The Ambassador The Friendship Force of Charlottesville, Virginia
Volume XV	March 2005	Number 2

John's Jottings

World Friendship Day (March 1st)

If you are all wondering what we are going to do on March 1st, you are in good company. At the time of writing, even I do not know where we are going to be. (Editors note: see last page for latest information) The requirements to have the Internet available, and to provide audio-visual facilities have precluded all our usual venues, and other places have generally proved too difficult or too expensive to consider. It does seem likely that we will be able to hold the meeting at the JAG school (this is to be confirmed, as are the eating arrangements). If you haven't heard anything by the last weekend in Feb, please call or e-mail me. Because of this, we are not able to throw the meeting open to the general public as we had originally hoped, but member's guests and prospective members are very welcome. Please let me know if you expect to be bringing guests or know of prospective new members.

The format of the meeting will include:

1. A short business meeting.
2. A silent auction mainly of items that have been presented to the club over the years, but are rarely displayed. If members have any items that they would like to donate to the auction, please let me know in advance, at 434-589-9573. The proceeds of this auction will go to FFI to add to their Legacy Campaign funds so please bid generously. Checks or cash can be accepted.
3. The showing of a video produced by Friendship Force International.
4. Some Internet activity showing the progress of celebrations in clubs throughout the world.
5. A 95 minute video that contains spectacular footage, filmed on 6 continents and in 24 countries portraying the balance between man and nature, and also the connectivity between many different cultures. " More of an experience than a movie."

FFI Fundraising

We were asked by FFI to consider levying a "button fee" of $ 10.00 a head to contribute to the Legacy Campaign. Your Board has decided that the equivalent sum shall be paid from club funds, instead of being collected from individuals. This, in effect spreads the cost over past, present, and future members. Any individual contributions, over and above this sum and the proceeds of the silent auction, will be welcomed with gratitude.

Conduct of Meetings

My aim is to reduce the business part of our meetings and provide more time for education/entertainment. In order to achieve this we will cut the verbal reports as much as possible, and in the future introduce our various reports in a written form in The Ambassador, so that all that will be necessary is to take comments and actions and updates at the meeting. If this plan is to be effective, it is important that everyone does read the reports, and preferably brings the copy with them to the meetings, for reference.

The Open World Russian Leadership Program. We have been asked if we would like to participate in this program this year (as we did three years ago), and the Board has agreed that we may volunteer our services. Few details are available at this time, but it seems likely that it would be in October, or possibly July.

JAG School

The Commanding General's Reception last week was attended by the sponsors of the five foreign students currently in residence, one from Hungary, two from Japan, one from Taiwan and one from Suriname. They were all English speaking (to some extent) and delightful people. We look forward to being able to entertain them.

New Members

Updated brochures/ membership application forms are now available. I will bring them to the meeting and hope that all members will take some to distribute to potential members.

Fundraising

FFC will be partnering with Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville to raise money for the "Help Winneba Read" library project in Ghana. Last year Nana Ghartey, one of our newest members, presented us with his dream to build a library in his hometown of Winneba, Ghana. We collected some of the 380,000 books for the library that are presently stored at Christ Episcopal Church. The Parliament of Ghana has donated a plot of land and architectural plans have been submitted. All that is needed now is $150,000 to construct the building, furnish it, and ship the books to Ghana.

Winneba, a fishing town, has the University of Education that trains all teachers in Ghana, a police academy and two vocational schools. However there is no public library or computer access. We are hoping to change all this!

Trinity Episcopal Church and FFC will be holding a Silent Auction on Friday, May 13, 7-9 pm at the church located at 1042 Preston Ave. (near Washington Park). The majority of funds raised will go to the library with smaller portions for the church and the Friendship Force Legacy Fund. Our goal is to raise $5000!

We need your help! Please consider what you can offer as a Silent Auction item, either goods or services (minimum bid-$20). Think creatively. Some ideas are a never used gift, a handcraft or artwork, gourmet dinner, LM outing, transportation, home maintenance, an outing, pet care, etc. AND please attend the evening and place bids on many exciting and interesting items. I will be at our March 1 meeting ready to accept your goods and services.

Outbound Exchange to Moscow, Russia

The Outbound Exchange to Moscow is scheduled for September 18 to 25 as a home stay with the Moscow club followed by a sightseeing trip to St. Petersburg. We have several options for the St. Petersburg part of the trip and are finalizing that part of the plan. We currently have 10 Ambassadors planning to go on the trip which is the minimum to make it a viable exchange. Our next step is to advertise within the region to clubs for additional travelers. If anyone is interested, please call Darrell Stoll (434-296-2202).

The Sun Never Sets on World Friendship

Friendship Day Is Tuesday, March 1st

On March 1, 2005, the 300-plus Friendship Force clubs around the world will celebrate World Friendship Day with a progressive dinner party honoring the legacy of Friendship Force founder Wayne Smith.

