Friendship Force International

2012
Creating a
World of Friends
that becomes a
World of Peace
Time
to get
Dear friends,
Do you have difficulty answering the question “What is the Friendship Force?” If I don’t
have much time I simply say, “It is an international people-to-people exchange program
for people of all ages. If you like international travel and meeting people from other
countries, check out our website and get involved.” But if I have a little more time, here
is what I tell them:
MISSION
First, the Friendship Force is an idea, a vision: That vision, developed by our three
founders, Wayne Smith with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, is that people around the world
can break down the barriers that separate them by getting to know each other as friends.
It is a vision that has inspired people for 35 years, changing the way they see the world
(pp. 4-5).
Second, the Friendship Force is an international people-to-people exchange
program: Our founders created a practical and effective program for pursuing their
vision, placing visiting “ambassadors” in host homes for a week so that people who meet
as strangers can depart as good friends! In 2011 more than 4,500 people joined exchanges
as ambassadors, and many more people joined as hosts. Take a look at the list of
exchanges from 2011: each of these represents hundreds of new friendships (pp. 16-18).
Third, the Friendship Force is a global network. The impact of the Friendship Force
comes from the impressive global network you’ll see on pages 10-11, all the more so
since it is based on volunteer leadership.
Getting involved with the Friendship Force is simpler than ever before. Take a look at the
feature at the bottom of page 9 to see a few ways that anyone around the world can get
involved, either through a Friendship Force club or the FFI website.
We are celebrating our 35th anniversary throughout the year, culminating with our World
Conference in Hiroshima, Japan (see back cover). We can all be proud that the Friendship
Force remains strong in 2012 because we have a clearly held vision, a time-tested
program for promoting that vision, and a dynamic global organization to sustain it.
Even as we celebrate a proud history, we must look to the future. What do we need to
do TODAY to ensure a strong future for the next generation? That is why we created
the Global Expansion Plan, 2012-2014. Take a close look at the Global Expansion Plan
on pages 12-13. Find ways to join the effort at our website: www.thefriendshipforce.org/
expansion. Working together we can make sure the vision, program and network remain
strong for years to come.
George T. Brown, Jr.
President, FFI
Friendship Force International
George T. Brown, Jr.
President and CEO
friendship force international
Established 1977 by Wayne Smith
with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter
Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s George T. Brown, Jr.
2 Letter from the President
President and CEO
Board of Directors
Alan Milne, Chairman - New Zealand
Beatriz E. Gamboa de Ardila - Colombia
Cecile Bouchet - Belgium
Cinda Clark - USA
Yury Kazantsev - Russia
Sandra Larson - USA
Cecile Latour - Canada
Boya Marshall - Germany
David Meyer - USA
Jack Mullen - USA
Mark Rebstock -USA
Çiçek Şensan- Turkey
Karen Overly Smith - USA
Toko Yomura - Japan
4 35 Years of Friendship l Creating a World of Friends
6 Argentina l Expanding to New Regions
8 Africa l The Future is Bright
10 Friendship Force club list
12 Global Expansion Plan
14 Themed Exchanges
15Finance
16 2011 Exchanges
19 Wayne Smith Medal
Send all correspondence to: Editor, FFI
The Candler Building,
127 Peachtree St., NE, Suite 501
Atlanta, GA 30303
In friendship,
2
To promote global
understanding across the
barriers that separate people.
involved
FFI President George Brown
and his wife Jill join in a dance
led by Indonesian delegates at
the 2010 World Conference.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Global Expansion 2012 - 2014
Creating a world of friends that becomes a world of peace
Keiko Matsubara (FF Gifu) and Elza dos Santos FFI Board Members Boya Marshall and Toko Yomura.
(FF Sao Paulo-ABC) in Japan. Photo by
Photo by Carla Kelley.
Eduardo de Cillo.
Tracy Yew (FF Taipei) with Mr. and Mrs. Kim (FF Seoul)
at a garden party in Korea. Photo by Tracy Yew.
Christine Ongondo and Lucy Mathenge (FF Nairobi) lead delegates
in a traditional Kenyan dance at the 2011 World Conference.
Photos by Pallie Savoie.
Hello! ... Come in ... Welcome to our home.
With these words, the Friendship Force journey begins. It takes us where we have never been
before – into the heart of a country and its people.
The Friendship Force is a global community comprising
371 clubs (chapters) in 54 countries. Its members are ordinary
people of all ages who share a desire to spread goodwill, to better
understand people of other cultures, and to value one another
as friends.
Cultural exchanges and home stays are the signature program
of the Friendship Force. A club prepares an itinerary of cultural
activities, inviting members from clubs in other countries to come
for four to seven days and stay with them in their homes.
When local hosts open their homes to visitors from other
countries and cultures, true understanding can develop though
the sharing of meals, conversation and the routines of daily life.
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Strangers become friends. These friends change the way we see
the world.
With the Friendship Force, not only do we discover other
cultures, but we become citizen ambassadors for our own culture.
We become part of changing the way others see the world as well.
Every friendship formed across the barriers of nationality,
language, religion or politics makes the world a better place. This
year 18,000 Friendship Force members are eager to welcome you.
Experience the world with the Friendship Force.
You can change the world, one friendship at a time.
Anne Njeri (FF Nairobi) and Victor Ouellet (FF Canadian
Capital Region)
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5
Global Expansion 2012 - 2014
Expanding to New Regions
Welcome to Argentina!
