Friendship Force Intl has launched a members-only website https://my.friendshipforce.org (myFF.org) with security and privacy built-in.

Currently, each myFF.org registered user has a profile (name, email, country, club, contact info, journeys, etc.). In addition, each FFI club also has a profile (info, photos, founding date, location, and contact details, journey history). FFI has and will be publishing organizational, club, member, and journey news items ONLY to myFF.org (public items will be distributed via a separate email distribution list).

Overtime, users will be able to view information about other clubs and users; view & send messages to other clubs and users (helpful for JCs as well as allow journey participants to keep in touch); and view a personal and global event calendar.

Journey coordinators will be able to publicize and manage journeys, while users will be able to apply for and pay for journeys that they've been accepted on. Other features under consideration include "interest groups" (groups of users who can discuss various topics, hobbies, etc.), virtual experiences and member resources (both being moved from the public websites), communications for your region, and payments for various items.

See the link to the document for signup instructions. You'll need to provide your name, email address, and indicate which club you're a member of. There is other optional information that you can supply.

As an incentive to signing up for my.friendshipforce.org, if you renew your 2022 FFD membership AND you signup at myFF.org by Dec 31 (see link below) you will be entered into a drawing. Two members will have their 2022 FFD membership dues covered by the club.

So, please take some time to signup for my.friendshipforce.org - you might be a winner in the drawing!!

Attached are step by step instructions for signing up for http://my.friendshipforce.org

Edward perez will be holding some Zoom meetings to walk you through the process. If you do not have access to a computer or tablet, he can help you get signed up. Let him know if you run into any obstacles or need assistance.

edward perez
vp, membership
ff of dallas

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International Conferences are held every other year - alternating between the US and other countries.
The 2019 Conference was held in Boulder, CO.

See reports and photos from Conferences back to 1999 on the Past Conferences page.

               
   
                                                        Teresa Wilkin and Leyla Akgerman

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A Personal Appeal from FFI CEO Jeremi Snook
April 1, 2020

I hope this letter finds you healthy and well-provisioned during this difficult time. This pandemic continues to impact all of us in unimaginable ways. Now more than ever we need to hang on to hope for the future and reach out to friends and loved ones.

As an organization, Friendship Force faces an economic crisis unlike anything we have experienced in our 42 year history. While we have survived Y2K, the attacks of 9/11, SARS, and many other global catastrophes, never before has our organization faced a situation that has impacted every club in every country at the same time.

As you know, the mission of Friendship Force is financially supported through the act of members participating in Journeys. Cancellation of nearly all Journeys for the foreseeable future has FFI facing the worst financial situation in its history, putting the organization itself in peril.

FFI operates on a $1.2 million dollar budget annually. This budget pays for our technology needs, marketing efforts, club growth and development, and our small staff of 15 people - half of whom work part-time. The pandemic has erased nearly 60% of our revenue this year so far, causing us to cease all technology projects, eliminate all expenses, and, sadly, even lay off some staff and reduce paid hours for everyone else. Without a miracle, FFI will deplete its $200,000 in savings and lay off all of our dedicated staff by August. We must not let this happen.

Although there are hundreds-of-thousands of people who have already lost their jobs and thousands of businesses already closed (some permanently) as a result of the pandemic, Friendship Force has one major advantage: you.

If we band together, we can support the basic infrastructure of FFI to keep its doors open until our Journeys are able to pick up again. One of the things the world will need when this pandemic subsides is to get out and visit old friends and make new ones. In many ways, I believe this pandemic will be a wake-up call for most people to seek and embrace real and meaningful relationships. Ones that expand their understanding and connectedness to the world around them, and Friendship Force needs to be there!

I am asking everyone to step up and commit to donating one-week’s worth of a US outbound Journey fee to FFI; more, if you are able to do so. We often talk about how “one week” on an FFI Journey can change your life. During this crisis, “one week” can ensure that FFI will be here in 2021 and beyond, for you and for future generations. If we all come together and give, even just a little, collectively we can ensure Friendship Force’s future.

Communication, transparency, and access are essential in this effort. To read the latest bulletins from myself or FFI, to seek answers to your questions, or to ask anything of FFI, please don’t hesitate to call, email, text, Facebook, or WhatsApp me. A special link is being set up to keep everyone informed at blog.friendshipforce.org, and, if you haven’t signed up to receive notifications, please go to our website and do so today.

Thank you in advance for considering your special gift to Friendship Force International. Stay safe and let’s keep in touch.

In friendship,

Jeremi Snook,

President/CEO

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FFI has sent the appeal for donations to all in the USA and Canada (those w/ email). By the end of this week or next, they will have sent an appeal to members in other countries. So, ALL members are being asked to help by donating $170 - the FFI fee for a one week journey to support the organization for the rest of the year. Any amount will be appreciated.

To donate by mail send a check to:
Friendship Force International - COVID 19 Relief
PO Box 570
Asheville, NC 28802

Be sure to include your name, address and phone number so FFI can thank you for your kind gesture.

or DONATE online: https://www.kindest.com/campaign/we-need-help-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-ffi?utm_source=Friendship+Force+Members+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=33acb9e51c-personal-appeal&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5feca96946-33acb9e51c-86901893

A service fee that does not go to FFI is charged for online donations.

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A Special Message from the CEO - March 19, 2020

It is hard to believe that a few short weeks ago, nearly 200 members from throughout Australia were gathered in Newcastle celebrating their 29th annual conference together. Since then the world has changed drastically, and as we enter into uncharted territory with the spread of the Coronavirus, Friendship Force International braces for an uncertain future.

As borders close and new quarantine guidelines are announced, we find ourselves not only scrambling for toilet paper, but wondering what tomorrow will bring. As an organization dependent on travel, we are facing one of the worst financial crises to hit the organization since its founding.

Like many of you, we are trying to put this experience into perspective only to find we have more questions than answers. How long will this crisis last? When can we travel internationally again? Although the answers to these questions, and many more like them, are slow to come, one truth gives us hope, this too shall pass. But in order to get through this, we’ll need to see the bright future ahead and embrace the power of our collective force when facing unprecedented challenges.

In case you missed it, a statement <https://friendshipforce.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ba1bffc1cec3dcb20c97569d1&id=f0e5427f2c&e=3d9e308885>  is currently viewable at the top of our main page and will be updated frequently as news becomes available.

In the days ahead, the International Board of Directors and I will be talking with you about ways we can ensure the continued mission of Friendship Force long after COVID-19 has dissipated. For now, my sincerest hope for your safety, health and wellbeing as we weather this pandemic. My thoughts are with all of us in Friendship Force during this uncertain time.

In friendship,

Jeremi Snook, President/CEO

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A Special Message From Friendship Force International - March 4, 2020

Friendship Force International recognizes the increased uncertainty that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) may be causing. Please know that the FFI Staff and International Board of Directors are very carefully monitoring CDC guidelines and government travel advisories. Obviously, none of us can predict what will happen next—and travelers are questioning their plans. Most of you are continuing with your Journeys, while others are feeling more cautious. Whatever you personally decide, we encourage you to do your research, speak with your hosts and consult with public notices before making a final decision. And of course, please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions or concerns. In the meantime, we hope that the following information helps with your decision making.

2020 Journeys through April 30

Based on the facts today, to ensure the safety of our travelers, we support any hosts or ambassadors who are feeling nervous about their planned March and April Journeys in heavily impacted countries. We are in the process of contacting the participants of all impacted Journeys in this category to offer assistance with the postponement of the canceled Journey or the refund of any FFI and host fees paid.

2020 Journeys for May-December

At the moment, we do not anticipate any changes to Journeys for the second half of the year. We will continue to review the official advice for all areas to ensure we protect your health and safety.

Going forward, we will continue to monitor the situation with our clubs and programs. If the authorities recommend against travel to a specific place, we will help participants postpone their Journey to another time or switch participation to another Journey of interest. If a travel ban is instituted, then FFI will refund to you any fees paid for a Journey to that destination.

Should you choose to cancel your own participation in a Journey that we are still planning to operate, then fees are non-refundable and normal cancellation penalties would apply.

General Advice When Traveling:

Stay informed about the situation, exercise sound judgment, and understand that by participating as an ambassador or host you agree to assume responsibility for your own welfare. As always, we strongly recommend travel insurance for the standard travel and medical issues.

Be sure you’re aware of cultural and religious differences, sensitivities, and general health and safety recommendations for each place that you travel. Consider using your government's resources for safety alerts and advisories. Examples of these are:

Australian Government of Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations

Brazil Government: www.saude.gov.br/saude-de-a-z/saude-do-viajante

Canadian Government: Country Travel Advice and Advisories
 
Deutsche Auswärtiges Amt: Reisewarnungen

France Diplomatie: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/conseils-aux-voyageurs/

Japan MOFA: https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/

Netherlands Rijksoverheid: https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/reizen/reisadviezen

New Zealand Government: SafeTravel.govt.nz

Russian MOFA: https://www.mid.ru/preduprezdenie-dla-rossijskih-grazdan1

UK Government: Foreign Travel Advice

U.S. Department of State: Travel Alerts and Warnings

WHO (World Health Organization): https://www.who.int/ith/en/

We live in uncertain times. Whether we are dealing with political unrest, acts of terror, natural disasters, or even COVID-19, as Friendship Force members we understand the importance of sound research and informed judgement in our decisions to travel and host.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].

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Welcome to Our New 2020 Board Members!

