ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH. Taking Friendship to New Heights SEPTEMBER PROGRAM...TUESDAY, SEPT.12 HIGHLIGHTS VOICES OF AFRICA REMEMBER!

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH Taking Friendship to New Heights www.friendshipforcedenver.

com/friendshipforceofdenver ABOUT THE CLUB Friendship Force Denver meets at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard, Denver 80224, at 7 PM the second Tuesday of Sept. Nov.

....... John Giles jgiles_911@hotmail.com Secretary.........Ilene Americus iamericus-denver@yahoo.com Treasurer........... Les Eckstat eckstat@gmail.

1 ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH Taking Friendship to New Heights September, 2017 HIGHLIGHTS President s Letter Page 2 Exchange News Pgs 3 6 Social Activities Page 7 Conference Pgs ABOUT THE CLUB Friendship Force Denver meets at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard, Denver 80224, at 7 PM the second Tuesday of Sept. Nov., and Jan May, and also offers numerous social events throughout the year. Come join us and bring your friends! CLUB OFFICERS President Lynn Dawson lynnldawson@comcast.net President-Elect John Giles jgiles_911@hotmail.com Secretary Ilene Americus iamericus-denver@yahoo.com Treasurer Les Eckstat eckstat@gmail.com Articles of interest from our members are welcome, and must be submitted to the editor by the 24 th of the month for inclusion the following month. If you know of anyone who would like to receive a copy of this newsletter, please send his or her address to carolcoriell@gmail.com. Carol Coriell, Editor SEPTEMBER PROGRAM.....TUESDAY, SEPT.12 VOICES OF AFRICA Our speaker for September is Papa Dia. Papa and 3 colleagues will discuss the current situation in Africa today, with a special focus on Kenya and Uganda. Papa Dia is the Founder and President of African Leadership Group, an advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for immigrants. Through social, economic, and educational empowerment programs, ALG helps families successfully integrate into their local community. A native of Senegal, Papa immigrated to Denver in He used his first job, stocking books, to teach himself how to read, write, and speak English. Beginning with an entry-level position in a local bank, over the next 17 years Papa climbed the ranks to ultimately become a regional vice president. In 2017, Papa left his banking career to focus his full attention on running and growing ALG. REMEMBER! NEW MEETING PLACE Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard Avenue (on the northeast corner of Hampden and Monaco) Denver, 80224, 7 PM SEPTEMBER REFRESHMENTS LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH S Z Those bringing refreshments please arrive by 6:45 PM.

2 FROM OUR PRESIDENT Hello All, Welcome back from our recent hiatus! I know that many of us have been very busy enjoying the summer. The first thing I want to do is to remind you that WE ARE MOVING OUR MEETINGS FROM SOUTH SUBURBAN CHURCH TO CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF HAMPDEN AND MONACO AT 6500 E. GIRARD AVENUE, BEGINNING WITH THE SEPTEMBER 12 TH MEETING! We will continue to start our meetings at 7:00 pm with Lynn with son and daughter-in-law social time; so, if you are bringing refreshments, please come around 6:45 pm. We are moving because this venue is nicer, less expensive, and is more accessible and closer for many of our members, including being closer to the RTD Light-Rail. Also, this church is allowing us to use their boardroom, which is important because the libraries that we have been using for our board meetings are now charging hourly for use of their community rooms. I think you will find this to be a very good move for us. By the time you are reading this, Carl and I will be in England, having just attended the Friendship Force International 40 th Anniversary World Conference with Luree and Scott Miller, Tuti Tierney, and Kim Means. We are extending our stay in Southwest England (the Devon Area). While there, we will meet with a group from the recently disbanded club in Devon, England. Once again, we are finding that Friendship Force really works! I contacted the people who I talked with two years ago about doing an outbound to their club in Devon, in order to get some information about the area. They kindly said that they could not have hosted our club this year because of officially disbanding their club, but they invited us to the monthly luncheon that they continue to hold. We are looking forward to meeting them. As many of you may know, we spend about a month each summer in the San Francisco Area, because that is where our son and his wife and my brother and his wife and four children and nine grandchildren live! While we were there, we contacted the woman who is going to be staying with us as an Ambassador during the San Francisco Bay Club s Inbound Journey to Denver in October. She invited us, along with three additional members of their club for lunch; and we had a delightful afternoon. We also met with members of the Napa/Sonoma Club while we spent time in that area. I may have also done a bit of wine tasting with our son and daughter-in-law! It is educational, enjoyable, and entertaining to learn about other clubs and meet people from those clubs while traveling. We have had hosts with whom we have stayed in other states come visit us, which, of course, is the intent of our domestic and international cultural exchanges. Again, Friendship Force really works! Please enjoy the new venue, and the speaker who will be talking about Africa, since that is the location of our next Outbound Journey! Also, please invite friends, relatives, or people you know who might be good potential members to attend our monthly membership meetings. Most of our members have joined because they have learned about Friendship Force from someone in the club who is passionate about what we do. Thank you! In friendship, Lynn Dawson Sept 2017 Page 2