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Vicki Vance poses for a picture with the FF Villa Maria founders. Left to right:
Carolina Zandrino, Vicki Vance, Michelle Martoglio, Juan Olcese, Erica Carignano.
“Mentoring a new club takes a lot of work, but it’s very rewarding
when you get there and you see their enthusiasm,” Vicki said.
“They’re so proud. I’m happy for them because I see the pride they
have in sharing their town and their families with us.”
Plans are underway to open 45 new clubs around the world by
2014 (see pp. 12-13). Each new club will need an experienced
and enthusiastic volunteer to mentor the new leaders. Visit www.
thefriendshipforce.org/expansion to join the effort!
Our Global Community
• The Friendship Force offers the opportunity to explore other
cultures from the inside, as the personal guest of a Friendship
Force host.
• “Discover” exchanges provide a cultural introduction to new
countries or regions where home hosting is limited.
• 265 exchanges took place in 2011, with 4,527 ambassadors
traveling. Thousands more families served as hosts.
Photos by Vicki Vance
For the first time, the Friendship Force global
community now includes a new club in Argentina.
The idea for the new club started with a chance
meeting. Erica Carignano of Villa Maria, Argentina,
was traveling in the US when she met Friendship Force
members Julie Albrecht and Laurie Ann Scott. Erica loved
the idea of the Friendship Force, but there were no clubs
in her home country, so she decided to start one herself.
It started as a coincidence, but it was hard work
and determination that transformed the idea into a real
beginning. Vicki Vance of FF Baton Rouge, USA, stepped
up to help Erica and mentor the young club.
Vicki communicated with Erica to familiarize her
with the organization’s mission and structure, to explain
the various types of exchanges, and to advise her on
publicizing the club and recruiting members.
In the fall of 2010, Vicki led the first Discover
Argentina exchange. While the volunteers in Villa Maria
would not do any home hosting yet, they planned a variety
of activities to introduce their guests to the region. Vicki
and Erica looked forward to meeting one another for the
first time.
Along the way, the ambassadors were delayed
reaching Villa Maria and would not arrive until 3 a.m.
Vicki notified Erica and planned to get taxis, but when the
ambassadors got off the bus, their hosts were there waiting
for them.
“I knew if they were willing to go to those lengths
to greet us, they were going to be a fabulous group
of people,” Vicki said. “To be so generous and so
welcoming, it overwhelmed me.”
The exchange was a great success, and enthusiasm
grew for Erica and her team of volunteers. The Friendship
Force of Villa Maria was officially chartered in February
2011, with Erica serving as its first president. Vicki
returned with another Discover exchange later that year,
and the new members of FF Villa Maria home-hosted their
ambassadors for the first time.
Erica and the other founding members call Vicki the
“godmother” of the club. She is continuing to mentor
them as they prepare to host again in 2012.
Ambassadors on the 2011 Discover Argentina exchange
started with a tour of Andean mountains in the northwest before joining their hosts in Villa Maria.
A polo match is a taste of local culture for ambassadors
to FF Villa Maria.
Global Expansion 2012 - 2014
The
Friendship Force in
Africa
The future looks bright for the Friendship Force in Africa.
Treza Gichuiya (FF Nairobi), Mary Mwambay (FFI) and George Brown (FFI) with
delegates of the African regional conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
Yoshihiro Maruyama (FF Ehime) with Joy Jenny Gichuiya and Mike Peter Ngugi
(FF Nairobi) on an exchange to Kenya in 2011. Photo by Joy Jenny Gichuiya.
In 2011 the Friendship Force of Nairobi, Kenya, hosted
the second African regional conference, called the African
Connection, bringing together leaders from Burundi, Ghana,
Tanzania and Uganda, as well as 45 members of their own club.
FFI President George Brown and Program Services Coordinator
Mary Mwambay led workshops and discussion sessions.
Volunteer leaders gave presentations on their club and
country, allowing delegates to identify common issues they could
discuss together. The next day, breakout sessions were held to
design specific action plans for strengthening and expanding the
Friendship Force.
“When we think about how the Friendship Force can be strong
in Africa, there are several answers, including good opportunities
for Africans to participate in exchanges, leadership training
opportunities, and alternative hosting opportunities that can
combine shorter home stays with humanitarian missions or other
themed programs,” Brown said.
One of the biggest challenges for African clubs is the
difficulty they face in obtaining visas for traveling outside the
continent. Delegates agreed to pursue exchanges between the
various African clubs so that club members can develop a travel
background that will help them in applying for visas in the future.
“When I came back from the conference, I shared about it with
the members of our club. They were so interested to learn that
there are homes to welcome them in other countries in Africa,”
Tito Kilale of FF Iringa said. “Our club members are looking
forward to becoming ambassadors in the near future.”
Club leaders at the conference were also enthusiastic about
expanding the Friendship Force on their continent, particularly in
East Africa where there is a unique opportunity for growth.
Together with the existing clubs in Tanzania, Kenya and
Burundi, new clubs in Uganda and Rwanda would fulfill the
Global Expansion Plan goal of having a Friendship Force
presence in all five countries of the East African Community.
Through the Legacy Fund, two potential new leaders from
Uganda were sponsored to attend the conference for valuable
leadership training. Now they are working with their mentor club,
FF Cedar Rapids-Iowa City USA, to plan the first exchange to
Uganda in fall 2012.
“There is a lot of potential in Africa in terms of expansion
and growth,” Treza Gichuiya of FF Nairobi said. “It would
be worthwhile if clubs in Africa and around the world would
vigorously market the Friendship Force to cover the whole
continent because, though it may be in a small fraction, Friendship
Force is truly uniting the world.”
