January

President’s Message
Welcome to all past, current, and new members. I wish all a successful and
satisfying year with the Friendship Force of Central Virginia.
I suggest that we measure success this year by how well we help others and
that we achieve satisfaction by making new friends in many places.
My theme for 2013 is to expand our outreach programs to extend beyond
our Central Virginia area to include some state, regional, national and even
international efforts. Locally we can increase participation with community
volunteer organizations such as the International Rescue Committee in
Charlottesville. We can extend beyond our area by continuing our support
of the Richmond FF group. Regionally we have the opportunity to contribute
program and literature support for the FF Regional Meeting in Long Island on
April 5 – 7 of this year.
Best wishes to all for Peace and Joy in the coming year,
Don Fickes
Report from your 2012 President
Willow Drinkwater
January, 2013
Volume XXII, No. 1
Content
Page
President’s Message
1
Report from 2012 President
1
Officers and Committee Chairs 3
January Dinner Meeting
3
January Board Meeting
4
Dues
4
International Conference
4
Holiday Party
7
Discover America Exchange
8
Upcoming Exchanges
8
Member News
9
FFC Board Minutes
9
Brazil Exchange
11
Logo Merchandise
12
Calendar
13
Membership Renewal
14
Mark These Dates!
Jan. 2, 2013 BOD Meeting
Jan. 8, 2013 Dinner Meeting
Jan. 31 or Feb. 1 VMFA trip
Feb. 5 BOD Meeting
Mar. 1 World Friendship Day
The year 2012 draws to a close, and guess what? We are still here. What a great year it was with four amazing
exchanges and fun social events. Thank you all for supporting the vision of Wayne Smith and making new
friends either from welcoming strangers into your homes or getting to know each other better at our socials..
At the fabulous Balkan Bistro Christmas party (thank you Molly, Peggy and Harriet), I gave out some awards,
and here is the re-creation for those who couldn’t make it.
Page 1
Mission accomplished with the Somerset, England/Freiburg Germany outbound exchange in May/June! Walt
O’Connell, ED we present you with the YOU HOLD US TOGETHER AWARD, (a roll of camouflage duct tape), not
only as ED, but as Communications Chair this year, you have kept the whole club in communication together
through emails and newsletters, even teaching us the Virginia
Reel!
Mission accomplished with the fun-filled inbound exchange with
Sun Coast of Australia in September/October, Margaret Dryer,
ED with memories of a Christmas as only Australians could do it!
You win the IT’S NEVER TOO BRIGHT A DAY FOR ME AWARD. (A
pair of sparkly sunglasses).
Mission accomplished Don and Babs Fickes head of Programs
and ED’s for our first global tour, DISCOVER USA with over 33
ambassadors in cooperation with the Richmond club, with tours
of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown, culminating in
Thanksgiving in our homes. You win the WE GATHER TOGETHER
AWARD. (Scroll with the hymn printed on it)
Willow presents awards at holiday party
To our Secretary, Monica, who despite her computer being stolen, moving and many other challenges this
year, showed up and recorded for us. THE BARTELBY THE SCRIVENER AWARD, (a pen wrapped in gold ribbon).
To Molly Anthony, our Energizer Bunny, who put together so many Membership Meetings from wine tastings
to celebrating International Peace Day with a wonderful speaker from the Madison School system…and put
together this party for us on 12/8/12, the WE CAN DO IT award, with some Energizer batteries she probably
doesn’t need yet. But it’s good to have some in reserve as she will be ED for Brazil with me.
To our Vice President and Fund Raising guru, Dave Burns, the SHOW ME THE MONEY award, (a roll of shiny
copper pennies) which quickly left his hands and went to others, such as Csaba, who received $250 from our
Fridays after Five events. We raised more than $1,000 this year.
To our JAG Coordinator who took over a very important job in the middle of the year, helping our JAG
students know they were welcome in our homes as well as our institutions of higher learning. To Linda Burns,
the “I CAN WALK IN ANYONE’S SHOES” Award.
To Leslie Wensel, our Sunshine Chair who sent us cards and flowers this year just when we needed them: The
YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE AWARD.
And to Janis Rapp, our competent treasurer who just got the good auditing report, THE BALANCING ACT
award.