3 2017 JOURNEYS Dates May Be Subject To Minor Change October 1-7, 2017 Inbound Journey: San Francisco, California [Host Coordinators: Luree and Scott Miller at and Home: ; Luree s Cell: ; Scott s Cell: ] See pages 4 and 5 for details October 14 28, 2017 Outbound Back-to-Back International Journeys to Africa: October 14 21, 2017: Outbound International Journey to Kampala, Uganda October 21 28, 2017: Outbound International Journey to Nairobi, Kenya October 28 - November 2, 2017: Optional safari to Kenyan animal reserves and national parks. [Ambassador Coordinators: Jack Green and Ilene Americus jack.green@comcast.net and iamericus-denver@yahoo.com Jack: Ilene: ] Journey is full, with a waiting list being maintained May 2018 After our fun filled visit to the Dayton, Ohio, club, they have requested a Journey to visit us. Specific dates have not been set. We will need a Journey Coordinator. June 2018 Outbound Journeys to Lübeck, Germany followed by a week in Limberg, Belgium. We will have specific dates by mid-september, Lübeck is the only city in the north of Germany which still has an extensive medieval old city, comparable to some in southern Germany. Though considerably hit by bombs in WW2, most of the old city survived from medieval times, or was reconstructed. Sign-up sheets are available at the monthly meeting or contact John Giles, jgiles_911@hotmail.com: Cell: ] September 2018 Inbound International Journey from Vancouver, Canada. We need a Journey Coordinator Spring or Fall, 2020: Outbound Journey to Oregon's Mid-Willamette Valley FF Club. Visit to see the complete range of Journeys offered by clubs throughout the world. Experience Different Views. Discover Common Ground. Sept 2017 Page 3

4 GUESS WHO S COMING TO DENVER OCTOBER 1-7? Please join us in welcoming 16 ambassadors from the San Francisco Bay Area club. And join us for a week of fun together but we need your RSVP and check for activities you plan on attending by the September 12 th club meeting (reservation form & fee schedule found on the following page)!! Here, in brief, is the itinerary for the week: October 1 October 2 October 3 October 4 October 5 October 6 October 7 Sunday, 4-8 pm Colorado-themed BBQ Welcome Party at The Pinnacle, Tower Two clubhouse 1650 Fillmore, Denver Monday, 12:00-1:30 pm Lunch at Buckhorn Exchange 1000 Osage, Denver 2:30-3:15 pm Tour Byers-Evans home 1310 Bannock, Denver Tuesday, 11:00-12:30 pm Lunch at Dushanbe Tea House, th St, Boulder 1:30-2:30 pm Carousel of Happiness, Route 119, Nederland Wednesday, 6:30 pm Small group dinner parties Thursday, Morning Explore Red Rocks Amphitheater 11:30-1:30 pm Lunch at Mount Vernon Country Club, Club House, Golden 2:00-3:30 pm Bison talk and viewing (if unable to schedule, we ll visit Buffalo Bill s gravesite and museum) Friday, 10:00-noon Naturalist-guided hike, Roxborough State Park, Littleton 12:30-3:30 pm Farewell Sack Lunch Picnic party Bob Meer & Carol Rush s home, 9154 Flamingo Way, Littleton Saturday, Departure RSVP to Luree Miller lureemiller@mac.com or (cell) Checks should be made out to Friendship Force Denver and mailed with the reservation form on the following page to Luree Miller Sept 2017 Page 4

