Friendship Force of Greater Atlanta- History

 2014

  • March 1 – 17 FFGA members celebrate World Friendship Day by working as volunteers at MedShare International.
  • January – Harvey Brickley begins serving as FFGA President.

2013

  • December – Cynthia Williams completes two year term as FFGA President.
  • December 7 – The annual holiday party was held at the Vinings Club in Atlanta, with special guest Joy DiBenedetto, new President of FFI.
  • November 9 – 26 FFGA members visit the Monastery of the Holy Spirit near Conyers, followed by dinner at a Golden Corral.
  • October – FFGA hosted 11 ambassadors from Kiev, Ukraine, with Ken McKinney as incoming Exchange Director.
  • October 6 – The FFGA annual meeting (with dinner) was held at Mimi’s Cafe in Dunwoody.
  • September – 8 FFGA ambassadors and 4 from other FF clubs participated in an exchange to Sydney and Australia’s Gold Coast; organized by Exchange Director Sue Mills.
  • June 11 – “Evening of Enlightenment” – 23 FFGA members and guests had dinner at the Green Ginger Asian Fusion Restaurant, followed by a session at the Shambhala Meditation Center.
  • May – 19 FFGA ambassadors participated in an exchange to Peru, which included Lima, Cuzco, and Macchu Picchu; organized by Exchange Directors John and Glenda Wilhelm.
  • March – FFGA hosted an open world exchange from Ukraine, organized by Exchange Director John Wilhelm.
  • February – FFGA hosted an exchange of international teachers from Clemson University, organized by Exchange Director Kent Vickers.

2012

  • December – The annual Holiday Party was held at the Vinings Club in Atlanta.
  • November – FFGA hosted an exchange from Minsk, Belarus and Moscow, Russia, organized by Exchange Director Cynthia Williams
  • October – The FFGA held their annual meeting along with a brunch at the Atlanta Dolce Resort in Peachtree City.
  • September – West Georgia FFGA members hosted a picnic catered by Billy Bob’s Barbecue at McIntosh Reserve Park.
  • August – Exchange Director Wilma Kirchhofer led FFGA ambassadors on an exchange to Sao Paulo and Brazilia, Brazil.
  • June – The Board of Directors voted to form the Sunshine Committee and named Wilma Kirchhofer as the Chairperson.  The committee will send sympathy cards, congratulatory cards, and alert the media about significant events in club members’ lives.
  • May – Exchange Director Harvey Brickley led FFGA ambassadors on an exchange to Cornwall, England.
  • May – FFGA hosted journalists on an Open World exchange from Tajikistan, organized by Exchange Director Joseph Earle.
  • April – FFGA members, led by Ernestine Brazeal, visited the Hindu temple in Lilburn.
  • February-March – FFGA hosted an exchange from Braunschweig-Peine, Germany, organized by Exchange Director Kent Vickers.
  • February – FFGA hosted government officials on an Open World exchange from Ukraine, organized by Exchange Director John Wilhelm.
  • January – Cynthia Williams begins serving as FFGA President.

2011

  • December – Dave Kelley completes 2-year term as FFGA President.
  • December – The annual Holiday Party was held at the Vinings Club in Atlanta.
  • October – The FFGA held their annual meeting along with dinner at Mimi’s Cafe’ in Dunwoody.
  • October – Exchange Director Marilyn Darmody led FFGA ambassadors on an exchange to Tesino Valley, Italy.
  • September – FFGA hosted an exchange from Sapporo, Japan, organized by Exchange Director Jimmy Gardner.
  • September – FFGA hosted an exchange from Lima, Peru, organized by Exchange Director Anne Earle.
  • August – Members of FFGA met for dinner at the Olive Garden restaurant in Smyrna.
  • July – FFGA hosted military officers from Ft. Benning’s Maneuver Captains Career Course, Class 04-11.  The exchange was organized by FFGA’s Ft. Benning Liason Kent Vickers and included officers from Liberia, Senegal, Pakistan, Indonesia, Moldova, Romania, Armenia, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, Egypt, Germany, Yemen, Djibouti and Portugal.
  • June – FFGA hosted military officers from Ft. Benning’s Maneuver Captains Career Course, Class 03-11.  The exchange was organized by FFGA’s Ft. Benning Liason Kent Vickers and included officers from Slovenia, Egypt, Senegal, Mozambique, India, Brazil, Pakistan, Bahrain, Switzerland, Ethiopia, Oman, Lebanon, Macedonia, Romania and Bangladesh.
  • April – Thirteen FFGA members attended the FFI Southeastern Conference at the Blue Ridge Conference Center in Black Mountain, GA.
  • April – FFGA members served as docents at the Decorators’ Show House and Gardens, a fund raiser for the Atlanta Symphony Associates.
  • March – FFGA hosted government officials on an Open World exchange from Ukraine, organized by Exchange Director Elena Goldis.
  • March – Member John Wilhelm led 25 FFGA members on a visit to the El-Farooq Mosque in Atlanta.
  • January – Exchange Director Harvey Brickley led FFGA ambassadors on an exchange to San Jose and Turialba, Costa Rica.

2010

To be continued . . . work in progress!