Many thanks to all of you for a wonderful experience as your President this year. I look forward to Don Fickes’
vision for next year making the Friendship Force even friendlier spreading the word that this is the best
possible way to see the world and make new friends.
Willow Drinkwater, President FFCV 2012
Page 2
FFCV 2013 Officers and Committee Chairs
President
President-Elect
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Officers
Don Fickes
Dave Burns
Al Colville
Arlene Hanson-Young
Janis Rapp
Committee Chairs
Membership
TBD
Social
Peggy Colville
Programs
Dave Burns
Outreach
Babs Fickes
Communications
Walter O’Connell
Fund Raising
Al Colville
JAG School
Linda Burns
Public Relations
TBD
As you can see we still need a few people to step up and chair committees. While it might seem daunting, there
is always lots of support for those who undertake these leadership roles. Members typically respond generously
to requests for help. If you might be able to chair a committee this year, please contact Don Fickes
(fickesdb@earthlink.net; (434) 589-2186
January Dinner Meeting
There’s no better way to start off the New Year than to get involved with
Friendship Force! Plan to join us for our January meeting where we will
be preparing to send our ambassadors off to Brazil for their exchange.
Also, we will be celebrating “Everyone’s Birthday”.
The dinner is on January 8, 2013 at The Ashlawn Grille (aka, Lake Monticello
clubhouse). Social will begin at 6:00 PM followed by dinner at 6:45.
The program will be "Tales of Brazil" and "Everyone's Birthday Party".
We need to have your menu choice and payment no later than Friday, Jan. 4th. Please forward your checks
made out to FFCV along with your menu entree selection(s) to Dave Burns, 5 Austin Drive, Palmyra VA
22963. Also, please include your birth Month & Day and NOT the YEAR.
Menu Choices:
Grilled Salmon Served with Brown Rice & Haricot Vertes - $25.00
Chicken Roulades Served with Brown Rice & Haricot Vertes - $24.00
Prime Rib Served with Twice Baked Potato & Haricot Vertes - $28.00
All of the above prices include bread & salad, cake & coffee, tax & gratuity
Page 3
January Board Meeting
The Board of Directors meets monthly, usually on the first Tuesday in the month. The meeting schedule will
be published in the newsletter. All club members are welcome to attend. The next meeting will be January
2nd, at 3:00 pm at the home of Don & Babs Fickes, 51 Out of Bounds Rd., Lake Monticello. Please let Don know
if you are planning to attend. (fickesdb@earthlink.net; (434) 589-2186)
Dues are Due
Now is a great time to renew your membership in Friendship Force of Central Virginia for 2013. There is an
application at the end of this newsletter. Please take the time to complete it (one application/family) so we
have all of our records up-to-date. Bring it along with your 2013 dues (still $27 for a single, $50 for a couple)
to the dinner meeting on Jan. 8th or mail it to Janis Rapp, 331 Cooper Hill Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22902.
Report from the International Conference and Japan Exchange
Molly Anthony and Arlene Hanson-Young
For over 5 decades I’ve wanted to go to Japan; an ad in the Progress about FFC going to Japan in fall 2009
brought me into the club. Arlene, Val and Faye also joined our club with travel to Japan in mind. We were very
disappointed when this exchange canceled weeks before the trip. In late 2010 we learned that Southern NJ
(SoNJ) would be going to a pre-international conference exchange in Japan and Greater Detroit (DET) would
be going on a post-conference exchange for fall 2012. Both of these clubs hosted the Japanese clubs in the
past few years. Arlene and I inquired from both clubs and I went with them on both exchanges and Arlene
joined SoNJ in the pre-conference exchange and their post conference home stay in Fukuoka so she could be
with her sister and friend. The four of us also attended the International Conference in Hiroshima.
When you join another club you often miss the opportunity to attend their cultural educational session in
person but Arlene and I were able to go to SoNJ and meet everyone. It was a great experience for us because
we met the ambassadors and also had a wonderful orientation from a young Japanese lady whose husband
works at the NJ Subaru plant and much material from the ED.
I also traveled to Kyushu (Fukuoka, Mt. Aso and Danizen), Okinawa, and Kyoto area for 10 days before several
others joined me in Kyoto and then Tokyo before the Ota Gunma exchange and Conference and onto the post
conference Aichi prefecture followed by a China river program with DET but this will sharing will focus on
experiences from the exchanges.