Dear friends,

As you may all know, the governance of our wonderful organization is overseen by a group of dedicated, enthusiastic individuals whose one goal is to keep Friendship Force healthy so that it continues to thrive and expand well into the future.

Each year, several members step down from the Board and new ones are appointed. We are proud to announce this year’s two new appointees:

Tracy Mirembe,
Kampala, Uganda

Atiek Widjajanti,
Solo - Surakarta, Indonesia


With these exciting new additions, we must also say goodbye to our three departing Board members:

Thérèse Vilovar, Jyotsna (Jo) Custead, and Hiroshi Onishi. Thank you for serving the Board tirelessly for the last three years!

Please visit the Board of Directors page of our website and take a moment or two to read the biographies of our new members - and the other eight Board of Directors members, too.

Don’t be afraid to make yourselves known to us at conferences or on Journeys – we need to know what you are thinking.


In friendship,



Bobbie Mulholland
Adelaide, Australia
2020 Board Chair

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A Year-End Message from Your 2019 Board Chair

Dear Friends,

2019 - our 43rd year - has been a good one for Friendship Force.

We are fortunate to have amongst our membership so many committed volunteer leaders who ensure that Journeys continue, keep our clubs operating, and fully understand the absolute importance of our existence in a world that often has difficulty getting its act together. To every single member everywhere, thank you for your participation in 2019.

Thank you for traveling on Journeys, thank you for hosting, thank you for providing meals, thank you for spreading the word, thank you for contributing financial support, and thank you for simply being a member.

Those of us whose history with Friendship Force goes back a long way may find it difficult to cope with the ways in which modern living has altered the structure of clubs. However, there is more than one way to handle this scenario and, believe me, the staff, CEO, and Board of Directors are dedicated to finding the best way forward. Like they say in the movies -

“No Friendship Force member has been, or will be harmed in the making of this future.”

It is wonderful to think back on everything that has happened over these almost 43 years – the hosts and ambassadors on Journeys that have formed innumerable friendships, the joy and excitement shared when learning about those different than ourselves, and the many lessons learned along the way!

Ours is an organization for all people and all time. Its future is in our hands. Let's each of us play our part.

In friendship and peace,

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Board Members, Officers for 2019

The governing Board of Directors of Friendship Force International (FFI) consists of volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to overseeing the global operations of the organization. Board members serve four year terms. The current members are from nine countries. Most are experienced Friendship Force leaders, but several come from outside of FFI, adding a valuable external perspective.

Read more about Board members at:
https://friendshipforce.org/who-we-are/board/?utm_source=Members+List&utm_campaign=344af177b7-WELCOMING-NEW-BOARD-MEMBERS&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5feca96946-344af177b7-86901893

    
    

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Quarterly Newsletter - August 2019:

https://mailchi.mp/friendshipforce/important-q3-news-updates?e=9a36c06824

Where We're Going

Hello Friendship Force Family!

As we continue to integrate translation capabilities into FFI’s technology platforms, the news and information sent from headquarters needs to also reflect efforts to better reach clubs and members. As such, there are four initiatives we would like to share with you:

Our newsletters will be distributed every six months, instead of quarterly, and will feature translation links for French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Russian and German versions.
Periodic regional communications in native languages (letters, news briefs, etc...) will originate from headquarters to clubs and members.
We will launch and coordinate with volunteer translation teams.
An international registry for members to receive secure, direct, and translated communications from headquarters is underway.

All of these are small but significant steps towards a stronger future for all of us. More to come!

Jeremi Snook, President & CEO

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UPDATE 2017: Friendship Force has a NEW VIDEO - great!

See a new video at: https://vimeo.com/207845443

There is also a new tag-line: Experience different views. Discover common good.

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See New Policies for 2017

A pdf file of new policies is available with some additions to the 2016 changes. Click here.
The following is a summary of policy changes in 2016.

World Conference Now Every Two Years

One of the decisions that came out of the International Board of Directors meeting this past March was the unanimous approval for the World Conference to take place every other year. After the 2017 World Conference in Manchester, England, the next will be held in 2019. This change has been discussed for many years and is already being welcomed as a long-overdue adjustment by several clubs as they look for ways to improve the quality and attendance at their regional conferences.

Background: It has always been a struggle to fill our World Conferences to capacity. Full conferences such as those in Washington, D.C. in 2010, New Orleans in 2013, and Vancouver in 2015 are the exception. Most years we have as many as 100 spaces left available to sell, which amounts to lost revenue for FFI, not just in terms of conference fees, but also the cost involved with planning the conference. These empty seats also mean lost opportunities to share with, educate, and learn from our attendees.

Does having the World Conference every year spread us (and our attendees) too thin financially and dilute the conference’s appeal? At FFI we’ve been asking this question for a few years now, and we’ve toyed with the idea of having it in alternate years. Now, as we approach our 40th anniversary year, the time seems right for this change.

Having the FFI World Conference every other year should allow us to:

* build anticipation with a longer break between conferences
* provide more calendar room for members to participate in regional conferences and events
* plan a bigger and different kind of conference with more to offer
* attract more attendees
* reduce planning costs
* have time to implement changes based on feedback from the previous conference
* organize a smaller, different event in non-conference years

The importance of the events planned for 2018 and in subsequent “non-conference” years cannot be understated. These respites from World Conference preparation gives all of Friendship Force an opportunity to plan a slightly smaller, alternative event, such as a friendship festival or development project that aims to enhance our mission and progress in some way.

As we institute this change, we want to hear from you! What would you like to see at future World Conferences? What events might you like to see in the non-conference years?

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FFI Terminology

In advance of the debut of our NEW website (2017-coming very soon!), we wanted to share with you some minor changes made in the terms used to describe some Friendship Force program experiences.

With the goal of opening our mission to more potential members around the world, we want to use terms that more accurately describe and reflect the FFI experience. Don’t worry - it's still the same FFI you know and love, but now you'll be able to explain it better!

We often hear that calling our travel and hosting programs “exchanges” is confusing, since the word no longer directly explains the programs we offer. While they are cultural exchanges, our programs are rarely reciprocal trips as originally developed, where one group directly “exchanges” with another. At FFI headquarters, we strongly feel that a more transformational term - “journey” - is better suited to the amazing programs our members plan and experience. Additionally, market research conducted on FFI’s behalf in eight countries revealed that the phrase “journey” best described Friendship Force programs and activities. You will see this new term (planning a "Journey" instead of an "Exchange") used throughout our new website and in FFI communications and materials from here on out!

In line with our incorporation of the word “journey,” we also have altered the term Exchange Director to now be called "Ambassador Coordinator" and "Host Coordinator." Not only does the term “coordinator” translate well into the many languages spoken by our members worldwide, but we also believe it reflects the variety of work that our dedicated ambassador and host leaders undertake in planning a Friendship Force Journey.

For each Journey listed on the catalog, there will be an expanded Itinerary section highlighting the mission of FFI and especially our people-to-people focus of travel and hosting. We want to encourage new members to participate by giving them more clarity about what to expect on a Friendship Force Journey.

These itineraries are not meant to be exceedingly detailed or sightseeing-focused, but to indicate the time our ambassadors have with hosts, with the group in general, and possibly on their own. In order to overcome the misconception that we might be "just another travel club,” we want to demonstrate how our hosts and ambassadors have ample time to share meals, make connections, and go off the beaten tourist path together. These itineraries will all have a caveat that they are subject to change, as flexibility is an important part of being a good FF ambassador. Overall, we strongly believe this will allow for more effective recruiting, clearer communication, and a continued focus on our mission throughout each Friendship Force Journey.

As we enter our 40th year, we know that some change and growth is necessary for the health and future of our organization. We hope that you, our members, will embrace these small adjustments in terminology in order to highlight and continue supporting the mission of promoting global understanding across the barriers that separate people.



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New Website - 2017

Navigational tips:

* Be sure to view our expanded itinerary section on each Journey Catalog listing by clicking “Itinerary” at the top.
 
* Also check out our detailed “Activity Level” in the “Details” section of each Journey Catalog Entry.

*As always, the Member Resources page link can be found at the footer of every page.

Explore for yourself!

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Friendship Force Receives Award from Open World Program

On January 23, 2017, Friendship Force International received the Annual Grantee of Merit Award for 2017 by the Open World Leadership Center. The Annual Grantee of Merit Award is presented to organizations who have demonstrated outstanding service to Open World Leadership Center.

Open World Leadership Center is a legislative branch agency that supports Congressional outreach for Members of Congress and conducts exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between emerging leaders and their U.S. counterparts in democratic institutions. Delegates are provided with extensive exposure to American politics, civic life, and are hosted by American families. In 1999, Congress established Open World. Since then, more than 26,000 Eurasian leaders are alumni of Open World.

FFI hosted its first Open World delegation in 1999. From 1999 to now, Friendship Force clubs just like yours have hosted 2,085 Open World delegates. In 2017, Friendship Force clubs will host 16 delegations from the countries of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Russia, Kosovo, Serbia, and Turkmenistan. Topics covered for the Eurasian delegations include: Legislative Development, Healthcare, Education and Innovation, Media Practices, and Accountable Governance.

Since Open World’s inception, Friendship Force International has been a dynamic player in building strong peer-to-peer professional programming for Open World’s delegates,” said Ambassador John O’Keefe, Executive Director of Open World Leadership Center. “They understand the issues facing our rising Eurasian leaders in their countries and how to craft a program that links them with their American colleagues to create strategies and solve problems.

