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Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies
Contents
Planning
Meeting for Exchange to South Africa
Contacts
with Our Friends FFSFBA Board Adopts Guidelines for Ambassador Selectione
Area
Groups
New
Member Biographies |
Vol.
25 No. 5 SAN
FRANCISCO BAY AREA NEWSLETTER PRESIDENT'S COLUMN "The
use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and
instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are."
FFI chose this quote to introduce the list of ambassadors’ departures that is updated weekly on their website. I like the way it echoes the new FFI slogan—“Changing the way you see the world.” Back home after three weeks in Canada in September, I have reflected often about the subtle ways that my view of Canadians has changed. Honestly, I can’t say that I had thought about true cultural differences between our two countries. That is, it hadn’t occurred to me until Nina Davidson began to open my mind with the meticulously researched cultural orientation she provided for our group before we left on the exchange. A concept that stood out for me is that we shouldn’t assume that Canadians are “just like us.” Thanks, Nina, for that terrific mind opener, delivered in dynamic style. This exchange gave us even more opportunity than usual to soak up the true lifestyle and viewpoints of our hosts: with both the Greater Hamilton-Burlington club and the Manitoba club, we spent many hours in their cars traveling to their cottages on the lakes, to farmers’ markets, etc. Talk flowed freely and easily. As so often happens on exchanges, our new friends’ openness moved me. They even volunteer the information that you’re afraid to ask! With most Canadians we met, I got the impression that they know a lot about us—from frequent travel far below our border and from our media—and they like us anyway! They don’t seem to blame us for any bad feelings they may have about our government. Thanks, all you FFSFBA ambassadors who left such a good impression after our two exchanges. A special thanks to Barry Rader for leading our exchange so capably. As all former EDs know, much of the work goes on behind the scenes, and we work hard at ironing out glitches before they impact the exchange. As I wrap up the first year of my presidency, I want to thank all members for their faith in reelecting me for another term, along with our returning executive officers—Steve Smallwood, secretary, and Ivan Heling, treasurer. Dee Gustavson has been my indispensable right hand as vice president/program chair. Along with her husband Dave, Dee will continue editing and publishing our newsletter for 2009, with Gail Boyd taking over as vice president. As always, Gail brings many original ideas and lots of energy to the job. Last I heard, the rest of our 2008 board of directors have consented to take on another year—all of them praying for shorter board meeting agendas, I’m sure! Also, thank you to our Area Group leaders, who have made the Area Groups a more integral part of our club than ever. Louise Heiduk deserves high praise as coordinator, supported in the North Bay by Gail Boyd, in the South Bay by June Cademartori, and in the East Bay by Bill Crowe. All of them depend upon our active members to suggest activities and to participate in them in the months between our general meetings. Looking back through this year’s newsletters, you will see an impressive array of entertaining and informative outings. Keep up the good work! Those interested in the outbound exchange to Capetown, South Africa, will be meeting in January. Please note the separate article on more specific Ambassador Selection Guidelines adopted by our Board of Directors on November 2. I hope to see many of you on December 14 at the Holiday Luncheon in Mountain View, where you will see and hear much more about the wonderful Canada Exchange. In friendship, —Karen McCready, President IVAN'S COSTA RICA TRAVELOG ATTRACTS A LARGE AUDIENCE Ivan Heling, our multi-talented, multi-faceted treasurer, attracted an enthusiastic audience for his October 24 travelog at the Los Altos Library. I counted at least 18 guests and 21 FFSFBA members who came to see and hear about