Oswald Manirakiza of FF Bujumbura, Burundi, felt that
the most important achievement of the African Connection
conference was the opportunity to get to know one another. “For
my club, it was an occasion to meet other African clubs, discuss
our respective activities and build relationships,” he explained.
The next African regional conference will be held in
Ghana in 2013.
GET INVOLVED!
Check out ways to get involved with the Friendship Force at www.thefriendshipforce.org
Sign up
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Tito Kilale (FF Iringa, Tanzania) and Stan Croall (FF Manitoba, Canada)
discuss their Friendship Force experiences at the 2010 World Conference.
to receive news & notices of
opportunities YOU can join!
Travel the world Join a club
on a Friendship Force
cultural exchange
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Force leaders in your area
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understandig with a donation
to the Legacy Fund.
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FRIENDSHIP
on 6 continents
View club profiles at thefriendshipforce.org/clubsearch
with clubs in more than 50 countries.
®
Albania
Shkoder
Tirana
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Bogota
Cali
Quindio
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Liberia
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Prague
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Mie
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Nagasaki
Nara
Niigata
Oita
Osaka
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Saitama
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Tokyo
Tottori
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Yamagata
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Kenya
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Seoul
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Azrou (P)
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Peru
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Irkutsk
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Helsingborg
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Ankara
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Kyiv Region
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Bristol
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Sussex
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Noord
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Auckland-North Shore
Christchurch
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Hamilton
Horowhenua
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Bergen
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Alabama
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Pikes Peak Region
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ConnecticutConnecticut
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Florida
Central Florida
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Greater Orlando
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Big Canoe - North Georgia
Greater Atlanta
Lake Hartwell
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Eastern Washington-
Northern Idaho
Illinois
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Quad Cities
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Central Iowa
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Minnesota Minnesota - Twin Cities
Missouri
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Montana
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Oregon’s Mid-
Willamette Valley
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PennsylvaniaGreater Harrisburg
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(D) = Development (P) = Partner Organization
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Global Expansion 2012 - 2014
2012-2014
Asti Mochtar (FF Jakarta,
Indonesia) at the 2010
World Conference Gala.
FFI Board Members Cuqui Ardila and Cicek Sensan. Ambassadors from FF Lake Hartwell, USA, in Brazil.
Photo by Carla Kelley.
Photo by Darrel Panner.
Delegates join in an African dance at the 2011 World
Conference. Photo by Pallie Savoie.
Global Expansion Plan
2 012 marks the 35th anniversary of
The Friendship Force. This milestone is a
testament to the enduring relevance of our mission to promote
global understanding across the barriers that separate people.
Thirty-five years ago, the founders gave their vision and
financial investment to successfully launch the Friendship
Force. But the success belongs to all of us. Everyone who has
participated as an ambassador, host, club leader or member has
contributed to our thriving global network of friendship.
The Friendship Force mission is just as important today as
it was 35 years ago – and maybe more so. Building a strong and
enduring future must be an on-going part of our work. For that
purpose, Friendship Force International (FFI) has adopted a threeyear plan with five initiatives that will increase the number of
ambassadors by 20% and attract a new generation of participants.
1st Initiative: 45 new Friendship Force clubs.
The strength of the Friendship Force is the global network of
360 clubs. The Global Expansion Plan will triple the number of
new clubs each year through a comprehensive development effort,
with new clubs established in every region of the world. This
bold effort will succeed by drawing on experienced Friendship
Force leaders to support the new clubs. Existing clubs will be
assigned to mentor each new club. In 2012 efforts are underway to
establish new clubs in Japan, Colombia, Uganda, Russia, Mexico,
Turkey, India, USA, and Morocco, with many more to follow.
2nd Initiative: Expanding themed exchanges
and new programs.
Since 2008, themed and global exchanges promoted to
Friendship Force members online have successfully revitalized
clubs, attracted new and younger participants, and inspired
current members. In 2012 and 2013 more themed exchanges
will be available to clubs and members. New programs to Cuba,
expanded cruise opportunities, and specialized exchanges will
attract a new generation of members.
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Exchange Director John Hayner (FF Florida Suncoast) takes questions from a
television news team in Ankara, Turkey. Photo by John Conover.
3rd Initiative: Leadership for tomorrow.
At the local, regional, national and global levels, dedicated
volunteers make the Friendship Force successful. With the
expansion plan comes a further commitment to train and support
current volunteer leaders and to recruit new leaders who will share
enthusiasm for carrying the Friendship Force forward into the
future. Leadership training opportunities will combine traditional
regional workshops with expanded use of the Internet and webbased materials and training.
4th Initiative: Promoting the Friendship Force
globally.
With the advent of email marketing, the Internet, and social
media, the Friendship Force now has much greater potential
to reach new people and new communities. These online tools
can be used effectively for sharing information and for working
collaboratively with volunteers around the world. New print and
digital materials will be released in 2012, along with an updated
website and expanded email marketing to share Friendship Force
opportunities with more people. FFI will also work in partnership
with clubs to build stronger recognition at the regional and
national level.
Indrawati Saleh and Sri Djamaan (FF Malang, Indonesia) visit a pumpkin
farm with their hosts, FF Cedar Rapids-Iowa City. Photo by Veta Hildebrand.
5th Initiative: Raise $275,000 to finance the expansion plan.
