ORLD IDE EB IRCLE OF RIENDS

elcome to our First Issue of 2005 Online Newsletter Hello everyone! The World Wide Web Circle of Friends is a diverse and multicultural group of individuals who are proud to join in such celebrations as Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Cinco de Mayo, Disability Employment Awareness Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and Irish, German, Italian and American Indian Heritage Months (to name just a few). We support peace, justice and the care of our planet Earth and its inhabitants. Some discussions have already taken place with some of the WWWCOF membership as to what our responsibilities with regards to preserving societies and environments (worldwide) should be and what can and will happen if people don't stand up for what is right. Lets share our thoughts and teach each other about the things that need changing in our world. Here is a nice little story to get you thinking........... What Can I Do? ... by Kim Moon The little boy walked dejectedly down the cracked sidewalk. His backpack was heavy and his feet were slow. He stayed to his path, pausing every now and then only to pick out a new can or wad of paper to kick as he went along his way. His heart felt as heavy as his backpack as he opened the door to his house and went inside. His mother was in the kitchen, taking brownies out of the oven. She smiled as she turned around but stopped when she saw his face. "Tyler, what happened? Is everything okay?" "Nothing is okay, mom. Nothing will ever be okay again." He stood in the middle of the kitchen as his mother came over to the kitchen table. "Sounds like you had a rough day, Tyler. Is there anything I can do to help?" "That's just the thing, Mom. We can't help. There's nothing we can do." He sat down at the table and put his head in his hands. His mother sat down and waited a moment until Tyler began to speak again. "Today, in science, the teacher was talking about Earth Day and the environment. Earth Day is supposed to be a day when every person promises to do something to help take care of our world. Mrs. Green was telling us how many companies are not careful about how they get rid of their industrial waste. She said that our world is getting dirtier and that many animals and plants are dying. She wants us to think of something we can do to help and I thought all the way home and there is nothing I can do. I can't stop the companies from polluting our air and water and I can't save all of the animals! There is not anything that I can do to make a difference." His mother sat for a minute, thinking. "You sound like this really concerns you and that you have put a lot of thought into it, Tyler." Tyler nodded. "Let me tell you a story that your grandfather told me. I don't know where he heard it, but I think that it might help you think about your problem in a different way." She began, "one morning a man was walking down a beach that was covered in dying starfish. The tide the night before had been especially strong and thousands of starfish had been washed up on shore, too far up for them to make it back into the water by themselves. The man shook his head as he trudged along thinking what a shame it was that all of those starfish would die on the beach. He came upon a boy who was throwing starfish back into the ocean as fast as he could. He was out of breath and it was obvious that he had been at this task for a while. "Son," the man said, "you might as well quit. There are thousands of them. They are washed up all over the beach as far as you can see. There is no way you can make any sort of a difference." The boy did not even pause in what he was doing. He kept bending and throwing but as he did, he spoke to the man, "I can make a difference to this one, and this one, and this one." And the man thought, and he knew the boy was right. He began to help return the animals to their home, smiling at how life's biggest lessons sometimes came from the smallest people." Tyler stared intently at his mother. "But he did make a difference, didn't he? To every starfish that he threw back in?" His mother nodded, smiling. He sat for a moment, thinking about what his mother had said. "So, what it means is that even though I can't change everything, I can make a big difference by doing the little things that matter?" "That," she said, sliding him the plate of brownies, "is exactly what I am saying." Tyler grinned and took a brownie from the plate. "That gives me an idea." His mother smiled even bigger and said, "I kind of thought that it might." The next morning on the way to school, his feet hardly touched the ground. He told his teacher the story of the starfish and his idea. Mrs. Green thought it was a great idea, and decided to let Tyler share the story and his idea with the class. Everyone got to work immediately, cutting out the large green leaves. On Earth Day, there was an assembly and everyone in the community was invited. Many of those gathered were startled to see the large brown tree trunk affixed to the auditorium wall. They sat, puzzled, and waited for the program to begin. A boy, dressed up to look like a man, walked across a stage filled with starfish. The play went on as Tyler and his class told the story taking place. When it was over the audience applauded as Tyler stood at the podium. "We were all thinking, and it was frustrating because we didn't think that we could do anything. The problems seemed too big for us to do anything about them. But we decided that together, even the little things we do could