Unless otherwise noted, Quarterly Membership Meetings begin at 6:30 PM on the first Friday of March, June, September and December. The business meeting and presentations are followed by a time to socialize, with light refreshments. The December meeting is traditionally our Holiday Party and the meeting where official business and election of officers takes place. Members, guests, and interested persons are invited to attend any of our meetings. Location and details will be published in the newsletter, and provided below.
In concern for the health of all our members, the Board has decided to restrict all FFFW meetings to attendees who have been vaccinated. Please do not join our meetings until you have been fully vaccinated. Masks are optional. Thank you.
Holiday PartyThe party season is approaching!! We will be having our annual holiday party at a new location this year. As always, we'll have beautiful holiday surroundings, delicious food, enjoyable entertainment and great company (that's us).
Our entertainment this year will be our own talented Gwen Genius and her daughter.
The price will be $40.
Our holiday dinner will be alcohol-free this year. If alcohol were served the facility would require us to hire both a bartender and a security guard. The Board decided not to add this extra expense to each dinner ticket.
We plan to have a White Elephant gift exchange, so bring a wrapped inexpensive ($10-$15) gift to exchange.
This is also our annual general meeting of the club, when official business is conducted. We will be electing officers for 2023 and conducting any other necessary business.
The Nominating Committee's nominees for 2023 are
Nominations from the floor are accepted so long as the person has agreed to serve prior to nomination.
Board meetings generally are held at 3:00PM on the third Saturday of each month at the Benbrook Public Library, 1065 Mercedes St., Benbrook, TX 76126, and are open to all membership. No Board meeting is scheduled for those months with a quarterly meeting. Contact an officer or Board member for information, if you wish to attend a Board meeting.
Ethnic dinners occur monthly, on the third Friday, except during quarterly meeting months. Meeting time is 6:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. If possible, please contact Judy Williams (817) 560-9316 [text, not voice] by Wednesday prior to the dinner, unless otherwise noted below, in order to assist in determining a reservation count.
Restaurants have come and gone during the pandemic. Do you know of a new ethnic restaurant or an old one that we haven't visited in a while? Contact Judy Williams and let her know. She would really like to have your suggestion.
Weatherford, TXOur January Ethnic Dinner will be replaced with a Day Journey to Weatherford.
Tuxtla Gutierrez, MexicoWe visited Tuxtla Gutierrez in 2006 and really enjoyed our hosting. The club would now like to reciprocate in 2023.
We need a Coordinator for the Journey. If you would consider that, please contact Jim Young to discuss it.
Guadeloupe
We are scheduling our journey to coincide with Carnival. We will have a home stay from February 15 - 23, followed by an optional week of touring Guadeloupe on our own. We will return home March 1.
An email was sent to members announcing the journey. Interest is high for the journey, and the deadline for submitting an application was Monday Oct. 17. If you did not get your application in by the deadline, contact Jim Young to see if you can be wait listed.
Harrisburg, PAOur Harrisburg ambassadors had a very good visit. We did the typical things, like the Museum District, the Stockyards, and a Dallas Day, and included a visit to two of Fort Worths historic mansions, at their request.
Our ambassadors have returned from Oregon. Ed Vaughn gave an interesting presentation on the journey. At least one comment was heard, "I wish we had gone". So don't miss your next opportunity for a domestic or international journey.
January 20, 2023Our first Day Journey of 2023 will be a true day (only) trip to Weatherford.
We will, among other things, tour Chandor Gardens, Doss Heritage Museum and the Moncrief Vintage Auto Museum.
We will meet to begin the tour at 10:00AM at the Doss Heritage Museum, 1400 Texas Drive, Weatherford (click for map). Please bring a guest. Increasing our membership is vital.
If you are interested in joining this Day Journey, contact Jeri Edmunds - (682) 559-9335 and let her know to expect you.
If you have an interesting place, within 150 miles, that you think our club would enjoy, and would be willing to help organize, contact Jeri Edmunds (682) 559-9335. We can put it on the list for this year or next.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, FFI and other groups created numerous interesting and entertaining opportunities for Friendship Force members to help us stay involved in international "virtual" cultural events. Many of these activities, including the Book Club, are still going on, post pandemic. The latest Virtual Experiences are available HERE on the FFI website, or go to your My Friendship Force member portal.
FFI also includes a time zone converter link on appropriate Virtual Experience blog entries.
No special activities are currently planned. Do you have an idea for a special activity? Contact any board member.