Ota Gunma prefecture is north a little west of Tokyo and Oto is only 70 minutes by the fast train. The city
began in the 1890s and incorporated other areas through 2005. It is primarily a manufacturing area but there
are farms and fruit in the countryside and beautiful scenery in the mountains. The FF club meets monthly and
usually hosts four times a year. Members live over a wide geographical area and have a mix of younger
families with long-standing members. The exchange provided free days with the host and a planned welcome
party and two touring days.
The ED s did a great job in placing me with my host family. I really enjoyed
seeing the life of the Japanese family with 6 and 7 year-old daughters and their
friends. I also had several trips with partial day hosts and this helped me know
more about the older club members and the usual sites for excursions. I
covered several areas of the prefecture and have a good feeling about the
culture, business, and living conditions and activities for residents. Being with a
Page 4
couple under 40 years old allowed me to see changes in the Japanese lifestyle in which the husband works late
but still likes his sport and weekends with family and friends. Mothers often were at home taking care of the
children and as here, there are enriching activities after school – English, piano and swimming lessons. Food
was an important part of the mother’s day, fixing breakfasts and lunch boxes most days as well as the evening
meal. Halloween was really a big event for these children and their parents as well and I joined a large party of
friends in the neighborhood that included house visiting for candy and an elaborate party with food, games
and prizes afterward. The family lived in a 10-year old modern style house that was roomy and convenient
with decks and no yard. The husband’s parents’ home was next door and the wife’s parents lived about 45
minutes away and her father was a Buddhist monk that ran a rural
temple with
a 100-year old home. The grandparents were in their 70s. Cars were
the major
means for transport and the GPS was essential as most streets had
no posted
name or numbers. The highways were very
modern and
had express lanes but the neighborhood
and country
roads were small two lanes and some
places were
tight fits for the ever larger cars. Sports
were very
important as well as art and music.
Younger
families followed some major traditions (special days, food selections, etc.) but
generally did not dress in traditional attire except for rare very formal occasions.
Bikes were still used, especially for exercise and to go to bars as there is little driving after drinking. Eating at
restaurants was common for a few meals a week with many fast food choices of different ethnic groups as
well as traditional and finer dining available. French bakeries were a treat. Most homes
do not have ovens so cakes, pies, other sweets and bread are bought. Homes of younger
families generally had a mix of western and Japanese furnishings (modern appliances,
dining table, couch, TV and other electronics and a western bed). I was lucky to spend a
day in the mountains visiting Coco Winery, the oldest school in Japan and other sites in
historic Ashikaga. I also had a day trip to
Nikko in the
mountains and visited a art museum.
Japanese
school children have many field trips and at national shrines and
historic areas
we saw many busloads. Those having English loved to ask
questions.
Hosts offered many new foods and different ways of preparation;
our favorites
were the nabe dishes prepared at table like Sukiyaki. Several
members of
the club rode the train to Hiroshima with us. The Conference
offered much
in cultural understanding of traditions and the effects of bombings. Arlene and I had our first kimono dressing;
it is a lot of effort and we see why many people have given up the traditional clothes.
I met 6 others from the DET club at the Conference and we had members of the Aichi club travel back to their
area on the train with us. This gave us an extra two days with the hosts that met us at the train station. My
host was a 68-year old widow who lived alone in a traditional style home they built when the boys were
children. Upstairs were two large tatami mat bedrooms and a
toilet.
The futons were very comfortable and I had my own room as well
as
Marie (who hosted our Seto host in Detroit after the DC
International Conference). The main floor had two traditional
tatami
rooms and a modern kitchen, dining room and living room as well
as the
bath and laundry. This experience was like my life – doing new and
favorite
things like learning the Japanese drums and then teaching it to handicapped
children as well as leading a local band, traveling (host in US 14 times and to many countries both with FF and
on her own), playing mahjong weekly and doing things with friends. We went to school programs, an evening
Page 5
drum concert, two different illumination areas, a botanical garden, three Seto pottery museums, a saki factory
and the oldest vinegar factory in Japan. We had guests for dinner, a barbeque and a night playing Japanese
mahjong (what a challenge learning all the characters and different strategies). I went walking in the area
almost every morning and to the northern mountains with a friend. Another day host took me to a Japanese
paper store and a shop with refurbished kimono and other shops after a lovely farewell lunch. We had three
touring days to a food processing plant, Subaru factory, Castle and Toyoto Museum.This club also is large and
always adding members in a large geographical area; they helped establish the Swiss club and will be going
there on exchange. And one great thing was they hosted Cairo a few years before and the two ladies that
stayed at my house also stayed with my host. We are talking about trying to visit there together.
