friendshipforce Rocky Mountain Conference May 2-4, 2014 Salt Lake City, UT

1. www.friendshipforce.org Rocky Mountain Conference May 2-4, 2014 Salt Lake City, UT

2. I AM: Joy DiBenedetto

3. Friendship Force International Organizational Chart Board of Directors 15 member governing body for The Friendship Force, Inc. Jack Mullen, Chairperson Friendship Force International (FFI) The central office for FFI, located in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A FFI Staff Joy DiBenedetto, CEO/President Kathy Thomas, COO Financial, Administration & Special Projects Hap Petty, Comptroller * Ebony Rogers, Senior Accountant Debbie Powell, Conference/Events Ana Smulski, Network Administrator Laurie Ann Scott, Club Support Consultant Programs Maryam Jordan, Program Coord/Asia Mary Mwambay, Program Coord/Canada, Africa, W Europe Pallie Savoie, Program Coord/UK; Planning Coord Laura Romero, Program Coord/LATAM Ana Smulski, Program Coord/LATAM Matthew Nidek, Program Coord/Australia, New Zealand Allison Lindsey, Educational ProjectCoordinator/Prog Coord, Germany, Austria, Switzerland Elena McCarty, Program Coord/Russia, Eastern Europe Noriko Kanamoto, Prog Coord/Asia Communications & Marketing Jillian Walters, Communications Coordinator Barbara Stonebrink-Martin, Web Media * Maggie Smith, Intern * Friendship Force Exchange Committees - Leaders can be appointed by a club or directly by FFI staff. Friendship Force Clubs - Local Friendship Force chapters are charted by FFI to provide leadership for Friendship Force activities in a community. Ambassadors & Hosts - Any member of a community may apply to participate in an exchange. The Exchange Director is responsible for interviewing and accepting only qualified applicants. Members -Membership is open to all who accept Friendship Force principles and pay membership dues.

4. Field Representatives - Experienced Friendship Force Volunteers selected by FFI to provide assistance to local clubs and exchanges represent and work with a swath of regional clubs. Field representatives have no direct authority over any clubs and are purely advisory. Regional Cooperation - Clubs in a country or region are encouraged to cooperate and coordinate their activities. This can take the form of an annual meeting during which time leaders from teh region share ideas with FFI. The regional meetings can make recommendations to FFI and/or to the clubs. However regional organizations have no direct authority regarding the activities of the local clubs. Community at Large - The Friendship Force seeks participation from throughout the community. Club and exchange leaders are responsible for outreach in their local communities. FFI supports this goal through broad-based public relations initiatives, our website www.friendshipforce.org, social media efforts and community partnerships.

5. Your Friendship Force International Staff

6. This is where we work

7. What Do We Do?

8. Don't Be a Tourist. Make Your World as Big as Ours. Take a journey into the heart of a country and its people with us. MISSION: By using the simple tools of friendship, a smile, a hello – we promote global understanding across the barriers that separate people around the world. HISTORY: Since 1977 when founder Wayne Smith and US President Jimmy Carter introduced FFI at a White House gathering, one million people have participated in Friendship Force International's unique cultural exchange programs, truly as a `force of friendship'. Our work creates global cooperation and collaboration at the personal, human level - beyond governments and borders - where people live, work, play and explore in everyday life; and FFI's efforts have been honored with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 1992. WHAT: Friendship Force International conducts almost400 programs every year, in and between 362 clubs/communities in appx. 70 countries. HOW: Our unique Friendship Force exchange programs and events/conferences/gatherings including hospitality sharing, educational and professional development, `Discover', local and global meet-up gatherings, provides international travelers with opportunities to be hosted in the homes of local people, to be treated to a local experience in locations around the world, and to see the world through other people's eyes. In this way, you can get to know a new culture, a new country, a new people, from the `inside'.

9. FFI BY THE NUMBERS: 1 mission: promoting understanding across the barriers that separate people. 6 continents: North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, South Pacific 1M volunteers: Citizen ambassadors who have lead FFI programs since 1977 20,000 members: Travelers and hosts who participate every year. 37,500 new friendships: Made each year across cultural, religious, political boundaries. 100 new friendships: Every day. 1 handshake, 1 smile, 1 hello at a time.

10. A member of FF Moscow carried the flag of friendship with him on an Arctic expedition!

11. Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine, US-Iowa, US-Lincoln, NE, Australia, New Zealand.

12. FFI currently has operations (clubs, Discover exchanges, Global exchanges, new clubs..) in 63 countries +Discover, Others: Albania, Argentina, Australia Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Burundi, Canada Chile, China Colombia Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Malawi, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam. • Newest Clubs: Athens, Greece; Toulouse, France; Hsinchu, Taiwan; Kirov Oblast, Toronto, Canada; Myanmar; Nashik Riverside, India; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Bordeaux, France. • Working:Sierra Leone, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and others………..

13. 2014 Friendship Force International Global Club and Member Dispersement

17. USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013 friendship force international | laurie-annscott

18. Survey Goals • To say THANK YOU to our Clubs and their Presidents. • To determine the state of the Friendship Force in North America for the new FFI President.

