Friendship Force of Big Canoe/North Georgia March 2014 Newsletter Explore Understand Serve http://ffbcng.org Upcoming Events March 1: World Friendship Day March 12: Board Meeting 2 pm, June and Ches Tredway s home March 16: Monthly Meeting 2 pm (Meet at 1:30), Tater Patch play, No Sex Please, We re British, followed by dinner at Last Catch Seafood March 17: St. Patrick s Day March 28: Welcome Dinner, Haliburton, Ontario at the Williams home April 3: Farewell Dinner for Haliburton 6 pm, Swim Club, Big Canoe Be Sure to Mark Your Calendars! President s Letter Just a tad longer and we will see the Bradford pear trees, daffodils and azaleas bloom I promise. It does seem to have been a longer winter than usual but with Spring just around the corner we are very busy planning Incoming and Outgoing exchanges for 2014 and even 2015! Thanks to all Club members for making our February meeting at Simply Southern a great success! I did not count but we must have had nearly 40 members--and our private room could not have held much more! Congrats to our newest Friendship Force Club members Roger and Jean Mosshart! John D Antonio even made his first meeting and it was nice to see Joann Layton and Lionel/Jane Graves again! Special thanks to the Activities Committee for providing us with an entertaining Trivia game. Phil and I were lucky we had a ringer on our team Marilyn Messerly!
We are in the home stretch of planning for our scheduled Incoming Exchange as we expect 15 ambassadors to visit us from Haliburton, Canada March 28 th through April 3 rd. Our ED, Huw Williams, is well organized with a lot of support from members on the various committees needed to make the Exchange a success! He has scheduled a planning meeting for Tuesday March 4 th from 2-4 pm at his home. Be sure to check your email for updates on hosting and activities for this Exchange. I encourage you to participate in as many activities as possible to show our guests from Canada a good time in GA! It does not seem possible but after this Exchange many of us will do some serious planning and packing for our Outbound Exchange with Kauai! We are the envy of many FF Clubs and Harry and Linda seem to have all the pieces together. We should be hearing about our Kauai hosts soon so we can begin communicating. And don t forget, we will need to practice line dancing on the cruise ship! Our Activities Committee has a new wrinkle planned for our next meeting on Sunday, March 16 th. Those who are interested can attend the comedy play No Sex Please; We re British put on by the Tater Patch Players in Jasper. Meet as a group at 1:30 pm. Tickets are a very reasonable $12 each send a check (made out to FF Big Canoe/North Ga) to Robert Logan for your reservation. After the play (approximately 4:30 pm) we will meet nearby at the Last Catch Restaurant for dinner and a short meeting. We will be able to order off the menu with chicken and hamburger as well as seafood available. We have the entire restaurant to ourselves! It promises to be a lot of fun! Directions to each venue will follow. Oh, I almost forgot. Drum roll please! We have been notified by FFI that our match is with West Alajuela, Costa Rica for September 2015, subject to Board approval. I think we will be able to renew our friendship with Heriberto Morales and Marlene Jimenez whom many of us met at the Post conference homestay! Practice your Spanish or get the app! Be sure to check our website www.ffbcng.org for updates and contact info. Many thanks to all officers, committee chairs and members for our Club success! In Friendship, Bob Minutes of February Meeting Thirty-five members of the Friendship Force of Big Canoe/North Georgia met at Simply Southern Restaurant on February 16. The meeting was opened with the Friendship Force Pledge. Guests were introduced including Jean and Roger Mosshart. Tom Eubanks was enthusiastically welcomed back as a returning member. President Bob Anderson reported that he had attended a New Property Owner Welcome, held four times a year. While he was not able to give a presentation, he was able to tell a number of new people about The Friendship Force and invited them to join the local club. On another
