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

www.friendshipforce.org

Rocky Mountain Conference May 2-4, 2014

Salt Lake City, UT

http://www.friendshipforce.org/

I AM:

Joy DiBenedetto

Board of Directors15 member governing body for

The Friendship Force, Inc.Jack Mullen, Chairperson

Friendship Force International Organizational Chart

Friendship Force International (FFI)The central office for FFI, located in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A

FFI Staff

Joy DiBenedetto, CEO/PresidentKathy Thomas, COO

Financial, Administration & Special ProjectsHap Petty, Comptroller *

Ebony Rogers, Senior AccountantDebbie Powell, Conference/Events

Ana Smulski, Network Administrator Laurie Ann Scott, Club Support Consultant

ProgramsMaryam Jordan, Program Coord/Asia

Mary Mwambay, Program Coord/Canada, Africa, W Europe Pallie Savoie, Program Coord/UK; Planning Coord

Laura Romero, Program Coord/LATAMAna Smulski, Program Coord/LATAM

Matthew Nidek, Program Coord/Australia, New Zealand Allison Lindsey, Educational Project Coordinator/Prog Coord, Germany,

Austria, Switzerland Elena McCarty, Program Coord/Russia, Eastern Europe

Noriko Kanamoto, Prog Coord/Asia

Communications & MarketingJillian Walters, Communications Coordinator

Barbara Stonebrink-Martin, Web Media *Maggie Smith, Intern *

Friendship Force Clubs - Local Friendship Force chapters are charted by FFI to provide leadership for Friendship Force activities in a community.

Friendship Force Exchange Committees - Leaders can be appointed by a club or directly by FFI staff.

Members -Membership is open to all who accept Friendship Force principles and pay membership dues.

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.

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.

Your Friendship Force International Staff

This is where we work

What Do We Do?

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 almost 400 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'.

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.

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

Brazil, Canada, England, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine, US-Iowa, US-Lincoln,

NE, Australia, New Zealand.

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………..

2014 Friendship Force International Global Club and Member Dispersement

94

81

49

48

48

2220

1

Geographic Breakdown of FFI’s Clubs

United States 26% = 94 clubs

Europe & Eurasia 23% = 81 clubs

Latin America 14% = 49 clubs

South Pacific 14% = 47 clubs

Asia 12% = 48 clubs

Canada 6% = 22 clubs

Middle East & Africa 6% = 20 clubs

Caribbean 0% = 1 club

United St

ates 2

2%

South Paci

fic 21%

Europe & Eurasia

19%

Asia 12%

Latin Americ

a 11%

Canad

a 10%

Middle East & Afric

a 4%

Caribbean

0%0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

70006148

2420 22971448 1334 1205

45729

Geographic Breakdown of Members15,338 Members

US MEMBERS94 clubs; 38 states; 6148 people

North Carolina - 7 clubs, 440 ppl California - 7 clubs, 434 ppl Florida - 5 clubs, 413 ppl

Iowa - 5 club, 353 ppl Texas - 6 clubs, 334 ppl Colorado - 4 clubs, 327 ppl

Wisconsin - 2 clubs, 300 ppl Washington - 6 clubs, 283 ppl Georgia - 3 clubs, 268 ppl

Ohio - 3 clubs, 250 ppl Nebraska - 2 clubs, 200 Illinois - 2 clubs, 148 ppl

Montana - 4 clubs, 147 ppl Connecticut - 2 clubs, 137 ppl Oregon - 2 clubs, 123 ppl

Alabama - 2 clubs, 120 ppl New York - 2 clubs, 119 ppl Michigan - 3 clubs, 113 ppl

Pennsylvania - 1 club, 107 ppl New Mexico - 1 club, 99 ppl New Jersey - 1 club, 97 ppl