To understand some differences between traveling alone and hosted by a FF
club I will explain my travels in Kyushu prefecture for three days in contrast to
three days of Arlene’s post-conference stay.
I flew directly from Narita airport to Fukuoka airport and then took the subway
to the stop closest to my city hotel. I walked the 4 blocks and settled into the
room having a little difficulty finding it in the last block (small sign). I had the rest
of the day and early evening to explore center city business area and the hotel
gave me a Japanese map and I had picked up an English one at the airport
information desk (you needed both to figure out the streets and buildings). I
walked to the parks, the city canal and modern shopping area, the museum and
then diner at a traditional street stall “Yatai” was special and I enjoyed the
Hakata Ramen with pork as the only non-Asian eating on the street.
I purchased my Shinkansen (bullet train) round-trip tickets to Mt. Aso before
turning in for the night as I left early after breakfast at the hotel. The bullet train
was great to Kumanoto but I had a local (36 stops) after I reached . This train
was more like a tram and quite the experience as no one spoke English and
there were many stops (36). Fortunately a British man got on after 30 minutes
and I spoke to him and he warned me the train would stop for 15 minutes and
then swag backwards and change tracks before proceeding onward – this was
really helpful because I felt a little lost in this rural area as the only person in my
car. It was a welcome site to see the Mt. Aso train station and a ride waiting for
me.
Mt. Aso, Japan’s active volcano, was a fascinating area and I was lucky that the
day was clear and air good for a great view of the churning mass and stark
landscape surrounding it. The cable car ride was a waste of 1000 Y as it was an easy climb but I did not know.
In the museum there was no English but you could identify the main thrust of each exhibit. The pension owner
introduced me to the manager for the museum and she gave me some brochures and cards. We drove around
the whole area and the land is majestic with mountains and plateaus.
The pension was built 32 years ago by the woman’s father and the chef (her husband) cooked there all these
years. I enjoyed a gourmet meal, a private hot spring bath and a quiet night. In the morning I walked in this
rural area for about an hour and saw many pensions and open forests. After breakfast, we walked the town
and it was back on the fast train to Fukuoka and then another JR train to Dazaifu.
Dazaifu is a national historic site with buildings from 600-900 AD and has the most famous shrine in Fukuoka;
it was challenging to get back to the hotel from but offered contrast to city center modern buildings.The
special snack here is "umegae-moch” a sweet cake of rice, red beans and other ingredients (a favorite of
mine).
Page 6
Traveling alone in most of Japan is possible without the language but you often miss some of the history
behind how things have changed and that is the value of FF homestays. I really liked the ability to go around
myself a little and then discuss my finds with the hosts. The Shinkansen and subway are much easier to ride as
all over Japan there is English as well as hangi for the stops and the cars have a map of all the stops. Local
buses were harder than the local train! But part of the thrill of traveling alone without the language is actually
getting where you want to be. When you are on the exchange the club hosts pick you up, provide travel
arrangements and take you to their favorite activities. Arlene Young spent her time on a post-conference stay
with the Fukuoka club in Kyushu. On a free day the hosts took her on a leisurely drive to the country; the area
is very picturesque with mountains all around. Their first stop was a nursery and kindergarten in Tanushimaru
Town, Kurume city, for children aged 6 months to 5 years run by our host’s sister. The children were very
happy and excited to see and talk with us. After coffee, they drove to the area noted for persimmon and grape
orchards and they ate a delicious lunch at Budou-Notane (seed of grapes) restaurant in a persimmon orchard.
After lunch they visited another orchard in Ichinose, Ukiha, and picked persimmons (perhaps the most
expensive persimmons they will ever eat). But there is nothing better than eating fresh fruits picked from the
trees. The farmers cut the tops of the trees so they spread their branches which make it very easy to pick the
fruits, which you cut off from the stems with clippers.
