Quick Look!

Exchange Visit from England a Success  

by Ray Enstam, Exchange Director

Our visitors from Cleveland County, United Kingdom have come and gone. And with them, our only inbound international exchange for 2004. On Saturday evening, October 9, our twelve visitors arrived at DFW airport and were greeted by their hosts. The week’s events started Sunday and took a turn for the doubtful when a good English rain set in. However, Friendship Force of Dallas responded as resourcefully as always. 

The Sunday morning Eat and Greet breakfast at my house was successfully moved indoors and a great event welcome it turned out to be. The Welcome Dinner at Jim Bourn’s house that evening also had to move indoors due to the constant drizzle. Again, great food and great friends. 

     Margaret and Bill Docherty      Bob Douglas - the singing cowboy

             Marty Behannesey                     Pam Varney Terrell

              and Alan Fletcher              and Elzbieta Swiatopelk-Mirski

By Monday, the weather had cleared enough for a visit to the Arboretum, which was enjoyed by the visitors who included many gardeners. 

The weather cleared Tuesday for a walking tour of downtown Dallas, including a guided tour of the Arts District and later a walk to the West End. Wednesday was a day to visit our sister city of Fort Worth, and Thursday was a day at the State Fair. 

We ended up Friday with a wonderful Farewell Party at the House of Darwin and Myra Smith. The next morning our guests left from DFW to continue on for another week of visits with the Friendship Force Club of Tuxtla-Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.

I thank all of the members and friends of Friendship Force of Dallas who helped make this exchange a success by participating in the many events. In particular, I thank the Exchange Committee members: Paula Rose, Home Hosts; Lee Latham, Day Hosts; Pam Varney, Welcome Package; Ana Marie Lee, Exchange Treasurer; Mary Helen Lyons, Small Group Dinners; Mary Williams, Publications; Myrna Ridings, Publicity; Jim Bourn, Welcome Party; Darwin and Myra Smith, Farewell Party; Brud Kisner, Entertainment; Edward Perez, Technical Support; Susan Cooper, General Coordinator. 

A special thanks to the home hosts who are always key to making the guests feel welcome and cared for: Lee and Mary Latham, Jerry and Jackie Bluhm, Paula Rose and Edward Perez, Marty and Diana Behannesey, LaNell Koch and Jim Naughton, Susan Cooper, Bob and Doris Langford, and Pat Peters and Betty Mayeur. Also, thanks to those who participated as Day Hosts, Greeters at events, helpers in many ways at each event, and those who helped make each a event a success by your attendance to make our guests feel welcome.

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FFD 10^th Anniversary Celebration

Approximately 80 FFD members, friends and guests enjoyed a BBQ dinner, displays of memorabilia (including PowerPoint presentations, lots of pictures, scrapbooks and music) and a super program presented, organized and emceed by Brud Kisner and Ed Edgren. Brud talked about many of the founding, charter and early members, while Ed called on past Exchange Directors to relate some memories from past exchanges. 

LaNell Koch spoke in remembrance of Bob Stone, another founding member.

Several early members (whom we haven’t seen for a while) – Opal Cooper, Mark and  Virginia Bryant, Dolores Nudds, Margie Tareilo and Helen-Marie Al Haddad – joined in the festivities. Mary Suther did a great job finding these folks and producing formal invitations. Jim Bourn worked very hard, as usual, bringing the BBQ, drinks, sound system and providing extra tables and chairs (hauled to the event by hardworking Edward Perez). Mary Williams reserved the clubhouse for us, provided extra tables and chairs, and stayed to the end cleaning up. Jackie and Jerry Bluhm loaned us their treasured international flags for decorations.        Mary Williams, Ana Marie Lee and 

                                                                                       guests Fred and Nancy Stine, from Maine

Edward Perez created the event program, posters for memorabilia displays and the certificates given to the founding and charter members, EDs and presidents. Lilliana Hollister and her friends Charles McNatt and Maggie Cardona also helped setup. Mary and Lee Latham, Wendy and John Whaley, Ray Enstam, Gary Paramore and Pat Peters completed the setup crew. Betty Mayeur and Martha and; Leo Durst checked everyone in. And everyone helped clean up!

Thanks to all of you!

Paula Rose, event coordinator.

Jim's Jewels

Jim Bourn, President

Ed and Dora Stahl, Al and Nancy Hicks and I represented the club at the 2004 Friendship Force International 28th annual Conference. 14countries and over 300 people attended. A great time was had by all - greeting old friends and making new contacts. 

The FFI staff, led by George Brown, arranged interesting and informative sessions. All were instructed on how to more effectively plan and lead exchanges. The FFI exchanges were very successful this year. George, with the help of the FFI Staff, board and the FF Los Angeles club, kept the meetings fun as they told us about new programs to many new places.

