have signed up for 

Hilda and Dale Klosterman

Betty Mayeur
Kathy Morris
Pat Peters
Ava Rowe
Zia Shamsy
Carolyn Williams
Mary Williams

Exchange Opportunity

From Larry Kurtz: AN INVITATION TO ALL INTERESTED IN THE ARTS AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

Each year, late September heralds the onset of Canada's spectacular Fall colours and the start of a new “Season” of the country's best offerings in music, theatre, and the arts in our historic towns and great cities. Friendship Force of Hamilton & Burlington in southern Ontario (next door to Toronto and Niagara) invites you to join us in celebrating the 2010 Fall Season in both of these realms with a full week of plays, concerts, galleries, and a “Cottage Outing” to our lakeside and woodland private retreats.

From September 23-30 we will visit the Stratford Shakespeare Festival; Niagara's wineries, the Shaw Festival, and the famous “Falls” by night; Toronto's best concert halls and galleries; Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius; and to draw breath between times, spend two nights in smaller groups at our members' cottages in the country.

Those who choose to join the party will have the opportunity to meet Friendship Force members from far and wide, to enjoy all of this and a week of our most hospitable in-town and cottage-country home hosting, for just $475 USD! 

For more information contact Larry Kurtz: kurtz_larry@hotmail.com

 
As President of our local club, let me say that it would be our pleasure to welcome you in Hamilton & Burlington this September, and to make sure your stay with us is an unforgettable experience! 
In Friendship,
Larry Kurtz

For more worldwide travel opportunities with other Friendship Force clubs, see the current Friendship Force International ‘Catalog’ at: http://www.friendshipforce.org/catalog/default.aspx

or Other Clubs on our website.