Just as the initial establishment and growth of the Friendship
Force depended on special financial gifts, the 2012-2014 Global
Expansion Plan will require contributions from Friendship Force
members, clubs and friends around the world. Donors will have
the opportunity to designate how their contributions will be used,
as the Friendship Force global family works together to achieve
the goals of the Global Expansion Plan.
Tens of thousands of people around the world have benefited
from the legacy provided by those who built the Friendship
Force 35 years ago. Now it is our turn to build for the future.
The 2012-2014 Global Expansion Plan provides a bold and
aggressive strategy for growth. Its success will require the active
participation of Friendship Force members and leaders from
around the world. Working together we can make the Friendship
Force strong for years to come.
To find out how you or your club can become actively
engaged in this process, visit www.thefriendshipforce.org/
expansion.
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Themed Exchanges
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.
Through the online exchange catalog on the Friendship Force
website, ambassadors can join in from all over the world. Since
2008, themed exchanges promoted to Friendship Force members
online have energized clubs, attracted new participants and led to
many lasting friendships.
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.
Photo submitted by
Valerie Keenan
Fun in the
snow in
Canada
Friendship Force International
Cycling in Niagara
FF Niagara provided the 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. Stops
were made at local wineries and historical sites, giving
ambassadors a real taste of the region. Ambassadors enjoyed
seeing the falls and the opportunity to be active together.
Making music in Mexico
and Germany
Several clubs in
Canada have realized the
cold, snowy winters that
are so ordinary for them
can be an exciting experience for ambassadors from warmer
climates. Four clubs, Ottawa, Canadian Capital Region,
Winnipeg and Manitoba, hosted an exchange in February 2011
designed to give their Australian guests a winter adventure.
Ambassadors built snowmen, rode toboggans and enjoyed
learning how their hosts cope with the icy cold. 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.
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Friendship Force leaders in Bavaria, Germany, and TuxtlaGutierrez, Mexico, worked with local high schools to arrange
two band exchanges that engaged their whole community. High
school bands from the US visited the two international cities
over their spring break in April 2011 and were hosted by the
families of other student musicians. The teenagers performed
together in concerts and
parades for the public,
and they enjoyed getting
to know one another. The
experience was rewarding
for students and adult
volunteers alike. Both
bands from Mexico and
Germany made return
visits to their friends in
the US in Spring 2012.
Photo submitted by Mavi Ramirez
Friendship Force International, Inc., better known as
FFI, is the global headquarters for the Friendship Force.
FFI is responsible for developing and maintaining a global
network of independent Friendship Force clubs, as well as
developing new programs to keep the organization relevant
and strong for the future. Each year a budget is established
by the FFI Board of Directors and implemented by the FFI
staff, led by CEO George Brown.
Between 2004 and 2007, FFI had a positive operating
balance with adequate reserves for cash flow. In 2008 and
2009, FFI experienced operating deficits resulting from the
global economic crisis. In 2010 and 2011, FFI achieved
its goal of returning to positive operating balances. FFI
began 2012 in a healthy financial situation, paving the way
for the new 2012-2014 Global Expansion Plan, which is
2010-2011
COMING TOGETHER
FFI Financial Report
designed to increase the organization’s capacity for
the future.
Beginning in 2005 the Board of Directors established
a separate fund to pay for new program development and
to support special initiatives as authorized by the Board.
This fund is called the Legacy Fund, with donations from
clubs, individuals and other supporters of the Friendship
Force mission. In 2012-2014 there will be a new emphasis
on donations to the Legacy Fund, which will be used to
support the Global Expansion Plan.
The following financial summary is based on the
annual audited statements which are posted for viewing
on the FFI website. To request more details on any of
FFI’s finances, please contact George Brown at gbrown@
thefriendshipforce.org.
Financial Summary
I
FFI Operations
Revenue
Exchanges Fees
Club fees
Open World Leadership Program
Legacy Fund donations
Donations (unrestricted)
Other
Total
2010
2011
1,252,197
1,007,289
111,469
123,906
181,069
185,749
51,899
16,857
5,368
7,230
109,33792,366
1,711,339
1,433,397
Expenses
Program Services
Program Development
Management and General
1,355,859
67,299
231,917
989,917
96,362
228,748
Total
Increase (decrease)
1,655,075
56,264
