Holiday Party
2026-01-04 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Buck and Honeys, Monona
Join us in celebrating the holidays and sharing Friendship. Save the Date!! We will meet at Buck and Honeys in Monona. RSVP information to be published later.
When: Sunday, January 4, 2026, from 1-4 pm
Where: Buck & Honey’s – Monona (800 W Broadway #300, Monona, WI
53713)
What: Meal and Holiday Ornament Exchange (Please bring a wrapped
holiday ornament from your travels that will be put in a basket for exchange.)
Price includes a buffet entre choice of Salmon, Chicken or Vegetable dish, and includes salad,
roll, two sides, & a dessert brownie
Note: Water is included & a cash bar offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
To sign up go to the newsletter on the website https://ffwis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Newsletter-2025-11.pdf

Important Club Membership Meeting
2026-01-10 13:30 - 15:30
We will meet with the Friendship Force International CEO, Jeremi Snook to discuss the vision for the FFI of the future and the change of the dues structure. It is important for all members to attend.

Freeze for Food
2026-02-09 08:00 - 17:00
Some of our members have participated in past years. The event is organized by the Returned Peace Corps of Wisconsin-Madison. They are proudly raising money for Open Doors for Refugees, a local Madison non-profit. Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/WI/Madison/RPCVFreezeForFood

Book Club
2026-02-16 07:00 - 20:30 | Zoom – within your own home!, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Our next meeting will also take place by zoom on Monday February 16, 7:00. We will discuss Patriot by Alexei Navalny (2024). ” This is a powerful and moving memoir of a fearless political opposition leader who paid the ultimate price for his beliefs. Alexei Navalny began writing the Patriot shortly after his near fatal poisoning in 2020. ” If you would like to be added to the contact list for the book club, please contact Marjie Marion.

Second Harvest Volunteer Activity
2026-02-25 12:30 - 15:30 | Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, 53719, United States
Join us February 25 for our monthly commitment at Second Harvest, 2602 Dairy Drive, Madison. The 12:30 – 3:30 PM shift goes quickly with fellow volunteers. Please let Mary Crave know by Monday, February 23 if you can help. mtcrave@gmail.com or 608-575-9847.

Dining on the Sixth
2026-03-06 12:00 - 14:00 | Erins Snug Pub, 4601 American Parkway, Madison, WI, United States
Join us for an Irish lunch on Friday March 6th, 2026. We will meet at Erins Snug Irish Pub at 12PM for lunch. The address is 4601 American Parkway. Register with Gail Holmes by March 3rd. See the newsletter for complete details.

International Festival Volunteer Opportunity
2026-03-07 10:00 - 17:00 | Overture Hall, 201 State St, Madison, WI, United States
Volunteers are needed to staff a booth. Please consider sharing our mission and your knowledge, support, and welcoming energy with festival participants for an hour, two hours or more. Contact Jan Barbone at madcapjan@yahoo.com or call Jan at 608-219-7479 to sign-up for times that you are available to volunteer.

Book Club
2026-03-16 07:00 - 20:30 | Zoom – within your own home!, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Join us to discuss the book Orhan’s Inheritance, a novel by Aline Ohanesian. “When Orhan’s brilliant and eccentric grandfather, who built a dynasty out of making cilium rugs, is found dead in a vat of dye, Orhan inherits the decades old business. But, his grandfather’s will raises more questions than it answers. Kemal has led the family estate to a stranger thousands of miles away, an aging woman in a retirement home in Los Angeles. Her existence and secrecy about her past only deepen the mystery of why Orhan’s grandfather would have left their home to this woman rather than his own family. ”

Second Harvest
2026-03-25 12:30 - 15:30, 2026-04-29 00:30 - 15:30, 2026-07-29 12:30 - 15:30, 2026-08-26 12:30 - 15:30, 2026-09-30 12:30 - 15:30, 2026-10-28 12:30 - 15:30, 2026-11-18 12:30 - 15:30 | Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, 53719, United States
With monthly opportunities, you can choose a date that works around your travels, winter get-aways, and other obligations. All you need to do is respond toan email sent in the middle ofthemonth. Mary Crave lets Second Harvest know how many will be coming so they can plan accordingly. The distribution center is located at 2602 Dairy Drive, Madison, just minutes from Stoughton Rd and the Beltline.

