Newsletter September-October 2018. (This Newsletter is prepared by Colin Ridge) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President Aline s Musings Spring is in the air. Not that you would have thought yesterday with the wind and cold but this morning is lovely. The club has been very busy these last couple of months with an outward Journey to Adelaide and Perth and an inbound Journey from Tamworth. What a fantastic time we have had with all three clubs. Colin has written a report for you to read about the Journey to Adelaide and Perth in August. So I won t say too much about it except to say that those of us that went had an amazing programmes organised for us. We learnt so much about the Royal Flying Doctor s Service, multi -functional stadiums, history past and present of Adelaide and Perth, sights, bus trips and food, fun and above all, friendship. Ross and I also learnt a lot about Aussie Rules and found it much more interesting to watch. The inward Journey by Tamworth is just over. Thank you Blair and Bev for taking on the role of Host Coordinator. You organised a very interesting programme. Thanks also to Bob and Jo Tinworth, Beth Malcolm, Roger and Coralie Smitheram for the help they provided to Blair, and to everyone who provided accommodation, or dinner or day hosted. It is wonderful how the club works together to ensure that memorable occasions happen. What a great group Tamworth were to host and they were very appreciative of the experiences they had. These included bathing in the hot pools, Rotorua and all of the activities there, river cruise, dog trials, car rally, a trip to the mountain and walking through falling snow! Not to forget food and friendship. What was extra special was that we had the opportunity to meet again with friends that we had made on our trip to Tamworth in 2015. I now have time to look for a Domestic Journey for 2019. Does anyone have suggestion for an Outbound Journey 2020? We have to get our application in by 1 st November. I am off now to coffee club so hope to see many of you there. Cheerio for now, Aline Fletcher
Club News Important 9 th October - mark in your diary. Members meeting to discuss the future of our club. You will shortly be sent (may have already received it) an Assessment and Action form to think about and complete. Then bring this with your ideas to the meeting which will be held at Lakeridge Clubrooms at 11am October 9 th. We will again be manning a stall at the Age Concern Expo held at Great Lakes Centre on Thursday 25 th October. This is where people new to town and others look for clubs and organisations in Taupo to join, and we will be there. What is happening in your club visit our website www.friendshipforce.org.nz/taupo or our Facebook page Facebook.com/friendshipforcetaupo Or you can attend to monthly Board Meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Contact Secretary Ross for the venue and time. Everyone is welcome! To those who have been feeling off colour, please know that we are thinking of you and get well soon. FFNZ & FFI News The latest big news Finance and Operations Manager Matthew Nidek is resigning on 12 th October after some 12 years with FFI. He will be sorely missed for his quiet good humour, his commitment, his knowledge and skill, and mostly his friendship. Big big boots to fill. At the FFNZ Conference at Whangarei earlier this year, delegates asked for a Toolkit to help clubs. This is now available and will be with your President any day now. It contains many ideas and clubs are invited to use the things that help them. There will be a National Leadership Forum 14-15 th February in Kapiti. The Delegates meeting will be 1pm Thursday 14 th, then a optional dinner that evening own cost, then a workshop Friday 15 th commencing 8.30am finishing about 12.30pm. Cost not yet available but likely to be in the $20-30 range to cover meals. In 2020, the FFNZ Conference will be about 20 th February and hosted by Marlborough Club. 2018 Upcoming Club Journeys. By the time you read this, the Tamworth Inbound will have finished. A full report will be in the next Newsletter. 2019 It looks likemelbourne Inbound early 2019 will not happen. But never fear, Aline is working on a Domestic Journey to visit 2-3 clubs in the North Island and you ll hear more about this when things are arranged.. We have joint Themed Outdoor Adventure with South Taranaki planned for late 2019 with Colin as Coordinator. This promises to be something different as the idea is to involve other outdoor clubs within our town. 2020 For our Inbound Journeys, we have requested. Hsinchu, Taiwan - who have already accepted this invitation. Created a Themed Musical Journey for later in the year. Music is the International language, and this Journey has the potential to be a winner by involved all sorts of clubs and groups in our town. So far, Whangarei and Hamilton clubs have offered to join us in this adventure. We have to get our 2020 Outbound Journey request in by 1 st November. Have you any ideas of where to go or who to visit??? Please let Aline know now.