The theme of the convention was "Reach for the Stars". A new program was announced to honor Wayne Smith and put FFI on a firm Financial Footing. The program, "Building on a Great Legacy," will start March 1, 2005 with as many clubs as possible joining in a round the world club meetings that start in New Zealand and end 24 hours later in Hawaii. The plan is to add 30 new clubs and expand exchange opportunities.

Special sessions explained alternative exchanges, such as chorus, youth and special fair trips. The special meeting on March 1 will include fund raising projects to jump-start the new programs. The last day was awards. The most enthusiastic person at the convention was co-awarded to Pjerina Dekanovic from Croatia and an attendee from Japan. Other awards included:

Your officers will brief the club on all the plans for the March 1 event. The Stahls and Hicks remained for a post-conference homestay in Southern California. I returned with the feeling that FFI is in good shape and making great steps to increase program to reach out to the world in Peace and Friendship. 

In Friendship, 

Jim

Meetings

December 5^th - Sunday

Our December holiday meeting will be held Dec. 5^th at Henny Houston’s home. The theme is an “Around the World Christmas Dinner.” The menu will include foods from Italy, USA, Spain, France, Mexico, Germany and Brazil. We will hold a White Elephant gift exchange. Fill out and return the enclosed reservation form with your check payable to FF Dallas to Lilliana Hollister by Dec 1^st.  

Also, to help our Bridge Builders program (see article in Club News), all members are asked to bring a donation (cash or check; receipts issued if requested). The board has issued a challenge to our members and will match club members’ donations, up to a total of $250.00 for the entire club. 

January 9^th - Sunday

At the Gran Machu Picchu Restaurant (Jupiter and Garland Rd). Our guest speaker will be Teresa Ocampo. Teresa is the “Julia Child” of Peru, having hosted TV cooking programs for 30+ years. She will talk about Peruvian food and culture.

March 1^st - Tuesday

Tuesday, March 1 is World Friendship Day. Friendship Force Dallas will join hands and hearts with our friends around the world for a global celebration. The party will begin in New Zealand and continue around the world through each time zone for twenty-four hours of celebrations.

To spread the message of Friendship Force to countries that do not have clubs or resources to organize clubs, we will raise funds for the Legacy Fund established by Friendship Force International for this purpose (in honor of Wayne Smith, FFI founder). You will be receiving additional information on this in future newsletters, announcements and mailings. FFI is asking for a donation of $10.00 from each of us but we can exceed this goal and have a great time.

Meetings for 2005

Mary Latham, our incoming VP in charge of programs, wants your input and ideas for events and meetings for the rest of 2005. Please fill out the questionnaire sent with the Oct-Nov newsletter and return it ASAP to Mary (contact Edward Perez if you need a new copy sent via email or US Mail: erperez@acm.org).

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Introduce yourself at future meetings to these new members. And greet any visitors and guests!!

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2005 Membership Dues 

FFI has requested that all clubs send in their membership dues and magazine subscription fees by February 1, 2005. FFD’s annual dues are $45/family and $40/individual. This includes $15 for a subscription to the Friendship Magazine (subtract that amount from your annual dues if you do not want the magazine). 

Please plan to bring your 2005 membership dues (checks payable to Friendship Force of Dallas, sent to Herb and Juli Ziev) to the January 9^th meeting or mail it to the 2005 Membership co-chairs. Please note any changes in your mailing address, phone number and/or e-mail address.

Club News  

FFD Club Exchange Preference Survey

Once again, it is that time of year to start thinking about future travel adventures. In the case of Friendship Force International, it is time to think about 2006! FFI has started the assignment process and they hope to make the 2006 exchange assignments by Spring 2005. This benefits FFD because it allows us ample planning time.

As always, FFD gets to ask for its preferred outbound exchange destinations, and you, the members, get to decide which locations we will ask for. The board discussed and agreed to ask for two inbounds and two outbounds, esp. if one of them was to Canada. 

Please take the time to fill out the Exchange Preference Survey form included with your last newsletter and send or give it to me prior to December 15 so that your voice may be heard.

Ray Enstam, International Exchange Coordinator

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Bridge Builders

You will be pleased to know that six computers and a scanner have been shipped to a school for the blind in Romania. We had provided 15 computers for Peru and Chile as our gift. Others have been sent to Sierra Leone, Pakistan, and other places. We appreciated the $600 gift that you made last year. It helped to replace our cost.

Two high school graduates this year from the school for the blind in Romania got jobs because of their computer skills. First time in the history of the school that graduates got jobs right out of school!