“We are living in times in which building bridges of understanding across the cultural barriers that separate people is more important than ever,” commented Jeremi Snook, President and CEO of Friendship Force International. “It is certainly an honor to be cited for our good works by Open World, and this award is very much appreciated by the entire FFI team. We feel genuinely privileged to be partnering with such a wonderful organization – one which shares our mission to help create a more peaceful world.”

Elena McCarty, Regional Support Manager and Open World Coordinator, and all of FFI Staff would like to take this opportunity to recognize the contributions these U.S. clubs have made since 1999 through hosting and planning Open World delegations.

Thank you and congratulations for the significant work you all have done, all of which helped us receive this honor!

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Rick Steves Recommends Friendship Force

Well-known American travel author and expert, Rick Steves, wrote a blog post on March 15 listing organizations he recommends that provide educational tours and experiences to travelers – and Friendship Force made his short list!

As Rick writes,

“After taking several trips with organizations offering “educational” or “reality” tours, I’ve learned that getting the most out of a trip to a complicated corner of our world is easier with a guide and in the care of an organization that’s well-connected locally…The new edition of my Travel as a Political Act book will contain a list of organizations offering educational tour experiences to the broader traveling public. Please check out my list and let me know if you have any experience with these groups, or if there are others you’d recommend. Thank you!”

According to his post, we will be listed along with other organizations promoting educational, locally-based travel experiences in the upcoming second edition to his popular Travel As a Political Act book, set to be published in early 2018. Rick captured the heart of our organization and mission, describing us as follows:

“Friendship Force International, a nonprofit organization, focuses on person-to-person exchanges, with locals welcoming travelers into their homes and introducing their visitors to their cultures. In each destination, a “Friendship Force” club led by volunteers offers homestays and social activities, giving visitors the chance to get intimately acquainted with their hosts. Each one- to three-week program includes cultural experiences, such as learning to make traditional lavash bread in Armenia, visiting historic Brazilian fishing villages, or tobogganing on sand hills in Australia’s Hunter Valley.”

Be sure to view Rick’s blog post on the topic (http://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/reality-travel-companies/) as well to share your experiences with Friendship Force! Also check out a photo from Rick’s 2015 visit to Atlanta, Georgia’s local PBS station, where FFI Director of Marketing and Communications, Kaitlyn Ranney, chatted with him about Friendship Force!

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Letter from Jeremi



               



See whole report: https://issuu.com/2016ffiannualreport/docs/2016_annual_report?e=29888262/49604672

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Club and Exchange Policies Coming into Effect on January 1, 2016

Club affiliation fees
There will be no change to these fees for 2016.

The 2017 Club Charter Renewal fee will be a standard fee for individuals only - there will no longer be a family membership fee. The 2017 Club Charter Renewal fee will be $15 for each individual.

Partnership with Homestay.com
This partnership was reviewed further to the May announcement. Given the fact that Homestay.com hosts receive payment for hosting, it was agreed this partnership agreement should be seen as an alternative to hotel stays where no FF hospitality exists. For the same reason, Homestay.com is not seen as a complement to FF hosting as part of the same exchange since it would create two classes of hosts and ambassadors, with unequal host involvement, and lesser benefits to the ambassadors, in the exchange. The Homestay.com policy opposes the mix of FF-hosted and Homestay.com-hosted ambassadors on the same exchange but encourages the use of Homestay.com hospitality for a full group of ambassadors on the same exchange in situations outlined in the policy.

Mixing domestic and international ambassadors on the same exchange
The popularity of global exchanges has generated a happy mix of domestic and international participants on the same exchange and numerous questions as to which fee should apply. The policy is simple: domestic fees apply to domestic participants in a domestic exchange. This means that international participants must pay the international standard exchange fee and domestic participants participating in a global exchange in their own country must also pay the international fee. To do otherwise would displace international exchanges in favor of domestic exchanges.

Domestic exchanges
Domestic exchanges may be scheduled between two or more clubs within a country after all their regular international exchanges have been confirmed for the coming year. A domestic exchange can be for 1-7 nights with the same host club. Multi-club exchanges are permitted as long as each component does not exceed 7 nights. A nightly fee of $10.00 USD will apply to each night of hosting, irrespective of the duration or location of the exchange for domestic exchanges. Clubs are required to register the visit within 90 days of the exchange.

Payment by Credit Cards
In 2015, bank charges paid by FFI for payment by credit cards of various fees surpassed the year’s total rent for the FF office in Atlanta. These charges are unsustainable for our stressed organization and just as is the case in the commercial world, credit card users must assume a convenience fee for their use. A 3% processing fee will apply to fees paid by credit cards related to exchange payments as well as payments for participation in FFI World conferences beginning on January 1, 2016. This new policy will not apply to credit card payments for Legacy Fund donations or Club Affiliation fees and in these cases, FFI will continue to absorb the bank’s credit card charges.

Fill-the-Seat
This initiative, piloted as of April 1st, 2015 will become formal policy as of January 1st, 2016. If an exchange is not full at 100 days prior to departure, the exchange must be listed on the FFI online exchange catalog though earlier marketing than 100 days is highly encouraged. A full exchange is one in which the number of ambassadors matches the hosting capacity of the host club. For multi-club exchanges, the hosting capacity of the smaller club will determine the overall hosting capacity. Any exchange of 25 ambassadors will also be considered full. Exchange directors are encouraged to set definite dates and confirm program activities early in their planning process and well ahead of the 100 days. The outbound ED should request advertisement of an exchange on the website catalog as soon as there is any awareness the club(s) cannot fill the exchange with their own membership.

Ambassador exchange directors are encouraged to promote their exchange regionally and are welcome to give top priority to applicants from their own region if they choose. Domestic and Intra-European exchanges are excluded from this policy.

PLEASE NOTE: In addition to these policy adjustments, please take note that Friendship Force International has recently changed its banking relationship in the US, from Wells Fargo to Bank of America. You, as a leader and member should see no change in your process or service in how you deal with FFI in making payments, but you need to be in touch with your Program Manager for new routing numbers and SWIFT codes for wire transactions and domestic transfers please.

The `2016 Club and Exchange Policies’ are designed to provide guidance and FFI standards for carrying out our intercultural mission across the world. With more than 350 exchanges taking place each year, this set of directions provides a way for us to clearly organize our processes and make sure that Friendship Force programs are based in ethics and professionalism. Should you have any questions regarding these policies, speak with the staff at headquarters, with your club leaders, field reps, or international board members. We greatly value the efforts of all of our global Friendship Force community, and we look forward to a productive and peaceful 2016.

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Travel Safety Remains Priority

With the news full of the threat from IS and many governments expanding their travel cautions, it’s understandable that people feel nervous about traveling. It’s very important, as it has always been, to be thorough in researching our destination and to exercise caution anytime when we travel.

The staff at FFI are committed to your safety; we monitor governments’ sites and news resources, and talk to people on the ground so we can stay up-to-date on your exchange and conference destinations. While guarantees are impossible, know that we would not send you anywhere we wouldn’t go ourselves. It rarely happens but when travel to a destination is banned we always act quickly to cancel a program and notify the participants.

Anytime you have questions, FFI is here for you. Feel free to also check in with your hosts or the host ED to get their perspective on your destination. Very often it’s business as usual where they live, and they will be able to allay your concerns.

Check out award-winning U.S. travel journalist Wendy Perrin’s very educational article from March. The article is written for U.S. readers but the overall message is relevant to all of us, no matter what country we call home.

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'I'm In' Campaign Close to Reaching Goal
UPDATE - April 25, 2016

Thanks to our amazing clubs and members, we have now raised $78,995 toward our goal of $100,000! We are so close to fully funding the new website and database, but we still need your help! Please encourage your club to donate if they haven’t already. If you haven’t had a chance to participate in the fundraising effort, there’s still time before our July 1 deadline. Any donation, large or small will help us achieve our goal. Thank you to all who have donated, and join in if you haven’t yet! Any amount is appreciated!

If you have questions about how the funds are being used, you can find some of those questions answered on Jeremi’s FFI CEO Blog post.

The 38th annual Friendship Force International World Conference in Vancouver wrapped up in early September 2015 and we came to understand that all of us, individually and collectively, must commit to keep Friendship Force strong and adopt specific goals towards our growth. The future of Friendship Force depends on the seeds we are planting now.

In light of this, we launched the “I’m In!” Campaign to raise funds for a new website and back-end data management system. We want to make sure that we can serve you and the members to come, and we have no time to waste.

Our goal is to raise $100,000 by July 1, 2016 and we are getting close thanks to the generous donations of our clubs and members!

For more information on the database and website upgrade, you can visit Jeremi Snook’s blog at fficeo.blogspot.com.

We couldn’t do this without our wonderful Friendship Force International family and we want to say “Thank You!”
If you’d like to say “I’m In!”, you can do that by donating on the FFI website.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Pallie Savoie, who is coordinating these initiatives and can provide more instructions. You can reach Pallie at her email address: `[email protected]’.
As our Friendship Force pledge says, “I can make a difference.” We hope that together we can make a difference for the sustainability of the organization we all love.

