By Patricia Travers
January and February look to be busy months as the final details for the Devon/Norderstedt Exchange, and the March Mid-Atlantic Conference near completion. Lots of organizing yet to do, but hopefully many more rewards will be reaped.
Welcome to our new members Peter & Shawn Ekstrand. We look forward to many pleasant adventures with you both.
Please take a moment and check out our beautiful website. LeRoy Moyer has done a wonderful job for the club. It can be accessed using the following URL: www.FriendshipForce.org. Then go to clubs, and then to clubs with website. Leroy would like you to consider whether the main purpose is to be an advertising tool, so that clubs interested in our club can find out some information? Or, is it to be a source of up-to-date information for club members? Both he and I would like to hear from you on this matter.
Think about where you might like to do a domestic exchange in the fall. Atlanta will be sending out a list of clubs. If you have not done an International exchange this might be a good way to test the waters.
We will have speakers from the German Dept at UVA at our March 4 meeting at the Ponderosa. They will speak at 6:30pm for about 45 min., and then we will have our meeting afterwards. If you want to eat it is best to arrive about 5:30pm.
Don't forget to mail your dues for FFC to Sue Corney.
By Ann Beardon
The meeting was called to order by Patricia Travers at 6:30 P.M. at the Ponderosa Restaurant.
New members, Peter and Shawn Ekstrand, were welcomed.
A gift certificate from Barnes & Noble was presented to Cheryl Kasper in appreciation of her leadership as President of FF in 2002.
Minutes of the November 5, 2002 general meeting were approved.
Membership Dues: Annual membership dues were approved at $50 per couple and $27 per single. Subscription to the FF Magazine will not be included in the annual dues. Henceforth, the magazine will be published quarterly.
Treasurer's Report: Sue Corney presented a detailed budget for 2003. At the present time, projected net expenses are $3,050 with a profit of $26.
Exchanges: Tweed Valley - Betsy Edgecomb was not present to report on this exchange.
Devon - Norderstadt: Bob Schwagerl reported that to date l5 ambassadors have signed up for this exchange. He encouraged others to join. If exchanges are not filled, this may have a future impact on exchange offerings. There will be a January 9th meeting regarding this exchange at the Schwagerl's home at 7:30 P.M.
Regional Conference: Bob Schwagerl urged that we all be very active in our participation at the conference. Participation forms were distributed; these should be completed and returned to Chuck Barbour. Bob expressed the hope that we will attend the meetings, as well as the social gatherings, during the conference weekend. Hy Badler, head of the program committee, has proposed that the theme of the conference be Outbound Exchanges. A meeting regarding the conference will be held January 29th at the Lake Monticello Clubhouse at 7:30. All are welcome to attend.
At the present time, there has been no response from Atlanta regarding a speaker and attendees at the conference. Chuck Barbour and Bob Schwagerl will conduct a telephone survey of each of the Regional Chapters regarding their plans to attend the conference.
Correspondence: Patricia Travers shared two letters from:
The Des Moines, Iowa chapter expressing interest in a regional exchange
Atlanta asking whether we are interested in further regional exchanges Patricia will respond positively to both.
Communication:
Public Relations: Muriel Badler was not present to give a report.
Newsletter: Ken Smith reported that the deadline for submitting material for the Newsletter is January 28th.
Website: LeRoy Moyer welcomes news and/or pictures to be printed on the Website.
Membership: May Guenin suggested that we focus on expanding and diversifying our efforts to include all ages, races and economic groups. In addition, we should think about how to involve people in ways other that attendance at meetings. Suggestions included invitations to our summer picnic and small dinner parties.
Greeter: Ruth Campopiano will be the official greeter at the FF meetings with the focus on helping new members and visitors feel welcome.
Sunshine: Olive Kasinoff urged everyone to contact her with any information regarding members or their family so that she may respond promptly with a card or telephone call.
Fundraising: Ann Farwell thanked everyone for their participation. Approximately $500 was raised: Barnes & Noble gift-wrapping, $243; After-Five, $240; 1 cookbook sold at Old Farm Day. Projects proposed for 2003 are: expansion of the Barnes & Noble gift wrapping; "After Five" participation; Barracks Road Charity Bazaar; and Food Lion's "Shop and Share" program. The latter will require further inquiry as to its requirements.
Social: Babs Fickes was not present but has reported as follows:
The annual picnic is proposed to be held Sunday, July 20th
A "mystery dinner" will be held either October 11th or 26th.
A date for the holiday dinner has not been determined.
Correspondence with other clubs: Cheryl Kasper advised that a couple from the Great Falls, Montana club will be in Charlottesville January 15-20 to cover the Lewis and Clark publicity for their area and requested a place to stay while here. Mark and Margaret Dryer volunteered their home.
Cheryl received a thank-you note from the Cornwall exchange group expressing their "delight" with the exchange.
Atlanta has requested anecdotes from us regarding the Russian Leadership Program. This is in preparation for an evaluation meeting to be held to compile information for the Library of Congress.
Lynda and Chuck Johnson shared with us several photographs and a brief synopsis of their "mystery trip" to Berlin and Brandenberg, Germany.
50-50: George Travers conducted the 50-50 raffle. Total taken in was $84. Dee Schwagerl was the winner for $42.
