WELCOME Auckland New Zealanders– MAY 22 - 28 Brazil Exchange Diary by Kathryn Allen June Newsletter 2009Available Friendship Force Pledge Members of the Friendship Force subscribe to the following pledge: As a member of The Friendship Force, I recognise that I have a mission. I recognise that I can make a difference That mission is to be a friend to the people of the world. As I embark on this adventure, I know that others will be watching me. I know that through my example to my fellow citizens and the people of other nations, the cause of friendship, love and peace can be further I can make a difference! (click on images to enlarge) Friendship Force Monthly Meetings scheduled the 1st Monday of each month located at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Founders Hall 1009 Benson Street Hartwell, Ga. 30643 Please join us if you would like further information. 2009 Exchanges MARCH, 2009 TO Curitiba and Belo Horizonte, Brazil….Pete & Paula Chambers - Completed MAY, 2009 HERE Sydney, Australia….Barbara Walter EDs Bob & Carol Beasley asst. EDs JULY, 2009 HERE Auckland, New Zealand ....Skip Walter ED Check Exchange Information for details By Wayne Smith When The Friendship Force was established in 1977, the name was carefully selected. Friendship, rather than peace, would be the primary concept. As individuals, we may not be able to create peace single-handedly, but we certainly know how to make friends. Furthermore, the underlying philosophy of our organization is that friendships across international barriers can be a powerful force in creating a more peaceful world. Hence our motto, "a world of friends is a world of peace." Think about it: the force of friendship. Over the centuries, people of the world have dealt with their enemies by conquering or killing them - using what we call in English "armed forces." We in The Friendship Force know that it is possible to deal with strangers and their differences - not through arms that shoot and kill, but through the arms of friends that embrace. Can we live in each other's homes, share each other's meals, play with each other's children, and still be enemies? Therefore, one reason for using force in our name is to convey the power of friendship. But there is another reason. Force, in English, is also used as a synonym for army. Here again the association is accurate. Don't we want to be a friendship army . . . a friendship force? When thought of in these terms, we see that the use of the word force can help convey that what we do as individuals does not stand in isolation but is part of a worldwide movement ... an army or force for friendship whose goal is to use friendship as the means to achieve a better world. So you see, I like the second word in our name, force, almost as much as I do the first one, friendship. By combining the two, we are able to create the image, and the reality, of the power of friendship - the force of friendship - but only if we are willing to be part of a global army, or force for friendship. We call it The Friendship Force. 
(Friendship Force is not affilated with the Catholic or any religious organization)
What's in a name?
Former President, The Friendship Force International
eriodically I receive inquiries from our member regarding the name of our organization. In particular, they ask about the use of two words that, in the English language, are not usually associated with each other: the universally acceptable and pleasing concept of friendship with the more aggressive word force. Since names are important to all of us, it is good to reflect on our name, The Friendship Force. 
