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Incoming and Outgoing Exchanges
Here's the latest scoop on our next two exchanges, courtesy of Ray Enstam, Exchange Director for both exchanges.
Cleveland County, England
We are now on the final days before twelve of our Friends from the United Kingdom arrive in Dallas for a week of friendship, social events and good Texas hospitality. Their flight from London arrives at DFW at 4:20 PM Sat. Oct. 9, 2004 (American Airlines flight 81).
Home hosts [eight families] and other members will greet them at the airport. Our guests will have that night to rest. Then, events start the next day, Sun. Oct. 10, with an “Eat and Greet” drop-in breakfast at Ray Enstam's home from 10 to 12 that morning. Later, at 5 PM that afternoon, we'll have our traditional “Welcoming Party” at Jim Bourn's home.
The two clubs will spend the week visiting the Dallas Arboretum, downtown Dallas and Ft. Worth and have several days of free time. We'll end the week with a gala “Farewell Party” at Darwin & Myra Smith's home on Fri. Oct. 15 starting at 5 PM. The ambassadors will leave early the following Saturday morning, heading on to Chiapas, Mexico for a second week of hosting.
All Friendship Force of Dallas members and guests are welcome and urged to attend all the exchange events, especially the “Eat and Greet”, the “Welcoming Party” and the “Farewell Party” where we can show the ambassadors some real Texas hospitality. If you haven’t done so already, get your reservation for the events in now by mailing the registration form to Susan Cooper (Daily Event Coordinator) emailing her at copertuz@flashnet. For other questions, contact Ray Enstam at enstam@sbcglobal.net.
All members are invited to participate in the upcoming events for the Ambassadors from Cleveland County, England. Anyone who is not home-hosting can help by day-hosting. If you are not familiar with the procedure, this means that for one day, or more, you would be responsible for taking one or two visitors to the assigned activity for that day. It is fun, you might see local sites that you didn't know were here and you get to meet terrific people. If you are interested, please call Lee Latham at 972-808-9316 or email at hlatham@swbell.net.
Trujillo, Peru and Beyond
The inbound exchange director in La Libertad is Floriza Ruiz de Ferrer. She was the director for the visit to Dallas & Austin; many in our club met her during the exchange last year.
Trujillo is the location of the school for the blind that the Dallas club has supported for many years with computers, which we plan to visit. The area has many seldom visited pre-historic sites, such as the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the famous Moche ruins at Chan-Chan, and, in nearby Chiclayo, the museum with the gold collection found in the tomb of Señor de Oro [“Mister Gold”] considered the “King Tut” of Peru - one of the greatest tomb discoveries of the world.
After our one week exchange in Trujillo, many of us will take an extension to visit Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and, finally, Lake Titicaca - the highest lake in the world - and its famous floating reed villages, inhabited by the Indians who spend their entire lives on these floating villages.
This will be our club’s only outbound exchange for 2005. If you're interested, Ray Enstam will add your name to the waiting list in case the Trujillo club adds more home hosts. (Contact him at enstam@sbcglobal.net)
Other FF Exchanges
As of August, FFI and various clubs have confirmed 305 exchanges for 2005! Visit the “Find an Exchange” section on FFI's website or the “Exchanges” section of FFD's website for info on the exchanges. To join another club's exchange, contact the Exchange Director (ED) from that club as soon as possible.
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Preparations are well underway for the joint
Dallas & Austin outbound exchange to La Libertad Club, Trujillo,
Peru leaving Dallas on Mar. 12, 2005.
Twenty five folks from Dallas & Austin have signed up and
paid deposits! [all available slots].
The La Libertad club visited Dallas & Austin in Oct. 2003;
this will be a return exchange with a special invitation to the clubs of
Dallas & Austin from La Libertad.
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A big atta-girl for Mary Williams was received from Susie Smith [Past President FFI] regarding our website. Our website and newsletter are models for other clubs and we can all be proud of all the work that Mary and now Edward have put into these important communications.
Read this month's articles very closely. After the Cleveland County, England exchange is wrapped up, we will be celebrating FFD's 10th year anniversary at Chimney Hill's club house. Paula Rose and crew (Mary Suther, Mary Latham, Edward Perez, myself and others) are planning a big event. If you know how to contact any past members, especially some of the charter members, please invite them. We will have people, pictures and treasures from all inbound and outbound exchanges. I would like to see the Exchange Directors give a brief remembrance of each event as well as the presidents that say a few words about their year. Hopefully some of our friends from Ft. Worth and other regional clubs can attend.