positive note, Bob said that Joy DiBenedetto, the new President of Friendship Force International, stated that she and the board were trying to seek ways to reduce travel costs. Bob asked for a motion to approve the January 2014 meeting minutes, as printed in the Newsletter. Huw Williams moved they be approved and Jean Ficht seconded the motion. There were no dissenting votes and the minutes were approved. Treasurer Robert Logan noted that the ending balance of funds was $11,817.20; however, he noted that this balance included funds not yet remitted to FFI for the upcoming exchange to Hawaii. Peggy Anderson reported for the Activities Committee and announced that the March 16 meeting would include a social outing to see the Tater Patch Players at 2:00 p.m. Following the play, those who wish may continue to The Last Catch Restaurant for a meal. Directions to the Tater Patch Theater and the restaurant will be sent to all members. Peggy announced that in November, the meeting will feature Joy DiBenedetto as our guest speaker. Huw Williams, Exchange Director, said that the inbound exchange with Haliburton, Ontario, Canada is set for March 28-April 4, 2014. The 15 Ambassadors are set to arrive on a Friday and leave on the next Friday. There are 7 couples and one single lady in the exchange. Huw said that due to family illness, it is possible that one couple may have to drop out. In addition to Huw, those on the committee for this exchange are: Activities Huw and Marie Williams and Jeannette Waldrop; Hosting - Margie Bowyer; Dinner and Day Host Linda Kadechuk and Helen Wiltse; Transportation Alan Johnson and Joe Crawford; Welcome Book Cecil Schneider; Welcome Packet June Tredway and Jeannette Waldrop; Finances Robert Logan. Harry Yarbrough said the Hawaii Exchange is set and that all have paid their fees and have the required insurance. June Tredway reminded everyone that worldwide exchanges are published on the FFI Website along with contact information with the exchange directors. If there is one country anyone is especially interested in visiting to make friends, it may be possible to find that opportunity on the website. Bob Anderson announced a change in the March Board Meeting. Instead of March 11, the meeting will be on March 12 at 2 p.m. at the home of Ches and June Tredway at Big Canoe. Following the business meeting, a spirited round of travel trivia began. The trivia questions were prepared by the Activities Committee. Following the game, a buffet meal was enjoyed at the restaurant. Respectfully Submitted, Charlene Terrell, Secretary Next Incoming Exchange Schedule of Events Haliburton Highlands Friday March 28, 2014 6:00 PM Arrive for Welcome Party at The Home of Huw & Marie Williams BBQ Dinner one Hour Later
Evening free with your hosts Saturday March 29, 2014 10:00 AM Meet at Gibbs Gardens for Visit Box Lunch at Gibbs prepared by them (Leave when each car is ready) Optional afternoon visits: Amicalola Falls, Dawsonville Moonshine (Free) & Bill Elliott Museum ($3), Dawsonville Outlet Mall for Shopping, and Sawnee Mountain Preserve in Cumming 5:30 dinner at The Ridge, Cumming... Leave by 7:30 PM and Drive to 8:00 PM Cumming Playhouse to see Oliver Sunday March 30, 2014 Free Morning with Your Hosts 4:00 PM. Wine & Cheese Cruise on Lake Petit Big Canoe Evening Free with your hosts Monday March 31, 2014 9:00 AM Meet at the Roswell Visitors Bureau at (617 Atlanta Street for a short Presentation on the History of Roswell) 770-992-1665 (Visit all 3 =$18.00) 10:00 AM Meet at Barrington Hall for tour 11:00 AM Meet at Bulloch Hall for tour 12:15 AM Lunch in Roswell - The Mill Kitchen & Bar 2:00 PM Meet at Smith Plantation at 935 Alpharetta Street for a tour Optional visits: Roswell Historical District & Shops 7:00PM Small Group Dinners with Dinner Hosts Tuesday April 1, 2014 10:00 AM Visit Governor s Mansion 11:30 AM... Lunch at the Swan House (3130 Slaton Drive Atl. Ga. 30305 (404-261-0636) Cost $10 to $15.00 1:00 PM Visit Atlanta History Center ($11) (1300 West Paces Ferry Road), Tour Swan House then Tullie Smith House Evening Free with your hosts Wednesday April 2, 2014 10:00 AM Visit Kennesaw Mtn National Battlefield Park (Free) 770-427-4686 12:00 Noon Lunch @ Trackside Grill 1:30 PM Visit the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History (2829 Cherokee Street, Kennesaw, Georgia, 30144, 770-427- 2117, EXT. 3169) ($4) Evening Free for Ambassadors to Take Hosts to Dinner Thursday April 3, 2014 Free Day...Until Farewell Party 6:00 PM Meet at Swim Club at Big Canoe for the Farewell Party (Potluck Dinner) Friday April 4, 2014 Ambassadors Depart for Airport or Other Destinations Next Outgoing Exchange Our next exchange is scheduled for May 2 nd thru May 9 th to Kauai, Hawaii. There will be 16 members going 14 from our Club and 2 from Knoxville. Harry Yarbrough and Linda Kadechuk serve as ED and Assistant ED s respectively. Recruitment Update Bob Anderson is scheduled to address the Pickens County Retired Educators Association on April 9 th. Membership/New Members Nylic Copelan has a new address: 8991 University Parkway, Apt. 210 Pensacola, FL 32514 Telephone: 850-776-2082 Louise Morgan also has a new address: 2824 W. Royal Oaks Drive Beaufort, SC 29902 Telephone: 843-521-9896 Email: banksam@usmc-mccs.org
