February 2016 - ffconnecticut.org
Transcription
February 2016 - ffconnecticut.org
Footnotes February 2016 Letter from the President 2016 Calendar (meet our new president) February open March 4* Membership Dinner: Concetta’s Restaurant Dear Friendship Force Connecticut Members, I am a native New Yorker, born in the Bronx many years ago. I am a 1985 graduate of CCNY with a science major but my major occupation was a salesman for a major drug wholesaler. My wife Toby and I have been married for 52 years as of Feb 15th. We have three grown children and proud grandparents of three students one in high school and two in college. I am starting my second term as a Town Councilor in Bloomfield. Over the years I have been an active member of the Rotary Club, Toastmasters, Civitan International, Regents Mens’ Club and involved in other volunteer efforts. This past June I created a project called Celebrate Bloomfield, which consisted of 11 community events intended to bring town residents together. We have lived in Bloomfield for 50 years. I am looking forward to leading our Friendship Force Club to an enjoyable and successful year In Friendship, Joel Neuwirth April 6 * May 4 22 Mountain Rd, Bloomfield, CT. see P 4 Theatre- Playhouse on Park, W Hartford, Dinner at Effie’s Place P 5 Open World Program - Farewell dinner More details forthcoming P 6 June 2 to 9, 2016 July * Inbound from Utah – ED Dave Austin Summer picnic: Date and Place to be determined Open August September 8 to 13 P 3 Building of America Global Exchange Directors-Martha Schwartz/Ray Chicoine September 24, (note day) Saturday, Annual meeting & Steak Roast Sunrise Park, West Suffield October Inbound exchange from Kapiti Coast, NZ November Open December Holiday party: Date and Place to be determined * Arranged by Activities Committee members Bruce Wazorko 860-707-5639 Nancy Crandall 860-503-3353 Letter from the Past President Friends, It has been a privilege to serve as your President for the previous 2 years. I appreciate the wonderful support of the Board members that I served with. I also want to thank the nonboard members who were able to support our activities and chose to support our activities. I look forward to meeting other members who decide to become active in supporting Friendship Force of Connecticut. I encourage all members to read the minutes from the Board Meetings and read our current bylaws. In Friendship, Dave Austin --------------------------------------------------------------------- Useful Links Friendship Force International Web site : www.thefriendshipforce.org Address: Suite 501, 127 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 3030 Fax 404-522-9490 Phone: 404-688-6148 Friendship Force of Connecticut Email [email protected] “ Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own” 1 2016 Officers and Board President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Membership Activities Joel Neuwirth vacant Sally Kuras Ray Chicoine Martha Schwartz Bruce Wazorko Nancy Crandall George Swenson NewsletterLee Goodfriend Publicity Eunice Heinlein Web Master David Austin Past President Dave Austin Domestic Exchange Coordinator RoseAnne Austin Inbound Exchanges Open World from Ukraine 2016 Betty DeAngelis Director Global Exchange 2016 “Building of America” Exchange Directors Martha Schwartz Ray Chicoine Tamworth, Australia 2015 Joel Neuwirth & Bruce Wazorko Utah 2016 ED Dave Austin Kapiti Coast, New Zealand NEXT BOARD MEETING GET WELL WISHES February 9, 2016 @ 2:00 p.m. Bloomfield Senior Center 330 Park Ave, Bloomfield, Park in front of building Enter bldg through front door TO LARAINE WILSON She is presently at Salmon Brook Extended Care Facility 72 Salmon Brook Rd, Glastonbury 860-780-6411 Exchange News OUTBOUND EXCHANGE 2/28/2016 to 3/15/ ADELAIDE and TAMWORTH AUSTRALIA Outbound to Tamworth & Adelaide Australia has been cancelled. We did not get enough committed ambassadors to satisfy the requirements of the hosting club. At the Board's direction, I have asked these clubs to reschedule for 2017. We will let you know when they respond, via the Board minutes and future Newsletters. INBOUND EXCHANGE FROM UTAH The Utah club from Salt Lake City will bring 15 Ambassadors to Connecticut, arriving June 2, departing June 9, 2016. Dave Austin is the Exchange Director. Would you like to get into the act? We need night hosts, day hosts, and dinner hosts. Please contact Dave Austin, 860-830-5607, or [email protected], if you can help in any way. We are planning a reciprocal two week outgoing exchange in 2017 which will include Western Colorado and Salt Lake City. INBOUND FROM KAPITI COAST, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND We will be the second leg of a 3 club tour, starting in Canada in early October & ending in VA. We need an Exchange Director - New Zealanders are a joy to know .If there is some place in the USA that you would like to visit, contact Domestic Exchange Director Rose Anne Austin at 860-236-4492, or [email protected]. 