The last big event for the year will be the Holiday party at Henny Houston's home. A special meal is being planned. In addition, to help our Bridge Builders project, please bring a Christmas ornament with a small cash gift in the top to help prepare and ship more computers to our blind friends. We have helped schools in Peru, Chile, and now Romania. Our first aid was to Peru; we hope to send updated computers with our exchange in the spring. After decorating a tree with all those ornaments, we will donate it to a retirement center, nursing home or other center in our community. Do you know of such a place? Send us the info. We will also have everyone bring a wrapped White Elephant gift to exchange. The whole party should be fun and a good end for the year.
The new officers are busy planning next year. The December board meeting will be for outgoing and incoming officers and committees. The meeting is open to all and will be the Monday after the Holiday party at the YMCA on Custer in Richardson. Come let us know what you want from your club next year (please complete questionnaire from Mary Latham). The meetings are friendly, spirited and usually not too long. It takes input from everyone to plan a new and different year and activities. Have a great fall and see you at the numerous events.
In Friendship,
Jim
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It has been great at the events lately where we
have had large turn outs. The numerous new members and visitors are
encouraging [10 at our Sept meeting]. But remember that it takes all of
us to make the visitors welcome and become friends. When you see someone
new, make a big effort to greet them and be sure they are included in
our group. Many times, we are so happy to see our friends and “catch
up” on the news that we forget the
first time we visited FF Dallas. It can get lonesome in a
crowd and, many times, the officers are busy setting up, having to meet
and greet later. So help us show what a friendly club we
are.
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“This
is Susie Smith, former FFI President, writing to the FF Dallas webmaster
and President Jim Bourn. I'm
writing to congratulate you on your website.
It is visually crisp, easy to navigate and full of current,
pertinent information. I
make it a habit to read it on a regular basis to keep up with the events
of your club and the pulse of the entire organization.
Thanks for all the you are doing to keep the website so
informative and fresh. Good
luck with your exchanges, and I hope to see you and many of your members
in Los Angeles later this year! With my very best wishes, Susie.”
Bridge Builders
Shortly after our Dallas club was formed, we initiated a Bridge Builder program to reach out to other countries. Our particular focus was to provide rebuilt computers to schools for the blind; we have done that for schools in Peru, Chile and Romania. This has been guided under the leadership of our own Dr. Bob Langford and his International Services for the Visually Challenged.
We now need your HELP! We will take donations of any used computers, monitors and keyboards, but in particular, require small CPU's (so they can ship by US Postal). The computers need to be at least 200 MHz, with 64 MB or 128 MB RAM. If you or your company can donate a computer(s), please contact Ed Edgren at texmared@aol.com to arrange a pickup or ask any questions. A non-profit donation slip can be provided if necessary.
FFD 2005 Board Election
At the August club meeting, the following members were elected FFD board officers for 2005. Thanks to all of you for committing your time and efforts to our club! If you would like to help out in any way, contact Brud Kisner or any of the officers.
President: Paula Rose First Vice President: Mary Suther Second Vice President (Membership): Herb and Juli Ziev Third Vice President (Programs): Mary Latham Treasurer: Susan Cooper Secretary: Betty Mayeur and Pat Peters
FFD Programs
Mary Latham, our incoming VP in charge of programs, wants your input and ideas for next year’s events and meetings. Please complete the questionnaire in your newsletter and return it ASAP to Mary.
Board Meetings
There will be no board meeting in October due to the Cleveland County In-bound. The next meeting will be Nov 15th. The Dec 13th board meeting will be a joint meeting of current and incoming officers & board members.
The FFD Board usually meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Richardson YMCA (821 Custer Road, just south of Arapaho). Board members and Committee chairs - please plan to attend so we have a quorum for any decision making. These meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
New E-mail Address
Ray Enstam has setup a new email account for us - it matches our website's name. Update your address books!
friendshipForceDallas@yahoo.com If you have questions or need to communicate with club officers or committee chairs, send us a note (several of us monitor the inbox). If you have news or info that you would like the club to know about between newsletter publications, send it to the new e-mail address, Mary Williams: txtravel@flash.net, or Edward Perez: erperez @acm.org. We'll review it and, if appropriate, e-mail it to the club.
