Betty Starr

Pioneers, Cowboys, Indians & Culture of
American’s Great Plains

Timeline, Suggestions & Ideas used by 4-Clubs in the Exchange
Greater Omaha
Lincoln

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Omaha’s Program -- April 8 & 9 th
“Welcome to the Great Plains”
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Nebraska’s Program -- April 10 – 13 th
“Nebraska Territory “New Land, New People, New Life”
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Kansas Program -- April 14 – 15 th
“Home on the Range ”
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Oklahoma Program -- April 16 – 23 rd
“Cowboys & Indians”

”Keeper of the Plains”

Always Intriguing Always Amazing Always Changing

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Dates were set early.
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Informational Card presented at the FFI
Conference in Japan.
• • All 4 clubs were asked to send a
Welcome Invitation to those they had hosted in the past or on current
These clubs are located trail”
NE, KS & OK.”
“off the tourist so many people ask “What is in
Involving all three states made it focal point for this part of The
Great Plains and united themes.
• • Ambassadors could see 3 states that many had never been through, had flown over or driven through. The three involved states gave them an opportunity to see a part of the USA
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Length of time was adequate to really see the country side of the Plains.
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Preplanning of the program and details.
• • Committee members willing to support finance of several speakers/activities on their own.
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Club supported several programs with a financial support.
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Coach time was used with ambassadors telling about family homesteading.
• • AED & Committee came up with an overall plan and it was forming shape as we invited other clubs.

April 8 – 24, 2013

Selected a Administrative ED & Treasurer.
Selected ED’s & Treasurer from each club involved.
Selected time & date which works for all clubs.
Hired Coaches between Clubs/States -- 4 Coach trips.
Selected restaurants which were buffet or could handle 30+ people without waiting.
Arrange for set meals. This also included a sack lunch.
All bios with photo’s were submitted ahead of time, grouped, and sent to ambassadors by e-mail before exchange began.
E-Mail Itinerary to all Ambassadors before exchange begins.
Requested that the Administrative ED and Treasurer travel on exchange and exchange fee was portioned between these two people.
AED is the ED for Ambassadors, not and ED for a club. Represent all clubs fairly.
Coordinated Conference Calls with FFI.
Communicate with all clubs about their itinerary, budgets, hosting, and transportation.
Activities on this exchange followed as we readily describe “Who We Are, And What We Do.”
Provide for Evaluation from both the Ambassadors and the Involved Hosts & Clubs.
AED and Theme Treasurer (both along on exchange) split ED costs for exchange.

Began with the FFI Conference / Hamburg Germany / Oct. 2011
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In November, 2011, after conference, a committee of 7 formed in the Lincoln Club to plan the Theme.
3-4 month time was spent brainstorming ideas, find pictures, November –
January/February (2012).
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18 Months Planning – Meeting Once a Month in beginning.
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Started with Lincoln Only! Committee decided to add another club relating to theme.
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Lincoln Committee Representative attended the Southwest Conference, Spring 2012 to propose an idea to FF Kansas. Accepted Immediately. This was outside our conference area. Oklahoma asked to Join at this conference.
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Theme chosen was related to “Who We Are and How We Live.”
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“Taming A Harsh Land” Pioneers, Cowboys, Indians & Culture on America’s Great Plains.
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Idea presented to FFI at the Spring Midwest Conference in 2012. (Ames, Iowa)
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We worked with both Pallie Savoie and Kathy Thomas about selecting a date, would the idea sell as an exchange, and how we might proceed.
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Approval was given an Exchange Number assigned. (Approximately 10 – 12 months before exchange.)
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Work began on photo’s and graphics needed for promotion.
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Permission to use two artists photo’s. One Nebraska; One Oklahoma.
Set up Payment schedule with FFI.
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Share ambassador arrival and departure times with all clubs.

(before exchange dates)
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Promotional materials were in place before exchange was advertized.
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All letters and e-mailings to be sent to ambassadors were prepared ahead and ready to respond when application received.
Applications, Itinerary, Letter of Acceptance.
Letter of Denial, Health & Mobility Summary,
Request for Biography Information and instructions for registering.
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Prepare 4” x 8” card for Distribution.
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Set up payment with FFI / Pallie Savoie.

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Letter to Invite – to all people we had hosted, been hosted by or met through FFI conferences.
Everyone we thought might want to come.
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Invitational Card.
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Articles in the “Passport” and other club newsletters.
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Materials presented during the exchange.
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FFI “World of Catalogue.”
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Facebook Page created.
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Members of 4 clubs to extend invites.

Promotional Card (4’X 8”) used at FFI Conference 2012

(Prepared Before Promotional Activities) (8-9 months)
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Thank You for your
Interest in America’s
Great Plains
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FFI Application Form
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FFI Ambassador Agreement
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FFI Health & Mobility
-Summary of 4 clubs
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Itinerary of Club Activities
Great Friends
Great Places
Great Plains

Each of 4 clubs submitted their program relating to the theme.
AED evaluated and questioned & fine tuned the program so all activities related to the theme.
Allowed first night in hotel…..with an orientation before the exchange begins. This is very important for a longer exchange.
Allowed 1 day / club as a free day.
Consider – 1 day hotel between clubs as you travel between.
This added to our cost.
Added one day travel time between clubs participating.
E-Itinerary was sent to Ambassador when applying.
Final copy of Itinerary was given as a hard copy on exchange.