Ivan and Natalie’s first Friendship Force exchange experience when they accompanied a New Jersey club to Costa Rica in 2006. Ivan’s beautiful photos captured the essence of Costa Rica’s lush and varied ecosystem, including active volcanoes, sloths, exotic orchids, butterflies, huge iguanas. Their bus mascot, a 4-inch elephant beetle named Frank, was one of the highlights of Ivan’s lively narrative. Many may have come for the lovely images and the travel tips, but they listened with interest as our supportive members eloquently described what Friendship Force is all about. Members in attendance besides the Helings were Joy Hewett, Sara Turner, Bob Worcester, June and John Cademartori, Louise and Wil Heiduk, Dee and Dave Gustavson, Karen Rice, Geri Bechtle, Barry Rader, Mary and Don Pelland, Diane and Burt Demo, Darlene Boyanich, Roger Riffenburgh, and yours truly. Most of them stayed after to continue answering the guests’ questions. With so many members there, each of us was able to engage one-on-one with the visitors. This seems to be a winning combination to attract new members—engaging them with enthralling images of places they’d like to visit, underscored by the special purpose of Friendship Force. How about more of Ivan’s and other members’ travelogs circling the Bay in similar venues? For example, Barry and I plan to create a photo collage slide show of the many exchanges we have experienced since 2002. Sign us up for more of the same! —Karen L. McCready
CANADA AND BACK The best word to describe FFSFBA’s trip to Canada is successful. The goal of meeting new folks and making them part of our circle of family and friends was accomplished. I did not hear one ambassador say they had less than a fantastic time in Winnipeg and Hamilton/Burlington. We were shown the sights, i.e., Niagara Falls, Lake Huron, Toronto, Lake Winnipeg, houses of worship, bear scat, and much more. We were wined and dined in the most outstanding style and even met a Royal Mounted Police Woman. Before we went on our Friendship Force journey we took a trek to the Canadian Maritimes on the east coast. Our beginning and ending point was Halifax, and in between we saw Peggy’s Cove, Flower Pot Rocks, Prince Edward Island, the home of Anne of Green Gables, whales, eagles, moose, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, and much more. The program at the Holiday Luncheon will include pictures and commentary about the trip, as well as the installation of officers and holiday songs. See you there! —Barry Rader, E.D.
PLANNING MEETING FOR EXCHANGE TO Saturday, January 17, 2009, will be the kick-off date for the much anticipated outbound exchange to the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa (in Capetown). At least 30 clubs requested South Africa, and only six clubs got their wish. Of course, besides the week of hosting in Capetown, we will explore more of South Africa and surrounding countries on a week long safari style (photo shooting, that is) tour, probably preceding the exchange. I have had a couple of phone conversations with the host leadership and expect many more details soon. What I do know is that their club is small (about 20 members) and therefore limited for hosting, especially for couples. Because we have too many sign ups for the available hosting, I will send off applications by early December to all who still express an interest in participating. To verify continued interest, I will call everyone who signed up. As explained in the separate article on Ambassador Selection, a small committee will meet to narrow down the list. Ambassadors-elect will meet at our house, on Saturday, January 17, at 2:00 p.m. immediately following the Board of Directors’ meeting. We will discuss the itinerary, expenses, flight and tour options and arrangements, payment deadlines, etc. Also, I’ll be looking for two sets of volunteers: to plan the entertainment program for our hosts, and to create the exchange booklet. I wish that we could offer this rare opportunity to many more of our members. Those of us who are fortunate enough to go will need to represent all of you particularly well! We promise an exciting program when we return. —Karen McCready, E. D.