1,315,027
118,370
II Legacy Fund
Beginning Balance
Contributions
Legacy Fund Project Expenses
Ending balance
III Total Net Assets
Beginning net assets
Ending net assets
54,235
64,228
51,89916,857
41,906
21,554
64,228
59,531
315,732
371,996
371,996
490,366
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2011 Exchanges
January
Southern Connecticut, USA to Bogota, Colombia
Haliburton Highlands, Canada to Heredia, Costa Rica
Kansas, USA to La Libertad, Peru
Greater Atlanta, USA to Turrialba, Costa Rica
Belgian Coast, Belgium to Tuxtla-Gutierrez, Mexico
North Bay, Canada to Southwest Florida, USA
Isle of Wight, UK to Haliburton Highlands, Canada
Leuven, Belgium to San Jose, Costa Rica
February
Luebeck, Germany to West Alajuela, Costa Rica and Tuxtla-Gutierrez
Open World - Russian Mayors & Leaders to Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, USA
Vienna, Austria to Curitiba, Brazil
Edmonton, Canada to Bogota, Colombia and Sarasota, USA
Winter Exchange: Sunshine Coast, Australia to Ottawa and Winnpeg, Canada
Eco-Exchange to Alajuela, Costa Rica
Perth, Australia to Tweed Valley, Australia
Richmond, USA to Taupo, Southland and Horowhenua, New Zealand
Greater Hamilton and Burlington, Canada to Los Angeles and Austin, USA
Open World: Youth Legislators from Kazakhstan to Montgomery, USA
Pau, France and Cankaya, Turkey to Cape Town, South Africa
March
La Libertad, Peru to Perth, Adelaide and Sydney, Australia
Lake Hartwell, USA to Perth, Adelaide and Murray Bridge, Australia
Southern Oregon, USA to Greater Orlando, USA
Kaluga, Russia to Western North Carolina and Greater Lansing, USA
Open World: Urkaininan Legislators to Greater Atlanta, USA
Greater Milwaukee, USA to Central Arizona and Tucson-Southern Arizona, USA
Big Canoe, USA to Mispah, South Africa
Devon and all UK to Solo-Surakarta and Malang, Indonesia
Hannover, Germany to Mount Gambier and Bundaberg, Australia
Hiroshima, Japan to Nepal
Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Moscow, Russia to East Central Florida and Florence, USA
Kiel and all Germany to Recife, Brazil
Sarasota, USA to Sao Carlos and Sao Paulo, Brazil
Central Coast, Australia to Mount Barker and Salisbury, Australia
Charlotte, USA to Huntsville, USA
Canadian Capital Region, Canada to Nanjing, China
Greater Denver, USA to Santa Barbara and Napa-Sanoma, USA
Karsiyaka Bay, Turkey to Bogota, Colombia and Honolulu and San Diego, USA
Sunshine Coast, Australia to Noord, Netherlands and Herne, Germany
April
Olympia, USA to Santiago, Chile and West Alajuela, Costa Rica
Dunwoody High School Band, USA to Bavaria, Germany
Decatur High School Band, USA to Tuxtla-Gutierrez, Mexico
Mount Gambier, Australia to Taupo (stopover), Gisborne and
Christchurch, New Zealand
Wine Lovers: Florianopolis, Brazil to Marlborough, New Zealand
Sydney, Australia to Alajuela and Liberia, Costa Rica
Indonesian Students to Western North Carolina and Florida Suncoast, USA
Western Tokyo and Miyagi, Japan to Noumea, New Caledonia
Greater Harrisburg, USA to West Alajuela, Costa Rica
Isle of Wight, UK to Flanders, Belgium
Western Kentucky and Las Vegas, USA to Alajuela, Costa Rica
Southern New Jersey, USA to Belgian Coast, Belgium
Tucson-Southern Arizona, USA to Charlotte and Western North Carolina, USA
Niagara, Canada to Huntsville and Lake Hartwell, USA
National Capital Area, USA to Nicosia, Cyprus
Ottawa, Canada to Budapest, Hungary
Nashik, India to Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand and Blue Mountains, Australia
Greater Denver, USA to Noord, Netherlands and Schwerin, Germany
Panama Canal Cruise and home stay in San Jose, Costa Rica
Perth, Australia to Ankara, Turkey and Varel, Germany, and Bristol, UK
Ottawa, Canada to Dallas, USA
Horowhenua, New Zealand to Ribeirao Preto and Campinas, Brazil
Bavaria, Germany to Rijnmond, Netherlands
Florida Suncoast, USA to Cankaya, Turkey
May
Rostov-on-Don, Russia to Richmond, USA
Lincoln, USA to Quad Cities, USA
Howick, New Zealand to Mount Barker and Sunshine Coast, Australia
South Wales, UK to Greater Izmir, Turkey
Belem, Brazil to Novgorod and Moscow, Russia
Open World - Bloggers and Social Media from Kyrgyzstan to Denver, CO, USA
Southern Sydney, Australia to Jundiai and Brasilia, Brazil
Pecs, Hungary to Netherlands East, Netherlands
Jakarta Junior High School Principals, Indonesia to Olympia and
Lower Columbia, USA
Greater Orlando, USA to Bandung and Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Derbyshire, UK to Cottbus, Germany
Greater Cincinnati, USA to Liuzhou, China
Gardeners to Cornwall, UK
Utah, USA to Bratislava, Slovakia and Budapest, Hungary
Open World - Return to Ukraine; Lincoln, USA to Kyiv Region, Ukraine
Global exchange to Greater Hamilton and Burlington, Canada
Penticton-Okanagan, Canada to Causeway Coast and Somerset, UK
New Hampshire Seacoast, USA to Kaluga, Russia
Tamworth, Australia to Metro Vancouver, Canada and Pike’s Peak Region and
Oklahoma, USA
Northern Illinois, USA to Baku, Azerbaijan and Brasov, Romania
Fortaleza, Brazil to La Serena, Chile and Lima, Peru
Haliburton Highlands, Canada to Brussels-Pajot, Belgium