2 Building of America - Global Exchange Hosts needed for the Building of America Global Exchange September 8-13, 2016 As you read this, the Building of America global exchange should already be posted on the FFI website. We are very excited about our portion of the schedule, along with the activities offered by both the New Hampshire and New Jersey clubs. Each club is offering unique programs not usually included in our exchanges. Twenty ambassadors are expected to participate, and we are calling now for hosts, dinner hosts, and day hosts to step up and volunteer to make our exchange successful. In planning our budget, we tried to include as much hosting expense as possible, including many dinners, most lunches, and gas money for the drive to the Pequot Museum. Hosts only need to provide breakfasts and possibly one lunch at home for their guests— and a worm comfy bed, of course. Did you know Benedict Arnold grew up in Norwich where he was a pharmacist apprentice? Well… if you host, you can walk in his footsteps during our exchange . Have you ever watched a fife and drum muster and meet a Minute Man at the Nathan Hale Homestead? If you host you will. Did you ever have tea with Abigail Adams? You will if you host an ambassador during this exchange. Please don’t tell our ambassadors, because this is to be a surprise for them. Want to know more? Volunteer to host or day host an ambassador. Because many planned activities have limits on the number of participants, many activities will only be open to ambassadors and their hosts. This exchange can only be as successful as our club volunteers make it. Please step up and do your share to ensure it will be the best global exchange ever. WE NEED YOU TO DO YOUR FAIR SHARE! Ray Chicoine ([email protected]) Or Martha Schwartz ([email protected]) 3 Open Membership Dinner 3/4/2016 Join us for our annual membership dinner where board members will talk about their FF experiences. Everyone is encouraged to invite friends and acquaintances who have shown an interest in our organization. In the next few weeks board members will be speaking to various civic groups whose members will also be invited to this dinner. Site: Concetta’s Restaurant 22 Mountain Road Bloomfield, CT. Date and Time: 3/4/2016 @ 6:00 p.m. Food Service: Order off the menu Program: Introduction of guests, history of the FF Organization and procedure for hosting and being hosted. “Guests will be offered a free glass of wine” The success of this event will be determined by your participation. Please contact one of the following members of the Activities Committee to show your support on or before 2/26/2016 so we can obtain a definite head count. Bruce Wazorko [email protected] Nancy Crandall [email protected] George Swenson [email protected] Or call 860-707-5639 4 4 Activity For the Month of April Theater Production Place: Playhouse on Park 244 Park Rd. West Hartford, CT Production: “Superstition” - Song and dance show Time: April 6, 2016 at 7:30pm Cost: $15/person Pre Show Activity: 6:00pm dinner ( Order off the menu) Effies Place 99 Park Rd., W. Hartford, CT (20% discount with theater tickets) ——————————————————————— Friendship Force of CT Yes I (We) would like to attend the 4/6/16 Theater Production at the Playhouse on Park and the pre Dinner Activity. Name ———————————————————————————————— Address ——————————————————————————————— Number of people ( ) X $15/pers = $________ Make checks payable to the “FF of Connecticut” Send to Bruce Wazorko/Nancy Crandall 243 Olney Rd. Wethersfield, Ct. 06109. Sign up date by 3/23/16 ONLY 20 Seats Have Been Reserved 5 5555555p. 860.233.9653 • 91 Park Road • West Hartford, CT 5 h something for everyone to enjoy, from Greek specialties, steaks and seafood to Effie's Place We look Open World from Ukraine April 29 - May 7th. E.D. Betty DeAngelis http://www.openworld.gov/ FF members, Friendship Force of Connecticut has accepted a request from FFI and Open World to welcome a delegation from Ukraine. We were charged with the planning and implementation of activities for a delegation from Serbia in 2014 and expect to repeat our success. Delegates (5) are selected by the American Ambassador in the Ukraine. They are here to Witness Accountable Governance in Connecticut. They will be traveling with a facilitator and translator. The delegates are sponsored by Open World Leadership Program, funded by the United States Congress. The Ukraine delegation will arrive in CT on Friday April 29th. Arrangements are being made for them to meet with Senator Chris Murphy while in DC before arriving in CT. The Connecticut General Assembly is in session at that time. The goal is to have them meet with various member of the CT General Assembly. Here is where FF members can help. Monday May 2, Tuesday May 3rd and Wednesday May 4th. They will be at the State Capitol from 8:30 to 4:30 each day. We ask that you contact your State Representatives from your respective towns. If you know them personally, that would be a benefit. We will be asking them to be responsible for 1 -2 hours while at the General Assembly on May2, 3 or 4th, taking the delegates to his or her committee meetings/caucus, etc. This will give the delegates a firsthand look at how our State government works. We already have a positive response from Joel, Ray and Sally