Annual Meeting
2026-04-18 13:30 - 15:30 | Middleton Library, 7475 Hubbard Ave, Middleton, WI, United States
The Board of FF Wisconsin-Madison invites all members to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 18, from 1:30-3:30 pm at the Middleton Public Library. Full details along with information on who to send your RSVP will be in the April newsletter. The FF bylaws require a quorum of 25% of the membership in attendance to hold the annual business meeting. The Board hopes to see you on April 18!

Adopt A Highway
2026-04-20 13:00 - 15:00
Our first Adopt a Highway clean up for the season is on Monday April 20th, 1-3pm. Come help our environment while enjoying some fresh spring weather. Meet up on Highway 51 (Parking on Highway 51 at the intersection with Tower Drive – there is a large gravel shoulder to park on. See map link below. Note, there is a Tower Rd that intersects with Highway 51 near McFarland that could be confused with our location. Another way to find it is to search for “Altemus Corners House Bed and Breakfast” in google maps, which is at the same intersection. https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9186274,-89.1515839,15z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
These are the dates for the rest of 2026:
• Sun June 7, 6-8 pm
• Tues Sept 8, 10am-12pm
• Sun Oct 11, 2-4pm
Please contact Stephanie Vanden Bush (sljacobs2@gmail.com
or 920-676-1441) to commit or with questions

North American Regional Conference
2026-04-24 - 2026-04-27 | TO Be Announced
The North American Regional Conference will be held from April 24 – April 27 in Memphis Tennessee. Join fellow club members from around North America in fabulous Memphis. You can network with other members, meet FFI staff and attend workshops that will provide information about Friendship Force and its activities.
Conference Opportunity Memphis, Tennessee – April 2026
To encourage participation in the 2026 FFI North American Conference to be held at The Hyatt Centric Hotel on Beale Street in Memphis TN from April 24-27, the FFWM Board of
*NEWS FLASH * Registration is now open! Early Bird Special -Register by November 10th for just $280, regular price is $320
Directors will provide financial assistance to five club members who attend and who are willing to assume leadership roles in the Madison club. The conference registration fee plus some funds to partially

Outbound to Sacramento, CA
2026-05-15 - 2026-05-19
Applications are open now…. Please apply… coordinators are Pat Watson and Lise Skofronick. See your email messages and newsletter for current information.

Second Harvest
2026-05-27 12:30 - 15:30, 2026-06-24 12:30 - 15:30 | Second Harvest Food Bank, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53718

Journey
2026-07-14 08:00 - 2026-07-21 17:00
New Zealand has canceled. At this point, it appears that a group from the Quad Cities will join us for 3-4 days.

Inbound Lower Columbia club
2026-09-02 08:00 - 17:00
Exact Dates TBD Hosts, journey coordinators and committee members are still being recruited to assist with this inbound journey. Current estimated dates, September 2026

Highway Clean Up
2026-09-08 10:00 - 12:00
Our third Highway Clean up is September 8. Come help our environment while enjoying some cooler fall weather. Meet up on Highway 51 (Parking on Highway 51 at the intersection with Tower Drive – there is a large gravel shoulder to park on. See map link below. Note, there is a Tower Rd that intersects with Highway 51 near McFarland that could be confused with our location. Another way to find it is to search for “Altemus Corners House Bed and Breakfast” in google maps, which is at the same intersection. https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9186274,-89.1515839,15z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Outbound to Seferehiser, Türkiye
2026-09-21 08:00 - 2026-09-26 17:00
EXACT DATES TBD This outbound journey is tentatively planned for late September but exact dates have yet to be determined. Seferihisar is located to the south of İzmir and is a place where nature, history, and sea come together to promise peace to its visitors all year long.

Highway Clean Up
2026-10-11 14:00 - 16:00
Our Final highway clean up for the year is October 11 from 2 – 4. Come help our environment while enjoying some fresh fall weather. Meet up on Highway 51 (Parking on Highway 51 at the intersection with Tower Drive – there is a large gravel shoulder to park on. See map link below. Note, there is a Tower Rd that intersects with Highway 51 near McFarland that could be confused with our location. Another way to find it is to search for “Altemus Corners House Bed and Breakfast” in google maps, which is at the same intersection. https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9186274,-89.1515839,15z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQxMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