Tokyo, Japan to Minsk, Belarus
Manitoba, Canada to Fort Worth and Memphis, USA
Dubuque, USA to St. Petersburg and Irkutsk, Russia
Queanbeyan-Canberra and Tweed Valley, Australia to Cleveland County
and Devon, UK
Orange County, USA to Connecticut and Hudson Valley, USA
Yamaguchi, Japan to Gwangju, Korea
Cheyenne, USA to Long Island, USA
Raleigh, USA to Oxfordshire, UK
Nagasaki, Japan to Knoxville, USA
Netherlands East, Netherlands to Bavaria, Germany
Berlin, Germany to Isle of Wight, UK
San Francisco, USA to Biarritz, France
Seoul, Korea to Kiel and Hannover, Germany
Fort Worth, USA to Memphis, USA
Hobart, Australia to National Capital Area, USA and Sherbrooke, Canada
Sao Paulo, Brazil to Tbilisi, Georgia and Karsiyaka Bay, Turkey
North Bay, Canada to Vienna, Austria
Belo Horizonte, Brazil to San Diego, Los Angeles and Columbia Cascade, USA
Central Virginia, USA to Baku, Azerbaijan and Tbilisi, Georgia
Tottori, Japan to Montreal, Canada
June
Tuxtla-Gutierrez, Mexico to Western Michigan, USA and Stratford and
St. Marys , Canada
Auckland-North Shore, New Zealand to County Durham and Leicestershire, UK
Nanjing Teachers, China to Missouri-St. Louis, USA
Blue Mountains, Australia to Sunshine Coast, Australia
Northern Colorado, USA to Western Colorado, USA
Las Vegas, USA to Cedar Rapids-Iowa City and Minnesota-Twin Cities, USA
Mount Gambier, Sydney and Melbourne, Australia to North Moreton, Australia
Cycling in and around Niagara, USA
Heredia, Costa Rica to Solothurn, Switzerland
Hamburg, Germany to West of Scotland, UK
Whangarei and Wanganui, New Zealand to Edmonton, Canada and
Mid-Willamette Valley and Olympia, USA
Kyiv Region, Ukraine to Wessex, UK
Sussex, UK to Freiburg, Germany
Sydney, Australia to Perth Australia
Salvador, Brazil to Sibiu, Romania and Flanders, Belgium
Birmingham, USA to Sao Paulo-ABC and Tere-Rio, Brazil
Lethbridge, Canada to Cheyenne and Greater Harrisburg, USA
Greater Izmir, Turkey to Helsingborg, Sweden and Braunschweig, Germany
Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil to Belgian Coast, Belgium and
Halle-Saale, Germany
Louisville, USA to Connecticut, USA
Fukuoka, Japan to Berlin, Germany
Houston, USA to Itanhaem and Blumenau, Brazil
Cornwall, UK to Pau, France
Medicine Hat, Canada to Flathead Valley (stopover) and Columbia
Cascade (stopover), USA
Santa Barbara, USA to Greater Denver and Pikes Peak, USA
Stratford - St. Marys, Canada to Chicago, USA
New Plymouth, New Zealand to Haliburton Highlands and Quebec, Canada
Isle of Wight, UK to Netherlands East, Netherlands
Oklahoma, USA to Sacramento, USA
Braunschweig-Peine, Germany to Netherlands East, Netherlands
Sustainable Energy Festival hosted by Northern Colorado, USA
Tokyo, Japan to Cedar Rapids and Utah, USA
July
Bogota, Colombia to Lima, Peru
Queanbeyan-Canberra, Australia to Cairns, Australia
Mount Barker, Australia to Central Coast and Blue Mountains, Australia
Korolev, Russia to Greater Manchester, UK
Malang, Indonesia to Metro Vancouver, Canada and San Francisco, USA
Open World: Rule of Law, Ukraine to Southern New Jersey, NJ
Los Angeles, USA to Azrou, Morocco
Halle-Saale, Germany to Oxfordshire, UK
Braunschweig-Peine, Germany to Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Blumenau, Brazil to Nor Peru, Peru
Merseburg, Germany to Sussex, UK
Netherlands East and Noord, Netherlands to Edmonton and Hay River, Canada
Lincoln, USA to Lethbridge, Canada
Baku, Azerbaijan to Greater Omaha and Greater Des Moines, USA
Somerset, UK to Leuven, Belgium
Quad Cities, USA to Dayton, USA
Newcastle, Australia to Bavaria and Norderstedt, Germany
Columbia Cascade, USA to Sao Miguel do Iguacu and Curitiba, Brazil
San Diego, USA to Derbyshire and Cleveland County, UK
Dayton, USA and Solothurn, Switzerland to Tallinn, Estonia and Moscow, Russia
August
German and Japanese Grandparents to Greater Milwaukee and
Kern County, USA
Taupo, New Zealand to Bundaberg and Kempsey, Australia
Marlborough, New Zealand to Cairns, Southern Sydney and Mount Gambier, Australia
Adelaide and Salisbury, Australia to Recife, Sao Paulo-ABC and
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nicosia, Cyprus to Canadian Capital Region and Manitoba, Canada
Chicago, USA to Limburg, Belgium
Discover Iceland
Cape Town, South Africa to Belem and Fortaleza, Brazil
Long Island, USA to Riga, Latvia
Baton Rouge, USA to Reno-Tahoe, USA
Memphis, USA to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK and Berlin, Germany
Koriyama, Japan to Calgary Region, Canada
Christchurch, New Zealand to North Bay, Canada and Kansas, USA and
Mundo Maya, Mexico
Western North Carolina, USA to Hannover, Germany
Tere-Rio, Brazil to Schwerin, Germany
Western Colorado, USA to Sibiu, Romania and Vogtland, Germany
Oita, Japan to Korolev, Russia
Kumamoto, Japan to Jena, Germany
Trujillo, Peru to North Bay and Winnipeg, Canada
Wellington and Napier, New Zealand to Lethbridge, Canada and Eastern
Washington-Northern Idaho and Columbia Cascade, USA
2011 World Conference - Hamburg
Greater Des Moines and Central Iowa, USA to Braunschweig-Peine and
Herne, Germany
All Florida, USA to Hamburg, Germany