5 SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA JOURNEY RESERVATIONS Sun, Oct 1 Date Event # of People Welcome Party BBQ, 4 PM 650 Fillmore, Tower and Clubroom Cost per Person Total Mon, Oct 2 Banjo Billy Tour *can accommodate a few hosts talk to Luree no charge N/A Mon, Oct 2 Buckhorn Exchange lunch Mon, Oct 2 Byers-Evans House tour 5.00 Tue, Oct 3 Dushanbe Tea House lunch/boulder on your own N/A Tue, Oct. 3 Carousel of Happiness Nederland on your own N/A Thur, Oct. 5 Red Rocks Amphitheater Tour 3.00 Thur, Oct 5 Mount Vernon Country Club Buffet lunch Fri, Oct 6 Roxborough State Park Naturalist-led walk no charge N/A Fri, Oct 6 Farewell Party-Littleton Sack Picnic, charge for drinks and dessert, bring sack lunch 6.00 TOTAL Checks should be made out to Friendship Force Denver and mailed, along with the completed form to: Luree Miller, 2001 Lincoln St., #1221, Denver CO 80202, or they can be brought to the September meeting. DEADLINE TO RESERVE: September 12, 2017 Sept 2017 Page 5

OUTBOUND JOURNEY TO KAMPALA, UGANDA AND NAIROBI, KENYA OCT 14 28 Twenty-two ambassadors are getting very excited about their upcoming trip to Uganda and Kenya.

6 OUTBOUND JOURNEY TO KAMPALA, UGANDA AND NAIROBI, KENYA OCT Twenty-two ambassadors are getting very excited about their upcoming trip to Uganda and Kenya. Everyone is beginning to focus on getting their required inoculations and visas, shopping and trading s with their hosts. While we have not yet received Host selections for Nairobi, most of our Ambassadors are busy exchanging information with their Hosts in Kampala. Many of our Hosts are involved in local nongovernmental organizations, schools and orphanages or medical assistance facilities. Our itinerary looks very exciting and is filling in rapidly. Ambassadors participated in the first of three Cultural Workshops on August 19 th with some folks joining via Skype in the wee hours of their morning in Perth. This first workshop coverd housekeeping details such as arrivals, inoculations, visa requirements as well as packing, attire, money items, manners and etiquette, and safety and security. A second meeting featured guest speakers Dan and Mary Wilkerson who recently returned from Kampala and Nairobi, where they visited their son who manages a micro lending facility in Kampala. Their insight was timely and very interesting. The last workshop will give our Ambassadors opportunity to test their creativity and talent, wherein we develop our entertainment for our hosts, discuss last minute details and totally get psyched up for our trip! Lynn and Carl met three members of the Kenya club while at the FFI World Conference in Manchester, UK. Terry Gichuiya, the Club president, and Ambassador Coordinator for our Journey, is on the right. More conference pictures on Page Sept 2017 Page 6

Let s celebrate while munching made-from-scratch Mexican food on a cantina patio overlooking a lake, with mountains in the distance there can t be something more enticingly end-of-summer than that!

7 SOCIAL COMMITTEE BULLETIN Check this site in each month s newsletter for current planned activities that all members are welcome to participate in as long as space is available and you have RSVP d. Here are the current happenings: MUNCH LUNCH BUNCH Thursday, September 21 st at 11:30 a.m. It s the Last Day of Summer! Let s celebrate while munching made-from-scratch Mexican food on a cantina patio overlooking a lake, with mountains in the distance there can t be something more enticingly end-of-summer than that! Lucha Cantina is at 8026 W. Bowles Avenue in Littleton, about 2 blocks east of Wadsworth Blvd. Reserve your place now by contacting Luree Miller or lureemiller@mac.com. SIGN UP DEADLINE: September 16 th. OCTOBER SOCIAL OPTIONS Sunday, October 1 st at 4 pm (Barbecue Welcome Party for inbound journey from San Francisco Bay Area) and Friday, October 7 th at approximately 12:30 pm (Sack Lunch Picnic Farewell Party for them). Please join us for either or both of those events or any of the other planned outings during the journey itself to show San Francisco what a great fun club we are! Full details on page 5, or contact Journey Host coordinator Luree Miller ( or lureemiller@mac.com) or Social Co-chair Nancy Crocker ( or snjcrocker@aol.com). SIGN UP DEADLINE: September 12 th. SAVE THE DATE!! Sunday, December 3 rd It may be September now, but December will be here before we know it. And tickets for our annual December musical outing are now on sale Seussical: The Musical. Whether you re a Dr. Seuss fan or simply love a good musical romp, please join us on December 3 rd. There will be a pre-performance reception at 11:45 a.m., and the matinee at 2 p.m. in the Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main Street in Littleton. Nonrefundable tickets are $24/each we have 50, but when they re gone, they re gone. So grab your tickets at the Tuesday club meetings or by mailing your request and check (made out to Friendship Force Denver ) to Luree Miller at: 2001 Lincoln Street #1221, Denver CO TICKET PURCHASE DEADLINE: November 14th (at the November general meeting). Sept 2017 Page 7 by Sandy Villarreal ANNUAL PICNIC AND 35 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Over 80 people gathered at the home of Mike and Cindy Tanner for Friendship Force of Denver s annual picnic on June 27, 2017.

