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MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS- NORMALLY THE 4TH SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 7PM NEXT MEMBERSHIP MEETING- 3/27/11
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 8TH AND HOLLY STREETS, MEDFORD
[PLEASE WEAR YOUR BADGES!] PLEASE USE THE REAR DOOR [EAST SIDE]
-------------------- BOARD MEETINGS- NORMALLY THE 1ST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 1PM AT SUN
OAKS CLUBHOUSE, 878 BLACK OAK, MEDFORD.
****ALL FFSO MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND****
NOTE: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGAN SUN., 3/13 AND ENDS SUN., 11/6/11
PLEASE NOTE:
CORRECTION to FEB 2011- FFSO NEWSLETTER our website address is www.ffsoregon.org
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Florida Exchange- March 7-14 MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING- 3/27/11
OUTGOING EXCHANGE to Japan From the Pres: "World Friendship Day" was March 1, 2011 Northern Rockies Regional Conference From Amy’s friend: NEW ZEALAND QUAKE REPORTS Somerset exchange Louise Bogard - update BIRTHDAYS/ ANNIVERSARIES – MAR- MAY LOOKING AHEAD ------------------ MEMBERSHIP MEETING- 2/20/11 Our 2/20 meeting was publicized in the Wednesday, 2/16/11, issue of the
Medford Mail Tribune, p.2B [vs. "TEMPO"] Attendance: 20 Members and 2 Guests Charles Bellhorn - Guest of Mavis Marney
Virginia Ruffulo - Guest of Anna Howe and Speaker for the Feb. Meeting [MEMBERS HAVING GUESTS: please see that your guests receive this newsletter.] Speaker: Virginia Ruffulo: Her South Africa Library Project
Africa that showed her spirit of adventure, even though the presentation was visited with technical
difficulties. She is assembling a program about her efforts to stock libraries (in the local language and
English) in rural areas and will keep us up to date on that progress. Thank you, Virginia, for sharing the
achievements of an individual who is making a difference.
IN THIS ISSUE: FEB. MEMBERSHIP MEETING- 2/20/11 Susan Straub Virginia, local real estate agent and Africa aid advocate, had a lovely slide show about her safari in Eastern
-------------------------- Susan Straub-
both my parents' families live in the city - therefore, to me, Hanoi means so much more than just the place I was born in. I am going to share with everyone about something seemingly simple and ordinary: the every day life of a Vietnamese family - however in everything that I share, I would explain the religious and cultural value beneath. I hope my presentation will help clear many myths and doubts about Vietnam." --------------
Board meeting notes:
The board has voted to grant a $1,000 scholarship to an SOU student studying in an Oregon Summer Abroad program. The student will need to speak at our club before and after the summer experience. SOU will publicize our generosity through at least one press release to the local newspapers. ----------
We still need a webmaster for our website. Noreen will soon be out of the country, so call Amy for additional information. 541 482-4558. ---------------------
From Claire Lindberg: A favorite item served at the Jan. "New Zealand report" meeting was "lemon ginger slice". [Due to space limitations, the recipe was postponed to this March newsletter.] See below. ------------------------------ World Friendship Day was March 1, 2011, with the theme of "Make a Difference".
