2023 Activities

December 8 - 4th Qtr General Meeting - Christmas Party

The Buffet Line

The Christmas Quiz

Past FFBR Presidents Who Were Present

2024 Board Installed - L to R: Larry Jonas (Past President), Guy Luno (At Large), Morris Welch (Treasurer), Joy Rich (Vice-President), JiJi Jonas (President), Jimmy Mire (At Large), and LaDeta Crowley (At Large). Not pictured: Alma Thornton (Secretary).

On Friday evening, December 8, 28 members gathered for our annual festive Christmas Party in the Youth Center at First Christian Church. Lin Ashton coordinated arrangements. Entree choices were Lasagna, Chicken Marsala, Tuscan Grilled Chicken, or Grilled Salmon accompanied by sauteed broccoli or garlic mashed potatoes, three salads, and two desserts. After the meal, a Christmas quiz was introduced in which each attendee was given a sheet of 25 (sometimes obtuse) clues from which he/she was asked to name the Carol or other Christmas music to which each clue referred. For the next 10 or 15 minutes, an amazing silence enveloped the usually boisterous crowd. The business part of the meeting included a review of our activities in 2023, journeys upcoming in 2024 and possibly 2025, and other remarks and various appreciations by President JiJi Jonas. Past FFBR presidents present were recognized, and members of the 2024 Board were installed. Drawing for door prizes (poinsettias) was followed by revealing the answers to the clues in the Christmas quiz. About half of the room got at least half of the answers. but ultimately the top prize was a tie with 18 correct answers won by Trudy Ivy and Irwin Zoch. Sheila Melancon then led us in a number of carols before closing the evening with the traditional Friendship circle and singing "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

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November 16 - Meet & Greet Lunch - Gino's Italian Restaurant

October 29 - Special General Meeting - Octoberfest Theme

On Sunday afternoon, October 29, 18 members gathered around outdoor tables for a special general meeting at the home of Joy Rich in Denham Springs. The Octoberfest theme was highlighted by bratwurst as then main entre' along with a variety of appetizers, salads, and desserts, and lots of socializing. The main item of business was the election of officers for 2024 who will be installed at our annual Christmas party. JiJi Jonas was re-elected as President for another year and Larry Jonas agreed to continue as Past President. Other officers are Joy Rich elected for a one-year term as Vice-President, Alma Thornton re-elected for a new two-year term as Secretary, and Morris Welch elected for a one-year vacated term as Treasurer. Also elected as Board Members-at-Large were LaDeta Crowley, Guy Luno, and Jimmy Mire.

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October 21 - Meet & Greet Lunch - Middendorf's (Manchac)

Canceled - Traffic very heavy on US 51 due to rerouting from I-55 closure from massive wreck.

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September 21 - Meet & Greet Lunch - Brasas Peru'

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September 19 - Day Trip to New Orleans to Audubon Aquarium

Early on September 19, a large group from FFBR carpooled to Algiers for breakfast and socializing at the home of members Hazel and Chris Pomfret. We then enjoyed views of the New Orleans skyline by taking the ferry across to the waterfront. After an interesting tour of the Audubon Aquarium, we crossed back for lunch at Gattuso's Neighborhood Restaurant in Gretna before driving back to Baton Rouge.

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August 24 - Meet & Greet Lunch - Cheng's Restaurant & Bar

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August 18 - 3rd Qtr General Meeting - Picnic Theme

Our third general meeting was held on Friday evening at First Christian Church. Karen Vingiello provided a slide show and commentary about the recent journey to Germany (Lubeck and Bavaria). (For pictures and narrative see the links "Club Journeys (2012-2023)" and then "Outgoing Journeys 2023" at left above.) Revisions recommended by the Board to club Bylaws that had been emailed to members on August 7 were presented by Lynn Robbins and then passed. Thornton Cofield discussed a partial slate of officers and Board members for 2024. After the proposed slate is complete, the election will be held at a special general meeting at 2 pm on Sunday, October 29, at the home of Joy Rich. Brief remarks were made concerning outgoing journeys to Birmingham, AL (Oct. 7-12, 2023), Northern Colorado (Spring 2024), and Mundo Maya de Tuxtla Gutierrez and Coatepec, Mexico (June 2024) as well as incoming journeys from Columbia Cascade, WA & OR (Oct 20-25, 2023), Edmonton, Canada (Spring 2024), and New York, NY (Fall 2024). Vicki Vance outlined other travel opportunities available through Friendship Force International. Coordinators are needed for the Northern Colorado and Mexico journeys.

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August 10 & 15 - Volunteering at Food Bank - 8am-12noon

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July 20 - Meet & Greet Lunch - Zorba's Greek Bistro

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June 24 - Table at World Refugee & Immigration Day

From 2:00-6:30 pm at the 6th annual World Refugee and Immigration Day at the Family Youth Center in downtown Baton Rouge, FFBR manned a display table along with other relevant organizations. Our table included pictures of past journeys, club brochures, and business cards in front of a wall map of the world with pins showing where our club members have gone on previous journeys. Seventeen visitors provided us with their emails. We invited them to check the Schedule of Events on our webpage and will be inviting them to our next luncheon. Other tables provided by immigrants from a variety of countries included food, arts & crafts, colorful dress, and conversation. A stage area accommodated comments from several officials and a variety of entertainment throughout the afternoon.

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June 15 - Meet & Greet Lunch - Pedro's Tacos, Denham Springs

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May 26-28 - Jambalaya Festival - Gonzales, LA

On Friday-Sunday, May 26-28, more than half a dozen Friendship Force members volunteered in three-hour shifts in booths selling tickets at the annual Gonzales Jambalaya Festival. Booths on one side of the event site sold tickets for food and beverages, while booths on the other side sold tickets for carnival rides and amusements. The event included bands on three stages, jambalaya cooking contests, 5k & 1 Mile runs, carnival rides, and a car show.

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May 21 - 2nd Qtr General Meeting - Lawn Party

Our second 2023 general meeting was held on a Sunday afternoon at the home of Joy Rich in Denham Springs, LA. The weather was terrific with just enough clouds to keep the heat to a comfortable level. First off on the lawn was a little competition at cornhole, croquet, and horseshoes. Under the shelter, a group of ladies played Rummikub, a game of rummy that uses numbered tiles instead of a regular card deck. After that we gorged on a wide array of potluck dishes followed by a brief business meeting with a review of upcoming journeys. Incoming ones include Columbia-Cascades WA in October 2023, Edmonton Canada in spring 2024, and Long Island NY in Fall 2024. We will travel to Birmingham AL this October and possibly southern Mexico (Mundo Maya de Tuxtla Gutierrez and Coatrepec) next year. We were reminded that the search is on for Officers and Board Members for 2024. The biggest theme of the day, however, was the camaraderie among each other and "getting-to-know-you" conversations between new and long-time members.

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May 18 - Meet & Greet Lunch - La Contea Italian Restorante

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April 20 - Meet & Greet Lunch - LSU Nelson Memorial Bldg

On April 20, Friendship Force of Baton Rouge supported the Annual Cajun Jambalaya fundraiser
of the Kiwanis Club of Louisiana State University by having our monthly meet and greet lunch
at the Nelson Memorial Building in the southeast corner of the LSU campus.

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