See: Honor roll of Donors to I'm In Fund
Dallas gave $1000
http://www3.thefriendshipforce.org/downloads/DonorHonorRoll.pdf

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NextGen Initiative Seeks to Help Club Growth

As we have listened to members’ thoughts on NextGen, we have learned from our many clubs that there are a variety of different needs. Most clubs are trying to increase their membership with some clubs trying to attract and retain younger members. However, the long-term members don’t want to be forgotten. Other clubs want to create exciting, active exchanges that offer more flexibility and options, while also including more authentic cultural experiences. And most clubs can benefit from a renewed energy by creating an environment open to change. Mentors from around the world, supported by FFI, are here to offer advice. Resources have been developed on the FFI website, and the Mentors want to hear and share your success stories

What does NextGen mean?
Next Generation refers to creating an environment open to change in order to make your club sustainable into the future. This means thinking differently, planning differently, formulating differently, trying new things and being more open. If your club needs to grow membership, then you may need to change the way you attract and retain new members, especially younger people. Club leaders may want to try reaching out to other groups of people to find members, as well as involving the multiple generations of their own family. This may require changing the image that your club portrays.

Clubs may want to change the way they conduct business. By scheduling a variety of fun and enriching activities, this may keep the members engaged. And having some flexibility may allow members with busy schedules, like working people, to remain active in the club.

For exchanges, clubs may want to consider adding flexibility, options, more authentic cultural experiences, themes, shorter exchange lengths and/or adding a humanitarian activity to their exchanges to attract a new type of member. If you want to plan an exchange with NextGen activities, contact Laura Romero at FFI at [email protected].

Message from Jeremi:
We would like to thank and recognize the contributions that the NextGen mentors have made to developing the training materials and advice regarding the NextGen concepts and how it can apply to you and your club. The NextGen mentors have shared their ideas and experiences with us and we are very grateful. Please feel free to reach out to them to offer your thanks, feedback, suggestions, or request advice on how you can apply NextGen ideas to your club activities.

Who are the Mentors?
Mentors are experienced Friendship Force members from around the world who can listen to your club’s needs and help guide you to find resources.
Laura Romero - FFI - [email protected]
Dave Kalan - FFI Board - [email protected]
Pat Meyer – US - [email protected]
Shawn Decareaux – US - [email protected]
Cecile Latour – Canada - [email protected]
Bobbie Mulholland – Australia - [email protected]
Debbie Lattey – New Zealand - [email protected]
Tsuguyo Ishii – Japan – [email protected]
Dilek Sinlak – Turkey - [email protected]
Birgit Wagner – Germany - [email protected]
Arthur Smeers – Belgium - [email protected]
Serafina Haefeli – Switzerland - [email protected]
Boya Marshall – Germany – [email protected]
Cuqui Gamboa – Colombia - [email protected]
Carolina (Cuqui) Ardilla – Colombia - [email protected]
Simone Lanzoni – Brazil - [email protected]
Celia Accorsi – Brazil - [email protected]
Maatjie Hoffmann – South Africa – [email protected]
Fred Bombo – Uganda [email protected]

What resources have been developed?
On the FFI website, the Leadership Toolkit contains presentations, documents and videos on a variety of topics, including NextGen. Club leaders can select the information which may best match the needs of their club. How can you share your NextGen success story?

Clubs around the world are doing great things and we need to share our success stories. If you have a NextGen success story, send it to Laura Romero at FFI at [email protected].

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Support FFI by Flying Delta with SkyBonus Program

Friendship Force has enrolled in Delta Airlines’ SkyBonus program. Now, you can support FFI when booking flights directly through Delta, while still earning your own SkyMiles rewards!To use this option, simply enter FFI’s account number US0038351 in the SkyBonus ID field in the Passenger Information section on the Review and Purchase page. SkyBonus points can not be earned on tickets booked through discount travel websites to include, but not limited to: Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, or any tour wholesaler / consolidator, such as Delta Vacations. FFI will earn SkyBonus points when our members fly on Delta, Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Alitalia, or any of their participating codeshare partner airlines. Meanwhile, you will still continue to earn miles in the SkyMiles program.

Have questions? Read more on the SkyBonus FAQ on the Delta website.

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FFI Announces Strategic Plan

Thanks to you... we have a plan!

Dear friends,
Over the last 18 months, your FFI staff and Board of Directors have been working hard – listening, asking questions and talking to as many of our members around the world as possible - asking you what you want out of the organization we all hold dear and share. With your collective voices, ideas and information in mind, we have developed the new 2015-2018 Strategic Plan for Friendship Force, in order to define a new direction with bold, clear initiatives that will help to focus us all toward our goal of building a bright future for our legendary community - and for the next generation.



As always, our first and most important goal is to engage as many people as possible in our movement of friendship and in our signature programs. Each of the eight initiatives was written with this goal in mind.

Many clubs and volunteers, as well as the FFI staff, have already begun implementing new and creative strategies to include more people in our important mission. These efforts in the year 2014 form the foundation for this new strategic plan.

Your determination and your creativity have kept our organization strong and have inspired this plan. We thank you for your feedback and terrific ideas, as well as the many solutions you yourselves have offered us.

From here, we will need your help to make this plan a success. We will be calling upon the many people who have already raised their hands and said, "We want to help." We are grateful for your support.

We look forward to working together with you throughout the 2015-2018 period. With an esteemed legacy behind us, we are committed to paving the way for a vibrant future ahead - a future of more friendship for all.

Please let us know your questions and ideas, and let us know if you want to share this work with us.

In friendship,
Joy E. DiBenedetto
President, Friendship Force International

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What's New? - May 21, 2015

Hello Friendship Force members around the world!
 
I truly hope this note finds you doing well and enjoying the season wherever you may be in the world. Here in Atlanta the weather is getting warmer and the sun stronger.

I wanted to share some exciting news with you all that we at FFI believe will be helpful towards achieving the goals we have set for ourselves in our 2015-2018 Strategic Plan.

We’ve recently made some staff changes in the head office that are designed to strengthen our team, refocus our initiatives and help us to grow and sustain the Friendship Force long into the future.

- Matthew Nidek, who has previously been the program manager in charge of the South Pacific region has assumed the position of Director of Programs and Leadership Initiatives. In this role Matthew will focus his attention on the successful implementation of Friendship Force’s vibrant slate of global exchange programs and leadership development efforts throughout the organization.

- Ana Smulski, who has previously been the program manager for Brazil & Argentina as well as being FFI’s network engineer, is now Deputy Director, Program Development and Research. In this newly created role, Ana will work on developing FFI’s full range of exchange programs – along with our Planning Manager, Kristin Harrison – in order to grow and expand FFI’s exchange offerings across the world. Ana will continue to manage her exchanges and clubs in Brazil and Argentina.

- Mary Mwambay, who has previously been a program manager handling exchanges in large swaths of the world (Canada, Europe, Africa) has assumed the newly created role of Manager, Club Development and Volunteer Services. In this role Mary will focus her efforts on supporting FFI’s existing clubs as they need, developing new clubs and Friendship Force locations around the world, and supporting volunteers with FFI guidance. Mary will continue to handle a variety of exchanges as well. In the fall of 2014,

- Ebony Rogers assumed the role of Director of Finance and Administration in which her responsibilities include overseeing FFI’s finance activities and organizational management.

- In April, Joi Fitzgerald became our full-time bookkeeper. Having worked part-time with FFI for several months, Joi will bring much needed support to the FFI finance department.

- In February, Maggie Smith became our full-time Communications Coordinator & Graphic Designer. Maggie had worked with FFI on a part-time basis since 2013. As full-time communications coordinator, Maggie is revitalizing the FFI website, catalog and promotional emails, working alongside Communications Manager Jillian Walters on achieving the goals of the Strategic Plan’s 5th Initiative.

In this transition period we also bid a very fond farewell to longtime Germany Program Manager Barbara Stonebrink-Martin, who has left FFI to pursue a local job opportunity in her hometown of Munich. We are currently searching for her replacement. With these appointments we hope to be able to diligently address areas of our organization’s work responsibilities and better serve the needs of our clubs and membership around the world.

The rest of our terrific staff in Programs, Communications and Finance – many of whom have been with FFI for years – continue to do awe-inspiring work on behalf of all of you and our beloved organization in service to the legacy we have been entrusted with.

On behalf of myself and the staff, we look forward to continuing our efforts together and to building the bright future of Friendship Force which we all envision.

In friendship, Joy DiBenedetto

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April 12, 2015

Homestay.com
he Friendship Force staff and I are so excited to let you know about our new partnership with Homestay.com.
Homestay.com brings together travelers and hosts, giving them the online tools to arrange homestays. Like us at Friendship Force, they believe that travel should bring people together, making the world a friendlier, more peaceful place.

Here are 5 reasons we’re so excited to partner with Homestay.com!

1. More home hosting in more places.
While Friendship Force clubs exist in many places in the world, we are always striving to bring a Friendship Force presence to more communities. Often, we try to do this with Discover Exchanges where FF ambassadors stay in hotels. By partnering with Homestay.com, we will be able to offer a more Friendship Force-like homestay experience in more cities and countries around the world, more quickly. Furthermore, in places where we have limited availability, Homestay.com hosts can provide additional hosting alongside our existing clubs, allowing us to grow our exchange capacity. All in all, the partnership with Homestay.com will mean fewer hotel nights, more homestays, and more friendship.

2. A shared commitment to safe, friendly, people-to-people travel.
Like Friendship Force, Homestay.com cares deeply about vetting, security, and orienting participants to a greater mission of global good; and we believe we will find a safe and satisfying partnership in our activities together. Additionally, unlike other home booking sites, Homestay.com hosts stay in the home with you, offering local connections at the personal level.

3. A private web platform just for Friendship Force – coming soon!
In addition to their general services, the Homestay.com team is working on tools that will be available just for FF members. You’ll be able to sign up there if you’re willing to host other FF members on their private travels. And the next time you’re traveling on your own, you can use Homestay.com to find a Friendship Force member to host you, too!