Kuras who contacted there reps and they were all very willing to meet with the delegation while at the State Capital . Looking for help from our FF members in the Wallingford area. State Senator Len Fasano, Minority Leader is the Wallingford rep. We ask that someone contact John Kissel Senate Chief Deputy Minority leader from the Granby area. Congressman John Larson is also on board to meet the group. At some point they will be introduced at the Assembly and welcomed and recognized by the LT Governor Nancy Wyman. And don’t forget, we will need home hosts and help with planning. Please contact: Betty DeAngelis [email protected] 6 860-523-4538 MEMBERSHIP DUES 2016 Friends Our club is keeping up with the times. We have increased our membership dues. Please realize that this is the first time in many years there has been a change. Singles: $30 Family: $45. This is a reminder that 2016 dues are due and payable Doing this allows us to update our membership information, and keep an accurate count of members’ status. Name(s): Address: City/Town: ________________________ State/Zip: Emai_____________________________ Phone: __________________ Cell Phone: Newsletter preference: (Please check one) Electronic E-Mail (in color) Paper copy via U.S. Postal Service (black and white) Membership: FF Name Badge: ___ Family -$45 ___ Single _ $30 $11.75 each Claw back ____ or Pin back Please mail your check made out to “Friendship Force CT” to: Martha Schwartz 65 Hickory Hill Rd. Simsbury, CT 06070 860-658-0760 Martha [email protected] ************************************************************************************************ Ray Chicoine has done some shopping and discovered something he would like to share You too can be sporting a T shirt or polo shirt with our logo 1.) You supply the shirt - The shirt illustrated came from WalMart for $8 2.) The fabric should be cotton, denim or some type that doesn't stretch, your choice of color 3.) Cost of embroidery is $8.00 per shirt, payable in cash. 4.) The font of Friendship Force can be of any color but black or white does best 5.) Place money in envelope. Ray has offered to do the foot work, providing you get it to and from him. The Company is\: ‘Schiller Sewing Center’, on Main St. Willimantic. Ray Chicoine 860-742-3051 93 John Hand Drive [email protected] Coventry, CT 06238 7 FRIENDSHIP FORCE INTERNATIONAL NEW President and CEO Jeremi Snook Jeremi Snook grew up in rural New Hampshire in the extreme northeastern part of the United States. Eager to explore the country, Jeremi broke free from his deep New England roots to attend the University of Florida from which he began his career working in nonprofit organizational development. Prior to joining Friendship Force in November 2015, Jeremi has worked successfully with organizations to enhance their mission through innovation and operational efficiency. Jeremi’s work includes the United Way of Central Carolinas and the Uptown Emergency Shelter in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2008, he took a short break from the nonprofit sector to help start a medical manufacturing company that earned him and his partner the Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies award. Most recently, Jeremi served as Chief Operating Officer with Spaulding Youth Center, a leading community-based provider of educational services for children with neurological or behavioral challenges in Northfield, New Hampshire, USA. With a love for travel, he enjoys exploring different cultures and has a personal appreciation for the impact these experiences can have on an individual’s view of the world. Jeremi is excited to have found the Friendship Force with a mission to encourage others in these very same experiences. Jeremi holds a Masters in Business Administration from Queens University of Charlotte and resides in Athens, Georgia, with his life-partner Sherry, and their two sons. FFI World Conference 2016: Marrakesh, Morocco September 16-19 (arrival and registration on Sep 15) Join us for our very first FFI World Conference in Africa See more information http://thefriendshipforce.org/index.php/welcome_news 8 wrap-up AN INTERNATIONAL DINNER. Sunday, November 8th, at 2PM Pho* Boston Restaurant 144 Shield Street West Hartford Another enjoyable dinner 9 (wrap up) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2015 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sans Souci Restaurant Meriden, CT LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE INTERESTING ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURES IN THE NEW YEAR 10 ETCETERA January 6, 2016 “6 on 6” Southern Connecticut FF invited us to their new program designed to bring members together socially and inform them about all aspects of Friendship Force, while hopefully attracting new members. The first gathering was at the Baltic Restaurant in Berlin, CT at 6:00 o’ clock, on the 6th day of the month. Nina Lesiga, who is a new member discussed her experiences as a storyteller and travel coach. A nice photo Members having fun “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and Remember more than I have seen” Benjamin Disraeli 11