Oktoberfest Party held in honor of members

Frances Bennett

Special to The Citizen

Bob and Gayle Duncan hosted a Friendship Force party at their Hammond home on Saturday, Aug. 18.  The Oktoberfest Party (in the middle of August) was in honor of the members who went on an exchange to Halle,-Saale, Germany and Vienna, Austria.  A delicious German meal prepared by the hosts of Bratwurst, potato salad, green salad, bread and giant pretzels was served.  Dessert was Sachertorte in honor of the Vienna exchange.

After dinner, Thornton Cofield narrated a slide presentation of photos taken on the trip.  Betty Alford, Carole Corkern, Bob Duncan,  Keith Corkern,  Vera Martin, Barbara Wittkopf, Sheila Melancon, Karen Pharis,  JoAnn Wall, and Linda Knochenmus gave a personal testimony on a few of the photos that were special to them.

Decorations included fall arrangements, pumpkins and a large Octoberfest sign over the door.  Although there were a lot of beautiful pictures of palaces, opera houses, mountains and quaint German villages, most of the stories and fondest memories seemed to center around the people that hosted the group in Germany and Austria.

Once a year, Friendship Force members from Baton Rouge travel to one or more of 371 clubs in 54 countries where they are home hosted by members of the respective clubs they are visiting.  In November, a group from Russia and Western Europe will be coming to Baton Rouge and Hammond.  In 2013, the Friendship Force of Baton Rouge will be traveling to New Zealand for two weeks home hosting.