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.

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.

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.

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.

Dining on the 6th

Thursday

November 6, 2025

12:00 Noon

Zafferano Ristorante

2969 Cahill Main,

Fitchburg

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.

Applications are open now…. Please apply…  coordinators are Pat Watson and Lise Skofronick.  See your email messages and newsletter for current information.

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

New Zealand has canceled.  At this point, it appears that a group from the Quad Cities will join us for 3-4 days.

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