(7 months)
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Information sent to Jillian
Walters at FFI to add to the “World of Friends
Catalogue”.
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Requested information sent first of month for
On-Line by the 15 th of the
Month.
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Wrote Active Objectives to include the activities.
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Click on Itinerary, listing major activates in each club.

(6-4 months)
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Thank You for Your
Application
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Ambassador
Application
-- Either Standard FFI
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Ambassador Agreement
-- Standard FFI Form
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Health & Mobility
-- Summary (4 clubs)
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Preliminary Itinerary

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Exchange now placed on FFI’s
World of Friends Catalogue.”
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Calling References listed for Ambassadors in
Question.
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Accepting or Denial of Application as Received.
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Accepting Payments through FFI.
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Responding to Questions.
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Acquainting New Ambassadors to Friendship Force.

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TrailBoss2013@gmail.com
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Created Names for Ambassadors participating from the Lincoln Club.
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Trail Boss – Betty Starr
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Scout Master – Larry Kluck
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Trail Hand – Jolene Schauer
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Trail Hand – Marilue Becker
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Wagon Master – Duane Starr

(Prepared 6-9 months before exchange date)

Created T-Shirt
(Front View)
Pioneers, Cowboys & Indians
April 8 – 24, 2013

(Back View)
A Friendship Force Global Exchange
Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma

Pioneers, Cowboys & Indians
April 8 – 24, 2013
A Friendship Force Global Exchange
Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma

Goodie Bag – Given at Beginning of Exchange

Included in your “Goodie Bags” –T-shirt; the Bag & the following information –
A map of the Great Plains, the Tall Grass Prairie, and the Ogallala Aquifer.
We will refer to these occasionally during our adventure.
A simplified map of NE, KS, & OK. I’ve included many of towns and cities you will be visiting along our adventure.
The calendar of the 17-day exchange.
A business card with Larry & Betty’s cell phone numbers.
The complete program through the 17 days. There is only one issued per/single and per/couple.

(Prepared by Committee Member, Richard Spencer)

Books, Video’s Articles sent to Ambassadors
(2-3 months)
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Created A Book List on Readings on Great Plains, our States, or Articles on Homesteading the
Plains.
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Programs for each club must be finalized.
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February 1st (approximate date) all fees must be sent to FFI.
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Hosting Arrangements were arranged.
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Biographies for each ambassador needed to be submitted by a deadline.

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The Task --3 of 4 clubs had 30 people to home host.
Hosting was done by:
- current members
- new members
- potential members
- family members or neighbors. (not FFI members.)
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Many members were involved because of the numbers we had during the exchange.
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Ambassadors met many Midwestern members / hosts throughout this exchange.
Ideas related to the theme brought some interested members not usually involved.
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Brought stories about our ancestors who had homesteaded to the Great
Plains.
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Lots of publicity within our club
(Lincoln) alone added to the enthusiasm of all members and hosts.
Reinvigorated hosts as we reviewed hosting qualifications and as related to a theme exchange.

Series of articles sent to Ambassadors 1/week for 6 weeks before exchange.
Droughts and grasshoppers sent John
Covalt west.
John and Charlotte Covalt, seen in this photo from 1915, homesteaded a farm near Elmwood in Cass County.
Where -- Ashland and the Sandhills of Nebraska.
Year: 1885, 1898
The droughts and grasshoppers of the 1870s sent John
Covalt west to freight, including on the Sidney-Deadwood
Trail. By 1880, the family re-settled in Webster County near Bladen where John Kehler was a doctor.
Today, John’s great grandson, another John Covalt, lives on that Morrill County ranch. Victor’s great grandson,
Tony Dentler, lives on Victor’s homestead as a sixthgeneration Nebraskan.

• Has a long work history with the Railroads ______________________________________________
• Volunteers at a hospital, and likes mystery novels __________________________
• Worked in Canada’s largest city as a Newspaperman____________________________________
• Came from Australia on a first FF Exchange ______________________________________________
• Lived in Nebraska serving as a VISTA volunteer __________________________________________
• Likes to restore and “play” with tractors __________________________________________________
• Joined the US Navy and served in the Far East ___________________________________________
““““ ““““ Welcomes YOU to Omaha, Nebraska
”””” ””””

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Start Early –
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Involve more than one club. Well worth the effort.
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Having a Committee (7)
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AED coordinate the clubs so activities are varied within theme.
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Conference Calls
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Dress the part.
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Make it fun!
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Created Group Mixers
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Assemble all the materials before the Application
Process.
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Use your Coach time.
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“Great Plains Coach West”
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Split ED compensation among committee members.
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Have guidance from experienced Club with a
Theme.
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Use FFI as a Resource.

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Facebook Page – Poor Participation
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Not everyone like the T shirts.
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Book list & video list could be expanded.
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Knowing the $$ amounts to plan in the itinerary before you know the number of ambassadors.
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Welcome activity might be done at another activity.
Several ambassadors were flight delayed and were not able to participate as planned.
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Always have a back-up Plan for weather/failure to show speaker, etc.

Used as Group Mixers

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