add up to mean a lot to our world." The kids began passing out the green leaves and pens to the audience. "We want every person to think of one thing they can do that could make a difference to our world. Even if it seems like something small, it will matter." The audience began writing, and soon the tree was covered with the green leaves. Tyler and his class read many of them as they attached them to the tree. "I will walk to work." "I will use both sides of my paper to save trees." "I will have my pet neutered so there won't be any puppies born that won't have a home." "I will plant a tree every year." "I will start recycling my newspapers." Tyler thought, and bent to write his promise on the leaf. Soon, the tree was beautiful and green and covered with the Earth Day promises. People were laughing and talking as they left, thinking of what they had promised to do. When the dismissal bell rang, Tyler got his backpack and began the short walk home. As he reached the sidewalk, he pulled an old grocery bag from his backpack. He began picking up the trash as he made his way home, instead of kicking it . He smiled all the way, thinking of the difference they would make. Trees are a good symbol of dedication to a better quality of life for all. Trees are a source of life, and they provide a delicate balance to our ecosystem. Trees remove air pollution, filter out chemicals and agricultural waste in water, and they save communities across the country millions of dollars in stormwater management costs. Trees also help to improve community health by removing air and water pollution that can make you sick. Trees can also save you money at home by reducing energy costs for heating and cooling by anywhere from 10% to 50%. Plus trees even add value to your property! So what do you think of? Trees Around The World A simple challenge to each other to plant one tree! Just a thought and I look forward to receiving your suggestions. Enthusiasm is contagious and together we can and will make a difference. Raising awareness is always the first step to action so a new WWWCOF website has been launched entitled Planet Kryzys" (Crisis) Daphne from Argentina has created this site to help show awareness in looking after the only planet we have and she needs an action team - a core of concerned individuals who will be involved every step of the way. Inaugural site contents include Animals in Danger of Extinction, Trees from around the world, Alternative Energies, Ethnic Groups, Natural Disasters, Man Provoked Disasters and Games and Activities. It will be wonderful if people come forward with things about their own area about endangered species, deforestation, industrial contamination, etc. to start off with awareness, and follow up with what we can do about it. This will be a site we can all be proud of! I most definately will be a member of her action team and hope to see you on the team with us! Congratulations on making 2005 the year to take a stand and to shape the destiny of our world! To the Top Mystery Member Time for a new mystery member!!! This week's mystery member is from Florida and she collects water globes. Remember, at any time you think you know who the mystery member is please email me! The clues can be found throughout the Circle of Friends Members site and elsewhere on the many online sites. If you think it might be you..........you never know it could be!! Good Luck and......... Have Fun! If you have not completed your WWWCOF Survey yet please take a visit over to the Survey Page where you can easily complete and submit it online. To the Top Just for Fun Be sure to visit our Computer Humour site! Email Daphne from Argentina with any computer jokes you have and she will happily add them to this collection. To the Top Member of the Month Nominations Nominations are coming in for our January, 2005 Member of the Month so be sure to cast your ballot here today! To the Top

In this issue... Messages from members News and Announcements Lets Do Lunch The Argentinean Chapter Ruby's Journal Post Card Club Tips & Recommendations Fun Tests, Quizzes & Games Swaps Recipes Crafts Members Questions & Answers Fun Featured Sites Mystery Member Member of the Month Department of Vital Statistics New Years Resolutions To the Top Messages from Members A New Year's wish for you and yours: May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your ophthalmologist, your psychiatrist, your cardiologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your gynecologist, your podiatrist, your plumber, and the IRS. May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your love handles, and your stocks never fall, and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count, your weight, and your property assessments never increase. May you be sensitive to the needs of others and may you create within yourself a balance of your own needs. May you laugh at yourself and realize if you were supposed to touch your toes while exercising, the Lord would have placed them further up, and may you realize the reason so many people take up jogging is to hear heavy breathing again. May what you see in the mirror delight you and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to accept and forgive your faults and be blind to your blemishes, and tell the whole world about your virtues. May you live in a world at peace, with an awareness of the beauty of every sunset, every flower, every child's smile, and every wonderful astonishing beat of your own heart. If by laughter I can cause you to wipe one tear from your