“A Call To Action”

World Conference 2010 Keynote AddressJohn M. Suddes, President

“What we think, or what we know, or what we believe, is in the end - of little consequence.

The only consequence is what we do.“ John Ruskin

2007 Annual Meeting

Key questions facing Friendship Force International:

• Will FFI be relevant 30 years from now?• What do we need to do to allow the organization

to thrive?• What can we do to recruit more members – and

leaders?

Accomplishments Since 2007Infrastructure Development

• New logo, website, and messaging

Themed Exchanges• Attracting a broader range of ages through specific

themed exchanges, such as: teacher, language learning, eco, gardening and other hobby exchanges

Email Marketing• “Open exchanges” – reaching out to thousands of

members to join exchanges through an online catalogue • Sending monthly catalogue updates and personal

invitations from host to join an exchange

Priorities for 2011 – 2013

1. Attract new members and hosts

2. Develop and share best practices

3. Develop the “Trailblazer Project”

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

1. Be Proactive• Go get new members; don’t wait for them to

come to you• Start by finding people who believe in the

mission of FFI – not just want to join a club

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

2. Be open to change

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”.

Albert Einstein

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

3. Cultivate, Cultivate, Cultivate• Attracting a new member is a process - not a

singular event or invitation• Cultivation is about constant contact:

• Forward newsletter to prospective members • Add prospective members to newsletter list• Host a monthly prospective new member dinner

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

4. Cast a “wider net”• GOAL: Expand the number of prospective

members• Two ways to accomplish:

• Partner with organizations• Utilize social media

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

Partner with organizations:• What other groups have similar or complementary interests

in your community? • Sister Cities• International Visitor Councils• Foreign student programs at local universities

• What does your club have to offer other organizations in your community?

• Local expertise in how to provide hospitality to international visitors

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

Utilize social media• Social media bridges generational gaps:

• Social networking use among internet users ages 50-64 grew by 88% - from 25% to 47% in the last year.

• Number of adults ages 50-64 who say they use social networking sites on a typical day has doubled to 20% in the last year.

• One in ten (10%) internet users ages 50 and older now say they use Twitter or another service to share updates about themselves or see updates about others.

Source: Pew Research Center

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

YouTube:

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

Facebook:

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

Twitter:

Priority 1: Attract New Members and Hosts

Website:

Priorities for 2010 - 2012

1. Attract new members and hosts2. Develop and share best practices3. Develop the “Trailblazer Project”

Priority 2: Develop and Share Best Practices

• Share with other clubs:• Best practices / ideas• Videos / pictures• Stories

• Every club has something to offer• Experiment – local clubs are our “learning lab”• OK to use examples from other clubs

ideas@thefriendshipforce.org

Priorities for 2010 - 2012

1. Attract new members and hosts2. Develop and share best practices3. Develop the “Trailblazer Project”

Priority 3: Develop the Trailblazer Project

The Friendship Force International “Club of the Future”

Looking for up to 20 Friendship Force Clubs that aspire to be designated as a “club of the future”. Must make a 3-year commitment to have expanded and innovative

exchanges, a strong commitment to leadership development and training, willingness to mentor other clubs and have an ambitious plan for membership

development AND accept the organization’s “call to action”.

Must be motivated and committed to the mission of FFI and a “Trailblazer”. Contact George Brown to learn more. Candidates will be selected by March 1, 2011 through an

application process. Open to all clubs-- region, size or age of club not a factor.

WANTED

Your “Call to Action”

1. Embrace change 2. Utilize existing best practices and all “tools”

available3. Contribute your best practices, stories, etc.4. Consider becoming a “Trailblazer” 5. Renew your commitment to the FFI mission6. Share information: ideas@thefriendshipforce.org

Become a Leader…

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,

do more and become more - you are a leader.”

John Quincy Adams

John M. SuddesPresident, Suddes Partners

www.SuddesPartners.comEmail: jsuddes@suddespartners.com