4. More opportunities for you to travel and host in the way you love.
If you choose to sign up as a host on Homestay.com, you will enjoy more opportunities to welcome visitors from around the world into your home, bridging cultures, generations and ideas.

5. Sharing the mission of friendship.
Partnering with Homestay.com will allow our many Friendship Force members to make connections with a whole new community of like-minded people, inviting them to join our mission of creating a better world through global friendships. Homestay.com has 18,000 active hosts around the world who all love the personal connections they make through home hospitality. Imagine how strong the cause of friendship can grow when we work together!

Homestay.com Testimonial:

"This Homestay experience confirmed once more to us: Homestay is the best way to meet nice people from all over the world, make them part of your family and have amazing moments, share experiences and get friends. It just broadens our horizons and enriches our life." -Hosts Emmanuel & Katia in Hamburg

Talk to your program manager at FFI headquarters if you’re interested in finding additional hosting availability for your exchange through Homestay.com, and watch for more announcements to come soon.

We ask that if you are interested in exploring or using the Homestay.com website, please access it via the links in this email or the link on the FFI homepage. These links, which say "Friendship Force" in the address, help Homestay.com identify you as a member of the Friendship Force.

Let’s create more friendship together!
Joy DiBenedetto

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Feb 20, 2015

The SW Field Reps had a conference call with FFI, chaired by Laurie Ann Scott. Joy was present. Here are some preliminary points.

- Discussion on the vetting process. Laurie Ann is leading a committee to come up with a final set of guidelines. These will be presented in Vancouver at the World Conference in August.

- The World Conference is currently sold out, a record in terms of time. But FFI is trying to negotiate additional rooms in the hotel/venue to accommodate more delegates. We’ll see.

- For 2016, there were 56 requests for 35 open weeks in Canada, so a number of clubs were disappointed.

- Reverse situation in the US. The US Clubs had 95 open weeks, but only 44 requests for visits came in, so there is a problem responding to requests for inbounds.

- Where a club has made a deal in advance of the annual matching exercise it is important to give Atlanta a head up in advance to avoid complications and conflicts.

- Field Rep John Heard emphasized the need to assign exchanges to the new club in formation in Georgetown, Texas, for next year. We don’t yet have enough information to request anything specific.

- Atlanta is looking for experienced EDs to lead global and discovery exchanges it is planning for later this year. These include:

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President's Message - November, 2015

Dear Friendship Force members around the world:

I hope this note finds you doing well and planning a terrific holiday season for you and those you love.

We know at FFI that our work cannot be accomplished by only a few people. Indeed, our collective work to make the world a more peaceful and friendly place requires a global village of effort and generosity.

We would be nothing without our members, who carry forth our mission each and every time they travel for good, make a difference in their community with their club, or generously support FFI's growth and programs.

That's why we are announcing today a new way to help FFI achieve its global goals of building “a world of friends as a world of peace.”

We now have a new donation page, provided by our partnership with Network for Good, and we're making it easier to donate to Friendship Force for things you want to see us achieve together:
•You can give to the Legacy Fund to help us grow our clubs and locations around the world;
•You can give to humanitarian, language, student or professional exchanges to further our Friendship in Action work around the world;
•Or you can give for scholarship purposes to help a young person learn leadership skills related to global friendship and cooperation work.
•You can also join us for special giving days, such as Georgia Gives Day happening today, November 13, or for “Giving Tuesday,” December 2, 2014.

Whatever it is you hope to see changed in the world, we can all work together to make it happen. It takes all of us.

Please visit our Network for Good donation page to learn more or to make a donation.

We thank you, as always, for both your friendship and your support.

Most sincerely,

Joy E. DiBenedetto

President & CEO, Friendship Force International

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New CEO  - Jeremi Snook

Welcome to our new CEO!
 
Ceclile Latour, as Chairperson of the Friendship Force International board, announced the appointment of Jeremi Snook as FFI's sixth President and CEO, effective November 9, 2015.

Jeremi has a Master’s degree in Business Administration and experience as a senior executive in the non-profit sector as well as the experience of starting a small business that quickly earned him and his partner the Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies’ award. He worked successively with United Way, with the Uptown Emergency Shelter and most recently as Chief Operating Officer with Spaulding Youth Center in Northfield, New Hampshire, a leading community-based provider of educational services for children with neurological or behavioral challenges. Those on the Search Committee who have met him believe that he has the vision and management skills to lead FFI to the stability and sustainability we want for the organization. Most importantly, he has the values to embrace the mission that matters enormously to all of us.

Please welcome Jeremi to Friendship Force family and give him the support he will need to grow our mission and our membership. He will introduce himself to club members around the world in a short message and video that you can watch on your screen after his start date November 9th. Cecile thanks the CEO Search Committee led by the Board Vice-Chair, Bob Duncan, who reviewed 180 applications and worked tirelessly over the last three months to bring us to this day.

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Atlanta, Georgia - 6/2, 2014

Today, FFI’s President and CEO, Joy DiBenedetto announced the launch of the organization's NextGen Initiative, an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of Friendship Force International. For some time members have been pressing to include younger, working people. This new initiative will retain the pillars of home hosting and hospitality that are the hallmark of Friendship Force, yet make it possible for working people to discover the Friendship Force experience.

"The best way to widen our `friendship circle' is to continue bringing down walls and building more bridges, bridges that cross language barriers, cultures, and generations. The first generation of members gave Friendship Force its global network of clubs and the baby boomers introduced the popular thematic exchanges. The Next Generation will expand that influence further. Research shows that meeting people of other cultures is the most important motivation for young travelers who seek authenticity and travel experiences that money alone cannot buy," explained CEO DiBenedetto.

The NextGen Initiative will introduce several new travel/home hosting opportunities especially designed to appeal to the interests and energy of the Next Generation.

"We cannot build this bridge alone, nor can we build it without modern tools," said DiBenedetto. New web-based tools will be introduced to make communication easier and faster. The organization is also exploring new, shorter models for home hosting. "I have gathered some of the most dynamic people I know to help with their vision, talent, and creativity," DiBenedetto noted. “I am proud to announce these two groups today.”

Young leaders from 17 countries will constitute an advisory body reporting directly to the CEO. These leaders from various cultural backgrounds are ideally suited to adapt current exchange models to the interests of Next Generation travelers. They may also help connect Friendship Force to their own social networks, create and lead exchanges, as well as generate interest in Next Generation travel, home hosting, and hospitality.

A team of experienced leaders, from clubs in every major region of the world, who will work with Field Representatives and club executives to attract clusters of young participants from local communities, and shape travel and home hosting around their interests. Mentors are already at work preparing the launch of an information campaign. Their role is to anticipate needs, provide training and promote best practices, all hands on guidance for clubs and leaders as this new initiative is introduced.

Members of both the NextGen Council and the NextGen Mentors are outlined below. While the list of Mentors is complete, Council members will continue to be added in regions that are under-represented.

Jack Mullen, Chair of the Friendship Force International Board of Directors, agrees: “Connecting people for the purpose of growing international friendships and peace is essential in today’s world. It is worth every ounce of energy we have. Every age is suited for that purpose and every station in life is made richer by changing the way we see and experience the world.”

NextGen Council members will report directly to the CEO, Joy DiBenedetto.

Europe - Birgit Wagner, FF Varel, Germany, Club President; Serafina Haefeli, FF Solothurn, Switzerland; Dilek Sinlak, FF Karsiyaka Bay, Izmir, Turkey, Club VP; Arthur Smeers, FF Limburg, Belgium, Club President; Hendrik Schraa, Netherlands ESN.

United States - Pilar Stella Ingargiola, Founder, Alchemy P4 Fund, OneGiving, Los Angeles, California; Guilaine Jean-Pierre, Director, engagesimply, New York, NY; Navneet Singh Narula, Entrepreneur, Atlanta, GA; Nicole Dow, Journalist, Atlanta, Georgia; Maria Ebrahimji, Founder, `I Speak for Myself', Atlanta, Georgia; Camille Feanny, Anthropologist, Journalist, Atlanta, GA; Pallie Savoie, FF staff, Louisville, KY; Pamela McNall, Founder, Let's Chat Productions, Atlanta, GA; Shawn Decareaux, FF Club Member-Missoula, Montana; Kelli Koogler, Content Strategy at SapientNitro, Atlanta, GA.

Latin America - Carolina Ardila, FF Bogota, Colombia, Member; Joel Aizprua, FF Discover Panama, Panama City, Panama; Simone Lanzoni, FF Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, Club President.

Africa - Fredrick Bombo, FF Kampala, Uganda, Club Member; Joanna O. Mensah, FF Accra, Ghana, Club President.

Asia - Ben Kantawang, FF Lamphun, Thailand, Club Manager; Atik Wijayanti, FF Solo-Surakarta, Indonesia, Club Manager; Bayar Lkhamjav, FF Mongolia, Club President; Ayu Trisna Bahar, FF Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Club Secretary.

Canada - Max Jones, Founder, FeliceNews, Toronto, Canada.

Middle East - Samarth Puri, President and Founder, TEAM HOPE, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Cécile Latour, Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, FFI International Board of Directors will coordinate the work of NextGen Mentors.

Europe - Boya Marshall, FF Hamburg, Germany, Club Member.
 
United States - Patricia Meyer, FF Northern Illinois, FFI Field Representative.

Latin America - Beatriz `Cuqui' Ardila, FF Bogota, Colombia, FFI Board of Directors; Celia Accorsi, FF Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, Club President.