Minnesota - 1 club, 96 ppl Kansas - 1 club, 91 ppl Kentucky - 2 clubs, 87 ppl

Missouri - 1 club, 77 ppl Arizona - 2 clubs, 68 ppl Nevada - 2 clubs, 66 ppl

New Hampshire - 1 club, 63 ppl Oklahoma - 1 club, 63 ppl D.C. - 1 club, 61 ppl

Utah - 1 club, 61 ppl Virginia - 2 clubs, 57 ppl Wyoming - 1 club, 56 ppl

Tennessee - 3 clubs, 55 ppl Hawaii - 2 clubs, 54 ppl Louisiana - 1 club, 54 ppl

West Virginia - 1 club, 30 ppl South Carolina - 1 club, 29 ppl

friendship force international | laurie-ann scott

USA and Canadian Club Survey | 2013

1. To say THANK YOU to our Clubs and their Presidents.

2. To determine the state of the Friendship Force in North America for the new FFI President.

Survey Goals

Description

– Laurie-Ann called each president, thanking them and their club, and began asking questions.


Survey Questions

Member Information

Club Dues

Hosting Issues

Exchange Director

Reimbursement

Club Activities and

Meetings

Leadership

Community Involvement

Communication

FFI Support

Demographic

• Number of members per club ( USA and Canada )– Total of 7,582

10 - 30 31 - 50 51 - 70 71 - 90 91 - 110 111 - 130

131 - 150

151 - 170

171 - 190

191 - 210

05

10152025303540

15

34 33

14 13

51 2 0 1

Membership NumbersNumber of Clubs

Number of members

Nº

of c

lubs


Demographic

Grow-ing32%

Stable48%

De-clin-ing

19%

Membership Status

GrowingStableDeclining

Clubs Growing

1. Baton Rouge

2. Big Canoe

3. Chicago4. Dallas5. Dayton6. Haliburto

n Highlands

7. Kansas8. New

Hampshire Seacoast

9. New Mexico

10. NE Ohio11. Orlando12. Penticton13. Reno-

Tahoe14. Sarasota15. Seattle

Tacoma

16. Sherbrooke

17. SW Florida

18. Toronto19. W.Michig

an20. Winnipeg


Demographic

Getting Younger

16%Staying Stable23%

Getting Older61%

Age of Membership

Getting YoungerStaying StableGetting Older

Stable and Getting Younger

Stratford-St. Mary’sSanta BarbaraSacramento

Western North Carolina


Growing and Getting Younger

1. FF of Ottawa

2. FF of Brandon Area

3. FF of Calgary

4. FF of Manitoba

5. FF of Saskatoon

6. FF of Canadian

Capitol

7. FF of North Bay

8. FF of Central

Montana

9. FF of Milwaukee

10. FF of Detroit

11. FF of Whidbey Island


Demographic

Late 60’s

70’s

80’s

70’s +

60’s ?

Current Age Range Sustainable Age Range


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.

Club Meeting Variations

• Breakfasts, luncheons, potlucks, happy hours

• Cultural or travel related meeting

• Quarterly/Annual meeting

• Planning Retreat

• Small group dinners in homes

• Cultural activities

• Hiking/Walks

• Breakfasts, lunches, dinners

Monthly regular

meetingMonthly board

meeting

Monthly social gathering

Monthly Let’s Eat Out

What are the Club Dues?

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𝒏

(𝒏𝒌)𝒙𝒌𝒂𝒏−𝒌

Local Club Individual Member Dues

$10 $12 $15 $17 $18 $20 $22 $25 $26 $27 $29 $30 $35 $38 $40 $45 $50 $55 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1 1 1 1 1

12

1

34

1

2

1

24

14

1

4 2 3

1

Individual MembershipNº of Clubs

Amount

Num

of c

lubs


Local Club Couple/Family Dues

$0 $14 $17 $20 $25 $30 $32 $35 $38 $40 $45 $50 $55 $60 $70 $950

5

10

15

20

25

30 29

1 1 2 1

4

1

12

1

23

911

3 42 1

Couple/Family Membership

Amount

Num

of c

lubs

29 Clubs offer Club Memberships only on an Individual Basis

Raising Dues

2014 $10 – FFI affiliation fee (Individual)$17 – FFI affiliation fee (Family)

2015$15 – FFI affiliation fee (Individual)$25 – FFI affiliation fee (Family)


Hosting Fees History

$50 $75

$100

1977-2002

2010 - Present

2003-2009



Hosting Fees

92%

1%

4%3%

1%

Amount of Hosting Fees

$100

$140

$150

$175

$200


Is $100 enough or not?

