Wednesday, November 02, 2011
At its October 15-17 meeting, the FFI Board of Directors elected four new members to serve four year terms beginning January 2012:
Cinda Clark is a member of the Friendship Force of Northern Colorado, USA. She took early retirement from a 20 year career in banking, followed by 12 years as a part time bookkeeper, giving her the flexibility for international travel. Cinda is a charter member of her club, with extensive leadership experience at the local and regional level. She helped establish two clubs, is past president of the club, has led 20 exchanges and served as a US field representative in the Mountain States Region.
Yury Kazantsev has been a member of the Rostov on Don Friendship Force club since 2007. He has traveled on several outbound exchanges, serving as Exchange Director on a recent exchange to FF Richmond, USA. Yury, former military officer, is a customs broker. He has traveled internationally with his family and also with his work. As a young leader he looks forward to working with the Board to expand opportunities for younger members.
Cecile Latour is a member of the Friendship Force of the Canadian Capital Region where she has been an active host, as well as inbound Exchange Director. Cecile has extensive international experience, having been in the Canadian Foreign Service for 30 years, including service as the Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam.
Karen Overly Smith is a long time member of the Friendship Force in Pennsylvania, USA with connection over the years to both the Harrisburg and Lancaster clubs. She works as a community development policy analyst for Pennsylvania. Karen has served as club president and as Exchange Director to Ghana and China. Most recently she was FFI field representative for the mid-Atlantic and northeastern USA. Karen has extensive international travel experience.
In electing these four new members, the Board reluctantly said goodbye, with great appreciation, to the following who have completed their terms on the Board: Jack Cang, Tommy Dortch, Dave Kalan, Elza dos Santos and Andrew Stirling.