Socials Events Past and Upcoming Date Activity Organiser Second and Fourth Thursday every month Coffee Morning at The Coffee Clubs Roberts St 10.15am January 29 Club Picnic noon at Botanical Gardens February 14-16th FFNZ Conference in Whangarei March 1-8th Inbound Journey from Washington, DC Colin Ridge - Coordinator April Sunday 15th Car Rally Rally - Janet & Colin May Fri 11- Sat 12th Domestic Visit to Napier. Colin & Janet Ridge May Thursday 24th Quiz Evening with Pie Pea and Pud. Alan & Mary Milne June Saturday 9th June Sunday 24th July Saturday 28 August 5th 20th September Sunday 16th September 20th - 27th October 9th October 25th October November Sunday 22nd Philippines Independence Celebration Meet with Kimberly Day at Hamilton Mid Winter Christmas Christmas Hat Ambassadors away at Adelaide & Perth Dinner at Cossie Club Inbound Journey from Tamworth, Australia Membership Meeting at Lakeridge Clubrooms Stall at Age Concern Expo at Great Lakes Centre. Social to be advised. AGM at Lakeridge Clubrooms. Janet Ridge and others Aline Fletcher Jenny to book The Friendship Force Pledge As a member of the Friendship Force, I recognise that I can make a difference. I recognise that I have a mission. That mission is to be a friend to the people of the world. As I embark upon this adventure, I know that others are watching me. I know that through my example to my own fellow citizens and the people of other nations, the cause of friendship, love and peace can be furthered. I can make a difference FF Taupo 2018 Board. Blair Major and Beth Malcolm Colin Ridge and Board. Colin Ridge and team. Aline Fletcher and Board President Aline Fletcher Vice President Janet Ridge Secretary Ross Fletcher Treasurer Jo Tinworth IPP Malcolm Munro Board Bev Joyes, Helen Bygate, Mary Milne, Erica Lineham, Jenny Caws, Brendon Donald and Colin Ridge
Journey to Adelaide and Perth. 18 Ambassadors, 15 from our club, set forth on the Journey in August. And what fun we had, friends we made, and sights we saw. Day one saw us visisting the famous Flying Doctor Service, and amazing concept which covers the whole of Adelaide Flying Docter Australia, and Adelaide covers South Australia and Northern Territory. It was very interesting to see the map which showed 13 planes out and The Cube at Mclaren Vale Winery about, then 7, then later there was 9. On day two, we were off to the famous Barossa Valley. On the way we visited Gorge Wildlife Park with all sorts of Australian animals, the Whispering Dam, past the well known Herbig tree where the original family of that name sheltered for two year. A descendant of that family Keith is a members of Adelaide club. Then we went on to the Mclaren Vale Vineyard with the fascinating quirky Cube building (see photo). We were shown the Adelaide Oval on day three, and of course took the opportunity to remind our guide about a certain underarm incident. Most interesting was the old scoreboard which was built in 1909 and still gives excellent service. Then along the Anzac walk with its many plaques honouring Australina during various wars. And through the historic building in central Adelaide. On day four, we met at the interesting Adelaide market where the many vendors sell of all sorts of food. Day five saw us head south to the Southern Vales and coast, but the rain custailed most of the planned programme. The final day was largely free except for the farewell luncheon at Clovercrest Hotel, and then we all moved west to Perth.
