John's Jottings
By John Webster, President
At the end of my year in office I realize that we have not read the above pledge in awhile. (We Brits are not accustomed to such things!) However, it does serve a useful purpose in reminding us in a reasonably concise way, why we joined the Friendship Force. With so many new members it will be worthwhile for them to know that we do have a "mission statement", that essential requirement of business, politics, military action etc.
And I would like to extract a few words - "through our example to our fellow citizens" - to emphasize that we cannot just sit back and let it all happen. It will not happen unless we all do our bit to help. Some of us will have restrictions due to health, family or other commitments or finances. You don't have to travel, you don't have to host, but I am sure that you can do something to help - fundraising, membership recruiting, publicity, mailings etc. Your new president will be asking for volunteers for one activity or another throughout the year. Please start thinking now what you can do to help and be prepared when the call comes. You will be furthering the cause of friendship and peace.
We have a busy year ahead of us with two outbound exchanges and an inbound exchange. There will be a lot to plan, a lot to do, but also, many new friends to make!
I would like to thank all those, too numerous to mention by name, who have helped me throughout the year. Without you it would not have been possible.
This will be the last of "John's jottings" so I will close with the words of T.S. Eliot who wrote so aptly,
"For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
........................
And to make an end is to make a beginning."
A Very Happy and Successful New Year to you all.
John Webster
Exchanges in 2006
Outbound - to Besancon, France on May 13th to 20th (Swiss tour the previous week)
Bob Schwagerl, the Exchange Director, will be holding a meeting to provide more information
about this exchange on Jan 4th (Please call Bob at 434-984-1490 for more information and directions -
or talk to him at the FF meeting on Jan 3rd).
Inbound from Murray Bridge, Australia, May 26th or 29th. The latest information is that 13 ambassadors will be coming on this exchange. We still need an Exchange Director for this exchange.
Outbound to Adelaide, and Mount Barker, South Australia in Mid September. John Webster is Acting Exchange Director. Further information in due course.
Date of next meeting:
The next meeting will be held at the Ponderosa Steak House at Pantops on Jan 3rd 2006
Dinner (optional) from 5.45 pm with the meeting starting at 7.00pm
Friendship Force International Newsletter
FFI have announced that an 8 page, two color, bimonthly newsletter will replace the present 12 page,
full color quarterly publication in 2006.
The subscription will be reduced from $ 15/year to $ 10/year
Publication dates will be
Mid-Feb, Mid-April, Mid-June, Mid-August, Mid-October, and Mid-December.
Club Subscription Lists should be submitted to FFI no later than Feb 1st, 2006 along with a payment of $ 10 per subscription with the following information. Name, mailing address, telephone and e-mail address.
Lists should be sent to:
Linda Ector, FFI,
34 Peachtree Street, Suite 900,
Atlanta, GA 30303,
or via e-mail to lector@friendshipforce.org
Please place your order with our Treasurer, Dave Ahearn, or order directly from FFI.
This newsletter is invaluable in finding out what is happening in the rest of Friendship Force around the world.
Fundraising 2005
Cheryl Kasper
Here are the results of our fundraising efforts for the year 2005:
$149.20 - Help Winneba Read Silent Auction
$1200.00 - Fridays After Five Concerts
$194.56 - Barnes and Noble Gift Wrapping
$1543.76 - Total
We will be looking at other possibilities for the year 2006. If you would like to be involved with our
fundraising planning, please contact Cheryl Kasper or Barbara Kelshaw.
Minutes for Friendship Force Meeting of November 8, 2005
The Friendship Force of Charlottesville meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm at the Ponderosa Restaurant by President John Webster.
The Minutes of the last meeting were published in the Ambassador & therefore were not read.
John introduced several new members who had joined at our dinner on Oct. 28 at the Church of the Incarnation. For the benefit of new members and guests, he gave a review of Friendship Force, including a description of the procedures on inbound and outbound exchanges. Also, he explained our participation in the Open World Program and our relationship with the JAG School's foreign students.
Dave Ahearn gave the treasurer's report. In May our balance was $5214.55. We have had income of $1766.30, expenses of $2169.61.
Cheryl Kasper reported on fundraising activities. She passed around the signup sheet for gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble and encouraged us to be more assertive in acquiring tips. In addition, we have the following items to sell: FFI cookbooks for $5.00; Virginia souvenir book for $2.00 and Club pins for $3.00.
Rita Stoll reported on our successful membership drive.
The "Fluvanna Review" had a very nice write-up on the Russian Open World program, thanks to reporter, Arlene Prince.
The six participants in the outbound exchange to Russia each presented brief descriptions of what was special to each of them in this experience. This included Mark and Margaret Dryer, Darell and Rita Stoll, and Chuck and Lynda Johnson
John mentioned that Bob and Dee Schwagerl were attending the International FFI Conference in Brazil. Next year, the event will be in Ireland.
The Mid-Atlantic Club presidents will be meeting in Charlottesville from March 30th to April 1st. Home hosts will be needed for about 12 presidents and their spouses.
2006 Exchanges. Besoncon, France will be from May 13 to 20. A prior trip to Switzerland is being organized by Frank Saurman. It will be from May 5 to May 13.
An exchange director is needed to organize the outbound trip to Adelaide, Australia in September.
The FFI magazine is available for $10 per year and is published every two months.
The Christmas Party is Dec. 6 at Mama Mia's, 946 Grady Ave., Charlottesville. Reservations are due to Cel Zeimer or Kathy Saurman by Nov. 23.
Chuck Johnson asked for volunteers to invite the foreign JAG students to their homes for Thanksgiving. All of them will have invitations.
The Russian Open World program was a success and all who participated in it were very pleased with the program.
Next general meeting will be January 3, 2006.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynda Johnson, Secretary
Club Exchanges
The exchange matches or assignments between clubs and the coordination between Ambassador and Host leaders in handled through Friendship Force International. A club typically receives an annual assignment to conduct one or more Ambassador (outbound) and Host (inbound) exchanges. These exchanges are assigned by FFI staff after clubs submit requests for their preferred regions and countries.
Friendship Force exchanges are typically composed of 20 to 40 Ambassadors who travel together as a group to a host community for a one-week homestary experience. Participation in exchanges is by application, and Ambassadors and Hosts are carefully selected to insure compatibility with the program. The Ambassador club traveling on an outbound exchange is responsible for recruiting and preparing local citizens for the homestay experience. The Host (or inbound) club is responsible for recruiting and preparing citizens from the community who will open their homes to the visiting Ambassadors. Each exchange operates under the leadership of volunteer Exchange Directors appointed by the local clubs and in accordance with the exchange policies set by Friendship Force International.
The Host exchange committee arranges local tours and group activities, but most of the time during the exchange is left for the hosts to share their daily lives with their guests. The Host committee receives US$75 per Ambassador per hosting week for their hosting budget. Host families receive no payment for sharing their homes. Ambassadors pay their own travel expenses plus an administrative fee that covers most of the operating costs of Friendship Force International. After the first week of home hosting, options may exist for independent travel, a group tour, or where available, a second week homestay with another club.
The Ambassador Friendship Force of Charlottesville, Virginia LeRoy Moyer, Editor 1863 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Charlottesville, VA 22902-7520