|
|
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation Newsletter
|
|
|
FAF interns and staff celebrate 35 years of cultural tours!
|
|
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation at 35
Real Cultural Exchange since 1973
|
|
|
|
FAF @ 35:
|
 Tours Tailored for You!
As
we kick off our 35th nonprofit year, we invite you to check out some of
our exciting tour opportunities! Only Friendship Ambassadors Foundation
can offer you a quality, intercultural experience that include
serious, local relationships and concert opportunities - never prefabricated for profit! Read More...
Sister Cities
Greenwich and Vienne
After 35 years of coordinating meaningful cultural exchanges and events, Friendship Ambassadors Foundation was proud to coordinate one of its most successful tours yet, uniting Greenwich, CT and the city of Vienne, France, in a successful Sister City relationship. Read More...
Fundraising with FAF
In 2009, we all anticipate a slowing economy. Let FAF help you raise funds for your organization through travel and at absolutely no cost or obligation. Read More...
"First of all, let me tell you that the tour was wonderful! We couldn't have asked for better, more receptive audiences. Secondly, whatever you do... keep [FAF Artistic Director] Yin-Chu Jou. I couldn't have asked for a more gracious, "johnny on the spot", kind, loving, helpful person to travel with! And I know very well that it takes a team to make something like this come to fruition. So....THANK YOU ALL, FAF!"
- Kim Clayton, Founder and Director,
Clayton Productions, August 2008
|
 Sister Cities: Greenwich and Vienne
|
 Greenwich Choral Society preparing to sing at a 2800 person party at the U.S. Ambassador to France's residence, 4 July 2008.
Want more than just a tour? Create BIG excitement in your community with a Sister Cities project - a great way for a regular concert tour to find overwhelming local support, corporate sponsorship, and even line item government funding! FAF helped the towns of Greenwich and Vienne plan their relationship, hosted French representatives in Connecticut, worked with the US Embassy in France, and created the greatest, most exciting concert tour imaginable for the Greenwich Choral Society as part of this once-in-a-lifetime trip to France. With concerts and other participation in events in Paris, Vienne, and even the International Jazz Festival in the region, FAF elevated a common tour to an incomparable one!
"The Alliance Francaise of Greenwich would like to thank you and your Artistic Director, Yin-Chu Jou for your efforts in including [us] in the Greenwich Choral Society trip to France honoring the Greenwich/Vienne Sister City 2008 initiative... The trip was seamless, due in no small part to your advance planning... We thank you and your team for making this historic trip so memorable."
- Renee Ketcham, President, Alliance Francaise of Greenwich, July 2008
|
|
 |
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, Inc.
299 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830
203.622.7420
1.800.526.2908
friendlyam@faf.org
www.faf.org
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, Inc. is a 501c3 not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization since 1973. Affiliated with United Nations, Department of Public Information, UNESCO, ACDA, and others.
|
|
|
| Travel on an FAF Tour!
|
 Why Choose FAF?Every organization and ensemble preparing
international cultural exchanges, concert tours,
voluntourism projects, and other
nonprofit gatherings could use
FAF on its side. The foundation is tax-exempt, not-for-profit, economical, and safe - as well as globally well-connected. More than just a tour operator, the foundation offers a unique, culturally-enriching exchange experience. FAF programs are full of memorable experiences and real person-to-person exchanges.
In addition, FAF trips are eligible to raise funds for the organizations it serves without incurring UBIT (Unrelated Business Income Tax; call for details). FAF also partially indemnifies its participant organizations against the possibility of litigation arising from travel, and even works with other tour operators when necessary to create fund-building 'companion tours' for organizations - yes, even if you have selected a for-profit tour company to facilitate the main program!
Let us help you make your next group travel experience singular in every way.
"I just returned from the Collegiate Chorale Tour to Israel - one of the professional singers in the group. It was a great privilege to be on this tour. Working with Zubin Mehta & the Israel Philharmonic was a musical treat for all of us. I very much enjoyed the tours provided for the group. I want to highlight Lillian, our tour guide. She is a bigger-than-life personality and she made everything come alive, investing so much of herself in her descriptions. I only wish I could have seen more. Next time! It was a pleasure touring with her. Thank you for making this trip so special for us."
- Jim Fredericks Cunningham, Singer, July 2008
What Is Included in an FAF Tour?
