Dear Friends:
Again I have the honor to address you as President of the Charlottesville Friendship Force Club. It is indeed an honor because of the wonderful way our club performed in hosting our friends from Oklahoma and Sarasota. The inbound exchange between us and our friends from the west and the south was a great success and I am sure that we have all cemented friendly relations with old friends and made new friends. Much of the success of the exchange was due to the work of our ED - Ellen and Walt Lindenmann - and their helpers; and I take this opportunity again to thank Ellen and Walt for a wonderful job well done.
I pause here to report (for those of you who do not know) that Ellen Lindenmann recently underwent an operation for breast cancer and is still receiving treatment. As far as I know, she is responding well and we will keep you informed of future progress. Meanwhile, I am sure that the well wishes of all the club members are with her.
The next meeting of the club - on November 6 - is the annual meeting at which we receive the written reports of this year's officers and will be voting for next year's officers. The proposed slate, provided by the Nominating Committee and presented at our last meeting, comprises:
President -- Arlene Bandy;
President Elect -- LeRoy Moyer;
Vice President -- Walt O'Connell
Secretary -- David Lea
Treasurer -- Betsy Edgecomb
In this connection I have to report that Bev Hankins, the Treasurer for this year has resigned from all her duties within the club.
Regarding the exchanges for next year (2008) you are already aware that we have an outbound exchange to Calgary, Canada. Because of the resignation of Bev Hankins I will be taking over as ED and I hope to have more news regarding the exchange at our meeting.
The inbound exchange from Hamburg, Germany is in the capable hands of Bob Schwagerl as ED and I will ask him for a report at our meeting.
I also wish to report that we have received invitations for two additional exchanges for next year:
I hope to have more information on the above potential exchanges at the meeting.
We are due for an exciting year in 2008 and I also remind you about the International Conference in Gold Coast, Australia on October 2-5, 2008.
Annual dues are payable at our annual meeting so please do not forget your check books.
Please remember that our annual Christmas party will take place in early December and details will be given by Dee Schwagerl at the November meeting. (See announcement on next page.)
I look forward to seeing you all at our next meeting and wish you all the very best for the remainder of the year.
In friendship,
Mark
Domestic Inbound Exchange Turns Out To Be A Success
The Friendship Force of Charlottesville played host from September 22 to 29 to 18 ambassadors, 11 from Oklahoma City and 7 from Sarasota, Florida during a domestic exchange that turned out to be very successful, chiefly because of the absolutely delightful weather that we were blessed with during the entire week.
The exchange officially opened on Sunday afternoon, September 23, with a potluck picnic held at the home of Leroy and Helen Ida Moyer. On Monday, hosts and ambassadors toured the grounds of Monticello, attended a dinner at Carmello's Restaurant in downtown Charlottesville and ended the day at a meeting of the Charlottesville Club held at the JAG School.
On Tuesday, most hosts and ambassadors visited the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton and were treated to a most generous informal luncheon at the home of club member Louisa Dixon in Staunton. Several small dinner parties were held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. There was a tour on Thursday morning of Montpelier, and a visit to and tour of the University of Virginia Rotunda on Friday. The exchange ended with a farewell dinner Friday evening at the Lake Monticello Clubhouse.
Special thanks for the successful exchange needs to go to the committee that handled arrangements. It consisted of Helen Ida Moyer as program chair, Cheryl Kasper in charge of home hosting, Dee Schwagerl serving as exchange treasurer, Arlene Bandy in charge of day hosting and photography, Shirley Webster as chair of the small dinner parties, B. J. Robinson for preparing the gift bags and LeRoy Moyer for preparing the ambassador brochure. Ellen and Walter Lindenmann served as exchange directors.
Holiday Brunch
Its time for a new twist for the holidays. We are having a holiday brunch Saturday December 1, 2007 from 1 to 3 pm at Lake Monticello Club House. Price per person is $18, tip and tax included. Cash bar available. Dinner will include one hot carving station, an omelet station, side dishes, desert and tea or coffee. Please get checks to Dee Schwagerl by November 16.
The old twist is the white elephant gift exchange where, if you bring something wrapped you can take something from the table. A new twist is our extending holiday generosity to support the International Rescue Committee of Charlottesville, which have supported about 150 people in the area. So, as a new twist please bring a new single bed blanket or hats or mittens or scarves for the refugees.
