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Friendship Force of Baton Rouge
Frequently Asked Questions
.1. What is involved in becoming a member of The Friendship Force?
Join if you believe in the goals and mission of the organization: you like the challenge and excitement of meeting new people, places, and experiences; you believe that friendship among people of different countries and cultures can make the world more peaceful; and you have a curiosity about the world and enjoy learning about other cultures and ways of life.
Once you join, you make a commitment to participate in the activities of the club, including hosting and/or interacting with Ambassadors visiting from other clubs around the world and U.S. who come to Baton Rouge on exchanges, which are described below.
Our local club is part of Friendship Force International (FFI), [www.thefriendshipforce.org] which is located in 50+ countries around the world. The FFI website has information about the organization, mission, goals, exchanges.
2. How do I find out what is happening in the Baton Rouge club?
Once you have filled out a Membership Form and paid your dues to the Treasurer [hyperlink] for the calendar year ($30 for individuals and $50 for families), you will receive emails or U.S. postal mail if you do not have email. Rosters of members are periodically sent to the membership. The Secretary sends out timely emails alerting/reminding members of upcoming activities. Newsletters [hyperlink] are published quarterly reporting past events and provide alerts to upcoming events and exchanges. Activities include a World Friendship Day celebration, a Christmas in July party for veterans in Jackson, an annual Christmas Party, and membership meetings that include dinner parties.
3. What do you mean by the term "Exchange?"
An International Exchange is a home visit by club members of one country to club members of another country world wide. .A Domestic Exchange is a visit to another club in the same country. We further refer to it as an "Outbound Exchange" when we visit another club and are known as Ambassadors. An "Inbound Exchange" occurs when a club visits us and we are then Hosts. . This involves home hospitality, the heart of a Friendship Force exchange, which provides the opportunity for people of different countries and cultures to connect at a personal level. . Ambassadors often choose to make other personal tours before or after an outbound exchange. Our goal is to have at least one outbound and one inbound a year which is scheduled through Friendship Force International in Atlanta. Each exchange is coordinated by an "Exchange Director" or "ED." Domestic exchanges are usually 3-4 days - international, 7-14 days. You can view a list of past exchanges here and some photos here. For our Inbound Exchanges we almost always have a Welcome event and Farewell event to which all club members are invited/expected to attend, whether hosting or not.
4. What is an "Exchange Director - ED"?
For outbound exchanges, an ED is appointed by the club's Board of Directors, subject to the club’s policy, to plan, organize, and lead the Exchange. This is open to anyone who has the desired leadership qualities and will make the commitment of time needed for adequate planning execution. For an ncoming exchange the ED finds local members to "home host," "day host" and "host small group dinners". The ED outlines the week's itinerary, communicates with the Incoming ED, and coordinates the budget for the visit.
5. What are the responsibilities of a "home host?"
This individual or family invites his/her guest(s) to be a part of the household for the entire time the exchange is in Baton Rouge. These guest ambassadors are included in any or all of your normal week's activities. The home hosts participate with their guests in all the official activities of the week. If they are not able to attend an event they work with the ED to secure a "Day Host" to accompany their guest(s). A "small group dinner host" may volunteer to host a meal for the home host and his/her guests on one of their busy days.
Home hosts are expected to provide, at their own expense, sleeping quarters, food, and transportation except when provided by official exchange activities. By attending the events yourselves you assure your ambassadors get to all scheduled functions on time.
Once a home host knows the name of his/her ambassador s/he may communicate directly with them. Many friendships are created from these visits, some for a lifetime. Single women usually stay with other single women; couples stay with other couples.
Single women enjoy traveling with Friendship Force members because there is a sense of security, in addition to the camaraderie of all the organization has to offer.
6. What is a "day host?"
This is an opportunity for someone who wants to participate in the exchange, but, for whatever reason, is unable to home host. This individual volunteers to escort an ambassador for a day, or part of a day, to a scheduled activity, or, if it is a day when no formal group activity is planned, decides how and where to spend the day with the guest. The activity should be a mutually agreed upon one with the guest and the day host. The day host is not compensated.