FAF programs include air and land arrangements,
real
people-to-people exchange, concert arrangements
when appropriate, personal travel insurance, a
password-protected, online travel information service
with your current program information available to you
and your family 24/7, and full tax deduction as allowed
by law for every participant on a Friendship
Ambassadors Foundation program. We are proud to report that our services are provided to you at absolutely no cost to your organization. In addition, all group leaders travel free on all FAF tours.
Some even draw income from their service during
some voluntourism and other international projects.
I appreciate your time and effort, am grateful for your support and am quite overwhelmed with pride to read the amount of effort you have made on behalf of our trip. You have a true concept of what diplomacy involves and effect it repeatedly."
- John McIntyre, Tour Coordinator, Greenwich Choral Society, June 2008
Special, Money-Saving Offers
A portion of all FAF programming is fully tax deductible as allowed by law to each participant or their families. Friendship Ambassadors Foundation has only one motive and mission: making these experiences special and inspiring - we have no profit motive whatsoever. The foundation also offers special Companion Tours, which allow you to invite community members unaffiliated with your group onto your tour. We include a tax-deductible donation in each companion's travel costs for your organization! For more information on these tours, see our Fundraising Article in this newsletter or on our webpage.
"We truly appreciate (and recognize) the effort that you made for us. Traveling to China during the Olympics year has definitely made some things a lot harder than they would have been otherwise! Again, very, very sincere thanks for resolving everything so successfully."
- Vicky Barham, Tour Coordinator, Stella Boreales, July 2008
Still not sure? Allow us to send you on a familiarization trip at no extra cost! If you decide on a group travel program with FAF prior to August 31, 2008 for a tour in 2009, you are automatically eligible for a free familiarization tour (air and most land included) to that destination in advance of the main tour. Travel with other choir, orchestra, theatre, and dance directors on a working, exploratory trip! That is TWO free trips abroad for you: prior to and during the main program!
So contact FAF online, by email, or phone and we will
begin
the process of evaluating your program and making
the
appropriate suggestions to help your organization,
ensemble, or academic institution travel virtually
anywhere in the world - with the most impact, in the
safest and least expensive way, full of special
memories that will last a lifetime! Get your quote now!
For more information, check out our Group Tours webpage OR contact us at
friendlyam@faf.org
1-800-526-2908
 (Pictured: Coe College in concert, Sanchung City Dome Concert Hall, Taiwan, 7 August 2008)
"Thank you so much for helping with our wonderful trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong. We hope to see you again!"
- Steve Shanley, Coe College Jazz Band Director,
August 2008
"Thanks again for everything you did for our experience. It was certainly a first-class operation, and you were friendly, charming, professional, and organized."
- Dr. Christopher J. Nicholas, Coe College Bands Soloist; Associate Director of Bands,
The University of Wyoming Department of Music; August 2008
We look forward to hearing from you, next!
|
| Upcoming Tours: NYC, New Orleans, Caribbean, and Japan!
|
Perform at the United Nations in NYC!
(Pictured: Conductor John Yoon and FAF's Youth Band for United Nations, headlining at United Nations Headquarters, NYC, 12 June 2008.)
Allow our travel specialists to prepare a customized tour for your ensemble or delegation to one of the most exciting cities in America! Perform at the United Nations and other local venues while enjoying the fantastic sights and sounds of Manhattan. See Broadway, Times Square, Chinatown, and much more while simultaneously pursuing the chance to perform for cultural counterparts from around the world!
Voluntourism in New Orleans
One of the greatest meccas of music and art, New Orleans needs you to help recover from the devestation of Hurricane Katrina by bringing your music and helping hands to the people of Louisiana. Enjoy the unique and exciting cajun culture while simultaneously lending a helping hand to a most honorable cause.
"Thank you so much for your generous donation to the New Orleans Children's Chorus, which will be used to help us rebuild our organization in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. ... Thank you for your care, concern, and financial support at this difficult time."
- Cheryl D. Dupont, New Orleans Children's Chorus Artistic Director, July 2008
"The people were so appreciative and thankful that we had chosen New Orleans as our destination city. We were humbled by this experience. We are glad we were able to help using music!"
- Greenwich Honor Choir's Robin Chenot and Chris Powers, May 2008
 Cruise the Caribbean or the Baltics!
Individuals and Choral Ensembles: Join us for a week in the Caribbean or the Baltics -- your choice! Stop along the route, visit and perform in some of the warmest cultural and desirable destinations in the world. Special:
Noted, award-winning Maestro Harold
Rosenbaum conducts all
singers with a
local orchestra in one destination on each tour; otherwise, choirs are directed by their own conductors for all other cruise concerts.
 Festival of Light Arts Festival in Tokyo, Japan!
