What is Friendship Force?
Friendship Force is a non-profit international organization that promotes cultural understanding through personal contact. The Friendship Force of Knoxville utilizes travel as a means to meet people from different cultures and places rather than emphasizing the place itself. By being a guest in other people's homes and by inviting them to be a guest in our homes, we believe we can break barriers that divide us.
Change the way you see the world!
- Make friends around the world
- Stay in homes of people around the world
- Host in your home people from around the world
- Foster International good will
- Enhance cross-cultural understanding
For More Information About Friendship Force International, please visit their website at https://www.thefriendshipforce.org/
Note From the President
June has arrived and we continue to navigate Friendship Force Knoxville and COVID-19. Some wonderful things have occurred which give some insight and perspective of how the remainder of 2020 and 2021 will be for Friendship Force Knoxville. I am thrilled to announce that Diana Lopez and Leslie Badaines have agreed to be co-chairpersons as overall journey coordinators. This is a very valuable role for our club and allows us to make wise and informed decisions about journeys. They also provide mentorship to those functioning host and ambassador coordinators. Also sincere thanks to Ron Mayer who served with integrity during the past year and has agreed to be a resource in the future.
We were asked by San Antonio to be their host for an incoming journey in October 2020. Jayne Raparelli and Mike McDonough have agreed to be host coordinators and it will be exciting to host this wonderful club. We have obtained guidance from FFI and also checked CDC guidelines for information regarding hosting. Many of you have expressed interest in hosting this incoming group and more information will follow.
For 2021 we have the following matches:
Spring-Incoming from St. Louis, MO-a host coordinator is needed
June-out going to Romania-Diana Lopez-ambassador coordinator
Fall-outgoing to Napa-Sonoma-Jayne Raparelli ambassador coordinator
October-outgoing to San Antonio-Leslie Badaines ambassador coordinator
Hopefully an Open World-Betsy Tonkin coordinator.
Many thanks to these members for organizing these exchanges. Please refer to their individual reports in this newsletter for specific details.
It is still uncertain when we should return to holding full membership meetings. The Unitarian Church will not be opening their facility until after Labor Day. The board is discussing options for outdoor gatherings and hope this will be available soon. May each of you continue to enjoy and cherish the time at home with those you love.
Kaye Bultemeier