Friendship Connections The Friendship Force of Oregon s Mid-Willamette Valley January 2017 JANUARY GATHERING BY KATHY BUTLER Our general meeting will be at the home of Lloyd and Juanita Weigel, 3450 Emerald Drive, Salem, 97304. It will take place on Sunday, January 15 at 2pm. L-Z please bring finger food. Come and join us as we welcome 2017! JANUARY BOARD MEETING BY KATHY BUTLER The January Board meeting will be on Thursday, January 12, in the small meeting room upstairs at the main branch of the Albany Public Library, 2450 14 th Ave SE, Albany. All members are welcome to attend. Membership Application or Renewal It is time to pay your 2017 dues. The form is below for your convenience. One form should be completed for each and every member so that individual email addresses and mobile numbers may be listed in the roster with the correct person. Annual dues cover the cost of the monthly newsletter and expenses for exchanges and activities of the Friendship Force of Oregon s Mid-Willamette Valley, as well as membership in Friendship Force International, which provides discounted prices on exchange travel and other benefits. Memberships expire on December 31, 2016. Please PRINT clearly. Annual dues: Individual: $30.00 This is a NEW or a RENEWAL Application Name: (one person per form, please) Address: City: State ZIP Dues enclosed: ($30.00 per individual) Phone: Cell: Email: Mail To: Friendship Force, PO Box 1703, Albany, OR 97321 1 P a g e
C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S JANUARY 12, 1PM, BOARD MEETING ALBANY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 2450 14 TH AVE SE, ALBANY JANUARY 15, 2PM, JANUARY GATHERING LLOYD & JUANITA WEIGEL S, 3450 EMERALD DR., SALEM JANUARY 25, 11:30AM, MEG LUNCHEON LOAFERS STATION, 222 WASHINGTON ST SW, ALBANY S U N S H I N E N EWS Contact Sue Stein, 541-791-7144, with news. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE BY JOHN WOLCOTT Another year is beginning for our Friendship Force Club. I have signed our Charter Renewal, Van has sent our membership dues to FFI, and we will install our 2017 elected officers at our January Membership Meeting. Board members who serve as Newsletter Editor, Exchange Director, and Exchange Treasurer are appointed annually by the president and approved by the Board, so we ll do that also in January. Then we ll be ready to roll! In 2016 the Board approved a job description for a club Membership Chairperson. I asked five different people to take on that job, but none wished to do it. So, I m now asking for a volunteer to take it on. It s basically collecting members information, keeping up the membership Picture Directory, and expanding member participation. It would be a Board position. If interested, please let me know. I m hoping to have a training class for Exchange Directors or anyone who would like to consider being an Exchange Director. Even if you don t see this in your future, you are invited to participate in the class anyway to learn more about Friendship Force. We have three incoming exchanges to get organized Costa Rica in May, Big Canoe, Georgia, in June, and our Solar Eclipse event in August. Start deciding which ones you will be able to host, or if you can help as a day host. May is not that far off and we should have hosts lined up for that event soon. We ll also have an outgoing exchange to Indonesia in September for the adventurous, with stop-overs in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Or you can visit clubs in northern Georgia and Atlanta in October, with a visit to Friendship Force International offices, if you prefer to stay closer to home. Now s a good time to start planning for these exchanges. We ll have some nice Meet, Eat and Greet luncheons, and some Friendship Shared dinners. These are good events to bring friends who might be interested in Friendship Force to, to get to know us. We had four new members in 2016. I think we should try to double that in 2017. If you have any ideas how we can do this, please let me know. In Friendship, John Friendship Force Pledge As a member of the Friendship Force, I recognize that I can make a difference. I recognize 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 will be watching me. I know that through my example to my fellow citizens and the people of other nations, the cause of friendship, love and peace can be furthered. I can make a difference. This Issue of Connections, and more information about our club, may be found on our website: http://www.fforegon.org Contact us at: fforegon@comcast.net or PO Box 1703, Albany, Oregon 97321 2 P a g e
INDONESIA EXCHANGE BY VAN NICHOLS It s time to turn in an application and deposit of $525 ($25 non-refundable). Go to the FFI website for an application form. Make your checks out to FFOMWV. Send the application and deposit to Van Nichols, 296 Eider Ave SE, Salem, OR 97306. Tentative Indonesia exchange summary: First stop Taiwan: 9/8/17: Depart Portland. Arrive Taipei 6:30 PM 9/9/17. Overnight hotel in Taipei 9/10/17: Bullet train to meet host families in Hsinchu for 3-day stopover. Bullet Train Hsinchu Next stop Jakarta and Malang: 9/13/17: Fly to Jakarta and stay at hotel. 9/14 & 15/17: Sightseeing in Jakarta. 9/17/17: Fly to Malang for our first exchange. Jakarta Malang Next stop Denpasar: 9/21/17 Fly to Denpasar for second exchange Denpasar 3 P a g e
Hong Kong then home: 9/26/17: Fly to Hong Kong. 9/27/17: Tour in Hong Kong 9/28/17: Fly home Estimated air fare $2,000. Additional expense for hotels, tours, FFI, host clubs, etc. approximately $1,600. If you have any questions, call Van at 503-871- 5341. FRIENDSHIP SHARED BY VAN NICHOLS Mark your calendars! Make your reservations! The first two events are scheduled and more are in the works. Bloody Mary Night (loaded and virgin) at the Powell s Saturday, February 4 th, 5PM: $20. and Dinner with John and Ruth Wyse Saturday, April 15 th at 5PM: $25. Contact Van Nichols vpncheer@comcast.net to make your reservations. New Year s Greeting Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, with respect for the religious or secular traditions of all... and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2017, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "America" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher who assumes no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit. Best wishes to you and those appropriately close to you. (adapted from Jim Tolbert, 2007, courtesy of Rita Powell) 4 P a g e