June 26-29, 2009
A music, theatre, and dance festival that brings together youth-based performing groups from around the world, including many genres. Build bridges of friendship over geographical and cultural distances.
"We couldn't have asked for a better experience in Japan. We highly recommend the service of FAF to anyone who might be interested in collaborating with them in the Japan festival in 2009. They are an amazing non-profit organization who has done things right for us!"
- Howard Cheung, San Marino Chamber Choir Director,
Asia Tour, April 2008
New Dance Tours at Home and Abroad!
Vanaver Caravan: Well-respected Bill and Livia Vanaver offer two dance and music experiences for individual dancers, dance ensembles, musicians, and musical groups of all kinds and sizes! Join them for ten days in Greece for the International Dance Conference or work with them in Woodstock and Manhattan, New York; both events are this Spring. Meet venerable music icon Pete Seeger on the New York tour; spend time on a very secluded Greek island in Europe - call for dates and details.
Movement Laboratory Intensive: Longtime FAF partner, Movement Laboratory, led by founder and choreographer Judy Williams Henry, invites dancers to visit Pennsylvania to work and perfom with her world-class dancers and choreographers. Individual and full dance ensembles, contact FAF for more on this very special opportunity to dance with the ensemble and choreographer who 'invented' the Goodwill Through Dance concept worldwide!
For more information about upcoming tours or establishing a customized tour for your ensemble or organization, proceed to our Tours webpage or contact us at
1.800.526.2908
friendlyam@faf.org
|
| Fundraising and Companion Tours
|
Fundraising Tours
Suffering from the Economic Slowdown?
Allow FAF to help by planning a Fundraising Tour!
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation understands the pressures the recent economic crisis has put on small organizations and schools. That's why we are offering a special tour program that offers fundraising at no cost or obligation to you!
How Does It Work?
Simply arrange to have FAF plan a group tour for your organization. In addition to the actual, individual travel costs, FAF will include a small additional donation that will go straight to your group or organization. While $250 may not be a very large donation by itself, when multiplied by two busloads, your group has just earned $25,000 at absolutely no cost to you, all while experiencing an enriching cultural exchange or performance opportunity! All proceeds from this additional donation will go straight to your organization without any of the costs incurred by typical event-based fundraising (such as nonrefundable deposits on hall rentals, piece by piece sales, car washes, and the rest!).
Companion Tours
Fundraising at No Cost to Your Members
FAF also understands the need to protect your members from extra fees in their travel packages. That is why we also offer the Companion Tour. In this scenario, only the companions and friends (not the main group or chaperones, accompanists, etc.) incur an extra, added donation in exchange for participation. Not only is this a great way to earn funds for your group, but it is also an amazing opportunity to reach out to the community and get more people involved with your organization or association, sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your main tour. Now that's 'branding' at its best!
An Example
A community choir in Philadelphia attracted 50 companion couples who traveled with the ensemble to London during their concert tour. Those 100 companions were charged an extra $500 per person for the tour. All of that money was donated back to the choir by FAF after the tour was completed; that's a $50,000 fund-raiser with no overhead, no hall rentals, no organizational risks, and nothing to buy in advance - and it included five extra 'free places', too!
Additionally, they raffled off one of those 'free' places for even more funds. They gave away one of the free places to that year's largest annual donor and received even more from that person the following year: talk about strategy!
The Benefits of Fundraising with FAF
· Absolutely No Cost
in fundraising or service fees to your institution or organization.
FAF charges no fees whatsoever to the organizations it serves.
· No Obligation Whatsoever prior to formal agreement to participate.
· Fully Tax Deductible for all participants and their families through FAF.
· School Partially Indemnified Against Insurance Claims and UBIT (Unrelated Business Income Tax) on all development dollars earned in this mutual, non-profit effort.
· One Free Space
guaranteed for each busload by the foundation for a staff member or
other participant at your discretion or its cost amortized among all
others to further reduce their travel costs.
For more information on planning Fundraising Tours with FAF, please visit our Fundraising Tours Webpage.
You can also contact us by email or phone with any further questions you may have.
1-800-526-2908
friendlyam@faf.org
|
35th Anniversary: Where Were You When We Began?
|
Many of those who receive the FAF Newsletter have
been traveling with the organization for years and in some
cases, decades. This year, the foundation
celebrates its 35th anniversary.
In the early 1970's, the following ensembles,
organizations, and
academic institutions began the legacy - is your
ensemble or school
among them? Some of you who missed this asked us
to reprint our original roster of groups, so here it is - was yours among them?
