International Fellowship, Inc.
April 2010 Newsletter
To All of Our Host Families-
All of us at International Fellowship want to take a moment to thank you, our host families for providing not only a home, but kindness and understanding to our students this past year. In just a couple of months, they will be returning to their home countries ready to share their experiences with families and friends.
You, as American hosts, hopefully have realized the benefits of having a foreign teenager added to your family for a semester or year. The benefits do not end when your student leaves. We have been fortunate in the fifty plus years of operation, to witness the long range effects and benefits of the exchange. We have heard from many of our past students who recount their exchange experience and how it affected their lives.
Some of the students we have been receiving in recent years are the children of former exchange students. The parents tell us that they want their children to have the same rewarding experience that they had years before. At the same time, many host parents have told us about the positive experiences that have changed their lives and that of their families as a result of hosting an exchange student. There may have been some difficult or unpleasant situations which you’ll find in any loving family. Hopefully, the positives out-weigh the negatives.
We truly believe that the high school level exchange programs are probably the best means of bringing people of different cultures together and breaking down the barriers, misconceptions, and prejudices that people may have regarding other cultures. For the most part, we find out that teens are teens and parents are parents regardless of their different cultures. They have similar needs, concerns, likes and dislikes. Parents realize the importance and potential rewards the exchange experience offers their children.
Before closing, I would like to mention the students who are applying now for the 2010-11 academic year. We are asking all present and former host families if they would be interested in hosting again for 2010. If you do not want to host again or are not in a position to host again, would you know of a family who might be interested and able to host one of our students? This family can be outside your area or even in another state. Please take a little time to think about how you might be able to assist us in finding qualified families for our students. Call your local representative or our main office (800 647 8839) with any questions or information. Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Again, we thank all of you for hosting and for your support of our program. You have given so much to these young people. The experience, memories, and friendships shared by all will last a lifetime. Our philosophy continues to be: “Through Knowledge and Friendship Come Understanding and Goodwill.”
Sincerely yours,
Norman and Karen Zent
President / Vice President
TRAVEL - Trips with Host Family, School, Church and Others...
ALL DOMESTIC TRIPS (Travel Within the US):
**Please Notify the Westfield, NY Office in writing (Email, Fax or Regular Mail) of each trip that requires authorization from International Fellowship. Please include the dates of the trip, the complete itinerary of the trip, emergency phone numbers of the adults attending the trip and if flying- a detailed flight itinerary. Please specify if the request is for a host family trip, school trip, church trip or "other."
**Once the "request" is received by the Westfield Office it will be processed and the Host Family will be notified of authorization once a signed & dated Letter of Permission from the Natural Parents is received by the Westfield Office.
**We do advise that all trip requests are submitted to the Westfield Office at least TWO (2) WEEKS in ADVANCE. This allows the Office to have enough time to contact the Natural Parents for a signed and dated letter of permission.
**Requests must be submitted for each trip that is not a simple day trip, over-night within the community at another family's home or a weekend trip with the host family that does not involve flying.
ALL INTERNATIONAL TRIPS (Travel Outside the US):
**ALL REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED AT LEAST FOUR (4) WEEKS in ADVANCE of the trip date. This Includes trips to Canada and Mexico.
**Please include the dates of the trip, the complete itinerary of the trip, emergency phone numbers of the adults attending the trip and if flying- a detailed flight itinerary. Please specify if the request is for a host family trip, school trip, church trip or "other."
**The Student must also submit a COPY of BOTH their Passport and their Visa. The Original DS-2019 Form will be requested if the trip is approved. The President must sign the Form for travel outside of the United States.
**Once the "request" is received by the Westfield Office it will be processed and the Host Family will be notified of authorization once a signed & dated Letter of Permission from the Natural Parents is received by the Westfield Office.
International Fellowship Tour 2011
The dates of the International Fellowship Tour to NYC and Washington DC are to be announce at a later date.
Tour information is available at www.internationalfellowship.org under the Tour Information Link, by email or by calling the toll-free number: 1-800-647-8839 (24-Hour Phone Line).
The email address is infelwes@cecomet.net
Thank You!
Employment Opportunities
We are always interested in enthusiastic individuals here in the United States to assist our Placement Directors in locating and securing host families and schools for our students. Please Check out the "Employment Opportunities" page on our website.
Call 1-800-647-8839 or email infelwes@cecomet.net for more details today!
