1 THE EXCHANGE The Newsletter of the Birmingham Friendship Force Club Volume 18, No. 3 May/June 2016 President s Letter Dear Friends, Friendship Force of Birmingham has had a wonderful Open World with delegates from Russia. Much thanks to Charlotte Laggy and Scotty Colson and all the members involved for the work they put into the program. We are looking forward to Dallas and Memphis coming to Birmingham May 27-June 3. Vicki Smith has a fantastic exchange planned. On June 14 we will travel to Scottsboro, AL, visiting Hammer s and Unclaimed Baggage. We have a bus scheduled so we do not have to drive and a fun day planned. The cost is $25 and deadline for payment is May 15th. Emails will be sent with more information. Contact me anntaylor1221@gmail.com. Wishing you a wonderful May and June of traveling, fellowship and good health. Ann Taylor LEO FOR JUNE 4704 Cahaba River Road Birmingham, AL 35243 magnoliacafebirmingham.com 969-4855 We will meet at 11:00 am, Tuesday June 21. Located in Altadena Square behind the Colonnade. Sewing Club - June 6 1:00 p.m. Home of Betty Morgan 1
2 Officers 2016 Pres.-Ann Taylor Co 1st VP Programs-Reba Williams Co 1st VP ED Training-Vicki Smith 2nd VP Membership-Maureen Fowler Treas.-Rosemary Tenney Sec.-Barbara Hill Asst. Treas.-Jean Coan Pres.-Ann Incoming Exchanges Dallas-May 27-June 2 or 3 Vicki Smith ED Hosting signup sheets will be at the meeting Huntsville August 11-13-Ann Taylor, Linda Burell, Jean Coan, and Reba Williams will coordinate. Program for May 15-Digging for your roots-intro to Genealogy- Mary Beth Newbill, Southern Heritage Center of Jefferson Co. Library MEETING DATES 2016 Location Change BOARD GENERAL May 15 July 5 July 17 Sept 6 (Annual) Sept. 18 Nov. 1 Nov. 20 Board-12:30-Vestavia Civic Center Senior Center Living Room General-2:00 p.m.-vestavia Civic Center Vestavian Room There will be signs OUTGOING EXCHANGES November 3-9-Everything is falling into place for our Tucson exchange. Their ED has planned a wonderful itinerary. Please bring your application and deposit of $100 to the May meeting. The dates are November 3 thru 9. I will have made my flight arrangements by then. If you are not on the original list, it should not be a problem as several have had to drop out for health reasons. There is some walking. Not too strenuous. You must be able to take care of your own suitcase, etc. Charlotte George, ED 2017 February- Turrialba, Costa Rica Callie Waldrop, ED Dallas,Texas Vicki Smith, ED 2
3 STANDING COMMITTEES 2016 Welcome/Attendance-Roula Wolff Hospitality-Karolyn Mersmann Merchandise-Tom Laggy Newsletter-Charlotte Laggy Publicity-Inez McCollum Historian-Betty Batson Socials-Charlotte George LEO-Chuck Grant MEETING SETUP- A-L MEETING CLEAN UP T-W REFRESHMENTS M-S You will need to bring serving utensils to our new meeting location. May Regina Smith (12) Charlene Serbu ( June 3) Richard George (June 5) Member News- Gerald and Callie are traveling to Peru in June with the NM FF. They are taking their grandson (Charles) on his first FF trip. They will have a pre-homestay trip to Cuzco and Machu Picchu. After the homestay in Lima, they will cruise the Amazon and stay in a rainforest lodge. This is the third grandchild they have taken on FFI exchanges, starting in 2011 to Brazil. Highly recommend it. David Ross spent a week in Costa Rica in March visiting his friend that he stayed with on his first trip from Birmingham in December 1978. Karolyn Mersmann s granddaughter, Lydia Clarke is Valedictorian at Thompson HS and has a scholarship to Jacksonville State. Erle Smith is recuperating at home from a collapsed lung. Mark your Calendar June 14-Day trip to Scottsboro- Unclaimed Luggage and Hammer s August 21-National Senior Day at the Senior Lodge in Vestavia Friendship Force to have a booth!! 2-4 p.m. 2016 Directory The directory is finished. Please hold down the applause! The directory will be sent to all current members following the meeting on the 15th. To date, we have 12 members who have not renewed. Please check with Rosemary through email or see her at the meeting if you are not sure. Rosemary s address is below and her email is rowtenne@bellsouth.net I need headshots of the following for the directory; Joyce Allred, Peggy Graham,, Julia Stork, Lon Lee Parish, Deanna Lawley, Joan & Wray Pearce. I will have a camera at the meeting or email to; tltide@bellsouth.new Thanks, Tom 2016 Membership Renewals are now due. The cost is $30 for singles and $50 for couples. Make checks payable to FF of Birmingham and give or mail to; Rosemary Tenney 5032 Wendover Drive Birmingham, AL 35223 3
4 Open World 2016 Ann & Charlotte welcome the delegates at the brunch. Members enjoying lunch with the delegates at The Great Wall Members and Delegates enjoy the Farewell Dinner at John s Restaurant 4
5 Make Your Plans!! FFI World Conference: September 16 to 19, 2016 Undecided on attending the 2016 Conference? Frequently asked questions - answered! In 2015, TripAdvisor released a list of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and Marrakesh took the No. 1 spot! Come see for yourself what makes this intox so very special, and join your FF friends from all around the world at our 39th annual World Conference. CONFERENCE HOTEL The FFI World Conference will take place at the Kenzi Farah hotel in the fashionable L Hivernage district, within walking distance of Marrakech s UNESCO-listed medina. R pool, sample traditional Moroccan cuisine in the hotel s restaurants, enjoy the hammam spa, and gather with friends at the piano bar for live music every night. The disco of 1300 Moroccan Dirham per double room per night includes a breakfast buffet. Each guest room is air -conditioned with satellite TV, Wifi access, a minibar and private b CONFERENCE COSTS The Conference Fee of $375 USD includes: our World Bazaar; three plenary sessions with speakers, entertainment and coffee breaks; a belly -dancing class; two lunches hotel; our popular gala banquet; and workshops on Friendship Force related topics and topics of local cultural significance, such as cooking and argan oil production. Additional Options include: accommodation at the Kenzi Farah Hotel with breakfast; seven different half -day tours; an opportunity to see the sunrise by hot air balloon post-conference tours around the country; and pre- and post-conference homestays in Morocco, Egypt and South Africa. All options are available for an additional fee. MEETING OUR MISSION 5 FFI s mission is accomplished in many ways, one of which is home hospitality. Another is by bringing our annual conference to pla ces where we have something to learn a
6 THE FRIENDSHIP FORCE OF BIRMINGHAM, AL MEMBERSHIP FORM The Annual dues include: Membership in both the local club and Friendship Force International, subscription to the club s newsletter and opportunities to host FFI members from other clubs and to travel to and visit other clubs. Type of Membership: New Renewal Individual ($30) Couple ($50) Name Tag (Required) $12.00 Total Type: Magnetic Pin Name on Name Tag Name Address City State Zip Phone Email Would you be interested in serving on one or more of the following committees? Membership Communications Finance Publicity Programs Exchanges Meeting Setup Social Welcome Website Send this form and dues to: Rosemary Tenney 5032 Wendover vdrive Birmingham, AL 35223 Checks should be made out to The Friendship Force of Birmingham. 6