19. Description • Laurie-Ann called each president, thanking them and their club, and began asking questions. USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

20. Survey Questions • Club Activities and Meetings • Leadership • Community Involvement • Communication • FFI Support Member Information Club Dues Hosting Issues Exchange Director Reimbursement

21. Demographic • Number of members per club ( USA and Canada ) • Total of 7,582 USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

22. Demographic Clubs Growing Baton Rouge Big Canoe Chicago Dallas Dayton Haliburton Highlands Kansas New Hampshire Seacoast New Mexico NE Ohio Orlando Penticton Reno-Tahoe Sarasota Seattle Tacoma Sherbrooke SW Florida Toronto W.Michigan Winnipeg USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

23. Demographic Stable and Getting Younger Stratford-St. Mary’s Santa Barbara Sacramento Western North Carolina USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

24. Growing and Getting Younger • FF of Ottawa • FF of Brandon Area • FF of Calgary • FF of Manitoba • FF of Saskatoon • FF of Canadian Capitol • FF of North Bay • FF of Central Montana • FF of Milwaukee • FF of Detroit • FF of Whidbey Island USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

25. Demographic Current Age Range Sustainable Age Range USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

26. Contrasting Club Approaches Non-Traditional - Next Gen - Club Lite Busy people, “Boomers” have energy and ideas, but are short on time. Will meet to accomplish something, not for the sake of meeting. More social… less formal. Frustrated with the status quo, want exciting exchanges and activities. May function mainly around exchanges. Traditional • Love the CLUB. Members become real friends. • Members should all contribute and work for the club. • Regular meetings AND social events. • Vigorous boards, by-laws, and policies. • Understanding of FF principles is stressed.

27. Club Meeting Variations

28. What are theClub Dues?

29. Local Club Individual Member Dues USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

30. Local Club Couple/Family Dues 29 Clubs offer Club Memberships only on an Individual Basis

31. Raising Dues USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

32. Hosting Fees History 2010 - Present 2003-2009 1977-2002 USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

33. Hosting Fees • USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013 USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

34. Is $100 enough or not? USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

35. Cooperative Planning and Agreement

36. Exchange Directors Reimbursement What is Fair? • Reimbursing the leader is standard in the travel industry. • Greater incentive to fill exchanges. • FFI is special and many clubs feel this job should be done willingly by volunteers. • All ambassadors are treated financially the same.

37. Do Ambassador Exchange Director get reimbursed? • FFI policy model - each ambassador pay 5% of the Ambassador Exchange Director travel cost. • Some reimbursement. USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

38. Do Host Exchange Director get reimbursed? • One free meal. • $100-$600 credit. • Club dues waived. • Free admissions. • Reimburse some expenses. USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

39. Leadership • Finding presidents is most difficult. • Newer members were presidents in over a dozen clubs! • Leadership development is needed. • Officer and board turnover is important. • Leadership Council used by three clubs. • Five clubs expressed NO leadership problems.

40. Challenges • Negotiating the “landscape” between older and younger members. • Getting younger people to join and keeping new members. • Costs of both hosting and traveling. • Need for more interesting exchanges and meetings.

41. Good Ideas and Successes • MEMBERSHIP • Tell your Friendship Force Story. • The President’s New Member Challenge. • Welcoming Younger Members. • Passionate Membership Committee • Neighborhood Noons and Nights.

42. Good Ideas and Successes • ACTIVITIES • Interesting programs PLUS food equal success! • Find other club’s program ideas from newsletters. • Humanitarian gifts of computers. • Chefs who demo the dinner or share their ethnic culture.

43. Good Ideas and Successes • HOSTING • Use night hosts, day hosts, and dinner hosts to involve more people. • Ladies welcome new members with a home visit. • Don’t forget night activities… dancing? Shows? • Prix-fix menus speed up lunch stops while touring.

44. Good Ideas and Successes • FINANCIAL OR FUND-RAISING • Dallas has Friends who take Friends to and from the airport for a “ donation”. • Mid-Willamette’s Dinner Parties where participants decide on “ the charity”. • Sarasota folk singer entertains community with proceeds to Legacy Fund. • Greater Harrisburg working with Hershey Park has brought $15,000 to their club. • San Francisco gives a 5% discount for paying annual dues before January 1st!

45. Good Ideas and Successes • COOPERATIVE IDEAS • Vancouver and Whidbey Island have become “ Sister Clubs” . • Canadian French Speaking clubs are cooperating and supporting each other. • Several clubs are helping with “ New Club Development”. • Milwaukee had Eco, Grandparents, Culinary and Leadership Development exchanges.

46. Good Ideas and Successes • FFI-RELATED IDEAS • Bill Harkness of Niagara Club developed CANFFEX to fill empty spots on Canada exchanges. • Provide FFI with all members’ emails to keep entire club up-to-date on communication. • Almost all clubs expressed strong support for FFI rules and policies. • Contributions to FFI are a part of “ Paying It Forward”.

47. Free Meeting Places

48. Reaching Out to the Community • Western Colorado cleans up two miles of highway and supports a kids backpack program. • Naples helps with the annual Triathlon. • Baton Rouge visits the Veteran’s Home to Celebrate Christmas in July. • Brandon celebrates World Friendship Day with a different minority community every year.

49. FFI Support and Communications • FFI-RELATED IDEAS • 113 presidents had positive remarks in regard to the international support staff. • 63 clubs said they had worked with their field representatives. • 21 presidents expressed dismay in regard to the early announcement that NOLA conference was full. • All but 6 presidents said they used the website.

50. Where do you see your club in 5 years? USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013