Amy L. had a call from Richard that Susan had a minor stroke on 3/15 and is at Providence undergoing physical therapy. The doctors expect her to make a full recovery. [Cards would probably be appreciated. Send to 276 Wimer St., Ashland, 97520, as Richard visits daily.] --------------------- Florida Exchange- March 7-14: Hi fellow FF-ers, We 9, we humble 9, are back from Florida tanned, rested and ready. It was a great trip. Bill Shrader took lots of pictures and we will have a slide show soon. The weather was cooler than our hosts expected, only in the high 60s, and it did rain on the day we took the bus tour of the Kennedy Space Center. Otherwise, blue skies. We ate alligator (yummy and we asked for seconds), found out Florida is covered with lakes and had at least 3 cruises, and saw wildlife (egrets, herons, storks, cardinals, alligators, osprey, dolphins and manatees) to our hearts satisfaction. My lesson was that trained animals are interesting, but nature in the wild is inspiring. Marianne and I saw the contrail of a military launch (spy satellite) glowing pink at sunset with a little white dot at the top, and our day at the Tiffany glass museum showed us imagination run rampant for the pleasure of the eye. The Orlando club picked up our trick of Day Hosting which put us in touch with many of their members, who all welcomed us warmly and showed us an Orlando sans Disney that is delightful. And then home to a snowstorm, but glad to be home. Anna Howe ------------ MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING- 3/27/11 Information from our guest speaker: "This is a little introduction about me. My name is My-Linh Phan, a Vietnamese student in Southern Oregon University. I am doing double majors in Business and Education at the moment - sophomore year. I have been studying abroad since 2005, spent 4 years in Singapore and a couple of semesters in Italy and England. In Singapore, I was awarded the ASEAN scholarship (Association of South East Asia Nations) - thanks to which I have a good knowledge of almost all 10 ASEAN members' cultures especially Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. In my presentation about my culture, I will be comparing and making reference to these countries all the time. About my presentation, I am from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. More than ten generations of OUTGOING EXCHANGE to Japan- May 29 to June 10 - CANCELLED, due to the preoccupation of the two Japanese host clubs as a result of the earthquake. [Amy Lepon received info from a friend in Sendai, Japan where she has lived for the past decade teaching English.] See below. -------------- From the Pres: A World Friendship Day message from FFI President George Brown
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March 1, 2011
Dear friends,
Thirty-four years ago, on March 1, 1977, US President Jimmy Carter announced the formation of the Friendship Force at a White House dinner.
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The Friendship Force began with a simple announcement in Washington, DC, and a group of dedicated staff and volunteers in Atlanta, led by Wayne Smith. It has grown into a global network, led by thousands of volunteers like yourself. Congratulations, and thank you for all you are doing to advance the goals of our organization.
During 2011 we will have almost 5,000 citizen ambassadors traveling the globe, hosted by thousands more. Each new friendship will make a contribution to our goal of promoting international understanding across the barriers that separate people.
None of this would be possible without the leadership you and others are providing, along with the dedication and enthusiasm of your members.
I wish we could all be together for one day to celebrate in person. We can't do that, but we can unite in remembering those who established the Friendship Force in our communities and in re-dedicating ourselves to the continuation of our common purpose.
We ARE making a difference!
In friendship,
George T. Brown, Jr.
President, FFI
Click here to read the speech Jimmy Carter gave on March 1, 1977. His introduction of the Friendship Force begins half-way down the page with, "Finally, I’d like to say…" The Presbyterian minister he mentions is Friendship Force founder Wayne Smith.
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Friendship Force International 127 Peachtree St, Suite 501 | Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404.522.9490 | www.thefriendshipforce.org
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NEW ZEALAND QUAKE REPORTS We have had several reports from our NZ contacts; fortunately, none have sustained any injuries or property damage! From:
"Margaret & Geoff Smith"
Date:
Sat, 26 Feb 2011 18:51:17 +1300
Subject:
Hi Charlie and our other friends in US.
We are well and safe. Our home is well away from the destruction zone, and in fact the shake was barely felt here. We were away in the Nth Island at the time and missed it all, fortunately. I have not heard from Peter, but he also is not in the worst area so I am confident he will be OK.
Your accompanying news article is interesting. Yes, it is huge and I am certain that many folk have had enough and will leave. But we live with this possibility anywhere in NZ. I am equally sure that some will leave for Australia. They have had their share of adversity too, just recently though!
I too have wondered if we can recover. I know that the city will be rebuilt. It will take a very long time and the impact will be felt right throughout the NZ economy.
The biggest problem will be to find the inspiring leaders who can look forward and see the chance to let go of the past and our very English brick and stone mentality, and have the vision to build a new and appropriate city more in keeping with our Pacific heritage, and one which future generations will look back on and say, ' what vision those people had at that time, we are now an example to the world."