Arlene’s group made a brief stop at a farmers market to see the various
vegetables for sale. After admiring the displays on the grounds, they drove into
the hills and watched the beautiful sunset from the lobby of Hesei View Hotel at a
famous hot spring resort , Harazuru Onsen. To their surprise they were served tea
and Arlene found the ginger she was searching for in the gift shop. After sunset,
they took their hosts to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. The owner of the
restaurant went to college in Oregon, hoping to be a baseball coach. However, he did not complete his studies
but returned home to take over the business from his father. They returned home, packed and early to bed so
they could rise early in the morning to watch the Sumo wrestlers at practice. The next day they went to the
Fujishima- Beya(stable), had a floral arrangement lesson with a Sogetsu school ikebana master who is 85 years
old, and visited a senior center where they observed an English class and then answered questions and sang
American songs.
Arlene and I really enjoyed our exchanges and would be happy to talk with you about Japan.
Happy New Year!
Holiday Party
A small but joyful group gathered to usher in the holiday season with lunch at
the Balkan Bistro in early December. The committee (Molly, Harriet, and
Peggy) decorated the room with a festive flair, lunch was excellent, Willow
recognized her board and committee chairs with special gifts, and everyone
contributed to a gift exchange. To encourage members to learn more about
each other, everyone contributed a little known fact to a game sheet and we
had to discover who each fact described. Who do you think once flew a
glider?
Page 7
Report from the Discover USA Exchange
Babs and Don Fickes
For the most part, the exchange went very well. We had
30 ambassadors and most were top-notch guests.
Of course we can never thank our home/day hosts
enough.
For some of our hosts, it was their first time hosting and
we gained several new members who hosted ( friends of
members) and were so impressed with the program and
our Friendship Force. We have many fantastic letters
from our hosts and our ambassadors. We shared many a
good time with them and they enjoyed each other
having met for the first time on November 12th.
As the concept of Global exchange is so different from our “normal” one week inbound from one club, the
schedule was somewhat confusing, here for 2 days, away for 5 days, back here for 5 days,etc..
When we planned the schedule, it was to not have meals be a large burden for the hosts. Thus we planned our
large meal to be in the middle of the day, as our forefathers did and a lite snack in the evening. And the
ambassadors where not concerned as to having to take their hosts for dinner as we scheduled that as part of
the package. Some hosts were treated twice to lunch/dinner. So for our ambassadors it was really an “all
inclusive” exchange. And we were able to return $60 to each of our ambassadors and to compensate hosts for
gas who were airport drivers. A full 13 days learning our history, sharing many good meals and making many
new friends makes an exchange a successful one.
Upcoming Exchanges
Outbound Exchange to Brazil departs on February 28 and ends on March 15
Join us in the São Paulo state of Brazil for great food, friends, fun days and festive evenings. Contact Willow
Drinkwater for details or see us on the web at: http://www2.thefriendshipforce.org/catalog/default.aspx
Join other exchanges
If you are interested in visiting other Friendship Force clubs but are unable to join our club’s exchange,
consider joining an exchange sponsored by another club. Some of our members have done that this year:
Dale Walden and Laura Anderson visited Brazil, Janis Rapp visited Colorado, and Molly Anthony and Arlene
Young visited Japan. To learn more about exchanges that are available, visit
http://www2.thefriendshipforce.org/catalog/default.aspx
Page 8
New Members
Jean Wardell
Paul and Pam Hokinson
Dale and Gayle Floyd
Eileen Seaman
Linda Gehle
Member News
Anniversaries
Arlene Hanson-Young and Leydon Young 2/7
George Jones and Jean Sorrells-Jones
2/28
Birthdays
Cheryl Kasper
Harriet Kuhr
Judith Lesiak
Helen Moyer
Jennifer Ward
Pascha Campbell
Sandi Henderson
Leslie Wensel
Ross Anderson
Walter O'Connell
Do you need a name tag or
business cards?
Drop an email to Walt
(walt.oconnell@gmail.com)
and let him know what you need.
.
1/6
1/14
1/15
1/31
2/7
2/9
2/16
2/17
2/26
2/28
Minutes from FFC Board Meeting, 12/5/12
Attending: Willow Drinkwater, Don Fickes, Walt O’Connell, Linda Burns, Babs Fickes, Dave Burns, Janis Rapp, Al
Colville, and Arlene Hanson-Young
Willow Drinkwater, Pres. opened the meeting and thanked the board for the support during the past year. She
presented the agenda for the meeting which was accepted by all present.
