NEWSLETTER. Oregon Mid-Willamette Valley Exchange July 19-25, FRIENDSHIP FORCE OF OKLAHOMA October 26, 2016 OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS

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1 NEWSLETTER OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS President - Geneva Hancock genhand@swbell.net Vice President -Beth Allen-Eden betheden1898@yahoo.com Secretary - Darlene Browers OKBeam@gmail.com Treasurer - Bob Byrne rjbyrne@yahoo.com Activities: Nelda Paden Communications/Newsletter: Linda Kenney Domestic Exchange Coordinator: Kay Bickham E.D. Selection: Beth Allen-Eden Friendship: Edith Carlstone Gladys Warren Fund:Linda Kenney Historian: Liz King Nominating Committee: Art Black Parliamentarian:Hannelore Chan Oregon Mid-Willamette Valley Exchange July 19-25, 2016 By: Linda Kenney If you didn t join us on our outbound exchange to visit the Mid-Willamette Valley Oregon club, you really missed a good exchange. Art Black was the Exchange Director and the exchange was enjoyed by all. Twenty ambassadors traveled by air and car and met at the home of Ted and Rita Powell for the welcome party where we were entertained by two ladies playing the guitar and accordion. We met our hosts and traveled to their home. The next day, we enjoyed the tour of the Thyme Garden and the special lunch that was prepared for us using many of the herbs and flowers in the garden. Then, we were off to the coast for an overnight stay at the Shilo Inns in Newport, OR. Jackets were needed for viewing the Yaquina Head lighthouse and we were excited to see the Page 1

2 many whales in the area. Our visit to the Hatfield Marine Center and museum was very enjoyable and our hosts drove us around to see the beautiful scenery in the area. The next day, we visited Talking Water Gardens, where there are many varieties of wetland plants, had lunch and small group dinners were planned for the evening so everyone could get better acquainted. The next couple of days was spent with our host with some of us traveling to the town of Sisters to see the twin peaks and the lava fields. We also enjoyed seeing covered bridges and Sahalie Falls. Thanks to the Mid-Willamette Valley Oregon club for a wonderful exchange. Page 2

3 PRESIDENT S LETTER - GENEVA HANCOCK This year has gone by so quickly, I can hardly believe it is now time for ghosts and goblins. Since our last meeting, the outbound exchange to Christchurch and Napier, NZ has been canceled. Unfortunately there were not enough ambassadors to make it happen. Art Black lead an outbound Exchange to Oregon which included 20 people. I was lucky to be a part of the group and enjoyed it so very much. The Mid-Willamette Valley is surrounded by five beautiful mountains. They say that all five are usually visible at the same time for about five days each year. We were so fortunate to see them almost every day. You ll want to read Linda Kenney s report in this newsletter. The next thing on our calendar is the Christmas social and lunch. It is scheduled for December 10, 2016, 11:30 AM. at Epworth Villa in Oklahoma City. invitations will be mailed to all FFO members the first week in November. Please make a special effort to invite your friends and former members of FFO. We ll have thirty minutes of social time before serving lunch and entertainment after lunch. This is the last FFO event of the year and I hope you will make every effort to be there and bring a guest. Looking forward to 2017, we have scheduled three inbound exchanges and will need your help to host Baton Rouge in late April, Gold Coast, Australia late May/early June and San Francisco Bay Area September FFI is attempting to find an outbound international exchange for us in I m looking forward to seeing everyone on December 10. FFO BOOTH AT PEACE FESTIVAL - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016 This is the third year FFO will have a booth at the Peace Festival to be held at the Civic Center Hall of Mirrors, 201 North Walker, OKC on Saturday, November 12, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Volunteers will pass our information about Friendship Force and contact those that sign up for more information. The event is free and open to the public and is a central Oklahoma tradition in its 30th year with music, dancing, food, shopping and community organization. FRIENDSHIP FORCE CHRISTMAS LUNCH AND SOCIAL - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016 SEE INVITATION AND RESERVATION FORM AT END OF NEWSLETTER. WORLD FRIENDSHIP DAY 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION - MARCH 2017 Beth Allen-Eden, Coordinator The planning committee for the 40th anniversary of FFI celebration met on September 19, 2016 and determined that one event would be an elementary school art contest with the theme of My Dream of Peace with all FFO members requested to help with any school contacts they know. A reception will be planned for the first week of March 2017 to include the art contest winners and their Page 3