The next meeting will be held on March 4th at the Ponderosa Restaurant at 6:30 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Bearden, Secretary
2003 FFC Leadership Team
Board of Directors President Patricia Travers President- Elect Chuck Johnson Vice President John Webster Secretary Ann Bearden Treasurer Sue Corney **************************** Committees Exchange Directors Bob Schwagerl - Devon/Norderstedt Betsy Edgecomb - Tweed Valley Visitors Book - John Webster Board liaison - Patricia Travers Membership-May Guenin External-Speakers' Bureau Newcomers' Club of Charlottesville Coffee Greeter (gen. mtg.)- Ruth Campopiano Sunshine (internal)- Olive Kasinoff Board liaison - John Webster Communications Newsletter Editor & Roster - Ken Smith Newsletter Publication -Arleen Bandy Website - Leroy Moyer Photographer - John Webster Communications/Public Relations - Muriel Badler Board Liaison - Patricia Travers Fundraising - Ann Farwell (Friday after Five, Holiday wrapping, etc) Cookbook Marketing - Joanne Rawls 50/50 - George Travers Board Liaison -Chuck Johnson Social Babs Fickes (Mystery dinner, Annual picnic, Christmas party) Board liaison - Anne Bearden Nominating - Cheryl Kasper Board liaison -Chuck Johnson Historian Lila Mait Board liaison -John Webster Scholarship Board liaison - Sue Corney Atlantic Regional Conference 2003 - Bob Schwagerl Board liaison - Chuck Johnson
By Bob Schwagerl
Great news to report! We have confirmation that Susie Smith, Daughter of Wayne Smith, Friendship Force founder and the new President of FFI will be in attendance at our Regional Meeting, March 28-30. The first session on Saturday morning will begin with a presentation by Susie dealing with recent changes in Atlanta. All participants will have an opportunity for a question and answer period following.
Response from the twenty clubs in the Mid-Atlantic Region has been good, with about eighty reservations to date. Our own club response needs some help. Only eleven reservations have been received. Please give your schedule some thought and plan to attend one, or both, of the dinners on Friday or Saturday. The cost for each of the dinners is $20.00. Make your reservation by mail or bring it with you to our regular March meeting.
The time grows near. We will be sending fifteen Ambassadors on this Exchange; Rita & Darrell Stoll, Chuck & Pat Barbour, Chuck & Lydia Johnson, Cheryl & Mel Kasper, May Guenin, Walter & Ellen Lindenmann, Peter Almonte and Ann Bearden, and Bob & Dee Schwagerl. Four Ambassadors will be joining us from California; Joe & Rose Phalen, Bob Cates and Barbara Wade.
Come to the March meeting and give our Ambassadors a Bon Voyage.
Betsy Edgecomb
We are preparing for 20 to 25 members of the Tweed Valley Friendship Force Club to arrive in Charlottesville August 17th 2003. I will need people to help with the planning of their stay with us. We need a Home Host coordinator, a Day Host coordinator, a Farwell Dinner planner, Gift and/or Welcome gift idea person, and a Transportation consultant. Babs Fickes has already volunteered to plan the Welcome, and Marilyn Poston has volunteered to help Babs plan the events of the week. May Guenin has volunteered to schedule the small dinner parties.
We will have a brainstorming session with as many committee members as possible and any interested persons in mid-March.
Please contact me to volunteer, or with any ideas for the Exchange. You may reach me by phone or e-mail at the following: Phone: 540 832-3598 E-Mail: Bets1@earthlink.net
By Ann Farwell
Wrapping Christmas presents at Barnes & Noble was highly successful, earning the Club almost $250. Wrappers enjoyed it and say they will do it again. Barnes & Noble was also pleased with the effort, and are inviting us back for 2003.
The Club has applied to do Fridays After Five again this year. The Club earned $250 in 2002 with only two work evenings. With some luck, the Club may get more turns in 2003. New fund raising ideas being considered for 2003 are: 1) the Food Lion Share Program, 2) Point of Fork Re-enactment in Columbia, VA June 7-8, and 3) the Barracks Road Charity Fair in October. Ideas from you are most welcome. Please call me at 974-9985.
500 grams lean, finely ground meat (half beef, half pork), 1 soaked stale roll,
50 grams finely diced onions, 1 egg, salt, pepper, nutmeg, juice of 1/2 lemon,
100 grams fatty bacon, 50 grams lard, 1 teaspoon flour, 1 cup sour cream
Mix well the ground meat with the egg, drained roll, salt, pepper, dash of nutmeg, and diced bacon.
With wet hands, form a bread-shaped loaf.
Heat the lard in an oven pan and place the meat loaf in it. Bake in a moderate oven for approx. half an hour, basting frequently until brown. Remove from oven when done.
Now pour the fat out of the pan and add a half cup of water. Boil thoroughly, then add the sour cream.
Make a roux with some of the drained fat and flour, and bind the sauce to the desired thickness.
Season to taste with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
To Serve, cut into slices and pour over the sauce. Good with depending on the season - red cabbage, kale, spinach, green beans, boiled or mashed potatoes.
By Ken Smith
Berlin Zwiebelfleisch
It was great-granddad's favorite dish in old Berlin.
800 grams lean mutton from the shoulder or neck,
800 grams peeled onions, approx. 5 grams caraway seeds, salt, pepper, 40-50 grams flour
Cut the meat into bite-sized ragout pieces. Halve the onions and slice. Place the meat and onions in a deep pot and just cover with water. Add some salt and bring to a boil. Remove the scum and then add the caraway seeds. Simmer gently until the meat is tender. Bind with a flour and water mixture. Simmer a few more minutes. Taste, and season if necessary. Serve with boiled potatoes and a beer.
Try one of these and let me know how you like it.
The Ambassador Friendship Force of Charlottesville, Virginia Kenneth G. Smith, Editor 9 Leisure Court Lake Monticello, VA 22963