8 ANNUAL PICNIC AND 35 TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION by Sandy Villarreal What a wonderful picnic! The weather was perfect, the hosts, Cindy and Mike Tanner, were welcoming, the food was good and the camaraderie was fabulous! Over 80 people gathered at the home of Mike and Cindy Tanner for Friendship Force of Denver s annual picnic on June 27, It was a triple event: the annual picnic, the farewell dinner for our ambassadors from Orlando, and a celebration of our club s 35 th anniversary. A barbecue dinner was provided by Bennett s Bar-B-Que and a 35 th anniversary cake was served as dessert. We were thrilled that a number of previous long-time members attended the picnic. Our president, Lynn, introduced them to the group. Afterward, the hosts introduced their ambassadors from Orlando. Sandy Villarreal gave a brief presentation of some of our club s highlights, which was prepared by Larry Brown, a previous member. Then several members talked briefly about a memorable moment from an exchange. It was a beautiful afternoon (the threatening rain never appeared) and a most enjoyable picnic! Photo by Ilene Americus Back row: Mike Tanner (2012), Dave Bentzin (1983, 1984, 2009), Jim Robinson (2003), Carl Dawson (2016), Cecil Roberts (2010), Jim Watson (2006), Jack Kimpton (1998) Front row: Larry Brown (2002), Sandy Villarreal (2007), Lynn Dawson (2017), Carolyn Kimpton (2008), Jane Watson (1993-4), Anita Smith (2013, 2015), Marilyn Shroat, wife of president Marvin Shroat (1996). Present, but not pictured: Rosalie Summers (2011) Sept 2017 Page 8 NOTES FROM THE a

NOTES FROM THE FFI CONFERENCE, MANCHESTER, UK by Lynn

Scott, Tuti, and Kim) - five of us had our luggage

The opening event was a party to celebrate 1977 - the

Lynn's hat is an original from the 70's.

Day 2 We started today's session led by drummers who

We also had the history of Friendship Force presented

9 NOTES FROM THE FFI CONFERENCE, MANCHESTER, UK by Lynn Dawson Day 1 Six of us arrived (Carl, Lynn, Luree, Scott, Tuti, and Kim) - five of us had our luggage travel with us. The opening event was a party to celebrate the birth year of Friendship Force International. Lynn's hat is an original from the 70's. The disco dancers were fun to watch! Day 2 We started today's session led by drummers who taught us some basic African drumming. There was a drum for each participant. That was certainly a way to wake up! We also had the history of Friendship Force presented to us directly by Wayne Smith's daughter, Suzy Smith Bennett. We ended the day with an energetic and interesting presentation by Benedict Allen, who is a great English explorer. Sept 2017 Page 9

10 FFI CONFERENCE, continued Day 3 Our day began with a canal cruise around Manchester; then we joined Jeremy Snook, Suzy Smith, and other FFI members from countries all over the world to march in Manchester's huge Pride Parade. We ended the day with the Gala in the Concord Event Center, where we ate and danced underneath a fantastic Concord! Sept 2017 Page 10

THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE A REPORT FROM CASPER, WYOMING FF- Denver friends, Ilene Americus and Gerry Forney and Irene Ludwig, drove up to enjoy a few days and the

Locally, our airport had 190 planes fly in and park (including that of a Saudi prince!). Also, there were 100 RVs parked at the county fairgrounds.

(The entire 300 room Parkway Plaza was booked 18 months in advance by an amateur astronomers group for their annual meeting!