Auburn University Singers - Muscle
Shoals High
School Jazz Band - Jacksonville State
University Jazz Ensemble -
Chapel Youth Choir of Central United Methodist
Church - Palo Verde
Jubileers - Hendrix
College Choir -
Ouachi-Tones from Ouachita
Baptist University
- Arkansas State University
Male Chorus - Singing Men of Ouachita
Baptist University
- Allan Hancock A Capella Choir - The Icthus Folk Team of St.
Andrews Presbyterian Church - The Stardettes - The Young Rebels - San Francisco Boys Choir -
Santa Clara Choral - Santa
Barbara High School
Madrigal Singers - Miss
Porters School
Choir - Westhill High School Chamber Singers - The
Orphenians Chorus at Staples
High School - Trumbull High School Chamber Choir - University of Florida Jazz Band - Florida State
University Jazz Band -
Winter Haven Orchestra Association, Inc. - University of Miami
Chamber Singers - The Gulf Kirk Ringers of First Presbyterian Church - Rollins College Chapel Choir - West Georgia
College Singers - Emory University
Glee Club & Chorale - The Friendship Cloggers - Riverwood High School
Chorale - The Westminster
Ensemble - American Musical Theatre I&II - The Hazardous Terrific Northern
Trappers - Northwestern University Mime Company - Clarke-Loras Singers from
Clarke College - Wartburg College Choir - Tabor College Romania Tour Choir -
Ottawa University Chorale - Bethel College Choir - The Lexington Singers -
Southeastern Christian College Choir - Patsy Bloor Dancers - Foxcroft Academy
Band - The Designed Xpression of the University of Maine at Farmington - The
Modos of Northfield Mt. Hermon School The New England Youth Ensemble -
Worcester Community Orchestra of Worcester State College - Merrimack Valley Academy
of Dance - University Chorale and Chamber Singers of the University of
Massachusetts Fine Arts Center - University of Massachusetts Brass Choir -
Hampshire Chorale Society - Milton
Academy Chamber Singers -
Seaholm High School Choir - The Asher Troupe of Michigan State University
Asher Student Foundation - Central High School A Cappella Choir - Battle Creek Central High School
Choir - Alma College A Cappella Choir - The Lan Swing
Choir of Lansing Community College - The Maycroft Square
Tappers - Slavik Folk Dance Ensemble of Oakland University
- Warren Woods High School
Concert Choir - Chippewa
Valley Swing Choir &
Jazz Ensemble - Central
Michigan University
Concert Choir - Andrews
University Concert Band
& Brass Ensemble - The Jills & The Chamber Singers - Escanaba High School
Chamber Chorale - The Elsingers of East
Lansing High School
- Macalester College Choir - St. John's University
Men's Chorus - The Apollo Strings of North
Junior High School - Minnesota Vocal Arts Ensemble of the University of Minnesota
at Morris - The Ellis Street
Singers of Mankato
State University
- The Renaissance Chamber Consort - The University Singers of the - University of Minnesota
at Duluth - The
Crusaders Choir - The Lamplighters of Meridian High School
- Rust College Choir - The Troubadours of Millsaps College - The Friendship Chorale of Notre Dame
High School
- Nebraska Wesleyen
University Choir - Keene High
School A Cappella Choir - Manchester Memorial
High School Choir - Rutgers Glee Club - Collingswood High School
Chorus - Hackensack
High School Choir - Highland Park Singers of Highland Park High School
- Metuchen Kleine Choir - Middlesex
County College
Choir - Northern Highlands Concert Choir of Northern Highlands Regional
High School - Ramsey High
School Choir - Rancocas Valley
High School Choir - Trenton State College Singers - Westfield
Chorale of Westfield
High School - Montclair High School Choir - Moorestown Madrigals
of Moorestown High School - Cedar Ridge - High School
Concert Choir - The Eighth Day of Millville
Y.M.C.A. - Pingry
School Glee Club - The
Belles & Madrigals of the East of Cherry High School East - South Plainfield A Cappella Choir - Cinnaminson High School
Chamber Singers - Dwight-Englewood
High School Choir -
Cantabile Singers of Jonathan
Dayton Regional
High School - Randolph High School Concert Choir - Roy Meyer
Swingers - Lawrenceville Glee Club - Help Educate People Chorus - Performing
Arts Foundation, Inc. - Brooklyn College Percussion Ensemble - Syosset High
School Marching Band - Trinity School Choir/TISOT - The Archdiocese of New York
Chorus - Association for the Furtherment of Bel Canto - Bronx Community
Orchestra - Dobbs Glee Club of The Masters School - Fredonia College Choir of
the State University of New York - Horace Mann Glee Club - Martin Luther King,
Jr. Male Glee Club of Theodore Roosevelt High School - Music Men of Syracuse -
The New Frontier - The New York Vocal Arts Ensemble - Ninety-First Street
Singers of The Convent of the Sacred Heart - P&J Folk Singers of Sts.