Africa- Maatjie Hoffmann, FF Cape Town, South Africa, Club President.
 
Asia - Tsuguyo Ishii, FF Western Tokyo, Japan, Club Member; Ivan Ng, FF Nanyang, Singapore, FFI Board of Directors.
 
Canada - Murray Pink, FF Stratford St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada, Vice President.

South Pacific - Debbie Lattey, FF Kapiti Coast, New Zealand, Club President; Bobbie Mulholland, FF Adelaide, Australia, Club President.

For more information contact: Jillian Walters, Communications Coordinator, [email protected], (770) 891-1004

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2020 Journey Fee Announcement

After nearly a year-long discussion about the rising cost of doing business, the International Board of Directors unanimously approved a small increase to FFI Journey fees starting in January 2020.

It has been five years since Journey fees have increased, and in that time, global inflation has increased nearly 8%. Friendship Force International continues to use both Journey fees and donations in efficient, cost-effective ways. These funds support existing clubs, create and sustain exceptional friendship-building programs, and help establish new opportunities to encourage peace through friendship around the globe. This small increase in Journey fees will help us to remain in step with rising business costs worldwide and better support our mission now and for years to come.

The Board is optimistic about the upcoming launch of FFI’s new strategic plan as well as several new clubs that are currently in development. Although we cannot avoid fee increases from time to time, our greatest strength remains the sustainability of our clubs and growth of new ones to carry us into the future. Thank you for your continued involvement and support of Friendship Force!

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New Club and Exchange Policies Coming into Effect on January 1, 2016

These are summaries only. For the complete policy, please refer to the full 2016 Club and Exchange Policy.

Club affiliation fees

There will be no change to these fees for 2016
.
Please note that the Board will review club affiliation fees for 2017 at the next Board meeting and inform you by April 1st

Partnership with Homestay.com

This partnership was reviewed further to the May announcement. Given the fact that Homestay.com hosts receive payment for hosting, it was agreed this partnership agreement should be seen as an alternative to hotel stays where no FF hospitality exists. For the same reason, Homestay.com is not seen as a complement to FF hosting as part of the same exchange since it would create two classes of hosts and ambassadors, with unequal host involvement, and lesser benefits to the ambassadors, in the exchange. The Homestay.com policy opposes the mix of FF- hosted and Homestay.com - hosted ambassadors on the same exchange but encourages the use of Homestay.com hospitality for a full group of ambassadors on the same exchange in situations outlined in the policy. Mixing domestic and international ambassadors on the same exchange

The popularity of global exchanges has generated a happy mix of domestic and international participants on the same exchange and numerous questions as to which fee should apply. The policy is simple: domestic fees apply to domestic participants in a domestic exchange. This means that international participants must pay the international standard exchange fee and domestic participants participating in a global exchange in their own country must also pay the international fee. To do otherwise would displace international exchanges in favor of domestic exchanges

Domestic exchanges

Domestic exchanges may be scheduled between two or more clubs within a country after all their regular international exchanges have been confirmed for the coming year.
A domestic exchange can be for 1-7 nights with the same host club. Multi-club exchanges are permitted as long as each component does not exceed 7 nights. A nightly fee of $10.00 USD will apply to each night of hosting, irrespective of the duration or location of the exchange for domestic exchanges

Clubs are required to register the visit within 90 days of the exchange.
See policy regarding compliance.

EU and Schengen Inter-club Visits

The Schengen agreement governs the free movement of citizens within this specially designated area in parts of Europe as if these citizens were from a single country (for that purpose only). Of the 26 countries bound by the Schengen agreement, 22 are part of the EU and the other 4 are part of the European Free Trade Agreement. This agreement, unique in the world, is the reason for the supplemental program defined in the policies as “EU plus Schengen Inter-club Visits.’
.
These visits are designed to be shorter with less costly travel requirements than a regular exchange and as such are limited to 4 nights and one club visit at a time. These club visits are considered supplemental activities, and are not an alternative to regular international exchanges and domestic exchanges which are within the same country.

Notwithstanding the distinction between domestic and EU plus Schengen Inter-club Visits, the fees levied for both categories of visits will now be equally set at $10 US a night. (See policy regarding compliance.)

Payment by Credit Cards

In 2015, bank charges paid by FFI for payment by credit cards of various fees surpassed the year’s total rent for the FF office in Atlanta. These charges are unsustainable for our stressed organization and just as is the case in the commercial world, credit card users must assume a convenience fee for their use. A 3% processing fee will apply to fees paid by credit cards related to exchange payments as well as payments for participation in FFI World conferences beginning on January 1, 2016.

This new policy will not apply to credit card payments for Legacy Fund donations or Club Affiliation fees and in these cases, FFI will continue to absorb the bank’s credit card charges.

Fill-the-Seat

This initiative, piloted as of April 1st, 2015 will become formal policy as of January 1st, 2016. If an exchange is not full at 100 days prior to departure, the exchange must be listed on the FFI online exchange catalog though earlier marketing than 100 days is highly encouraged. A full exchange is one in which the number of ambassadors matches the hosting capacity of the host club. For multi-club exchanges, the hosting capacity of the smaller club will determine the overall hosting capacity. Any exchange of 25 ambassadors will also be considered full. Exchange directors are encouraged to set definite dates and confirm program activities early in their planning process and well ahead of the 100 days. The outbound ED should request advertisement of an exchange on the website catalog as soon as there is any awareness the club(s) cannot fill the exchange with their own membership.

Ambassador exchange directors are encouraged to promote their exchange regionally and are welcome to give top priority to applicants from their own region if they choose. Domestic and Intra-European exchanges are excluded from this policy.

PLEASE NOTE: In addition to these policy adjustments, please take note that Friendship Force International has recently changed its banking relationship in the US, from Wells Fargo to Bank of America. You, as a leader and member should see no change in your process or service in how you deal with FFI in making payments, but you need to be in touch with your Program Manager for new routing numbers and SWIFT codes for wire transactions and domestic transfers please.

The `2016 Club and Exchange Policies’ are designed to provide guidance and FFI standards for carrying out our intercultural mission across the world. With more than 350 exchanges taking place each year, this set of directions provides a way for us to clearly organize our processes and make sure that Friendship Force programs are based on ethics and professionalism. Should you have any questions regarding these policies, speak with the staff at headquarters, with your club leaders, field reps, or international board members. We greatly value the efforts of all of our global Friendship Force community, and we look forward to a productive and peaceful 2016.

Thank you!

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Fees 2013

At its March 2013 meeting, the FFI Board of Directors voted to increase ambassador fees beginning in 2014. Beginning in 2014, the ambassador fee for exchanges originating outside the USA will be US $140 per week, and the ambassador fee for exchanges originating from the USA will be US $165.

The club affiliation fees for 2015 will be US $15 per individual and US $25 per family. These will be due with your club's charter renewal on January 15, 2015.

A paragraph about club leadership transition has been added to the 2014 Club and Exchange Policies.

Please note: The most current policies can always be found in the Club Resources section of www.thefriendshipforce.org, on the Documents page.

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Help for clubs is here!

FFI now offers a Club Membership Growth video of membership growth strategies and the Media and Publicity presentation by Jean Hyrich of FF Manitoba given at the 2012 World Conference.
- http://catalog.thefriendshipforce.org/index.php/site/toolkit/

Introducing Friendship Force to Friends
 
Everyone you meet is a potential new member of your Friendship Force club. But how do you introduce the Friendship Force to someone who has never heard of it before? The most important thing is to be personal - tell them what the Friendship Force means to you! Here are some other resources to help you explain the Friendship Force mission and programs Find more information on FFIs Who We Are page. Watch the video or read the transcript. There you’ll find the Friendship Force history, mission, values and more.

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2012 marked the 35th anniversary of The Friendship Force. Our mission — to promote global understanding across the barriers that separate people — is just as important today as it was 35 years ago. Ensuring a successful future is essential to our mission. The Global Expansion Plan comprises five initiatives for building a strong Friendship Force for tomorrow.

1. Establish 45 new clubs

Establish new clubs in all regions of the world, bringing the total to over 400 for the first time and opening new countries and communities to our global exchange program.

2. Expand themed exchanges and new programs

From wine tasting and gardening to language learning and history, expand themed exchanges to attract a new generation of participants.

3. Leadership for tomorrow

Recruit, train and support volunteer leaders for tomorrow, with materials and techniques designed for a new generation of leaders.

4. Promote the Friendship Force globally

Increase regional, national and global recognition of the Friendship Force through the Internet, social media and global communications.

5. Raise $275,000 to pay for the Global Expansion

Challenge clubs, members and friends to step forward with financial donations to secure the future of the Friendship Force.br />
WWorking together we can build a strong Friendship Force for tomorrow.
http://www.thefriendshipforce.org/expansion

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2012 Updates on Expansion Plan

New Clubs

These new clubs are opening in 2012 with exchanges to them:
Mt. Fuji Yamanashi, Japan
Kalungu, Uganda

If you have contacts in the following regions, please tell FFI your name, your Friendship Force club, where your contacts are and what your connection to them is. Mary Mwambay, FFI Program Services Coordinator, will respond to discuss with you the possibility of reaching out to your contacts to establish a new club. They are especially interested in:

France: The Friendship Force has a long, positive history in France, with two current clubs, FF Pau and FF Biarritz. We are hoping to open more clubs in France, and we are particularly looking for possible contacts in Bordeaux and Toulouse.

