There is a lot to talk about this month but first, I want to extend condolences to Walt and Ellen Lindenmann who lost then three-month old granddaughter to LIDS recently Our hearts go out to the Lindenmann's and their family
Now for some good news: I want to welcome as returning members, Jim and JoeII Arvin They had been members before moving in Cape Cod and have now rejoined on their return to Charlottesville.
The club that was assigned to us for an inbound exchange for 2005, Arequippa, Peru, declined the invitation leaving us without an inbound for next year The Board decided to seek a domestic inbound particularly club from the Rocky Mountain area Mark Dryer offered to inquire of his friend Judith McKay, of the Great Falls Ml club if they might be interested in visiting us for Garden Week next April 1 am pleased to report that they have accepted our invitation I am also pleased to report that Mark has agreed to be the Exchange Director
At the same time, planning for the 2005 outbound exchange to Russia continues as described in Darrell Stoll's column in this newsletter Personal note -my study of Russian language is progressing reasonably well -zdra'stvichye - that's "hellos
By the time you receive this, the Mystery Dinners will be history. I m sure all of the attendees will have had a most enjoyable evening. The last social event of the year will be the Christmas Party to be held on Tuesday, December 7 at the Doubletree Inn, Social Chairman Joan Sours in charge
The Board decided to continue our relationship with the JAG School. We will hold some of our general meetings there in 2005 and also continue the program to introduce their international students to a bit of American family life Speaking of that, there are now five international students in their long program which runs through May. Two of them are here alone while the other three have family with them. It would be great if we could invite some or all of them to various members' homes for Thanksgiving Dinner Leroy Moyer (293-5543) has the names and phone numbers
I want to thank everyone who participated in the Fridays-After-Five fundraising this year. We sold soft drinks at six of these events and earned over $800. The next and last fundraising event for the year will be gift wrapping at Barnes and Noble Ann Farwell will be contacting you when she has the schedule
Two important items were discussed at the October Board meeting. The first pertained to compensation for outbound Exchange Directors (ED)). Atlanta had a policy of waiving transportation and other fees for outbound ED's depending on the number of ambassadors on the exchange. But with Atlanta no longer involved making flight arrangements, this becomes a matter for individual clubs to decide. At our general meeting in July, 2003, we passed a resolution affirming the intention of our club to reimburse outbound ED's for their expenses including air travel. However, it has become apparent that we need a more definitive policy I appointed a committee consisting of Mark Dryer, Sue Corney, Frank Saurman and Lynda Johnson to review this matter and make a proposal to the Board and the membership
The other item pertains to physical requirements for ambassadors on outbound exchanges. An exchange can be very strenuous requiring much walking, climbing stairs, carrying bags. etc. Atlanta provides general guidelines for the physical condition of applicants to be considered as ambassadors but the Board feels that we need more specific requirements. Elsewhere in this issue of The Ambassador you will find the draft that is being proposed for adoption by the club. Comments are welcomed.
There are two important membership activities corning up soon. The first is a Costa Rica Fiesta scheduled for the afternoon of Saturday, November 20. Rita Stoll and May Giuenin are in change. It should he a lot of fun. We hope everyone will be able to be there and bring a prospective member. The plans are described elsewhere in this newsletter
The second date to block out is March 1, 2005. FFI is planning a World Friendship Day Celebration. This is the anniversary of the announcement of the founding of Friendship Force in the White House by President Carter. The plan is that there will be at least one event in each of the 24 time zones beginning in New Zealand. The internet will he used to link the individual events to make one continuous world-wide celebration.
Finally the next general meeting will be on Tuesday, November 9 at the Ponderosa beginning at 6 45. Instead of an outside speaker we will ask ambassadors who went to Costa Rica to describe (briefly) one particular memory from the exchange. And there were plenty! See you then
By all accounts the recent Costa Rica exchange was a great success and we have all made some good friends among some lovely people in a beautiful country. Their activities program was a well balanced mixture of history, culture, geography, archeology, social, and nature, interspersed with dinners barbecues and picnics.
Our first achievement was to all arrive at the airport at San Jose on schedule, and the second was to get 22 ambassadors plus three hosts into a 25 seat bus, with all our luggage piled high on top or inside for the 3 hour ride to Turrialba. There was a welcome party that evening.