The party will start in New Zealand on Tuesday night, 2/28 and will continue for 24 hours until the Torch of Friendship has been passed around the world. After New Zealand, the Torch of Friendship will be symbolically passed on this Web site to Australia, East Asia, India, Central Asia, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, West Africa, Brazil, the Americas, and finally Hawaii. As the Hawaiian party concludes, we'll ask our New Zealand clubs to confirm the Torch of Friendship has passed through all 24 time zones!

Now more than ever, the world needs people everywhere to build bridges across the cultural barriers that can separate them. The Friendship Force matches citizen ambassadors for week-long visits in the homes of average families all over the world. Since its founding in 1977, The Friendship Force has coordinated more than 600,000 homestays.

"The Friendship Force believes that a world of friends can be a world of peace," said Dr. George T. Brown Jr., president of Friendship Force International. "Because we have more than 300 Friendship Force clubs in 56 countries dotting the globe, we wanted to have a worldwide celebration to show that the sun never sets on friendship. World Friendship Day will be that celebration."

Inbound Exchange from Great Falls, Montana

Plans are progressing satisfactorily for the inbound exchange from the Friendship Force Club of Great Falls, Montana during Garden Week, April 16-23, and a full report on the current status will be made at the next Club Meeting on March 1st. Any member who has suggestions for the program or would like to assist in any aspects of the Exchange should please call (978-7021) or e-mail (mkdryer@aol.com) the Exchange Director, Mark Dryer.

Minutes of the January 4, 2005 Meeting

The Friendship Force of Charlottesville meeting was called to order at 6:55 by President John Webster.

Visitors, Pat Welter and the Dryer's granddaughter, Morgan Perfect as well as our newest member, Sarah Litchfield, were introduced and welcomed.

Chuck Johnson, immediate past president, presented retiring newsletter editor, Ken Smith, a gift of 3 packages of bridge mix candy and a FF membership for one year, in appreciation of the many years of his serving as the newsletter editor. John Webster presented Chuck Johnson a gift of Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book in the group's appreciation of his serving as president for the past year. John thanked the other retiring officers, Ann Bearden, outgoing secretary and Sue Corney, outgoing treasurer.

There were no additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting, November 11, 2004 and they were considered approved.

Treasurer's report was given by Dave Ahearn. Statement is attached to minutes. Signature cards will be signed this week, reflecting the new treasurer and president. Dues are due tonight.

No membership report.

Fundraising: Ann Farwell said that we made $457 from our gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble, almost twice as much as last year.

Committee Appointments:

 
Fundraising: Cheryl Kasper
Newsletter:  LeRoy Moyer (most newsletters will be distributed via email.)
JAG Liaison: Chuck Johnson
Historian: Frank Saurman
Social & Entertainment : Cel Zeimer & Kathy Saurman

Legacy Fund- a major fundraising effort in honor of Wayne Smith's presidency. On March 1, there will be a worldwide celebration, starting in New Zealand and going around the world. This event will be held on the same day as our March meeting. John is forming a committee for our participation. Rita Stoll, Betty Black and John Webster have volunteered so far. One of our events will be a silent auction of the mementos and gifts brought back from exchanges with other clubs. Also, the gifts given to our club by inbound groups.

Proposed schedules for the year were handed out.

Mid Atlantic Conference, will be in Harrisburg, PA, Apr. 8-10, 2005. Possible home stays afterwards.

Preferred outbound trips for 2006. Lists were passed out and each member listed his/her choices.

Russian Exchange - Darryl Stoll. He hasn't heard from the E.D. in Moscow as yet. Tour proposals to St. Petersburg include taking a train to St. Petersburg for a four day tour and then flying home from there. Cost will be about $3,000 per person including air fare and visa fee. Club fee will be $100 per person. Dates will be: Sep. 17 to Moscow; Sep 25 to St. Petersburg; to U.S. Sep. 30.

Inbound Exchange. Great Falls MT will be coming during Garden Week, Apr. 17-24. They expect 14-20 people. Missoula, MT might be included in the group.

Turkey - possible inbound, in the late fall.

Mark Dryer gave his very interesting presentation of the history of the English pub.

The outbound choices were tallied up and the final count was:

1. Australia
2. United Kingdom
3. Canada
4. Peru
5. New Zealand

50-50 was won by John Porter Peter Almonte showed the two water colors he has been working on of our trip to Costa Rica. Very beautiful.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30.

Directions to the JAG school. From the Interchange at Interstate 64 and US Route 29, take Exit 118B, US Route 29, North, toward Charlottesville, UVA, Culpepper, Washington. Proceed on Route 29 North to the 3d Exit, Barracks Road. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right onto Barracks Road. At the next stoplight, turn right onto Millmont (at the Amoco Station). Proceed to the next light (end of Millmont) and turn right onto Arlington Blvd. Continue on Arlington Blvd (up the hill) to the UVA Campus. At the stop sign, turn right onto Massie Road, and then take your first left and continue up towards the JAG School (they are currently building a brick wall in the front of the JAG campus). Bear right as the road passes directly in front of the JAG School and follow it down into the JAG School parking lot. Come to the front of the building, to the lobby area.

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The Ambassador
Friendship Force of Charlottesville, Virginia
LeRoy Moyer, Editor
1863 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottesville, VA  22902-7520