Open Doors for Refugees
2025-06-22 12:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Olin Park Pavilion
Open Doors for Refugees invites you to their free community picnic. You can join a potluck picnic at the Olin Park Pavilion. This free event will feature family friendly activities, delicious food, Live music and the performance of the Attan, Afghanistan’s national dance.
Read more about what is planned on the Open Doors for Refugees website https://opendoorsforrefugees.org/. More information about ways you can contribute in this month’s newsletter. The newsletter also has information about how you can sign up.

Second Harvest
2025-06-25 12:30 - 15:30 | Second Harvest Food Bank, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53718
2802 Dairy Drive, Madison,
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
It’s that time again! Our next Second Harvest Foodbank volunteer day is Wednesday June 25 from 12:30 – 3:30

Book Club
2025-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom – within your own home!, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
NOTE____ NOW A ZOOM!!!!!
The Optimist’s Daughter – Eudora Welty (1972), 180 pp. 15 copies in the library system.
The people of Mount Salus Mississippi always felt good about Judge McKelva. He was a quiet solid reassuring figure. The ten years after his first wife’s death he marries the frivolous young Wanda Fay. The book is a reflective, poignant novel of independence and love, for which Eudora Welty, one of American’s greatest contemporary Souther writers, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.

Dining on the 6th
2025-09-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Cafe Hollander, 701 Hilldale Way, Madison
We are meeting at Cafe Hollander in the Hilldale shopping mall. They have a wide range of food available. We plan to gather in their outside dining area weather permitting. Please RSVP to Gail Holmes by September 4.

Book Club
2025-09-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Maureen Kind, 5901 Mayhill Dr., Madison, WI, United States
After two months of free-range reading (it’s been fun!), we will meet in PERSON.
Maureen Kind’s home
5901 Mayhill Dr. Madison
We look forward to discussing The Hundred-Foot Journey, and
to hearing about everyone’s summer adventures. Autumn
approaches!
The Hundred-Foot Journey –
Richard C. Morais (2008), 245

Second Harvest Food Bank Volunteer Activity
2025-09-24 12:30 - 15:30 | Second Harvest Food Bank, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, Wisconsin, 53718
Our volunteer day at Second Harvest Food Bank will be Wednesday, September 24.
Second Harvest provides food support to thousands of families, seniors, and kids across southwestern Wisconsin through a network of 300 partner agencies and programs.

Book Club
2025-10-04 08:00 - 17:00 | TBD
Saturday, October 4 – time, location TBD
Contemporary insight into our justice system, from a brilliant lawyer who works to make it a better one. Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption Bryan Sevenson (2014) 336 pp. 53 of 60 copies are available in the library

Dining on the 6th
2025-10-06 12:00 - 13:30 | Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, Madison
October 6 we will meet at the Garver Feed Mill for an outdoor patio lunch at Ian’s Pizza. Ians’a offers chess or pepperoni slices for $4.50 and signature pizzas for $5.50 a slice. Register with Gail Holmes by October 5th.

Outbound to Birmingham, Alabama
2025-10-19 - 2025-10-24 | Birmingham, Ala
Our club members will be hosted in Birmingham from October 19-October 24. There will be a strong emphasis on civil rights with a possible pre or post tour. Ken & Vicki Warren are coordinators,

Dining on the 6th
2025-11-06 00:00 - 13:30 | WI
Dining on the 6th
Thursday
November 6, 2025
12:00 Noon
Zafferano Ristorante
2969 Cahill Main,
Fitchburg

Book Club
2025-11-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom – within your own home!, Madison, WI, 53706, United States
Book Club
Monday
November 17, 2025
7:00 PM Zoo

For November, we will be reading The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (2019), a
novel set in the hard times in the beautiful mountains of Kentucky.

Second Harvest
2025-11-19 12:30 - 15:30 | Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, 2802 Dairy Drive, Madison, 53719, United States
Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday, Friendship Force’s volunteer day has been moved to Wednesday, November 19. Please let our new leader, Mary Crave (mary.crave@wisc.edu) know of your participation by November 13.

Holiday Party
2026-01-04 13:00 - 16:00 | 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 | WI
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 | WI
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 | 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 | WI
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 | WI
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 | WI
New Zealand has canceled. At this point, it appears that a group from the Quad Cities will join us for 3-4 days.