On our first day we took a coach ride to the site of the ruins of the first church in Costa Rica and then the first church that is still in operation. The environmental reserve we had intended to visit was closed, but we had a good lunch and enjoyed the drive. I must say that every drive we went on was an adventure in its own right with very steep and narrow roads and no obvious rules of the road, but the drivers were very skilled. The scenery was amazing. In the agricultural areas, every possible inch was cultivated.
In the evening we enjoyed a candlelight parade in the town center - I think really intended for the little children - as a forerunner of the next days Independence Day celebrations.
On Independence Day we were awakened early by the sound of bands practicing, and fireworks echoing across the valley. In the center of town we expected to watch the parade, but found that we were part of it, in fact our group was the lead group behind the Mayor and councilors. It was extremely hot, and part way round the circuit we were presented with refrigerated coconuts, pierced with a straw, as refreshment. Balanced in one hand with a banner in the other, these became somewhat of an embarrassment until we could drink them dry and dispose of the shells to some unlucky bystander
After one circuit we broke off and were able to watch the numerous school bands that performed with great energy and enthusiasm on drums and xylophones. In the afternoon, after a barbecue lunch in a local park, we planted a tree in commemoration of our visit alongside the trees of several other exchange clubs
The next day found us at the top of an inactive volcano called Irazu for an interesting walk around one of the three craters in relatively cool conditions due to the altitude.
After lunch in a delightful restaurant that grew all its own produce, we visited the Our Lady of Los Angeles Cathedral in Cartaga
Friday took us back in history to a site where the indigenous tribes established a civilization 3000 years ago and abandoned it just before the arrival of the explorers and occupiers of Central America. Our guide painted a vivid picture of life in those tunes and left us awestruck at their social structure and engineering and architectural skills
Saturday was a family outing to the beach on the Caribbean coast not far from the border with Panama. The three hour ride was an interesting journey and we saw some very different countryside. Our members lost no time in testing the waters which were clear and warm.
On the last day there was a variety of barbecues and lunches, and a farewell party in the evening where we were entertained with live Tico music, and in return provided our rendering of "Casey at the Bat" with Bob Schwagerl as a very formidable Casey
Monday morning saw us back in the town center with our baggage, for fond farewells with hugs and kisses, group photos and many new friendships
The second week was spent on the Pacific coast for four days, and then three days in sight of an active Arenal volcano which obliged us with streams of lava flowing down the slopes (glowing red at night), and even a mimi eruption on the last night, complete with sound effects!
Our members partook of a variety of activities ranging from a deckchair on the beach to whitewater rafting, canopy gliding, boat trips on the river or through the mangroves, hanging bridges or guided tours of the State Park.
For many of us the journey back through Atlanta was extended due to the after effects of a hurricane which left us diverted to Huntsville for several hours waiting for a break in the weather, and fuel. When we eventually made it to Atlanta, our connection, also delayed, was still there causing a mad dash across the terminals. Only two people made it in time, but their valiant efforts caused the plane to return to pick up the rest before finally departing for Washington.
There is a new class of international students at the JAG school. I hope we can show each of them a taste of American family life much as we did last year. It is a rewarding experience for both the students and those who host them.
With Thanksgiving soon approaching, this would he a good opportunity to share a uniquely American tradition. If you have will room at your table, how about inviting one or more of these visitors to your home. Bear in mind that you will probably have to provide transportation since most if not all of the in do not have car.
The students with their home countries and phone numbers are:
Again this year, LeRoy Moyer will be coordinating this program. Please contact him at 293-5543 before you contact any of the students.
(Editor s Note Kathy Saurman read this rote from Cathy at the September membership meeting. If you ever wondered whether your participation in FFC had any impact, read on)
So sorry I can't be with you to night, but we are out of town. I saw this quote somewhere and immediately thought of all of us in friendship force. "The world is a book and those who do not travel only read a page." We are the lucky ones who share our friendship with people in many places of the world. Many thanks for Friendship Force and my many fiends who have shared in their special friendship and travel. So goodbye and I wish I were with you for the hugs and good wishes. I'll miss you all and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
With love and friendship, Cathy Wallace (George too)
Cathy's new address is:
George and Cathy Wallace
Terracina Grand
6825 Davis Boulevard
#325
Naples, FL 34l04-5328
Tel: 1-239-354-4292
Our outbound exchange for next year is to Russia. We will spend the first week as guests of the Moscow Friendship Force Club. Sue Corney went on an exchange to Moscow last year with the Great Falls Montana club. She said she had a wonderful time and was really impressed with the warmth and strength of the Russian people. She saw a lot of interesting places including some of the countryside around Moscow and learned about the fascinating Russian history.