At Perth Friendship Wall On the first day in Perth, we visited the brand new Optus Stadium Teams changing area Optus Stadium, a very impressive purpose built sports complex. Some facts 1.3km to walk around without losing a view of the action, 750 mens and 780 ladies toilets, no viewing seat is more than 40m from a toilet, drink or food outlet, 1000 TV screen, 900+ lights to light the area, and every seat is wider than usual with a cup holder. Then we walked over the Matagarup Bridge to see the Taupo plaque on their Friendship Wall. A welcome lunch at Cardvers Restaurant in the Casino where the shop would not accept Janets credit card for the tiara she was keen on. A bargain at only $3.3 million! Day two saw us taking a city tour with many interesing historical and cultural monuments, churches, and other places too many to list. But one cannot help remembering Aline & Jo with the acrobat see photo. Lunch, off to chime at the Bell Tower, welcome from the Perth City Chairman, and out for dinner. A very interesting day three saw us travel south to the Bauxite mine and Refinery at Pinjarra. A huge complex which takes the raw material and turns it into the product which smelters like Bluff turn into aluminium. We saw the process from where the huge trucks transport the raw material to the conveyor which in turn takes it to the refinery. Day four was our Freemantle day starting with a cruise on the river, a visit to the Maritime Museum and Shipwreck Museum, and a look round the city. Another Flying Doctor visit on day five, with some similarities and some differences to the Adelaide one. Also followed by a visit to the RAC Helicopter Rescue service. Lunch and a visit to King s Park Botanical Gradens. Our final day was free, and most were shown round the northern parts of Perth the chocolate shop and the beaches. A farewell dinner and our Journey was over new friends made and sights seen. Taupo Bellringers (don't give up your day job team!) Cinderella and the Big Bad Wolf.
Journeys from NZ in 2018 and early 2019 that still have vacancies. 15062 Tauranga-WBOP to Bogata, Columbia, Turrialba, Costa Rica and Tuxtla-Gutierrez, Mexico Date: 28 Jan-20 Feb 2019 Cost: $6,500 approx Auckland to Auckland (includes all FFI and clubs host fees). Contact Coordinator: Sandie Knowlson 07-549 1310 ttsknowlson@hotmail.com 15092 Napier to Norderstedt, Germany and Greater Izmir, Turkey Date: April 2019 Cost: Approx $6500 Auckland to Auckland including visit to Gallipoli & Dawn Service Contact Coordinators: Joy Kennerley vjk@actrix.co.nz Assistants Jenny Stevens jmstevens48@gmail.com and Gavin Ramsay captnimo@slingshot.co.nz 15192 Marlborough & Kapiti Coast to Hsinchu & Taipei, Taiwan and Kyoto, Japan. Date: April 2019 Cost: Approx. $5,500 (includes FFI fees and Host club fees) Contact Coordinator: Gillian Cooper 021-352 900 ffmexchange@gmail.com 15091 Auckland-North Shore, New Zealand to Korolev, Russia and Baku, Azerbaijan Date: May 2019 Cost: Approx $5-6,000 which includes all fees, travel and accommodation. Contact Coordinator: Don Wrigglesworth 09-444 2723 aucklandnorthshore@friendshipforce.org.nz 15093 New Plymouth to Cairns and North Moreton, Australia Date: May 2019 Cost: Approx 2000-2500 (which includes FFI and Host Club fees) Contact Coordinator: Claire Patten 06-757 882 or 0274296998 clairepattendance@gmail.com 15124 Tauranga-WBOP to Tweed Valley & Central Coast, Australia Date: June 2019 Cost: Approx $1500-2000 (includes FFI and Host Club fee) Contact Coordinator: Barbara Proctor 07-574 5711 taurangawbop@friendshipforce.org.nz All New Zealand Journey to FFI World Conference with Hostings at Flathead Valley, Montana and Cedar Rapids City, Iowa with side trips to Denver and Chicago. Date: 13 th July to 7 th August 2019 Cost: Approx $6,300 which includes all travel, accommodation, fees and registration for conference costs. Contact Coordinators: Colin Ridge (Taupo) 07-3785088 colinjanet123@gmail.com or Debbie Lattey 04-2933252 debbie@otaihanga.co.nz This is a great opportunity to visit clubs in USA plus attend the World Conference at Boulder. Starts with a week at Flathead Valley, Montana, a stopover at Denver, 5 days at the Conference, a week at Cedar Rapids City in Iowa, and finally a visit to Chicago.