Poland and Lithuania: We are eager to reintroduce the Friendship Force to Poland and Lithuania, particularly the Krakow region (southern Poland) and the Vilnius area (capital city of Lithuania).

Canada: The Friendship Force is strong in Canada and well-equipped to support new clubs. We are especially interested in seeking contacts in the Vancouver area or Maritime Provinces.

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Themed Exchanges – Coming Together

Themed exchanges create opportunities for new friendships to blossom from shared interests. For many ambassadors and hosts, the best parts of an exchange are the opportunities to discover all they have in common. Themed exchanges provide unique opportunities for Friendship Force members to come together around shared interests, such as gardening, language learning, hiking, history or the arts.

Many successful themed exchanges took place in 2011, including a performing arts exchange in Hamilton and Burlington, Canada; gardeners to Cornwall, UK; renewable energy advancements in Colorado, USA; vintage travel in New Zealand; and the history, technology and culture of the Mississippi River in the US.

FF Haliburton Highlands hosted a winter sports exchange in 2011 and again in 2012. Their guests learned the game of curling, went snowshoeing and drove a team of sled dogs.

The FF Niagara club provided bicycles and helmets and welcomed ambassadors to join them on their favorite trails. Ambassadors and hosts cycled the region together, taking in all the varied scenery including the canal, the Niagara vineyards, and the beautiful farmland and orchards.

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George Brown, who has served as president of Friendship Force International since April 2004, will retire effective June 30, 2013. The announcement comes two weeks after the very successful conclusion of FFI’s 35th World Conference in Hiroshima, Japan, attended by over 400 members from 24 countries.

“It has been a great honor for me to work for this incredible global organization for a total of 23 years, the last nine years as president,” stated Brown who will turn 68 next June. “The Friendship Force, with its new global expansion plan, is in great shape. I can look back with pride and satisfaction at the record of the past few years, but now is the time for new leadership to carry forward the mission of global friendship that was started in 1977 by Wayne Smith, with the support of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter.”

Brown expects to remain active in the international field but has no plans to take on another fulltime position. “I’m looking forward to slowing down a bit and to taking advantage of the opportunity for personal visits with many of the friends I’ve made around the world.”

In accepting Brown’s resignation, Board Chairman Alan Milne of Kapiti Coast, New Zealand, stated: “We will miss George with his enthusiastic and effective leadership. He has made a tremendous contribution to the growth of our organization. We wish him all the best in his retirement years and know he will remain an active friend of the Friendship Force.”

Brown first joined the Friendship Force staff in 1983 and worked closely for many years with founder Wayne Smith. The Board of Directors has begun the leadership transition process and expects to have a new president appointed by June 2013. “We are confident that we will find just right person to lead us, building on the strong foundation George Brown has established,” stated Milne. “The Friendship Force is strong and growing and will continue to flourish for years to come.”

CEO Search Committee

In December 2012 the FFI Board of Directors approved the appointment of a search committee to guide the selection process for a new President to replace George Brown. The purpose of the committee was to work with a consulting firm to identify and screen candidates for the position and to recommend one or more finalists for final selection by the Board of Directors.

The committee consists of current board members, as well as other experienced Friendship Force leaders. The members of the committee and their home Friendship Force clubs are: Sandra Larson, chair, Kern County, California; Cecile Latour, Canadian Capital Region, Ottawa, Canada; Mac Mackenzie, Florida Suncoast; Boya Marshall, Bavaria, Germany; Alan Milne, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand; Jack Mullen, Western North Carolina; Karen Overly Smith, Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Bruce Wazorko, Connecticut. According to Sandra Larson, the committee was looking for a person "who can work well with all the countries and cultures represented in our remarkable organization.”

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Saturday, May 30, 2015
Announcing the resignation of FFI’s president

To: All Members of Friendship Force International
From: Cecile Latour, Chair of the FFI Board of Directors
Re: The Departure of FFI President & CEO Joy DiBenedetto
Date: May 28, 2015

I am writing to inform you of our CEO Joy DiBenedetto’s decision to leave Friendship Force International to pursue her own path and set her own pace. I regret her departure, as never before have I met a person more dedicated to an organisation, more connected to our mission of friendship, and more energized by the prospect to put FFI into the limelight.

Joy joined us two years ago with a wealth of fresh ideas that made her the icon of change many had been asking for. She connected with people instantly. She so wanted to make Friendship Force relevant to the next generation and to bring the organisation into the modern world of online social interaction. This will be her legacy: she opened minds to possibilities. She stretched our minds so that they will never shrink back to their original dimensions. The journey will continue without her and we will find our own pace, but we should stay true to our destination. Change must come to FFI. We all care too passionately about Friendship Force to shorten our horizon.

To ease the transition for everyone, Joy will stay in place as CEO until October 30, 2015. After that date, if the new CEO is not already in place, the Atlanta team can keep things going with the Board’s guidance on major issues. One adjustment we will make is to put the implementation of the e-membership initiative on hold and use the Vancouver conference to consult you further. The Board has done a lot of work on that policy only to conclude fundamental issues need more discussion. We are now developing an executive transition plan to assess priorities. Implementation of the fill-the-seat policy will continue and revised fees and policies for domestic and EU plus Schengen interclub exchanges will come into effect, as planned, in 2016. As for the search for a new CEO, Bob Duncan, Vice-Chair of the Board and known to you as the chief organizer of the New Orleans conference, will lead this effort.

With these adjustments and your support, we can weather this transition. Our Atlanta staff is prepared. The staff reorganization announced last week was the culmination of a year of efforts to strengthen the team and instil more accountability. The retooling is underway. The catalogue of exchanges is now first class and, assuming we will get a good proposal, the Board will approve the installation of a new website and data system’s management over the September to February period.  Our agenda is clear. We have an excellent strategic plan focused on enriching our exchanges and the program and revenues for 2015 are on target. Finally, the Board is strong and willing to help.

I know that Joy leaves with a heavy heart. Her life commitment to peace and friendship dovetailed perfectly with Friendship Force. I thank Joy for her spirited contribution to Friendship Force. I wish her happiness and fulfillment wherever she goes.

Cecile Latour
Chair, FFI Board of Directors

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To: Friendship Force members worldwide
From: Jack Mullen, Chair, FFI Board of Directors
Date: July 3, 2013
Re: Welcoming FFI's new president and CEO

As the chair of the board of directors of Friendship Force International, it gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of Joy DiBenedetto as FFI's fifth president and CEO. Joy brings a great deal of experience to FFI from her years at Atlanta-based international news agency CNN and CARE Organization, the non-profit based in Atlanta that works to end poverty in the world. Those on the search committee who met her feel that she has the skill and vision to lead our organization through the next phase. Joy will begin her work here on July 15, 2013, and we will formally introduce Joy to the club members at the world conference in New Orleans.
Joy DiBenedetto will begin as FFI President and CEO on July 15, 2013.

Joy is the founder and former CEO of HUM: Human Unlimited Media, the world’s first and only ‘all-nation' content and information agency. An award-winning 20-year media veteran, she has covered every major global event in successively senior positions, from the television studio and in the field; domestically and internationally; as a producer and manager.

Until March of 2008, she was the global vice president of network booking and research for the CNN News Group, where she oversaw guest coverage for CNN’s domestic and international news networks, managing a worldwide staff.

Throughout her career she has strived to promote the importance of global understanding and to unite the world’s people. With Turner Broadcasting, CNN and HUM she made positive change towards “closing the Geographic Gap” in media coverage. She has also pursued various humanitarian efforts with CARE, the Fugee's Family and the United Nations.

DiBenedetto is a world trekker who often bicycles to work and who has survived Dengue Fever. I know you will welcome her and give her the support that the President will need as we strive to grow in our mission.

It is only fitting to give a big thanks to the CEO search committee who worked for the last 7 months to bring us to this day where I am able to make this announcement.
Again, I welcome Joy to the FFI family and I know you welcome her too!

Sincerely,
Jack Mullen, Chair of the FFI Board of Directors

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Karen Vingiello, our FF Southwest Field Rep, has resigned her position due to an injury; she will focus on her health and recovery.

Kay Binder (previous FF Southwest Field Rep) asked edward perez to fill the role - and, after some communication w/ previous & current field reps, he accepted.

Congratulations fo edward perez, our new FF Southwest Field Rep.

One of his duties is to attend monthly Field Rep conf calls w/ FFI staff.
He will furnish information from those meetings to our club as well as other clubs in the region. As you know, things are changing rapidly.

He will also be our liaison to FFI. If you have questions or concerns, please let him know.

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In 2012 new guidelines were developed for how to recruit ambassadors (and hosts) who are physically and mentally capable of carrying out the basic requirements of the exchange. This is very important, and FFI will monitor closely all exchanges to ensure these guidelines are followed. Clubs failing to abide by these guidelines will be required to make changes in their recruiting procedures. In order to ensure proper recruiting, it is the responsibility of the host exchange director to provide the ambassador ED with details regarding hosting activities. A new checklist has been prepared by FFI for use by the host exchange director for this purpose. The ambassador ED is required to accept only people capable of carrying out the hosting activities—unless an exception is granted by the host ED.

In May 2015 the health and mobility policies were clarified to address cognitive issues in addition to physical issues. The policies state that applicants with unique challenges are welcome on exchanges so long as any special requirements are made known to the host ED in advance and can be met by the host club.

See the Health and Mobility Checklist - a pdf file. Click here for the FFI policies in English.

If you have any questions or suggestions or need to report difficulties with this policy, please contact Kathy Thomas at [email protected].
 