Greater Milwaukee, USA to Azrou, Morocco
September
La Serena, Chile to Tamworth and Gold Coast, Australia
Cairo, Egypt to Connecticut, Northeast Ohio and Central Virginia, USA
Lima, Peru to Central North Carolina and Greater Atlanta USA
Sibiu, Romania to Olympia and San Diego , USA
Salisbury, Australia to Queanbeyan-Canberra, Australia
Brisbane, Australia to Kiel and Merseburg, Germany
All Arizona, USA to Szekesfehevar, Hungary and Shkoder, Albania
Kern County, USA to Hay River, Canada
North Moreton, Australia to Wessex, UK; Netherlands East, Netherlands
and Hannover, Germany
Varel, Germany to Causeway Coast, UK
Brasilia, Brazil to Bristol and Devon, UK
Sapporo, Japan to Charlotte and Atlanta (stopover), USA
Jena and Gelsenkirchen, Germany to Greater Hamilton and Burlington,
Canada and Dallas, USA
Murray Bridge, Australia to Greater Detroit and Dayton, USA
Kempsey, Australia to Leuven, Belgium and Sussex, UK
Find current exchanges at thefriendshipforce.org/catalog
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2011 Exchanges
Shelby, USA to Niagara, Canada
Campinas, Brazil to Brasov, Romania and Saratov, Russia
Ottawa, Canada to Greater Lansing, USA
Central Coast, Australia to Medicine Hat, Canada and Seattle-Tacoma and
Rocky Mountains, USA
Isle of Wight, UK to Pecs, Hungary
Norderstedt, Germany to Wisconsin and Long Island, USA
Bratislava, Slovakia to Baku, Azerbaijan
Northern Colorado, USA to Calgary and Penticton-Okanagan, Canada
Open World: Russian Legislators to National Capital Area, USA
Missouri-St. Louis, USA to Louisville, USA
Birmingham, USA to Oklahoma, USA
Discover Amazing Argentina
Fall Semester at Sea Voyage Stopover in Accra, Ghana, and Cape Town, South Africa
Piracicaba, Brazil to Santa Barbara and Las Vegas, USA
Rijnmond, Netherlands to Rheinhessen, Germany
Pau, France to Tallinn, Estonia
Raleigh, USA to Missoula-Western Montana, USA
Noord, Netherlands to Berlin, Germany
Blue Mountains, Australia to Brandon and Area and Niagara, Canada and
Southern New Jersey, USA
Sherbrooke, Canada to Halle-Saale, Germany
Hamburg, Germany to Cornwall, UK
Central North Carolina, USA to Ottawa, Canada
Meet the Mississippi River: Father of Waters, Mother of Inventions; hosted by
Minnesota-Twin Cities, Dubuque, Quad Cities, and Missouri - St. Louis
Wine Lovers to Southern Oregon and Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, USA
Montreal, Canada to Surabaya and Malang, Indonesia
Leicestershire, UK to Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
Osaka, Japan to San Antonio and Greater Orlando, USA
Metro Vancouver, Canada to Curitiba Metropolitano and Florianopolis, Brazil
Kyoto-Fukuchiyama, Japan to Wanganui, New Zealand
Aichi, Japan to Manchester, UK and Norderstedt, Germany
Charlotte, USA to Tweed Valley and Casterton, Australia
West Alajuela, Costa Rica to Kumamoto and Hiroshima, Japan
County Durham, UK to Nicosia, Cyprus
Wisconsin, USA to Urla of Greater Izmir, Turkey
Eastern Washington-Northern Idaho, USA to Western Tokyo and Ehime, Japan
Napa-Sonoma and Honolulu, USA to Noord, Netherlands
All Montana, USA to Bavaria and Vogtland, Germany
Vietnam to Florida Suncoast, USA
October
Orange County, USA to Isle of Wight, UK
Cottbus, Germany to Hertfordshire, UK
Dallas, USA to San Francisco Bay Area, USA
Rheinhessen, Germany to Taipei, Taiwan
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Dubuque and Northern Illinois, USA
Cleveland County, UK to Trujillo, Peru
Greater Atlanta, USA to Tesino Valley, Italy
Helsingborg, Sweden to New Hampshire Seacoast and Connecticut, USA
Pikes Peak Region, USA to Greater Izmir, Turkey
Quebec, Canada to Salvador and Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil
Ribeirao Preto, Brazil to Kauai, USA
Baton Rouge, USA to Tarapoto, Peru
Sacramento, USA to Karsiyaka Bay, Turkey
Manawatu and Thames-Coromandel, NZ to Adelaide and Perth, Australia and
year in review
Cape Town, South Africa
Northern Colorado, USA to Lincoln, USA
Winnipeg, Canada to Araraquara and Maringa, Brazil
Gifu, Japan to Newcastle, Australia
Luebeck, Germany to Prague, Czech Republic
Liuzhou, China to Greater Cincinnati, USA
Indonesian Teachers to Cedar Rapids and Greater Milwaukee, USA
German Language Learners to Kern County and New Mexico, USA
Santa Barbara, USA to Nelson, Hamilton and Christchurch (stopover),
New Zealand
Ottawa, Canada to Vina del Mar, Chile
Albany, Australia to Sunshine Coast, Australia
Brandon and Area, Canada to New Plymouth and Auckland-North Shore,
New Zealand
Tokyo, Japan to Bogota, Colombia
Kansas, USA to Central Arizona, USA
Northeast Ohio, USA to Salisbury and North Moreton, Australia
Ehime, Japan to Nairobi, Kenya
Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, USA to Saitama, Japan (stopover)
and Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Melbourne, Australia to Central Coast, Australia
Western Bay of Plenty, New Zealand to Sydney and Murray Bridge, Australia
Open World: Russian Physicians to Memphis, USA
Open World: Russian Physicians to Knoxville, USA
Limburg, Belgium to Azrou, Morocco
Charleston, USA to Taupo (stopover), Marlborough and Howick, New Zealand