1. Treasurer Report: The treasurer distributed an expense report including a check registry. Balance in the
checking account is $6,296.80 but there are still financial obligations outstanding for 2012. Motion to accept
was made by Don, seconded by Dave and carried by all.
2. Secretary Report: In the absence of the secretary, Willow reviewed her notes from the meeting of Oct. 6 th.
3. Policy & Procedures Manual: Motion made by Don-“The table of content page should be updated to show
the page numbers and the Policy & Procedures Manual should be approved”. Motion seconded by Dave and
carried by all. Changes requested by Molly will be discussed at the next board meeting in January.
4. Committee Reports:
Membership and Social: To date, only 20 members have signed up for the Christmas party on
Saturday, Dec 8th. Walt will bring membership renewals to the party and send an email reminder regarding the
party and to bring blankets, sheets and towels for IRC.
Dale & Gayle Floyd joined as new members and there are a few potentials.
Programs: Don will invite Helena Arouca to attend the Jan. 8th dinner to speak on Brazil. The
“everyone’s birthday dinner” will be at the club house at the Lake. Social at 6 with dinner at 6.45pm.An email
Page 9
will be sent to all members requesting checks and dinner selections to be mailed to Dave by Jan. 4 th. All
potential members will be invited.
Board meeting will be at Don’s home on Jan 2nd.
Membership Outreach: There was nothing to report.
Communications: Willow thanked Walt for handling the reports of the traveling ambassadors. She
reviewed Molly’s report of her recent trip to the International conference in Hiroshima, Japan. Walt will issue
a newsletter during the holidays. Babs to recap on the Discover USA exchange. Willow and Don will include
letters.
Fund Raising: $1,400.00 was raised last year. Dave will turn over mugs etc. to Al and review program
with him. Report on Csaba is very good and Sonia Patterson did a great job. Dave will submit an update for the
newsletter.
Jag School: Linda stated that inviting the students to the Christmas party would allow them to meet
other Americans other than their hosts. The students will be invited but children are excluded. Linda will invite
Larry and Bebe Moore as her guests.
5. Public Relations: Dee Schwagerl will be contacted to see if she will chair this committee.
6. Exchanges: Discover USA Global – Babs reported that the exchange went very well and she received
numerous comments of “having a great time’. Don presented the financial report. Drivers will be reimbursed
for trips to the airport and the balance will be used for our outreach program.
Wessex and Hertfordshire, UK Inbound was requested for October 10th thru 17th. The exchange will
need of an ED.
The Cedar Rapids exchange will be switched to 2014.
The Brazil out bound exchange –Feb. 28th 2013 is not filled.
7. Other: Don & Babs are working with Barbara Macken, Representative of the N. East/Mid Atlantic region, to
create an invitation and program for the Regional conference scheduled for April 5-7, 2013 in Long Island, N.Y.
Please forward ideas etc to Babs for discussion.
Babs will verify with Kathy Saurman, Shirley Webster and Cel Ziemer if they will go through the
archives and provide us with an inventory list.
Don , on the board’s behalf commended Willow for her excellent job as present. We applauded and the
meeting was adjourned.
Next Board meeting will be Wednesday, January 2nd at 3pm at the Fickes’ residence,
51 Out of Bounds, Lake Monticello.
Submitted by:
Arlene S Hanson Young
Secretary
Page 10
March 2013 Exchange 11242 to São Paulo State (41M)
Joint Exchange with Somerset England & Central Virginia for 20 ambassadors
Arrive in São Paulo city’s GRU airport on early morning of March 1 and return home
March 15 for 2 exciting exchange weeks. Optional travel is being considered. The people are
warm, enthusiastic and friendly for us to know their communities. The season is the end of
summer and the temperature varies between an average of 66-860F; there is some rain, but not
the heaviest months, and elevation changes impact climate between the NW and SE areas.
Week One – March 1-7, 2013 (air transfer to SJP
on morning of March 8)
Friendship Force de Campinas (size > 1M people)
In the first half of the 19th century, Campinas became a growing population
center, with many coffee, cotton and sugarcane farms. The railway, the
abolition of slavery and industrialization attracted many foreign immigrants to
replace the lost manpower.