Calgary, Canada
Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, approximately 50 miles east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. Calgary is the third largest civic municipality, by population, in Canada with a population of a little over one million. Calgary is well-known as a destination for winter sports and ecotourism with a number of major mountain resorts near the city and metropolitan area. Economic activity in Calgary is mostly centered on the petroleum industry; however, agriculture, tourism, and high-tech industries also contribute to the city's fast economic growth. Despite the importance of the oil industry to its economic success, Calgary was ranked the World's Cleanest City by Mercer Quality of Living in a survey published in 2007 by Forbes Magazine. Calgary has a semi-arid, highland continental climate with long, dry, but highly variable, winters and short, moderately warm summers.
General Meeting Minutes - September 24, 2007
The bi-monthly meeting at the JAG School was called to order by at 7:00 p. m. by President Mark Dryer.
Mark Dryer asked Chuck Johnson to introduce the guests from the JAG School.
Chuck discussed some of the events that the Friendship Force had done with the international students at the JAG School.
Chuck introduced Larry Moore, who is the International Student Administrator.
Larry explained the program at the Jag School for International Students. He thanked The Friendship Force of Charlottesville for sponsoring local events which the JAG School is not permitted to do. Larry introduced three international students from the following countries: Ukraine, Poland and South Korea. Each student gave a short talk about the difficulties of the program, especially the language difficultly.
Colonel Greg Baldwin, Director of Training Development was introduced by Chuck Johnson. Colonel Baldwin presented a slide program explaining how the Amy is transforming their structure to meet modern conflicts.
Beverly Hankins, Treasurer, reported a balance in account of $5451.99.
Beverly ED for the Calgary, Canada exchange reported that they want us to come in June rather than July. She handed out a sheet for members to sign up for the trip. She will contact Calgary about the number of people interested in coming to Canada.
Mark Dryer welcomed all the visitors from Sarasota, Florida and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Penny & Dutch Doersch were welcomed as new members.
Minutes of the July 14, 2007 meeting were approved.
Cheryl Kasper of the Fund Raising Committee reported that all the money raised in Fridays after 5 has not yet been sent in. She reported that there was approximately $150.00 in sales of cook books, pins and pens.
Dee Schwagerl of the Social Chair reported that the only place she could find available for the Holiday event was Lake Monticello. She said a brunch luncheon from 1-3 p .m for about 40- 50 people would be about $18.00 per person. Dee said the 1st Saturday in December is available. The group present was in favor of the brunch. Dee will proceed to plan the Holiday event.
Margaret Dryer of the By-Laws Committee reported that the By-Laws have been rewritten and will be published in the next newsletter. They will be voted on at the next meeting.
President Mark Dryer read the slate of officers from the nominating committee.
The slate presented:
President Arlene Bandy
President-elect LeRoy Moyer
Vice-president Walter O'Connell
Secretary David Lea
Treasurer Beverly Hankins
Mark asked for nominations from the floor. There were no nominations from the floor. The slate will be presented at the next general meeting at which time the new officers will be elected.
Walter Lindenmann, Inbound ED thanked the people from Florida and Oklahoma for coming to Charlottesville. He introduced the Outbound ED Vivian McNamara, Sarasota, Florida and Judy Gibson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
ED Bob Schwagerl, inbound director for Hamburg, Germany said that they will arrive on September 20, 2008 and he expects about 24 people. The group will spend time with us and continue on to Raleigh, North Carolina Friendship Force Club. Bob Schwagerl stated that you can find out about the International Friendship Force on the web site
President Mark Dryer said the ED from Dallas, Texas has invited us to their club. The Dallas Friendship Force wants to visit Charlottesville in June and continue on to Harrisburg PA Friendship Force Club.
It was decided the next meeting will be on November 6, 2007 at the Ponderosa Pantops.
Arlene Bandy, President Elect reported that we have a new PO Box at Palmyra. She had new stationary and business cards with her. Everyone was able to get what they need at the end of the meeting. Arlene said that next year Membership will be an important issue.
President Mark Dryer noted that the next board meeting would be on October 15, 2007 at 10.00 am.
After the reciting of the Friendship Force Pledge and there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:43 pm
Respectfully submitted,
David Lea, Secretary