She also cautioned that some of the hosts lived in apartments and had to carry their luggage up two or more flights of stairs. If you want more first hand information, Sue is happy to share her experience with you.
The second week of home stay with the Nizhny Novgorod Club has been canceled. Most of our ambassadors interested in the trip were less than enthusiastic about a second week of home stay. Canceling the second week home stay gives us time to visit St. Petersburg. We are looking for a tour company to escort us for 3-4 days to see this incredible city.
St. Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great around 300 years ago and has played a key role in Russian culture and history. Some of the top attractions an St. Petersburg are: Hermitage (Winter Palace) the largest museum in the world and former residence of the Russian Tsars, Peterhoff the town of fountains, Pushkin & Pavlosk the former summer residences of Russian Tsars with beautiful parks, St. Isaak's Cathedral one of the most spectacular in the world, Peter & Paul Fortress the ancient fortifications and the burial vault of Peter the Great and other tsars plus museums on the history of the Imperial Mint. These are only a few of the city highlights. The actual itinerary will be available when we find a tour company.
This promises to be an interesting and stimulating exchange. I hope you will all consider joining us to discover more about the Russian people and culture and make friends behind the former Iron Curtain.
The FF of Charlottesville will host a Costa Rica Fiesta at the Northside Library on November 20 from 2 to 4 PM. The purpose of the event is to showcase our recent outbound exchange. This should be a great way to educate the public on the club. It would be great if we could have participation from all of the Costa Rican ambassadors.
If you feel you can contribute stories of your adventure, pictures, souvenirs, food, music, scrapbooks and most of all time and ideas, please call Rita at 296-2202 or May at 295-8844. of your music, please
We are also asking all members to come to the event and talk, talk, talk up the organization.
Most of all, we are asking members to bring guests who might be prospective members.
Join the fun Tuesday, December 7, at the Holiday Inn on Emmet Street at Hydraulic road. It will be a festive opportunity for us to share an the spirit of friendship and fun.
We wall have the traditional and hilarious exchange of heirloom junk. Each person brings a wrapped "gift."
Look for particulars (two entree choices) and price (in the $20s) soon, via e-mail. There will be a reservation form attached to the e-mail Questions? Call me at 589-1925. You all come.
This will be the final newsletter I will edit. It has been a labor of love, but I have notified John Webster that it is time for a new perspective. My thanks go to all of those contributors to these pages over the years. Best wishes to the new editor.
This is a draft of a policy being considered by the Board for considering applicants to he ambassadors on outbound exchanges. Comments are welcomed.
Experience has shown that serving as an ambassador on outbound exchanges, while a very rewarding experience, also is very strenuous. Ambassadors are expected to walk often for long distances, climb steps, carry their own luggage and otherwise keep up with the group activities. Atlanta provides general guidelines for the physical condition of a person to serve as an ambassador but these must be translated into specific standards before they can be applied.
Therefore, Friendship Force of Charlottesville has adopted this policy for qualifying persons desiring to be ambassadors on outbound exchanges.
1. At a minimum, ambassadors are expected to be able to.
a. Walk one mile on level or slightly sloping terrain
b. Climb two flights of stairs (26 steps)
c. Carry their own luggage (unless accompanied by
another person willing and able to carry the luggage
fox both)
2. The Exchange Director may set additional standards based on the specific requirements
of the outbound exchange.
3. The Exchange Director has the authority to determine if an Ambassador-applicant meets
these requirements.
4. An ambassador-applicant may appeal a decision of the Exchange Director to the FFC Board
of Directors.
Also, an applicant should carefully consider and reveal any existing medical or mental health condition on the ambassador Application Form. The Exchange Director will acquaint the applicant as far as possible with the circumstances/conditions likely to be encountered on the exchange so that the applicant may assure himself/herself that the risk of recurrence/aggravation of a condition will not be too high. If in doubt, the ED may request a letter from the applicant's doctor stating the doctor has been apprised of the background, environment and conditions likely to be encountered on the exchange and approves of the applicant's participation.
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The Ambassador Friendship Force of Charlottesville, Virginia Kenneth G. Smith, Editor 9 Leisure Court Lake Monticello, VA 22963