7. What is expected of a "small dinner group host?"
This is another way for a club member to participate who is not home hosting. You decide, in addition to the number in your family, how many guests you feel comfortable having for dinner on an open evening designated by the ED. For example - two scenarios: (1) two home hosts decide to each 'double up' one evening, inviting the other home host and his/her guest(s) to join their family and their own guest(s). On another evening they flip flop and the other family hosts them. (2) Someone not home hosting at all invites one or two home hosts with their respective guests. To this mix other club members may be invited depending on the decision of the small dinner group host. A slight alternative would be to prepare a meal or portion of a meal to take to the home of a home host.
The menu is your choice and you generally prepare at least the main course and beverages. Guests may often volunteer to bring salad, dessert, or wine. The home host should be consulted regarding the planned contributions and any food restrictions they or their visiting ambassadors may have. The agenda for the evening is open: from just visiting to sharing pictures or playing games.
One night the ambassadors will probably want to take their hosts to dinner. Time should be allotted for that. Obviously, they will ask the host to recommend a restaurant. This may be done in small groups, also.
8. What should I expect financially when I go on an Outbound Exchange?
Traveling with Friendship Force is fairy economical. The expenses you can expect to pay for an International Exchange include: a $150 fee that is paid to Friendship Force International in Atlanta; a $100 fee to the host club that they use for most of the activity expenses during that week, such as admission fees; and approximately $50 to our Baton Rouge club to pay for group gifts, administrative items, and support for the ED. Your lodging and most meals are free.
Additionally, you will have airfare and shopping expenses. Ambassadors traditionally take their hosts to dinner one night and bring them small gifts representative of Louisiana, and additional small gifts to give to day hosts who assist in some way.
If the Exchange involves two weeks of home hosting with two separate clubs the expenses are doubled. Any side trips/tours before or after the official Exchange are also your responsibility.
9. Am I required to host or go on an Outbound Exchange if I am a member?
No. We hope though, that by joining, you would want to actively participate in the events of the club to best learn about people in other cultures.
10. Do you travel as a group?
Yes and No: the group usually consists of 12-18 individuals, known as "Ambassadors." Travel arrangements vary from departing the local airport as a group to some, or all, of the individuals making their own travel arrangements. The end goal is for all members to arrive at the host city at a designated date and time.
11. Do you plan visits to clubs in the United States?
Yes, that is called a "Domestic Exchange," organized by the clubs involved. It meets the needs of those who do not want to travel abroad as well as those who want to see how other people live in other parts of the U.S. It is coordinated by an ED, as well.
12. What if I am not able to go or do not care to go on the scheduled Outbound Exchange? Are there other ways for me to travel with the organization?
Yes, there are a number of ways. You may travel with another club from this country if they have room for you. There are Mission, Discover, and Cultural trips [hyperlinks to specific parts of the FFI website] that include people from several countries where the ambassadors travel somewhere and stay mostly in hotels. Several festivals are held each year in different parts of the world where ambassadors stay in hotels and 'hook up' with other FF members, sometimes staying at their homes (homestays) after the Festival. Regional and International Conferences are also held. Click here for FFI news.
13. If I don't see myself traveling in the next year or so should I still join?
Certainly. Friendship Force is not a travel club. There are many other aspects of involvement. The mission of Friendship Force is building global goodwill through personal friendships. You might consider being a home host, day host, small group dinner host, or someone who attends social or service activities to build friendships with individuals who have an interest in the goals of Friendship Force International.
If you would like to join the Friendship
Force of Baton Rouge club, please contact the Membership
Chair [hyperlink] or Treasurer [hyperlink] for an application form
and send it, with your check for the calendar year ($30 for
individuals and $50 for families) to the Treasurer. You will
then begin receiving emails announcing activities, etc. At any
time you may search this website for past newsletters, photos,
exchanges, etc.
We look forward to having you join the Friendship Force of Baton
Rouge. Please contact any of the Board members [hyperlink]
with further questions.
3/10/12
We invite you to contact any of the Board Members [hyperlink] with further questions
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| Copyright © 2011 - The Friendship Force of Baton Rouge - All rights reserved. |
| Date Last Revised 01-20-2012 |