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Taking the place of the print magazine FFI used to publish, Friendship Online magazine will now come to you as a link in an email every two months free of charge.

Inside, you'll find fascinating stories, important news, leadership ideas and reflections on the FFI mission from staff and volunteers like yourself.

We hope you'll enjoy reading Friendship Online, and we hope you'll pass it on to your friends. Friendship Online is a great tool for showing your community what the Friendship Force is all about.

Happy reading! Click here to read the magazine:
http://www.thefriendshipforce.org/index.php/site/magazine/

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Dated 2/9/09: Recently we have had reports of emails purporting to be from bona fide Friendship Force members requesting money to get home. These emails are as a result of our members' email accounts having been hacked into and taken over by criminals.

The criminal pretends to be a fellow member and emails everyone in their contact list.

THESE EMAILS ARE SCAMS. DO NOT WIRE ANYONE MONEY THROUGH WESTERN UNION OR ANY OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AS A RESULT OF ONE OF THESE EMAILS.

We regret anyone being inconvenienced by one of these emails, however FFI takes your privacy seriously, we do not sell our contact lists and we cloak all emails in our communications to our members as much as possible. We continue to look for ways to ensure your privacy.

When traveling with Friendship Force and you have a true emergency you should always first contact your Exchange Director, our emergency number (404 522 9490 ext. 375), the relevant Consulate and your Program Coordinator.

Here are some tips to keep your email account safe:

- Do not reply to these emails. This puts your computer and email account in danger.
- If you cannot access your email account with the password you always use and you
  feel like somebody is using your account for illegal purposes contact your provider
  immediately. They might be able to shut it down before any harm is done.
- Use the Bcc Field when writing an email to multiple persons (i.e. for a newsletter or
  a Christmas email).
- Do not post your private email in forums or on websites. We at FFI will do all we
  can to make our site safe by cloaking email addresses whenever possible.
- Be careful when you log into your email from a computer away from home. Always
  make sure you log off once you are done.
- Check your email and your computer for viruses regularly, even if you have to buy
  special software for it. Protect your information and that of your friends.
- And always be suspicious if the sender of an email asks for money.

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Facebook
From Easy Website presentation at 2009 SW Conference:

Many Friendship Force people are signing on to Facebook - just type in Facebook on your top line of your browser and you will be taken to the Facebook website to join or sign in if you are already a member. It lets you share photos with friends, with people you have stayed with, with club members. Share exchange photos and keep in touch worldwide. There are groups within Facebook, and one of them is a Friendship Force group. You can set up your own group too.

With any social sharing site, just be careful what you put on there. Theoretically, you are allowing only your friends whom you have approved to see what you put there, but actually their friends may see your postings too.

There have been cases of scams and people defrauded when their Facebook password was used to steal their identity. People can assume your identity, change your password and appeal to your friends for “emergency” money. This problem occurs if you respond to a request on your e-mail for information or click on a link taking you to a scammer’s site. That’s really where you need to be careful. When you get a request on your e-mail from an organization, bank or company that looks familiar to you, do not click on a reply link. Respond if you wish by going to that company’s website or use your own address book. That request could come from someone mimicking that company and providing you with a link to their scamming address; you may not be talking to the company you think you are. Reputable companies do not ask for information online that would compromise your identity. Beware of any that do.

Privacy

When the whole world sees you, you need to weigh what you put on your website. We (in Dallas) don’t print our members’ phone numbers or home addresses. If a meeting is in a private home, we provide an e-mail address as contact to get the address. We figure if the viewer is seeing this on the Internet, he or she has e-mail and can use that to contact a person mentioned on our site. An e-mail address does not identify location of the person or confidential information; however, some people object even to using their e-mail address or last name in a newsletter or website. If you have a member who objects, respect their privacy.

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Friendship Force merchandise make wonderful presents for members and non members to use as gifts. Order them in advance so we can combine several orders from around the world to meet the minimum orders - a measure to keep our inventory low and to save you money!

We are offering two types of cards for all occasions to send to your many friends around the world and a coaster that makes great gift. The Friendship Force logo is embroidered on the polo shirt and cap, while a more casual t-shirt is screen printed on a durable fabric. These items help Friendship Force in two ways - advertise our brand and support the important work we do. See the website to peruse and order products: www.thefriendshipforce/promoshop.com
 
Please note: if we do not meet the required minimum you will be notified and you will NOT be charged for the products.

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On July 1, 2008 FFI launched a new website and adopted new logos. The web address remained the same (www.thefriendshipforce.org), reflecting the re-branding initiative that was part of the strategic plan. There are several features to be aware of:

1. GETTING THE WORLD’S ATTENTION
We all know that FFI has a great story to tell. We also know that we live in an age of information technology. So, we are maximizing our piece of cyberspace by using our website to help us get the word out about our organization and its activities. Our new homepage is designed to be fun, attractive and interesting to our members and to the general public.

2. ATTRACTING EXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS
The website is useful in getting the word out about Exchanges. Here’s what the terminology means: Featured Exchanges provides a sample of upcoming exchanges that are open to applicants from outside the originating club. Currently these exchanges originate in the USA but anyone, anywhere in the world, may apply. We will also be adding exchanges of interest to members from other regions in the future. In addition to the Featured Exchanges we still have the All Exchanges listing as well as Find an Exchange, both of which provide a full listing of current exchange activity.

3. WEB-SITE VIDEOS
We’re entering the age of web-videos with the new website, providing the opportunity to include short videos for those with fast internet connections. The new website includes the video about the new logo and strategic plan.

4. VISIT THE FFI STORE
We have an on-line Friendship Force store for the first time. You can order merchandise with the new FF logo directly from an internet supply house called “Café Press.” We’ll be adding additional merchandise items including a standard logo lapel pin — that will be supplied from FFI in Atlanta.

5. PRIVATE HOMEPAGE FOR FF LEADERSHIP ONLY
One of the most important features of the new website is a special section for club and exchange leaders. This new leadership section is much stronger. And to avoid confusion for members and the general public who may be using the website to learn about FFI, a password will be required for the leadership section. We want all active FF leaders — both club and exchange leaders—to have access to this section, which we’re calling the Leadership Forum. We are asking that club presidents give the password to exchange directors and other leaders who may have need of forms, manuals and other leadership information.

The Leadership Forum section is also designed to be interactive, providing a way for you to communicate with each other and with the FFI staff on an ongoing basis, using “blogs” (web-logs). This means you can enter comments and suggestions that can be seen by FF leaders around the world. Give it a try! Or you can send an email directly to me through the website in the “Talk to George” section. I think it will be fun and also very productive.

6. NEW NAME FOR OUR MONTHLY E-MAIL TO YOU
Since we will now be calling our entire leadership section in the website Leadership Forum, the name of our monthly communication which you have been receiving by that name will now be called the FFI Communiqué. We’ll continue to send this via e-mail, with back issues saved on the website in the leadership section.

There is no doubt that the Internet is a tremendously powerful tool for a global organization like FFI. In addition to providing the world access to our story and our programs, it also enables us to greatly improve communications between FFI and our clubs. It won’t always go just the way we want, but we can learn together and in the process create a much more efficient and effective international organization. I’m looking forward to working with you to make this a reality!

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Join Friendship Force International's website:

Friendship Force Intl has launched a members-only website https://my.friendshipforce.org (myFF.org) with security and privacy built-in.

Currently, each myFF.org registered user has a profile (name, email, country, club, contact info, journeys, etc.). In addition, each FFI club also has a profile (info, photos, founding date, location, and contact details, journey history). FFI has and will be publishing organizational, club, member, and journey news items ONLY to myFF.org (public items will be distributed via a separate email distribution list).

Overtime, users will be able to view information about other clubs and users; view & send messages to other clubs and users (helpful for JCs as well as allow journey participants to keep in touch); and view a personal and global event calendar. Journey coordinators will be able to publicize and manage journeys, while users will be able to apply for and pay for journeys that they've been accepted on.

Other features under consideration include "interest groups" (groups of users who can discuss various topics, hobbies, etc.), virtual experiences and member resources (both being moved from the public websites), communications for your region, and payments for various items.

See the link to the document for signup instructions. You'll need to provide your name, email address, and indicate which club you're a member of. There is other optional information that you can supply.

As an incentive to signing up for my.friendshipforce.org, if you renew your 2022 FFD membership AND you signup at myFF.org by Dec 31 (instructions on the link), you will be entered into a drawing. Two members will have their 2022 FFD membership dues covered by the club.

See the  step by step instructions for signing up for http://my.friendshipforce.org

Let me know if you run into any obstacles or need assistance. Edward perez will be holding some Zoom meetings to walk you through the process. If you do not have access to a computer or tablet, he can help you get signed up. [email protected]

edward perez
vp, membership
ff of dallas

So, please take some time to signup for my.friendshipforce.org - you might be a winner in the drawing!!

The Friendship Force International (FFI) office is located at
E-mail: [email protected] or www.friendshipforce.org.

As of August 2020 FFI has a new mailing address:
Our mailing address is:
What should we use this mailing address for?
For Correspondence, checks, packages or parcels, and anything else you would normally mail into FFI Headquarters. If you are mailing us a check, please write on the envelope “Attn: Finance Department.”

Jeremi Snook is CEO of FFI and Debbie Powell is our Program Service Coordinator in Atlanta.

Staff members are now working from their homes all over the world. See staff on the FFI website.

Check the webpage for Friendship Force International news, all exchanges, clubs around the world, products for sale and the Friendship Magazine.

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