INCOMING EXCHANGE FROM CHEMNITZ, GERMANY: JULY, 2009 Next July 7–14 (dates to be confirmed) we will have the pleasure of hosting our friends from Germany. Our first organizational meeting will be held in January, 2009. The time and place will be announced at the Holiday Luncheon. Please volunteer to help, even if you did not go to Germany. We found this club to be very warm and embodying the Friendship Force spirit. You don’t want to miss out on meeting them. —Katharine Kleinke, Exchange Director
TEXAS OR BUST! APRIL 19–30, 2009! Howdy, Pardners! Have you expressed your interest in traveling to Texas 2009, but have not yet signed up? Openings are still available for Ambassadors. This will be one of many notices over the next few months regarding this exchange. Our first Texas Exchange Meeting will be January 31, 2009, place to be announced, for Ambassadors only. The FFSFBA Outbound to San Antonio/Dallas, Texas has been confirmed from April 19–30, 2009. We will be hosted first by San Antonio (4/19–24), then by Dallas (4/24–30). All activities have not been planned; more information will be forthcoming. Please respond to Gail as soon as possible, to confirm your interest to be an Ambassador. Lori and Gail are working together, sharing the duties of organizing this exchange to Texas. We both look forward to seeing you in January at our first meeting. —Gail Boyd and Lori English, Exchange Directors CONTACTS WITH OUR FRIENDS NORTH BAY Gail Boyd would like to extend an extra warm welcome to her friend Dee Stuver, who after five years of assisting her in day hosting and attending various FFSFBA events, became a member of FFSFBA. Now she can keep him busy officially! —Gail Boyd DEVON My Devon, England, hosts believe in early Christmas cards (this year: November 15.) John Holman was the mayor when we were there. He and Pam gave me a watercolor of Exeter Cathedral which hangs above my fireplace. In procession from the Cathedral come the mayor and council in full regalia: red velvet and medallions on gold chains! —Carolyn Linnard DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND On Sunday, October 19, Lois and Steve Smallwood and Natalie and Ivan Heling hosted five members of the Dunedin, New Zealand Friendship Force for a dinner at the Smallwood home. Lois, Steve, Natalie, and Ivan had met these New Zealand “Kiwis” when they traveled with the Atlanta Friendship Force club to the south island in February of 2007. While traveling to Queenstown, the U. S. contingent of twenty-seven people were treated to a wonderful lunch at the home of Gillian and Robert Cooper in Alexandra, which is northwest of Dunedin. In addition to the Coopers, the other New Zealanders who had dinner at the Smallwoods’ were Nancy McAuslan, Bernard and Ann McNeill. All nine attendees at the dinner had a lively evening discussing language, politics, and travel. The New Zealanders were here as part of a combined quilting conference and Friendship Force exchange that included Medford, Oregon and points east. —Lois and Steve Smallwood NORTH MORETON, AUSTRALIA Scott and I day hosted Glyness Kelly one day during the North Moreton exchange visit. I really liked her, so am hoping to stay in touch. Because she doesn’t have an email address, I wrote her a letter in August via the regular postal route. However, I haven’t heard back from her yet, but I hope to hear from her over the holidays. In fact, Scott and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire North Moreton group’s wit and energy and curiosity about our part of the world. We reconnected with the total group in New York City in July, because we discovered we were going to be there on vacation the same time they were winding up their American visit. We all met for breakfast at their hotel for one final raucous and delightful exchange. What a serendipitous memory! That was our first experience with FFSFBA exchanges. It was a good start to what we anticipate will be years of fascinating and energizing exchanges, both domestic and international. And we do hope some lifelong friendships with people in other parts of the world will come from these exchanges. —Luree Miller
FFSFBA BOARD
ADOPTS GUIDELINES FOR Note: We began to reexamine this issue when we anticipated an overload for our next exchange. Only twice in recent years has this been an issue; we resolved it with a lottery both times, and in both cases those on the waiting list were able to go because others dropped out. Based on FFI’s guidelines, we concluded that we should screen applicants based more on such factors as participation in the club and traits most suited to ambassadorship rather than eliminate people based on an arbitrary drawing of names. Board members based the guidelines on the main principles outlined in FFI’s “Ambassador Application” and Outbound Exchange Director Manual. The board determined that these guidelines should apply whether an exchange is overloaded or not. Of course, the Exchange Director conducts an initial screening of applications to insure that the applicants will be able to handle the physical demands of the particular exchange. Beyond these physical concerns, we shall look for an array of objective, measurable factors that qualify applicants for an exchange. Those who screen applicants* shall take the following, with no particular prioritization, into consideration.