76%

24%

$100 Host Fees

Insufficient

Sufficient


Cooperative Planning

and Agreement

Exchange Directors Reimbursement

• 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.

What is Fair?

Do Ambassador Exchange Director get

reimbursed?

61%39%

YesNo

• FFI policy model - each

ambassador pay 5% of the

Ambassador Exchange Director

travel cost.

• Some reimbursement.


Do Host Exchange Director get reimbursed?

26%

74%Yes

No

• One free meal.

• $100-$600 credit.

• Club dues waived.

• Free admissions.

• Reimburse some

expenses.


• 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.

Leadership

• 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.

Challenges

MEMBERSHIP

• Tell your Friendship Force Story.

• The President’s New Member

Challenge.

• Welcoming Younger Members.

• Passionate Membership

Committee

• Neighborhood Noons and

Nights.

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.

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.


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!


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.


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”.


Free Meeting Places

• 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.

Reaching Out to the Community

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.

FFI Support and Communications

Where do you see your club in 5 years?

Positive Neutral Negative0

10

20

30

40

50

60

45

51

22

Num

. of c

lubs


15338

5135

Percentage of Friendship Force Members Travelling in 2013

on 259 Exchanges

Total FFI Members - 15338

Members Travelling - 5135

Equals about 1/3 of FFI’s Current membership travelling on our programs.

182

60

54

51

8 4 41

INCREASED REQUESTS TO VISIT THESE REGIONS AS CAL-CULATED BY CLUB REQUESTS DURING PLANNING 2012-

2015= 364 weeks

Europe/Eurasia - 182 more weeks requested Africa/Middle East - 60 more weeks requested Asia - 54 more weeks requested Latin America - 51 more weeks requested Canada - 8 more weeks requested United States/Hawaii - 4 more weeks requested Caribbean - 4 more weeks requested South Pacific - 1 more week requested

2012 marked the 35th anniversary of the Friendship Force’s work – a Global Expansion plan was launched with several targeted initiatives:

1st Initiative: 45 New Friendship Force Clubs

2nd Initiative: Expanding Themed Exchanges and New Programs

3rd Initiative: Leadership for Tomorrow

4th Initiative: Promoting the Friendship Force Globally

1st Initiative: 45 New Friendship Force Clubs In 2012 we created 12 new clubs:

Mt. Fuji Yamanashi, Japan; Samarinda, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Quindio, Colombia; Coatepec, Mexico; Vyborg, Russia; Kirov, Russia; Guadeloupe; Guzelbace, Turkey; Lizhou, China; San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico; Kolhapur, India

In 2013 the new clubs we’ve had in development, and with the greatest potential are: Kalungu, Uganda; Kampala, Uganda; Hsinchu, Taiwan; Beijing, China; Yangon, Myanmar; Ulan Ude, Russia; Vladivostok, Russia; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Bordeaux, France; Toulouse, France; Athens, Greece; Yalta, Ukraine, a total of 12 clubs.

In 2014 the projected new clubs will be:

Kitui, Kenya; Mombassa, Kenya; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Ciudad de las flores, Costa Rica; Arica, Chile; Sao Luis, Brazil; Porto Alegre, Brazil; Asuncion, Paraguay; Victoria, Canada; Shanghai, China; Xian, China; Jaipur, India; Mumbai, India; Singapore; Stockholm, Sweden; Istanbul, Turkey; Bodrum, Turkey; Chisinau, Moldova; Tallahassee, Florida USA, a total of 20 clubs.