E X C H A N G E S A N D C O N F E R E N C E S 2017 INBOUND: May: Turrialba, Costa Rica June: Big Canoe, Georgia USA August: Solar Eclipse Global Exchange 2017 OUTBOUND September: Indonesia October: Big Canoe, Georgia USA Deadline for February Friendship Connections is January 25. Send copy to duval15@comcast.net Thanks! Chris Duval, Editor LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH Highlighted words were adapted from the original lyrics by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson for the International Conference of the Friendship Force in Bangkok, Thailand. Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, The peace that was meant to be. With friendship as our mission, Family all are we. Let us walk with each other In perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now. With every step I take, Let this be my solemn vow: To take each moment, And live each moment, In peace eternally, Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me. Our club is on Facebook. Please LIKE us at: The Friendship Force of Oregon s Mid-Willamette Valley. A BRIEF HISTORY OF LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH SUBMITTED BY RITA POWELL Sy Miller (1908-1971) and Jill Jackson (1913-1995) were a husband and wife songwriting team. In 1955 they wrote a song about their dream of peace for the world and how they believed each one of us could help create it. Sy Miller wrote in his own words what happened when they first introduced the song to a group of teenagers at a retreat. One summer evening in 1955, a group of 180 teenagers of all races and religions, meeting at a workshop, high in the California mountains, locked arms, formed a circle and sang a song of peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment 'Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me,' helped to create a climate for world peace and understanding. When they came down from the mountain, these inspired young people brought the song with them and started sharing it. Before long the song was being shared in all fifty states. It was taped, recorded, copied, printed in songbooks, and passed by word of mouth. The song spread overseas to Holland, England, Italy, France, Germany, Lebanon, Japan, India; to South America, Central America, Africa, Asia and Australia. The Maoris in New Zealand sang it. The Zulus in Africa sang it. Professional singers began singing it. Over the years many artists have performed the song, including Andy Williams, Nat King Cole, the Smothers Brothers, Placido Domingo, Gladys Knight, Bing Crosby, Pat Boone, Johnny Mathis, the Boston Pops, and many others. Television shows have used the song, too. Let There Be Peace on Earth was awarded the George Washington Honor Medal by the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge for Outstanding achievement in helping to bring about a better understanding of the American Way of Life. It also received a Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In Sy Miller s words again: This simple thought, 'Let There Be Peace on Earth, and Let It Begin With Me'... continues to travel heart to heart gathering in people everywhere who wish to become a note in a song of understanding and peace peace for all mankind." 5 P a g e
MEG MEET, EAT, GREET (GET ACQUAINTED)! BY MARY ELLEN LIND The New Year offers us new opportunity to join with other Mid-Willamette Valley Friendship Force members to have lunch together, to visit about their/your travels in past year(s), and to learn more about travel hopes and adventures ahead of us this year. This is also an opportunity to invite prospective FF members to join us for lunch to hear about our club s purpose and activities. Meeting place: Loafers Station, 222 Washington St SW, Albany Date: Wednesday, January 25 Time: 11:30 a.m. Loafers Station advertises a new menu! We will meet in a smaller room off the main dining area. PLEASE JOIN US! RSVP to Mary Ellen Lind by Monday, January 23 541-231-6973 melind@peak.org Board of Directors 2016 Elected Officers: President: John Wolcott, Corvallis 541-230-5336 johnwolcott@mail.com Vice President: Kathy Butler, Albany 541-926-9897 4192butlerkw@comcast.net Secretary: Nancye Ballard, Corvallis 541-752-4441 ballardjn@gmail.com Treasurer: Van Nichols, Salem 503-581-1414 vpncheer@comcast.net Appointed Chairpersons: Newsletter Editor Chris Duval, Salem 971-218-0361 duval15@comcast.net Membership: Currently unfilled. If you would like to volunteer, contact John Wolcott. Exchange Coordinator: Pat Byers, Shedd 541-738-7000 pmac@proaxis.com Exchange Treasurer: Peter Harr, Corvallis 541-752-0990 harrhaus3@comcast.net Exchange Directors: Inbound: May, 2017 Turrialba, Costa Rica EDs Juanita Weigel, Interns Sue Stein and Cliff Deighan June, 2017 Big Canoe, GA EDs Rita Powell and Chris Duval August, 2017 Solar Eclipse Global EDs Marilyn Peterson, Interns Dennis Murphy and Mary Ellen Lind Outbound: September, 2017 Indonesia EDs Ted Powell and Van Nichols October, 2017 Big Canoe, GA EDs John Wolcott and Gail Wolcott ===================================================================================== Other Leadership Positions: Field Rep. for PNW/NW Marilyn Peterson, Albany 541-926-7431 peterson.marilyn@comcast.net Website: Marilyn Peterson, Albany 541-926-7431 peterson.marilyn@comcast.net Membership Outreach: Caye Poe, Dayton 503-864-3933 johnfrancis4444@comcast.net John Francis, Dayton 503-864-3933 ladycaye001@comcast.net Inventory & Merchandise Rita Powell, Dallas 503-831-3755 deerpathrita@gmail.com Sunshine: Sue Stein, Albany 541-791-7144 sstein12345@comcast.net Historian: Kathy Butler, Albany 541-926-9897 4192butlerkw@comcast.net Archivist: Rosella Workinger, Albany 541-926-4105 rworkinger@comcast.net Friendship Shared: Van Nichols, Salem 503-581-1414 vpncheer@comcast.net Navigators Barb Callner, Albany 541-928-5550 smilecall@hotmail.com Meet, Eat & Get Acquainted: Mary Ellen Lind, Corvallis 541-231-6973 melind@peak.org 6 P a g e