The exchange includes a day in city of São Paulo to visit a few highlights (some choices).Other tentatively
scheduled group activities are: visiting a Futebol Club, fruit and vegetable market, downtown tour, arts and
crafts market, coffee plantation, Symphony, Welcome Dinner, Lunch Party and Farewell Dinner.
We are planning some flexible part- and full-days with your host that might include an Ecological Park, walking
other trails, attending a futebol (soccer) match, visiting one of many universities, scenic roadway trip and more
eating the wonderful food or seeing some history such as "Mato Dentro" coffee farm, landscaped by the
renowned Brazilian designer Burle Marx and its "Casa Grande" museum.
Week Two – March 8-14, 2013 (air home or to option on morning March 15)
Friendship Force de São José do Rio Preto (> 408,000 people) . During the week exchange our group
will tour the city market, visit a catholic church, see local fauna, and city buildings; visit a latex plantation; shop
in rural antique and craft stores; day trip to a sugar cane plantation and senior center; enjoy thermal waters at the
Thermal Club of Laranjais; party to live music and dancing twice and enjoy excellent food and Brazilian BBQ.
There are also 2.5 flexible days for host and ambassador’s special interests. This area has old and current
agricultural production with coffee farms, huge sugar cane mills producing sugar and ethanol, cachaça distillery
and other commerce.
Campinas
São José do Rio Preto
Fees for FFI and local Clubs: $800 USD
Cost: Air through United/TAM is $1100- GRU to JPR to GRU
to Home
Brazilian Visa USA 2013 $160
Base Cost = $1300+160+800=$2260 (est)
Options are being considered
Call Willow or Molly soon if interested.
Page 11
Show Your Club Logo with Custom Merchandise
You now have the ability to purchase quality
merchandise with our club logo embroidered
on it from Queensboro. Some of us have
purchased this merchandise in the past and
have found it to be very good quality.
We have our own “store front” that uses our
approved logo and ordering products through
it is quite easy. Go to http://ffcv.qbstores.com
and to see the selection of products. To
make a purchase, set up an account and then
select from the products available, specifying
your size and color preference.
A flat fee of $6.50 per order applies regardless of the order size so
team up with a friend and consolidate your orders.
Queensboro offers many more products than we have placed in our store front. If you are looking for
something in particular you can view their entire site at http://www.queensboro.com. You can order
directly from that site but you won’t have access to our logo. If you see an item you would like with
the logo, let Walt know (walt.oconnell@gmail.com, 434-591-0532) and he will add it to the store front.
Page 12
2012- Calendar events for FFCV programs and Socials
Semi-Monthly Notices will be sent out as to details of each meeting and social. PTD ( Place and Time to
be Decided)
1. BOD Meetings are usually held the first Tuesday of each month (dates may vary for some months) The
meetings are open to the Board of Directors, committee chairs and all FFCV members.
2. Dinner Meetings are usually held the 2nd Tuesday of Odd numbered months, Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept. &
Nov. Members are encouraged to bring friends/ potential members.
3. Social Activities in even numbered months and more. Includes picnic with July meeting and December
Holiday party. Providing many opportunities for members, friends and guests to venture, explore, serve, learn
and have fun. No limit to the possibilities. If you have an event of social interest you wish to share,call Peggy
Colville, 589-2844 or E-Mail peggysmith1@hotmail.com .
Details of Dinner Meetings and Social will be sent out Bi-weekly with RSVP contacts.
2013 Calendar
Meetings and Events
Jan. 2, 3:00 – 4:30 PM
Jan. BOD meeting. 51 Out of Bounds Rd. in Lake Monticello. For those attending
from areas outside of Lake Monticello, please call 589-2186 if attending or E-Mail
fickesdb@earthlink.net .
Jan. 8, 6:00 PM
January 31 or February 1
Bi-monthly dinner meeting. See details on page 3.
Virginia Museum Fine Arts for the Chihuly Glass Exhibition and the Virginia
Historical Society for many special exhibits.
February 5
BOD meeting 3:00 Fickes 589-2186
March 1
World Friendship Day. Program TBA
March 5
BOD Meeting. Fickes, 3-4:30
March 12 ( May be moved
to March 19)
Member Dinner meeting
March 25th-30th DTD
Social Activity: Day trip by van to Washington, DC. Cherry blossoms,
monuments, gallaries, lunch, etc.
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15