Philip and James Parrish - Riverside Chamber Ensemble - Southside High School
Concert Choir - Calliope's Children - Chappaqua Choral Group - Hunter College
High School Senior Chorus - International Formation Dance Team - Manhattanville
College Chorus - Ladycliff Glee Club - The University Chorale of the University
of North Carolina at Greensboro - Warren Wilson College Choir & Band -
Greensboro Youtheatre of Greensboro Park & Recreation Department -
Appalachian State University Jazz Ensemble - University Chorus of the University
of - North Dakota College of Fine Arts - Bismarck High School Concert Choir -
Lorain County Civic Musicum of Lorain County Community College - Singing Angels
- Sing-Out Troy - North Central High School Ambassadors Chorus - The Denison
Singers of Denison University - Cincinnati University Singers - The Young
Tulsans - The Roustabouts of the University of Northern Oklahoma - Norman High
School Orchestra - Belles & Beaus Square Dance Team - Churchill Area High
School Choir - Coatsville Choraliers - Hickory High School Choir - Keystone
High School Choir - The Lockettes - The Neighbortones - Radnor High School Jazz
Ensemble - The Meridian Fife & Drum Woodpeckers - Montrose Jr. High School
Choir - Bala Cynwyd Jr. High School Band - Keystone Squares - Nittany Knights -
North Penn State Bands The Philharmonic Society - The Shipley School Chorus -
The Shy-Anns - Upper Merion Area High School Concert & Jazz Bands - Elkland
High School Marching Band Smethport's Swingin' Seventies - Ballet des Jeunes -
The Harmony Sun of the Catholic Youth Ministry - Upper Darby Concert Choir -
The Crystal Band of Scranton - The Forty-Niners Chorus - The Syncopated Seniors
of the Senior Adult Activity Center of India Valley - The Tri-State Squares -
Westminster College Choir - Delaware County Choral Society - The Larraine Susa
Dancers - North Kingston High School Concert Choir - Brown University Chorus -
The Furman Singers of Furman University - Carolina Alive & Radiant
Vibrations of the University of South Carolina - Black Hills State College Wind
& Jazz Ensemble - The Norsemen of Hillcrest High School - Rutherford Square
Dancers - Carson-Newman College Singers - Southwestern Singers of Southwestern
University at Memphis - Memorial Jr. High School Choir - Trinity University
Choir - University of Texas Longhorn Singers - University
of Texas Jazz Ensemble - Reagan High School Choir - Singing Cadets of Texas
A&M University - Westlake High School Choir - Wesley Singers of First
United Methodist Church - His Brother's Children - The Choraliers of
Southwestern Union College - Hardin- Simmons University Choir - Hereford
Chamber Singers - Kilgore Rangerettes of Kilgore Junior College - Texas Women's
University Concert Choir - Abilene Christian University Concert Choir - Sam
Houston State University Jazz Ensemble - Texas Chamber Singers of Roosevelt
High School Boys Choir - Texas Chamber Singers of South Houston High School
Choir - International Folk Dancers of Brigham Young University - The Sounds of
Brigham Young University - Synthesis of Brigham Young University - The Young
Ambassadors of Brigham Young University - Liberty Youth Singers of Liberty
Baptist Church - Sing-Out Roanoke - Sing-Out South - Dr. Kenneth Nafziger -
Walla Walla College Brass Choir & Percussion Ensemble - Upper Columbia
Academy Choraliers - D.C. Youth Chorale of Paul Jr. High School - Howard
University Jazz Ensemble - Alliance for Arts Educators of the John F. Kennedy
Center - West Virginia Wesleyan College Jazz Ensemble - Ohio Valley Chorale of
West Liberty State College - Alderson-Broaddus College Touring Choir - Mitzi
Layne Dance Troupe - Greater Milwaukee Touring Youth Symphony - Carrol College
Choir - Viterbo College Concert Choir - The Collegiate Chorale of the
University of Wyoming
|
|
|
|
Friendship Ambassadors Staff and Interns
Friendship Ambassadors Foundation
|
|
|
|
|
|