Nell Brown is improving following brain surgery. Her sons are posting information about her on Facebook, reading the posts and well wishes to her, and encouraging people to post to her Facebook page. She is at a rehab facility now. We wish you well in your recovery! non-profit, civic and service organizations; grand parenting; gardening; building rock walls; embroidery; various other eclectic and bookish pursuits as well as the miracle of three offspring out of Georgia Tech and gainfully employed, allowing them to do all these things. New Members Lionel and Jane Graves were born, raised and educated in England where they both began their careers in the International Oil industry. Subsequently they moved to live in Scotland and Norway before arriving in the USA in the early 1980 s to make their home, for 20 years, in Houston TX. While Lionel continued to travel the world in the Oil Bidness, Jane began a part-time career at Mary Kay Cosmetics. Like their three young sons at home, her business grew and grew and after a few years of collecting diamond rings and cars she became a director. One by one their sons chose to attend Georgia Tech. Coinciding with the eldest leaving the nest, Lionel had an opportunity to retire from oil his traveling. Cheaper in-state tuition explains Jane and Lionel s move to Dawson County in 2003 where they designed, planned and built a home on Lake Lanier (mostly by email). Since retiring, J&L continue to enjoy worldwide travel, volunteering in local Barbara Henry is a recent convert to Big Canoe from southern California, very happy in her new community. Like so many others here, she moved to be closer to her daughter and two grandsons (9 and 12) who live in Atlanta. Her birthplace was Washington, DC but since her father was in the military for 30 years the family moved from the east coast to the west coast several times. Long Beach, CA is the town she usually calls home since she lived there from 7 th grade on. In the mid 70 s she moved to Orange County, then on south to San Diego County where she retired. During her working career she was in aerospace, small businesses and, the last 25 years, Real Estate Development. Retirement certainly is not boring since she enjoys volunteer work, family, travel and just about anything outdoors. Barbara loves traveling because she believes it helps connect us to other people, and reminds her that we are all part of one world family in some way. She has been fortunate to travel internationally but also
have enjoyed RV trips in the U.S. and especially a two month trip to Alaska pulling a 5 th wheel trailer. The open road holds unlimited fascination for her. She has recently traveled to Costa Rica and South America with tours that specialize in cultural exchange activities as well as adventure opportunities and finds this to be right up her alley. This year she has planned a trip to South America as well as a river cruise to Eastern Europe and is hoping to participate in Friendship Force Big Canoe/North Georgia. Joann Layton moved to Georgia about 7 years ago to be closer to the grandchildren. She has 2 daughters, one in Cumming with two children; and the other in Port Tobacco, MD with one child. She stays busy volunteering with Master Gardeners, Friends of the Library, and teaching gardening at Cumming Montessori where both of her grandchildren attend. She also tries to get in an exercise and yoga class each week. Her interests include traveling (she went to the gardens of southern Italy with Walter Reeves last spring), gardening, reading and genealogy. She belonged to the Greater Des Moines Friendship Force back in the 1990s. She looks forward to meeting new friends at BC/NGFF. Jean and Roger Mosshart have been residents of Big Canoe for a little over 15 years having moved here from Dunwoody, GA. Jean is a native of Athens, GA, and, naturally, a graduate of the University of Georgia. Roger grew up in various locations in Kansas, having gone to high school in Stockton, KS. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas (KU). They have two sons. One lives near Athens; the other lives in Concord, NC. They have four grandchildren three girls and one boy. Roger retired from the staff of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. His activities include tennis, bridge, and serving as Treasurer of the Big Canoe Chapel. Jean s activities include book club, bridge, and volunteering at Good Samaritan. An important interest for both is traveling. They have traveled extensively both domestically and internationally and are looking forward to adding travel under the auspices of the Friendship Force as well as hosting Friendship Force guests. World Friendship Day March 1 Join clubs around the world in celebrating Friendship Force International s 37th anniversary this March. The theme for this year's celebration is "Make a friend, Make a difference."
