A new year is here and it’s time to catch up on what’s new with FFIS:
Conversation Friend Program: Sixty-three of the 68 Conversation Friend program students have been matched! We can always use more volunteers now and in the future. If you’re interested in learning more or participating, send an e-mail to FFIS.ConversationFriends@gmail.com.
Winter Homestay: Twenty-six new international students enrolled for the winter term and three of those students experienced a short-term homestay with FFIS members.
The students aren’t the only ones who appreciate the warm hospitality provided by FFIS host families. Their parents are also very appreciative that their son or daughter has a second family providing a safe and secure environment in Lane County.
Read what a father from Turkey had to say about how FFIS’ homestay program helped to relieve his fears of sending his daughter to school so far away from her home – Turkish Father is Thankful to This FFIS Host Family for Taking Such Great Care of His Daughter!
Spring Homestay: It’s not too soon to start thinking about the Spring Homestay program. Six exchange students from Taiwan and Japan have already signed up for the homestay experience from March 23 to 30. The International Student Orientation begins on March 28. If you’re interested in hosting a student, send an e-mail to ffis@uoregon.edu.
Welcome Picnic: Our annual Welcome Picnic will be on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Alton Baker Park ramadas. FFIS members and incoming international students from the University of Oregon and Lane Community College are invited to attend. You can view pictures from the 2018 picnic here.
Mark Your 2019 Calendar
Spring Homestay – March 23 to 30
Fall Homestay Matching – July and August
Fall Homestay – Sept. 14 to 18
Welcome Picnic – Saturday, Sept. 21 at noon at the Alton Baker Park Ramadas
Conversation Friend Matching – October
FFIS Steering Committee – Thank you to Jean McClain, Kent Henricksen, and Ray Slaughter for recently joining our committee! Thank you also to Steve and Shirley Gilbreath, who retired in December after many years of service with FFIS and the Steering Committee!
FFIS is comprised entirely of local volunteers who believe in and support our mission. The Steering Committee meets at 11:30 am on the first Wednesday of every month from Sept. through June in the second-floor conference room at Umpqua Bank, 675 Oak St., near the Hult Center and Lane County Courthouse. Anyone is welcome to attend. If you’d like to get on the agenda, send an e-mail in advance to FFIS President Matthew Fisher at ffiseugene@gmail.com. We welcome anyone who wants to join the Committee and help to build our organization!
Thank you for offering your time and talents, your home and hospitality, to international students far from their home and families! You become like a second family to them and your heartfelt generosity fosters enormous goodwill. It makes a lasting impact on their lives. That in a nutshell is what FFIS’ mission is all about. Your comments, feedback, and suggestions are always welcome.
Your FFIS Steering Committee
Chair & Treasurer – Matthew Fisher (541-255-0626 or mfisher333@gmail.com)
Secretary – Suzanne Dassenko
Fundraising Committee Chair – Deanna Brandt
Media Committee Chair – Rick Obst
Conversation Friend Coordinators:
June Brooks (541-714-7735 or ffis.conversationfriends@gmail.com)
Craig Biersdorff (541-517-7652 or ffis.conversationfriends@gmail.com)
Steering Committee Members – Cindee Robertson, Jean McClain, Kent Henricksen, Paul Harvey, Ray Slaughter, Roger Ludeman.
U of O Liaison – Becky Megerssa
LCC Liaison – Tomomi Kurosaki
Friendship Foundation for International Students 