* The ED, the president, and one other member (someone who is not applying for the exchange) shall meet to screen applications. If the president is the ED, the vice president will step in instead. If more applicants meet the qualifications than the exchange can host, we shall fall back on the lottery. These same members shall conduct the lottery. —Karen McCready AREA GROUPS AREA 1—SF NORTH BAY GROUP Our outing to Sausalito, “A New Way to Look at the Bay on October 15th,” unfortunately was canceled. However, we will reschedule for a day in early Spring. Another activity that is still in the planning stages is a day at The Schultz Museum (Peanuts and Snoopy’s home). These outings will be open to all members, so plan to attend these events in Spring 2009. —Gail Boyd, Area Chairperson
AREA 2 OUTING TO THE AINSLEY HOUSE Saturday, November 1st was a rainy day, but it didn’t dampen the enjoyment of Area 2’s outing to the Ainsley House in Campbell. Built in 1925 as the home for canning pioneer J.C. Ainsley and his wife, this beautifully restored 15-room English Tudor style home was once one of the grand homes of the Santa Clara Valley. After our tour of the house we went to the nearby Aqui Restaurant in downtown Campbell, where 19 members and guests enjoyed good food and conversation. —June Cademartori and Natalie Heling
AREA 3'S VISIT TO THE CONTEMPORARY JEWISH MUSEUM IN SAN FRANCISCO Those of you who could not join our small but adventure-seeking group—Karen McCready, Ron and Gloria Greenwald, Bill and Martha Crowe, myself—missed a special outing sponsored by Bill and the East Bay members of FFSFBA at the new Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco on Tuesday, October 14th. The sun was unseasonably and lusciously warm, the docent tour of “Warhol’s Jews: Ten Portraits Reconsidered” fascinating and informative, the lunch at the museum café delicious and offered a chance for the six of us to learn more about each other, and the post-luncheon architectural tour for Karen, Bill, and Martha a great opportunity to admire how renowned architect Daniel Libeskind converted a historic San Francisco PG&E power plant into an intriguing museum of the Bay Area Jewish community and culture. Thanks, Bill, for organizing this delightful outing, and thanks, Ron and Gloria, for sharing your membership guest passes with us! —Luree Miller NEW MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES Dee Stuever I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, along with my older brother and sister. In my early teenage years, I developed my independence by attending schools in Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. After some 3½ years, I returned home and worked in my family’s investment company. Later, I obtained a private pilot’s license, bought a used plane, and flew for sport, locally. The travel bug that started in my teens led me to parts in and outside of the States: a cruise in the Caribbean, an auto tour of England and Ireland, and a safari in East Africa were some of the highlights. Ultimately, the “bug” landed me here in Marin where I’ve made home for some 27 years now. Here, I thrive in enjoying the great diversity of all that the Bay Area and surrounds have to offer: hiking, sailing, sightseeing, and the arts.
Eoin O’Donoghue is originally from Dublin, Ireland, where he has four sisters, two brothers and sixteen nieces and nephews, and they visit them nearly every year. Eoin is an Information Technology Project Manager for John Muir Health and works in their new, state-of-the art lab in Concord. Emily Hopkins is from Virginia, and her father, sister and two nieces and two nephews live in Richmond. Emily recently retired from the Naval Reserve, and continues working as a public information officer for the local Fire District. They heard about the Friendship Force from Wil and Louise Heiduk when they met them at a Trail Manor rally in Petaluma in October. They enjoy camping, kayaking, bicycling and travel.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS You should have received a club membership renewal notice by now. Hopefully you will all renew! Membership renewal forms will be provided at the December 14 luncheon, so if you haven’t mailed yours in yet, you can fill out the form and pay your dues at that time. —Mary Pelland, Membership Chair
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Noon to 1 p.m. is a social hour with no-host bar. Lunch will be served at 1 p.m. A program will follow, featuring a presentation by members of the outbound exchange to Canada, and a holiday sing-a-long. We trust that by now everyone has received the invitations that were mailed a few weeks ago, and that reservation forms have been sent in. If you have any questions, please contact Natalie Heling. Directions to Michael’s: Follow Highway 101 to Mountain View. Turn on North Shoreline toward the Bay. Follow the road 2.1 miles, past a usually unoccupied entry gatehouse, until you reach a parking lot on the left, which is for Michael’s Restaurant. See you there! —Natalie Heling 2008 FFSFBA COMMITTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President:
Karen McCready President@ffsfba.org STANDING COMMITTEES Activities
Co-Chairs: Lois
Smallwood and Natalie Heling Activities@ffsfba.org EXCHANGE DIRECTORS Inbound Outbound SUPPORT COMMITTEES Exchange
Banker: Don
Pelland ExchangeBanker@ffsfba.org 2008–2009 CALENDAR
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