4 families. Committee members are working on details for the contest and reception. All members are encouraged to make plans to attend this event. FFI WORLD CONFERENCES - MARRAKECH, MOROCCO - SEPTEMBER and MANCHESTER, UK - AUGUST 25-28, 2017 FFI s World Conference was held in Marrakech, Morocco on September 16-19, 2016 and the 2017 FFI conference will be held in Manchester, UK on August 25-28, If you are interested in attending the 2017 conference, information will be available soon on the FFI website. DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES FOR 2017 We look forward to Baton Rouge, Louisiana visiting our club sometime during the last two weeks of April Kay Bickham and Ora Hare will be co-exchange directors. We are expecting ambassadors for the 5-7 day stay. An inbound exchange from the San Francisco, California club will take place on September 24-30, 2017 with their club visiting Denver, Colorado after our exchange. The Gold Coast, Australia club will visit our club in late May or early June Art Black is seeking a Co-ED for this exchange. If you are interested, please contact Beth Allen-Eden at betheden1898@yahoo.com. (The two 2016 international exchanges mentioned in our last newsletter have been cancelled; inbound from Comitan, Mexico and outbound to Napier and Christchurch, New Zealand.) WHAT OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN UP TO. This last quarter, some of our members decided to attend an event, join other clubs on an exchange or travel on an FFI exchange: Florece Rowland was the only U.S. ambassador on Perth, Australia s exchange to Seattle, Washington and Kalispell, Montana. Ambassadors had four days in-between exchanges and they enjoyed their trip to Glazier National Park. Ken Coy reported on the PEAKS-TO-PLAINS GLOBAL EXCHANGE Two of our OKC Friendship Force members, Ken Coy and Rose Schultz participated in a Peaksto-Plains global exchange to Colorado, Wyoming and Utah with 19 other ambassadors from Canada, New Zealand, and various other states from Rhode Island to California. Six host clubs were involved in the exchange. The group met at the Denver International Airport and then took a 24-passenger bus to Cheyenne, WY where they toured a working ranch, hiked in the Vedauwoo Natural area, rode a train around a bison ranch and toured the Cheyenne Depot Museum. While in Northern CO, the group visited the Benson Sculpture Park, a Bronze Foundry, the New Belgium Brewery, Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. In Denver, the Ambassadors toured the Leaning Tree Art Gallery, the USGS National Earthquake Center, downtown Golden, CO, the Colorado State Capitol, Mile High Stadium, the Red Rock Amphitheatre, Hotel De Paris and rode the Georgetown Loop Train. The group then met their Colorado Springs hosts and toured the Air Force Academy, Garden of the Gods, explored Old Colorado City and the Page 4