Good weather greeted us in the morning with a slight haze from forest fires in Idaho not a problem for eclipse watching.

We could see for many miles in every direction with no one else in sight.

11 THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE A REPORT FROM CASPER, WYOMING FF- Denver friends, Ilene Americus and Gerry Forney and Irene Ludwig, drove up to enjoy a few days and the Eclipse with me. Statewide, they were a part of the influx of 500,000 additional vehicles in the state on Eclipse Day. Locally, our airport had 190 planes fly in and park (including that of a Saudi prince!). Also, there were 100 RVs parked at the county fairgrounds. And of course, all of the motel rooms had been booked many months ago. (The entire 300 room Parkway Plaza was booked 18 months in advance by an amateur astronomers group for their annual meeting!) The population of Wyoming is 585,000, and it tripled for that one day! Good weather greeted us in the morning with a slight haze from forest fires in Idaho not a problem for eclipse watching. The four of us went to the nearby historic Gothberg Ranch to join other friends and relatives at a great viewing site on a high gravel bench. We could see for many miles in every direction with no one else in sight. One couple, serious eclipse-watchers, brought three telescopes two solar telescopes and a projecting telescope. With these and our eclipse glasses, we all had amazing views. As we watched the moon steadily take a larger bite out of the sun, about 15 minutes before totality we noticed a significant loss of daylight. At totality, the grasshoppers stayed on the ground as if it were night, and I dropped to one knee to keep my balance. Two and a half minutes never to be forgotten! Bailey s Beads, the solar corona, a solar flare, and then the spectacular Diamond Ring signaled the end of totality. The sunrise in the east at noon began the return to daylight. Dave Bentzin

2017 CALENDAR MEMBER NEWS BOARD MEETING * SEPT 5 Tuesday, 6:30 PM 8:30 PM SEPTEMBER PROGRAM * Tuesday, 7:00 PM 9:00 PM Voices of Africa REMEMBER! NEW LOCATION AT Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E.

12 2017 CALENDAR MEMBER NEWS BOARD MEETING * SEPT 5 Tuesday, 6:30 PM 8:30 PM SEPTEMBER PROGRAM * Tuesday, 7:00 PM 9:00 PM Voices of Africa REMEMBER! NEW LOCATION AT Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard Avenue, Denver SEPT 12 S REFRESHMENTS Last names beginning with S Z Those bringing refreshments please arrive by 6:45 PM MUNCH LUNCH BUNCH SEPT 21 Thursday, 11:30 AM Lucha Cantina, details page 7 WELCOME TO NEW MEMBER Juliana Laughter Grizzly Gulch Highlands Ranch Co julianalaughter@gmail.com Donna Robinson had an emergency appendectomy recently. She is recovering nicely, and sends thanks to everyone who sent her a card. Mary Lou Bennington needs help for the October meeting, since she will be out of town. Let her know if you can help mloubennington@aol.com. INBOUND DOMESTIC JOURNEY OCT 1 7 San Francisco Bay Area, details pages 4 5 BOARD MEETING * OCT 10 Tuesday, 5:00-7:00 PM OCTOBER PROGRAM * OCT 10 Tuesday, 7:00 PM 9:00 PM Annual Meeting and Election of Officers Serving with the Peace Corps in South America and the Philippines Check out our Page: Lynn Dawson sent pictures every day while participating in the FFI World Conference in Manchester, UK; many are shown on pages 9 and 10. This just in: the final speaker was Stephanie Powers, actress and conservation activist. OUTBOUND JOURNEY OCT Kampala, Uganda and Nairobi, Kenya Details page 6 BOARD MEETING * NOV 7 Tuesday, 6:30 PM 8:30 PM NOVEMBER PROGRAM * NOV 12 Tuesday, 7:00 PM 9:00 PM DECEMBER SOCIAL DEC 3 Littleton Town Hall Arts Center Seussical The Musical, details page 7 *Board meetings and monthly meetings are held at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard Ave., Denver Sept 2017 Page 12

ROCKY MOUNTAINHIGH Taking Friendship to New Heights

ly 13 our annual picnic at Cindy & Mike Tanner s August is a down time in club activities Join us to hear Carl and Lynn Dawson sharing ROCKY MOUNTAINHIGH Taking Friendship to New Heights www.friendshipforcedenver.org