Newsletter Deadlines
We publish our newsletter bi-monthly. Please send all articles, news items, photos, etc. to Edward Perez by Nov. 20th for the end of year newsletter issue. Send via e-mail to erperez@acm.org or by fax to 214-553-4547.
Committees
If you know of any FFD member or friend who could use some sunshine, contact Mary Helen Lyons: MHLTX@mymailstation.com
If you know of a group who would like to know about FFD, contact Jim Bourn: airbourn@comcast.net
If you would like to volunteer for any of the committees, contact Brud Kisner or any of the officers: bkisner@sbcglobal.net |
Atta-Girl, Mary!!
At the Sep. Board meeting, Ed Edgren read a
thank-you letter from the school for the blind in Buzau, Romania, where
BB recently sent computers. Additionally, he reported on two schools in
Bucharest; one especially needs help. The school has 240 sight-impaired students and needs 25 computers
and other material. Ed requested and the board approved $400 to prepare
donated computers to be shipped to the school, carrying through on our
commitments to the school in Buzau.
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New FFD Members
We now have 112 members representing 77
households. Introduce yourself at future meetings.
William B. Churchill
Frances Collins and Rhetta Cook fcollins@netin.com
Judith G. Meador
Member Updates
Mick and Maureen Smith – new home phone (contact webmaster) Marilyn McRae – new email: MIM555ART@yahoo.com
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November Meeting For our Nov. 14th meeting, we will celebrate FFD’s 10th anniversary. The club will buy barbeque and members will bring side dishes and desserts. Charter members, past presidents and past exchange directors will be sharing history and memories. Please bring memorabilia, photos, articles, etc. from previous exchanges. Also, members are encouraged to wear costumes from their favorite countries. Contact Paula Rose if you want to help. Reservations are required (flyers will be sent at the end of October); the cost will be $5.00 at the door. Bring your cameras; the club will reimburse you for any prints you offer the club.
Our December holiday meeting will be held on Dec. 5th at Henny Houston’s home. Our theme will be “Dinner around the World.” Members are asked to bring an ornament for the tree, adorned with a monetary gift for Bridge Builders program. The board has issued a challenge to our members and will match donations, up to a total of $250.00 for the entire club. We will also hold a White Elephant gift exchange.
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FFI Leadership Forums
Mary Williams posts each issue of the Leadership Forum email newsletter
from George Brown, FFI President, on the FFI section of the FFD website.
Here's
an excerpt from the August issue.
"We are about to enter the high season for Friendship Force exchanges. Our program coordination department reports that there will be approximately 90 exchanges in the months of September and October with an estimated 1,500 ambassadors. These wonderful experiences for making international friends are made possible because of the hard work by our club and exchange leaders, supported by dedicated staff in Atlanta. Congratulations to all who have been working to make this a great exchange season!"
FFI 28th International Conference
Los Angeles, November 4 – 7, 2004
“Reach for the Stars” is the theme of our Annual International Conference. A time to look to the future, strive for the highest ideals, and follow what is the most meaningful to us in our involvement with Friendship Force International. This year’s conference inaugurates a new period of Friendship Force history as we move ahead with innovative concepts and renewed leadership. All club leaders and members are invited to join us to welcome this fresh vision and collectively reach for the stars! Wind up your visit with a four-night homestay ($150) from Nov 7 – 11, offered by The Friendship Force clubs of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Orange County, and Kern County.
Jim Bourn will be the official representative of our club at the conference [approved at the Sep. board meeting]. The registration deadline has passed, but registrations will be accepted on a space-available basis. If you are interested in attending, see the FFI website for registration forms and hotel info - http://www.friendshipforce.org/Events/LAConference.html
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The
Friendship Force of Dallas Club (FFD) 11408 Audelia Rd. Box 4800 Dallas, TX 75243 Telephone and Fax: 214-553-4547 E-mail: friendshipforcedallas@yahoo.com Web: www. friendshipForceDallas.org
Friendship
Force International (FFI) 34 Peachtree Street, Suite 900 Atlanta GA 30303 Telephone: 404-522-9490 E-mail: ffi@friendshipforce.org Debbie Powell in Atlanta is FFI Program Service Coordinator for Friendship Force Dallas. |