5 Broadmoor, rode the cog train to the top of Pike s Peak and visited the Olympic Training Center. Ken returned to OKC on Day 14 while Rose ventured on to Western Colorado where the Ambassadors participated in an exchange service project, visited an organic fruit and vegetable farm, toured the Red Fox Cellars and the Blue Pig Art Gallery. They then took a float trip on the Colorado River before visiting the Colorado National Monument. The Ambassadors spent the night at the Red Cliff Lodge and then hiked in Arches National Park before having dinner at the Pack Creek Ranch. After meeting their Utah hosts, the group took a guided tour of Salt Lake City, visited the International Peace Garden and then concluded their journey by spending time at Olympic park in Park City. It was an incredible adventure with breath-taking scenery, gracious hosts, compatible ambassadors and perfect weather. Members Kay Bickham, Deanna Bradley, Ora Hare and Joyce Rulon participated in FFI s exchange to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. They enjoyed exploring the colonial-era of San Miguel de Allende, known for its baroque Spanish architecture and participating in Mexican Independence Day: a national holiday and parade. Joyce Rulon was the exchange director. Darlene Browers reported this charter bus seemed to bear an appropriate name when it carried 20 FFI ambassadors throughout the area around Washington DC as they delved into historic sites on the Global exchange A Nation Divided: A Civil War. FFO member, Darlene Browers, joined ambassadors from Canada, Australia, and several States from Sept 20 to Oct 9 for the Global exchange hosted by five FFI clubs from the area. It was 19 days of learning, and gaining a new appreciation of the sacrifices made during that great struggle to preserve the nation. Additionally meeting lots of new people and having lots of fun along the way made it a tremendous experience. One interesting place was a visit to Clara Barton's home where she worked after the war to help notify 23,000 families what had happened to their loved one who served as a soldier. Darlene Browers and Ruth Green attended Banjo Fest on September 10, 2016 and reported the following: Andy Eastwood!!! Who s that you may ask? Everyone who attended the Banjo Fest on September 10 will know. Andy is a phenomenal ukulele banjo player from the UK. He was one of four great banjo sets featured at the first annual Banjo Fest sponsored by the American Banjo Museum. The audience was treated to bluegrass, jazz, folk and even classical music as they learned just how versatile the banjo is. Cynthia Sayer Gary Biscuit Davis, Mark Johnson and Emory Lester kept those strings humming with rousing banjo playing and lots of rib tickling comments along the way. FFO members will Page 5

6 recall enjoying being host to many exchanges that included a visit to the American Banjo Museum in Bricktown Oklahoma City. The banjo museum extended an invitation to FFO members to have a complimentary ticket to attend the final concert of the Banjo Fest. Darlene Browers and Ruth Green were among those who attended. Their review of the evening can be summed up in WOW, never knew a banjo could sound like that and never saw a ukulele banjo OR player before. Darlene reported that she was lucky enough after the concert to buy the last available CD of Andy Eastwood s music. It included the showstopper William Tell s Ukulele. It s a whole new experience of William Tell s Overture when you hear it played of the ukulele banjo. Thanks goes to the American Banjo Museum for thinking of FFO and making it possible to hear that great music. Keep alert for Banjo Fest 2017! We are told it s coming. Also reporting they attended the event were Florece Rowland and Diane Trout Harwood with guests. Geneva Hancock has been asked to judge the performance section at the UCO International Student Council s 41st International Festival at the Edmond Farmer's Market on Saturday, November 12th from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm., which she gladly accepted. They have over 14 to 15 Country and Regional Associations that will be competing for the winning title of the International Festival NOTICE OF BOARD MEETINGS AND GENERAL MEETINGS - DATES TO REMEMBER Board Meeting: DATE: Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Location: Communications Fed. CU, Edmond, OK Annual General Meeting & Installation of Officers: Date: January 22, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. Please bring a finger food to share. Location: UCO International House, 912 Chowning Avenue, Edmond, OK Time: Visit with friends at 1:00 p.m. followed by the business meeting and installation of officers for Page 6

7 MEET OUR NEW MEMBER: Paula Boone, 4430 N.W. 59th, Oklahoma City, OK Paula joined in August and said her mother was a past member of Friendship Force Oklahoma. She lists that she can volunteer in the area of baking. WELCOME PAULA! 2017 MEMBERSHIP DUES: If you would like to pay your 2017 dues now, please make your check payable to FFO in the amount of $30.00 (single) or $50.00 (family) and send to Bob Byrne Eastlake Drive, Oklahoma City, OK It was necessary to increase the 2017 family membership dues due to the additional amount of money we submit to FFI as a portion of your dues paid. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS: ACTIVITIES: On August 7, 2016 the mid-year membership luncheon was held at the UCO International House in Edmond. The group of 24 enjoyed a pot luck lunch, A short business meeting followed the meeting. On September 15, 2016 the Third Thursday luncheon was held at Mimi s Restaurant and was attended by 13 people. Included in the group were visitors from New Zealand. The group enjoyed the food and fellowship. COMMUNICATIONS: Our next newsletter will be published in January. Follow us on Facebook and our website for current articles and pictures. E.D. SELECTION: Inbound exchanges on schedule as of now for 2017 are as follows: Baton Rouge, April Gold Coast Australia, June? San Francisco, September Co-ED s Kay Bickham and Ora Hare Art Black is seeking a Co-ED ED applicants needed Page 7