2nd Initiative: Expanding Themed Exchanges and New Programs

In 2013 we conducted:

- 17 themed exchanges- 4 Semester at Sea/Enrichment Voyages (158 passengers)- 10 Discover programs - 5 Global Exchanges

In 2014 we currently have scheduled:

-14 themed exchanges-1 Semester at Sea/enrichment Voyage (May)- And we are working to increase the number of themed and discover programs to fill out the 2014 program.

3rd Initiative: Leadership for Tomorrow- Since 2012, we estimate that we have reached about 5,000 of our leaders at various regional, national and world conferences bringing new strategies from successful clubs around the world.

- We use this time to educate and inspire our leaders who carry out the mission of the organization. We often provide scholarships to potential leaders from other countries to attend conferences, and some of our exchanges are designed for leadership only.

-In 2013, we launched the Leadership Toolkit on our website, an online resource of videos and presentation by our staff and by leaders.

- Begun to do regional technology trainings, online.

4th Initiative: Promoting the Friendship Force Globally

- At the beginning of 2013 we launched a new FFI home page.

-We also developed a new brochure which has been very well received by our clubs.

- Our global logo has been unified as you can see, and our communications manager in the office Jillian Walters works with clubs to adapt the logo to their local cultures while maintaining the integrity of the branding.

STATUS: Our communications eco-system is growing and has become an effective tool in engaging with our ambassadors and the public at large, worldwide. In addition to traditional forms of communications and informational outreach we've accumulated new `social media' real estate; we've increased our creative content output - and our `reach of message' shows this across a spectrum of platforms, demographics and audience.

The challenge beyond this is to conversion, but our effort and mission is increasingly resonating, and, people who are both members and non members are participating with us globally. And, this allows us to have a more public profile for both our model and `sustainability of organization', to support our network, and to do our outreach, and fundraise.

Google Adwords Since August, when we started advertising using a $10,000 monthly Google Adwords grant we applied for and received, the first Google ad campaign generated 7,654 clicks through to our website and appeared 950,000 times on Google searches. The keywords which generate the most clicks are “travel for good,” “travel ideas,” “homestay,” “group travel,” and “cheap travel.” And, Friendship Force is generally the first ad which comes up with these search terms:

Why Am I Excited About a Bright Friendship Force Future?

-Trends, ours and the world’s point to youth. -I can already see our message is resonating -Other `FFI Like’ organizations are doing tremendously well; but we are the original. -Technology today! Is a benefit, an enhancement, and a great (FREE!) tool which we never had before. Reaches people directly where they are, allows us to connect across the miles. - ALL OF YOU, OUR STAFF, AND THE PUBLIC.

In Conclusion…………….- We are getting to the end of the Global Expansion plan, and working towards the next. (STEPS, Global membership Survey coming. Timeline: Fall World Conference. Implementation 2015.)- Important to recognize we are a non-profit with a tremendous mission; but we are also a business. (COMPETING IN OUR MARKETPLACE; TRAVEL, TECHNOLOGY {modernizing our member service} and HEARTS) (CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY)- We have a mission, but our method is travel. ($$$, BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER) -Partnerships, Marketing (CAMPAIGNS). Exposure. Engagement.-Friendship in Action (LOCAL, GLOBAL) -Club Revitalization- Engaging our members, our leadership and our staff in our road ahead.-More communication, more storytelling (WEBSITE) -Recommitting to our goals. (Nobel, IPP)- New models, opening up our friendship circle, making friends in many ways.-Development work. New ways of Fundraising.- NEXTGEN (What’s happened, what will happen, ALL PPL, Board nominations)

JOIN US!

THANK YOU!

Joy DiBenedettoFriendship Force International

EM: [email protected]: +404-558-0858PH: +404-984-8602

TWITTER: @JoyFFIFacebookInstagramLinkedIN

TWITTER: @FriendshipForceFACEBOOK: Friendship Force International

Instagram: FriendshipForceInternationalLinkedIN: Friendship Force International (Group/Company)

127 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 501, Atlanta, Georgia 30303

mailto:[email protected]

QUESTIONS?

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

Documents

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friendship force principles

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simple tools of friendship

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