Happy Birthday! Louise Morgan (March 6) Ginny Miller (March 7) Jim Wiltse (March 16) Jeannette Waldrop (March 19) Marilyn Messerly (March 29) Nancy Davis (April 3) Bob Anderson (April 4) Jean Ficht (April 8) Jean Goggin (April 9) Ray Bowyer (April 18) Roger Mosshart (April 25) Monte Davis (April 29) Directions to the March 16 th Meeting Tater Patch Players Theater: 95 Philadelphia Lane, Jasper GA 30143 http://taterpatchplayers.org 706-253-2800 Located near Wal-Mart Coming from Cumming via Yellow Creek Road: Turn left onto GA 53 from Yellow Creek Rd in Marble Hill. When you reach the 4- way stop in Tate, continue straight through the intersection onto GA 108. When you reach GA 515 (4-lane), turn right. Go through 4 traffic lights. At the 5 th light (Old Philadelphia Rd), turn right. Go past Wal-Mart, past a strip shopping center, and turn left onto Philadelphia Lane (near Goss Tractor). Philadelphia Lane is at a 4-way intersection; Confederate Ave is directly across it. The Theater is on the left a short distance. You can park behind the Theater or anywhere in front of the other businesses. Coming from Canton: Drive North on I-575/515. Follow previous directions. Coming from Big Canoe: Take Cove Road into Jasper. Turn left onto Burnt Mtn Rd. Turn right onto Church St. Stay on Church St., go through traffic light at Main St. and continue to the second light across from Burger King/U.S. Post Office. Turn right onto Noah Dr. Turn right at road (Jonah Rd) across from New Beginnings (next road to the right). Turn left at the end of the road onto Old Philadelphia Rd. Turn right at the next road, Philadelphia Lane (Goss Tractor building). Theater is on the left a short distance. Last Catch Seafood: 27 Burnt Mountain Road, Jasper GA 30143 http://lastcatchseafood.com 706-692-0032 Located next to the Piggly Wiggly Return to the intersection with Old Philadelphia Rd. Turn right at the next intersection into the industrial park (Jonah Rd) and back out to the intersection with Burger King (see directions above). Turn left onto Church Street and head back to downtown Jasper. After you cross Main St at the traffic light, turn left at the next traffic light onto Burnt Mtn Rd. Immediately after crossing the Railroad tracks, turn left into the Piggly Wiggly shopping center. Last Catch Seafood is down the hill and to the left (past the dry cleaners). (Optionally, take Old Philadelphia Rd through 3 stop sign intersections to North Main St/old GA 5 and turn right towards downtown Jasper. Turn left at Main St and Church St.)
Officers President Bob Anderson 706-579-1708 bobbyjoega@windstream.net First Vice President Linda Kadechuk 706-268-1149 blkade1@yahoo.com Second Vice President June Tredway 706-268-1714 tredway@tds.net Secretary Charlene Terrell 706-579-2400 charlene.terrell@windstream.net Treasurer Robert Logan 741 Oakdale Rd. Canton, GA 30114 770-479-8459 rflogan@windstream.net Membership Fred Mullins 404-513-4302 fredmullinsatl@gmail.com Activities Peggy Anderson 706-579-1708 peggysue48@windstream.net Newsletter Editor Newsletter Editor Mary Ellen Johnson 706-253-4891 eajohnson@etcmail.com Publicity Charlene Terrell 706-579-2400 charlene.terrell@windstream.net Web Site Ray Bowyer 706-268-3913 raybowyer@earthlink.net Historian Margie Bowyer 706-268-3913 margiebowyer@earthlink.net Past President Fred Mullins 404-513-4302 fredmullinsatl@gmail.com Exchange Directors Harry Yarbrough (Kauai, Hawaii) 770-893-9519 hyarbrough@tds.net Huw Williams (Haliburton, Canada) 678-513-2456 huwwilliams@comcast.net
2014 MEMBERSHIP FORM Dues remain the same. Annual dues include: Membership in both the local club and Friendship Force International, subscriptions to the club s newsletter and the FFI magazine, and opportunities to host FFI members from other clubs and to travel to and visit other clubs. New members ALWAYS welcome! Type of Membership; New Membership Renewal Membership Individual (Dues $ 20.00 per Calendar Year) Family (Dues $ 40.00 per Calendar Year) (If family membership, please list all family members.) Name: Address: Phone: Email : Would you be interest in serving on one or more of the following club committees? Membership Communications Finance Publicity Program Newsletter Exchange Committees Send this form and your dues to: Robert Logan 741 Oakdale Rd. Canton, GA 30114 Checks should be made payable to Friendship Force of Big Canoe/North Georgia.