8 HISTORIAN: Liz King is collecting pictures for our 2016 scrapbook if you have any to share. DOMESTIC: The Baton Rouge Friendship Force club will visit OKC in late April We are still working on the exact date but it will be after Easter (April 16). They expect to bring ambassadors. (Currently, they have 8 semi-confirmed.) They might be interested in coming for 5 days instead of 7. Some of their membership are still out of their homes due to the flooding in August. Kay Bickham and Ora Hare will be Co-EDs. The San Francisco FF club will visit OKC in late September. GLADYS WARREN FUND: The Gladys Warren Fund report as of July was presented to the Board of Directors at its October meeting. Since that time, there has been disbursements which will be updated at the January meeting. MEMBERSHIP: Membership directory issued August 2016 reflects a total of 56 members; 34 single and 11 family. Newer members have been ed reminding them of the Christmas party. One new prospective member was ed an application. Paula Boone is our newest member who joined in August. NOMINATING: Art thanked the Nominating Committee. His report was presented at the general membership meeting and there being no further nominations, the officers for 2017 will be installed at the January meeting. The slate of officers for 2017 will be: Geneva Hancock, President; Beth Allen-Eden, Vice President; Darlene Browers, Secretary and Bob Byrne, Treasurer. FRIENDSHIP: A get well card was sent to Joan Ackley. If you know of someone that we need to send a get well card or sympathy card to, contact Edith Carlstone at edithcarlstone@aol.com. PARLIAMENTARIAN: Hannelore Chan will serve as Parliamentarian for 2016 and will be available for any parliamentarian questions. This Newsletter, and more information about our club, may be found on our website: or on our Facebook page. Contact us at: president@friendshipforceoklahoma.com on our web page. Page 8

9 FRIENDSHIP FORCE CHRISTMAS LUNCH AND SOCIAL REDBUD ROOM, EPWORTH VILLA North Pennsylvania Avenue, Okla. City :30AM Saturday December 10, 2016 Due to the hospitality of Darry and Edith Carlstone who live at Epworth Villa, FFO has been invited to enjoy our Christmas celebration in their beautiful Redbud Room. They have given us three entree choices: Smoked sugar and black pepper salmon Grilled teriyaki chicken breast with pineapple Italian lasagna with breadsticks Your choice of one of the above will be served with fresh asparagus, rice pilaf and a house salad. plus apple cobbler ala mode for dessert. Drinks will be coffee, tea and water. The all inclusive cost for the lunch is $16.00 per person. Epworth Villa does not accept gratuities. Nelda Paden is going to make this a fun day for all and you are encouraged to invite friends. Epworth Villa is located on the N.W. corner of 150th and Penn. Ave. in Okla. City. Please enter at the Pennsylvania entrance (just south of 150th), go thru the gate on the immediate left and park in that area. You will be greeted in the reception room inside the door of the drive-thru in front of the building. When you check in, you will be given a card indicating the entree you have chosen. Please place it on the table above your plate. The staff will use this information when serving the food. RSVP REQUIRED - DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS IS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3rd. However we are asking you to respond at your earliest convenience to give the Epworth kitchen staff an idea of how much food they need to prepare. RSVP TO NELDA PADEN, neldpaden@aol.com Page 9

10 RESERVATION FOR FFO CHRISTMAS SOCIAL EPWORTH VILLA, OKLAHOMA CITY December 10, 2016, 11:30 AM DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS IS DECEMBER 3, 2016 I would like a reservation for people to attend the Friendship Force Christmas Lunch on December 10, NAME 1. Entree 2. Entree 3. Entree 4 Entree 5. Entree 6 Entree The cost for lunch is $16.00 per person. Checks should be made to FFO and forwarded to Bob Byrne, Eastlake Dr., OKC, OK In addition, please send a copy of your reservation to Nelda Paden via or mail to 621 N.W. 32nd, OKC, OK Page 10