Club Journeys & Events

June 4 was a whirlwind day in Historical Philadelphia for the Ambassadors from Dayton, Ohio, hosted by the Friendship Force of Southern New Jersey (FFSNJ). Our tireless leaders, Dianne Campbell-Taylor of FFSNJ and Barbara McDermott (Bobbie) of Dayton, are pictured outside the back entrance to Independence Hall after our guided tour. Next to the Portrait Gallery at the Second Bank, we paused to watch a "Military Muster" — humorous, but also informative. So much more happened: Constitution Center, lunch at Liberty Garden outside the Visitors Center. A marvelous way to make new friends and visit our heritage!

We're heading to California! Our 2027 Domestic Outbound Journey to Napa and Sonoma has been officially approved. We'll be visiting the friends we hosted here in New Jersey in 2024 — now it's their turn to welcome us! We'll probably travel in July 2027. More details to come — stay tuned!

A wonderful gathering with our friends from Dayton, Ohio during their visit!

The General Meeting at the Haddonfield Public Library was extremely productive. The usual minutes, treasury report, review of inbound and outbound journeys, discussion about dues and annual renewal dates, plus details of the new website and reanimated Facebook page, and ideas for Social Planning. Linde is asking everyone to send her ideas and 5 places they'd like to see the club visit as a social activity. We had a new guest (and soon to be new member) Andrea, and sang "Happy Birthday" to Marie Peak. Also we found out that there is parking across the street for the library (who knew?) The meeting ran from 1:00 to 3:15 so we could "clear" the library by 3:30. The next General Meeting is Sunday November 8th — location and time TBD.

In April, Gwen, Dianne, and Cheryl were privileged to join FFI organizational leaders in welcoming colleagues from Canada, Mexico, and clubs across the United States. Many fondly reminisced about the wonderful moments shared during the Milwaukee conference and asked about our current status and well-being. We also enjoyed opportunities to explore the world-renowned attractions for which Memphis is known, including the National Civil Rights Museum, Graceland, Beale Street, and the city's vibrant culinary scene.

One workshop focused on technology. The FFI Member Portal has been updated with a mobile-friendly design, allowing members to access it directly from their phone. On the media front, the presenter reported that security, reliability, and growth have all improved.

Members: Access the Members Portal at my.friendshipforce.org ↗

📸 View Conference Photos ↗