The Mount Gambier Friendship Force had a wonderful journey in the USA being hosted by the Omaha (Nebraska) club and also the Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) club.

In Omaha our Ambassadors were greeted by the V/P of the Council and presented with Honorary Citizenship of the city. Other highlights were the visits to the Lauritzen Gardens (which had beautiful displays of tulips ), Boys Town, Fontenelle Forest (where we walked down to the Missouri River bank), and the Henry Doorly Zoo. Some were taken across the river (and so to the state of Iowa) to see the Casino. A tour of Boys Town was a highlight especially when some of the boys introduced themselves to us.

The hosts in Oklahoma City treated our Ambassadors to a viewing of a large bison herd owned and cared for by Arapaho and Cheyenne Native Americans. Then we were treated to a visit to Fort Reno where we had a chuck wagon meal. We also had a fascinating time at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. One of the most interesting excursions was to the National Weather Centre where we saw how the weather is monitored. On the morning of our departure we witnessed the formation of a tornado which made the sky colours which we never see in our skies here. At the State Capitol building we met with Representative Shane Jett and his wife and daughter. All Ambassadors were made honorary 'Oklahomians' and presented with an impressive document to prove it.

The two weeks hosting by these two very hospitable clubs was a wonderful experience and many long lasting friendships have been made. Invitations were extended to the two clubs to visit our club sometime in the future so that we may extend similar hospitality to them.

Members of the Los Angeles Friendship Force club have been to Mount Gambier so our club was invited to share a dinner at one of their members' homes. In Las Vegas we were hosted to a morning brunch in a park by members of that Friendship Force as one of our members had been hosted in Las Vegas a few years ago. Some Las Vegas FF members joined us on our day trip to West Rim of Grand Canyon. The wonderful benefit of Friendship Force – long friendships developed through home hosting around the world and the opportunity to renew these friendships in future years.