Thanks Charlie for your concern. Please keep in touch and I will keep you informed of developments. Best regards, Geoff Smith. --------------- NEW ZEALAND quake reports from the "Oregonian" – Thanks to Louise Bogard, we were made aware of articles published on 2/26. The link is:
From Louise Bogard- One article in the "Oregonian" here was tennis players from Portland who were at a sports center when the quake hit....how hospitable folks took them in & when they were to fly out, the hotel packed up their belongings & brought their passports & their luggage to them, walking 6 or 7 blks thru rubble in a cordoned area....NZ folks would not take their $ but did accept some tennis equipment and clothing with U of O or other logos as souvenirs of their aid to strangers.
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541 482 3678
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------------ May 13 and 14- Hosted by the Friendship Force of Medicine Hat, Alberta
Proposed Itinerary [Agenda]:
Friday, May 13, 2011
After 2 p.m.: Arrival and registration at the conference site, Southside Event Center.
All conference gatherings will be held a the Southside Event Center
(4 Strachan Court SE, Medicine Hat, AB)
3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Optional tours of Medicine Hat will be available at minimal cost.
5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. President’s meeting for club presidents or designates (Light
supper will be available to those participants.)
7:00 p.m. to 10:00p.m. Meet and Greet Reception
Introduction of all clubs
Entertainment
Socializing with appetizers and cash bar
Saturday, May 14, 2011
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Coffee, muffins, and fruit plate (included in registration fees)
9:30 - 10:30 Comments from our Atlanta office followed by Q and A Sessions.
10:30 - 10:45 Health Break
10:45 - 12 noon Round table discussions based on information from Atlanta.
12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Lunch (included in registration fee)
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Round table discussions on issues facing Friendship Force Clubs.
(Topics to be confirmed at a later date)
2:30 - 2:45 Health break
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Group discussions
Summaries of discussions
3:45 - 5:15 Tour of Medalta: A visit to the Historic Clay District of Medicine Hat
(Included in registration fee)
6:30 p.m. Social hour (Cash bar available)
7:00 p.m. Banquet (included in registration fee)
Entertainment --------------- From Amy’s friend:
RE: Friday, 25 February 2011, Christchurch NZ earthquake --------------- http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/02/portland_tennis_player_describ.html, which includes "Portland tennis player describes amazing generosity in New Zealand in quake's aftermath" ----------------- n 1/26/11, FFI announced "Discover a Gardener's Paradise in Cornwall". "You are invited to join in exploring the famous gardens of Cornwall. May 10-17, 2011. Located in the southwest ‘toe’ of England, Cornwall enjoys a unique subtropical climate." For detailed information and price, please contact Jennie Dyson,
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, +44 (0) 1872 510260. ------------- On 2/10/11, FFI announced "Discover a side of Niagara you've never seen...". The mighty Niagara River, the beautiful farmland, the delightful vineyards, the impressive historic canals and of course, the Falls! The best way to see it all is to climb onto a bicycle and hit the trails with us, the Friendship Force of Niagara! We invite you to join the first Friendship Force Global Cycling Exchange in Canada from June 5 to June 12, 2011. The Friendship Force of Niagara will be your home hosts for this 7-day adventure, which allows you to enjoy the varied natural beauty of the Niagara Peninsula in Southern Ontario. ------------- FFI’s February "World of Friends" Catalog was distributed by Amy on 2/15 ------------ Northern Rockies Regional Conference, May 13 and 14, 2011, Medicine Hat, Alberta - the proposed program outline for the Conference, "for a weekend of learning and friendship", [see below] was received by FFSO on 2/28/11, and forwarded to some members. From Claire Lindberg-- Is anyone else planning to go to the FF Regional Conference in Medicine Hat, Alberta May 13 and 14? I've never been in that part of the world and I'd like to make an excursion of it by driving there and back. It's about 1200 miles so I figure about 4 days to get there and 4 days to get back would make it a no-stress drive. I'd be happy to drive my Prius, but company would be nice. Give me a call or send me an e-mail if you're interested.
From Anne in
is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no. They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again. Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent. Thank you again for your care and Love of me, With Love in return, to you all, Anne --------------
From Mary Paton, Hastings, NZ
Fortunately, this recipe goes back to the "old days" before New Zealand went metric and no conversion is needed for measurements. Translations from New Zealand into American in parentheses.