Now we have shipped six more to another school for the blind. We would appreciate a $600 gift so that we will be ready for the next group that Ed Edgren might have in mind.

The Bridge Builder Program is having a significant effect upon an increasing number of persons.

Respectfully yours, Bob Langford, Ph D.  

President, Texas Center for the Physically Impaired 

http://handicapability.org

***************

From a recent Microsoft Regional Newsletter:

"Computers for the Blind!” Sounds like an oxymoron? Not so. Thanks to The Texas Center for the Physically Impaired, computers are changing the lives of visually impaired people around the world. By updating obsolete computers and retrofitting them with a synthesized voice program, TCPI is opening the door to a world previously closed.

The process begins with the donation of used computers. Volunteers from the North Texas PC Users Group refurbish the donated computers by installing the new software, which includes a screen-reader demo and a computer-training tutorial.

A visually impaired person who is serious about learning and is willing to listen to several audiocassettes to learn the basic steps for using a computer is eligible to receive one of these computers. The CPU, keyboard, monitor and software are free to the user. There is a $100 charge to cover packing, shipping, and replacement parts.

The critical part of this program is the supply of used computers to refurbish and equip for use by the visually impaired. Texas Center for the Physically Impaired is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and provides donors a receipt so that they may obtain a tax deduction." 

A call to Bob Langford will arrange timely pickup of your used equipment. boblang@airmail.net.

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FFD 2005 Board

The following members will assume their respective FFD board officer position starting Jan 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 any of the officers. 

Committee chairs will be announced in the next newsletter.

President: Paula Rose                                                         
1^st Vice President: Mary Suther                                         
2^nd Vice President (Membership): Herb & Juli Ziev  

3^rd Vice President (Programs): Mary Latham    

Secretary: Betty Mayeur and Pat Peters

Treasurer: Susan Cooper

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Board Meetings

The next meeting will be Dec 6^th - the 1^st Monday in December, not the 2^nd Monday, as is usual. All 2004 and 2005 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.

The FFD Board usually meets the 2^nd Monday of each month at 7 pm at the Richardson YMCA (821 Custer Road, just south of Arapaho and west of US 75 Central Expwy).  UPDATE: From now on, the Board will meet at Marilyn McRae's clubhouse.  The January meeting will be Jan. 10.

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Newsletter Deadline 

We publish our newsletter bi-monthly. Please send all articles, news items, photos, etc. to Edward Perez by Dec. 20^th for the next newsletter issue. Send via email 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 and wants a speaker, 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

FF Southwest Region Conference

Dear Friendship Force Members and Friends,

We invite you to make plans now to attend the 2005 Southwest Regional Conference Fri. & Sat., February 11 & 12, 2005 at the Clarion Hotel, in the heart of downtown Fort Worth.

The theme is “Extending Our Reach”. The Fort Worth club is preparing a very special program for you. Debbie Powell, FFI Program Services Coordinator for SW Region, will join us Friday night and Saturday. She will update us on what’s happening at FFI and will answer questions submitted in advance by our clubs. Our Keynote speaker is 

Anne Marie Weiss-Armush, a noted speaker and editor of DFW International http://www.dfwinternational.org. She will lead a session on cultural values.

There will also be breakout sessions with presenters from various clubs. Some of the topics under consideration are club data base management, club websites, newsletters, club gift ideas, club city monument ideas, and making inbound exchanges easier.

Registration fees are $55/person by Jan. 25^th; $65/person after Jan 25^th. Saturday night dinner $15 for guests. Special hotel rate of $79/night (up to 4 per room). The registration form is available on the FF Ft Worth website http://www.fffw.org. Save the dates! We’ll see you in February. Please contact us if you have questions.

Linda McConathy, Registrar: mc123@charter.net  

Friendship Force Exchange Opportunities  

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. You can browse/search for exchanges by region, club, or dates.

Whether you are a Friendship Force club member in Accra, Ghana, Singapore, Newcastle, England, Sacramento, California, USA or anywhere else in the world, pack your bags and join in the fun of renewing old friendships and making new ones while visiting fascinating destinations. 

Festivals feature hotel stays, with tours of the area and programs highlighting local history and cultural interests. Many are organized to tie in with local celebrations or events. The hotel stay is usually followed by hosting in club members’ homes in the same or nearby area for two nights or more. Festival participants register individually, rather than being a part of a club exchange. 

See the FFI website (http://www.friendshipforce.org/Events/festivals.html )for more info on these upcoming exchanges: 

May 8-12, 2005, Asia Pacific: Featuring Wine and Waves in Newcastle, Australia. Friends around the world are invited to join with the Asia Pacific clubs for a festival of fun, friendship and culture. 

July 2005, Chicago/Midwest: Information forthcoming.

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