Niagara, Canada to Vietnam
November
Sunshine Coast, Australia to Legon and Tema and Volta Lake, Ghana
Kiel, Germany to Sacramento and Southern Connecticut, USA
Missouri-St. Louis, USA to Piracicaba and Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Korolev, Russia to Southwest Florida, USA
Discover Northern India
Noumea, New Caledonia to Hobart, Australia
Discover Israel
Open World: Delegates from Buryatia to Greater Omaha, USA
Vintage Travel in New Zealand, hosted by Kapiti Coast
Curitiba, Brazil to Nashik, India and Nepal
Morganton, USA to Sarasota, USA
All Michigan, USA to Whangarei and Christchurch, New Zealand
Bundaberg and Cairns, Australia to Taichung and Taipei, Taiwan
Asia Pacific Festival: Lamphun, Thailand
Oxfordshire, UK to Sao Paulo and Salvador, Brazil
Mystery Exchange to Campinas, Brazil
Moscow, Russia to Tucson-Southern Arizona, USA
Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, USA to San Jose, Costa Rica
Canadian Capital, Canada to Houston, USA
Bavaria, Germany to Karsiyaka Bay, Turkey
Tarapoto, Peru to Comitan, Mexico
Mundo Maya, Mexico to Lamphun, Thailand
Discover Vietnam
Bavaria, Germany to Kolhapur, India
December
Fall Semester at Sea Voyage to Alajuela, Costa Rica
St. Petersburg, Russia to Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
Find current exchanges at thefriendshipforce.org/catalog
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Wayne Smith
Medal
In 2010 the FFI Board of Directors
announced the Wayne Smith Medal, a special
award to be given by Friendship Force clubs to
recognize those who show exceptional leadership
in promoting the Friendship Force mission. Since
then, 16 extraordinary leaders have been honored
with this prestigious award.
Charlene Terrell was an outbound exchange
director even before the Friendship Force
existed. Founder Wayne Smith recruited her
to organize a cultural exchange to demonstrate
his concept for an organization devoted to
global understanding through people-to-people
diplomacy. Charlene did an excellent job with
the task, and her work became a model for the
beginning of the Friendship Force. Charlene served on the international board
of directors from 1998 to 2002. At the request
of Wayne Smith and the FFI board, Charlene
wrote The Other Side of the Mountain, a book
chronicling the first 20 years of the Friendship
Force. In October 2011, the Friendship Force of
Big Canoe-North Georgia, USA, honored her
with the Wayne Smith Medal.
The Wayne Smith Medal honors the leaders
of today who make it possible to maintain the
founder’s vision of promoting understanding
across the barriers that separate people. The
award may be presented to leaders within the
Friendship Force or in the broader community.
Each presentation of the Wayne Smith Medal is
accompanied by a donation of US $500 to the
Friendship Force Legacy Fund, given by the
presenting club(s) in honor of the recipient.
Charlene
Terrell
Wayne Smith Medal Recipients
Bruce Murray, FF clubs of Australia
Kazuo Aichi, Tokyo, Japan
Andrew Young, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Douglas Dean, FF Marlborough, New Zealand
David Kalan, FF Greater Milwaukee, USA
Dutler Dauwalder, FF Kern County, USA
Robert and Billie Ray, FF Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, USA
Dorothy Anderson, FF New Plymouth, New Zealand
Jean Wilson, FF Northern Illinois, USA
Charlene Terrell, FF Big Canoe-North Georgia, USA
Tom Sharp, FF Howick, New Zealand
Ken Tarrant, FF South Taranaki, New Zealand
Betty Tarrant, FF South Taranaki, New Zealand
Robert Joyes, FF Taupo, New Zealand
Heather Haythorpe, FF Sunshine Coast, Australia
Gloria Dawn McEwan, FF Sunshine Coast, Australia
For more information, go to www.thefriendshipforce.org/awards
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Friendship Force International 35th World Conference
Hiroshima for Peace and Friendship
Hiroshima, Japan
October 31 to November 2, 2012
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami
in March 2011, Friendship Force members in Japan received
heartfelt messages of support from their friends around the
world. After a year of rebuilding, the Friendship Force in Japan
is showing its true strength, eager to welcome friends back into
their country and culture.
A new club, FF Mt. Fuji-Yamanashi hosted its first inbound
exchange in April 2012. This fall, FF Hiroshima will welcome
people from all over the world for the Friendship Force
International 35th World Conference.
Having risen from the ashes of World War II, the city of
Hiroshima has become a symbol of world peace. There could
be no better place for Friendship Force members to gather and
explore the role that each of us can play in building a more
peaceful world through friendship.
FF Hiroshima has planned a variety of activities to
introduce conference delegates to the cultural traditions and
natural beauty of Japan. The conference will also highlight
new initiatives to expand and strengthen the Friendship Force
around the world.
Join friends old and new in Hiroshima, Japan.
Go to www.thefriendshipforce.org to register.