For the Slice:
· 8 oz. butter 4 oz. castor sugar (light brown sugar) 8 oz. flour 2 tsp. baking powder
· 2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tbsp. lemon rind finely grated
Cream butter and sugar. Add dry ingredients and mix to dry dough. Press into 9"x9" tin. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool before icing.
For the icing:
· 6 tbsp. icing sugar (confectioner’s sugar)
· 3 tbsp. golden syrup (This is a British import. You can get it at Market of Choice in Ashland. It is NOT corn syrup and all the cooking sites on the web say that corn syrup is a poor substitute. My supply came from Noreen Hulteen. Thank you, Noreen.)
· 1 tsp. finely grated lemon rind
a. 2 tbsp. butter Beat the icing ingredients together and spread over cooled slice. When set, cut into fingers (bars).
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Sendai, Japan where she has lived for the past decade teaching English. Very moving!! Hello My Lovely Family and Friends, First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems the best way at the moment to get my message to you. Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful. During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets. Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another." Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often. We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group. There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time. Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently. And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone Update on Somerset exchange Somerset (Mavis): After several emails back and forth to FFI and Napa, Napa has realized that they cannot do the exchange for the Somerset Group the week following the Somerset's visit to Southern Oregon. They proposed the last week in October and 1st week in November. However, that's not good timing weather-wise for us, so FFI is trying to rope in the Willamette chapter to see if they could do the week prior or the week following our Sept. 23-29 dates. If they started in Willamette (Pinot Noire country I believe), I think that would make for a fabulous beginning to a wine tour trip and then they could finish up in the Rogue Valley with wines unique to our valley and the variety of events we have to offer. Flying into Portland would be easier, too! Pallie might have an answer from the Willamette chapter by March 7 and has asked us to be patient! So let's hope it all comes together but we should hold up doing any more work on the exchange at this juncture me thinks. Peggy has already purchased the tickets for the backstage tour but can easily be refunded. Gladyce has booked us for our Welcome dinner at the clubhouse, Royal Oaks and Barbara has done a lot of work securing a Farewell dinner place which I believe will be the River Lodge in Shady Cove recommended by Kitsy ------------------ Recipe for: Lemon-Ginger Slice ------- -------------------------------------------- Louise Bogard- "I'm "almost back on track" with arm and hand. Just a few more PT appointments. Vince & I enjoyed our time with the FF Orlando & So. Oregon group." -------------- BIRTHDAYS/ ANNIVERSARIES: If you haven’t given your birthday *Month and Day] or anniversary dates [Month/Day/Year] to Barbara Horton, please do so. [482-0319;
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] Thank you. . BIRTHDAYS
March – Susan Straub- 3/16 Vince Bogard,- 3/18
April - Claire Lindberg,- 4/13; Ron Hulteen,- 4/18 Dodie Hamilton - 4/23
May –
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ANNIVERSARIES: March- April- Charlie and Corky Parrish, 4/8/52 [59 yrs.] May – Vince and Louise Bogard, 5/22/65 [46 yrs.]
LOOKING AHEAD
3/27- SUN.,
MEMBERSHIP MEETING- SOU STUDENT FROM VIETNAM
4/1 – FRI., BOARD MEETING
4/17- SUN., NOTE THIS IS THE 3RD SUNDAY VS. THE 4TH; [4/24 is Easter] MAY 13-14, [FRI-SAT] 2011; REGIONAL CONFERENCE, MEDICINE HAT, ALBERTA MAY 29-JUNE 10- [SUN- FRI] OUTGOING EXCHANGE: to Japan [Nara, Kyoto, and Yamagata] CANCELLED AUGUST 26-30, [FRI-TUE] Join friends from around the world in Hamburg, Germany, for the Friendship Force International 34th World Conference.
SEPT. 23-30 – [FRI-FRI] INCOMING EXCHANGE:
Somerset-UK [ED: Mavis Marney] 2012 TENTATIVE EXCHANGES: INBOUND: May 2012 Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK to Sacramento and FFSO OUTBOUND: June 2012 to Azrou, Morocco ------------ NOTE: We solicit your suggestions/requests; please send us whatever you think may be of interest to other members. Including travel [please note whether FF or not]. THANK YOU to all that provide inputs. Charlie 541-770-3168 |