cheek, that is my only reward - the government takes everything else! Above all, may you continue to smile, may your life be filled with laughter, and may you never forget the words found in the Book of Proverbs, "A gloomy spirit rots the bones; but a merry heart is like good medicine." "Go dancing!" HAPPY NEW YEAR! - Jeanette from the Land Down Under Happy New Year from Vicki from Vancouver Island, Canada Happy New Year from Florida Marie To the Top Crafts Craft of the Month January 2005 - Valentines' Cards Crafty Jayne from Kansas, USA and Loretta, aka Angel Patch from Texas, USA have put their heads together as to what to start the New Year with for the new "Craft of the Month" and have decided that since Valentines is approaching why not make Valentines Cards to give to our sweetheart, best friends, or our children. It doesn't matter if you have ever been a paper crafter or not. It is so much fun to learn so join us in doing it together and see what we can do with paper, stamps, buttons, lace, etc. There are so many items we can use with paper. Be sure to check out all the wonderful craft ideas in the WWWCOF Craft Site and add your own favourites or email Crafty Jayne from Kansas, USA, who will be happy to add them to our ever growing collection. To the Top New Years Resolutions Only one resolution for the new year. LOOSE 50 POUNDS !!!!!!! Fran from Tennessee, USA The only thing i can think of is to loose weight My goal is to loose 45 lbs. Loretta from Texas, USA These are what Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada plans are for 2005. I've decided not to call them New Year's Resolutions. Instead I'm calling them Goals. Resolutions, by nature (and history I believe has proven this) come with a negative connotation. In other words, resolutions are made to be broken. Goals, on the other hand are set and somehow it seems easier to reach a goal than to follow resolutions. So, read on to see what my goals for 2005 are. To make a sincere effort to begin immediately getting things for next Christmas. I'm not talking major shopping, but the smaller incidental stuff (like the stockings I do for the grandchildren). Consider the amount of time (and money) I spend in Dollar Stores, picking up exta items shouldn't be too much of a hardship. To find out what I need to do; i.e. what documents, cost etc are needed, in order to obtain a new, updated "proof of Citizenship Card. The one I have is in my previous married name. Unlike a drivers licence, you can't just change the information. You have to re-apply for a whole new. Once that's done, then I can use that to get a Passport. The way things are going, I think it is reasonable to assume that is something that is coming in the not too distant future. i.e. Needing a passport to travel in the US. Start earlier, and make gifts where possible. In the long run, not only are they cheaper, but they are more special because they are made, then given from the heart, rather than the pocket book. That's about it (for now). I figure if I don't set too many to start with they are easier to complete. Once I've completed one (or more) I can add new ones. so then it will be an ongoing, year long effort. Bigsis Pat from Ontario, Canada. I plan on entertaining more and enjoying my home. I want to spend some one on one time with my friends/couples with a nice home-cooked meal and dessert at home. I have all my cookbooks collecting dust. I want to use them and enjoy them amongst good friends. I am hoping that JB and Bea move back to NY. Pami from New York, USA Hi, This year was great. We have a new great grandson, Tommy who is so cute. But we did not need anything spectacular to make it a good year. We are with our families, they are all well and I even got to see my Dad last week in Florida. We are blessed. We have a loving Church family and a great Pastor. His wife was just operated on for cancer 2 weeks ago, they are still waiting to hear about the biopsy. Still, there she was in church and teaching Sunday morning with the biggest smile on her face. God is so good. We have a roof over our head, jobs, heat, food, and all the essentials we need. We are part of a wonderful group, (WWWCOF), and have met wonderful people. WHAT MORE COULD WE WANT? As I sit here munching on cheese sticks I am reminded of my resolution to lose weight. Guess people will have to accept me as I am. On a serious note: I want a closer walk with God. I would like to see all my children and grandchildren serving the Lord. I want to travel more and meet people in the wwwcof. When we did the postcard swap, I was thrilled.....and reminded of how much of this world I have not seen. Thank you to all who have made it possible to see a little of it through your eyes. God willing I am leaving the end of this month to go to the Bahamas where I will have a chance to meet Sheena Grant, a wwwcof member. (One down, many to go) With the Christmas Box swap I actually got to talk to Jayne (craftylady) out there in Kansas. I am always telling people about this "circle". My other resolution is the "Red Hat" club and visiting with as many former classmates as possibe. Sound hectic. Well I'll be 60 in June and I don't look to get any younger........so......Granny's going to sow some oats LOL - Christine from Delaware, USA. To the Top Tips & Recommendations Serve sticks of peppermint or lemon candy with cups of hot tea. Guests stir, sweeten and flavor their tea all at once -- and no spoons to wash. Peppermint or molasses sticks are wonderful with hot cocoa, too. A friend told me that AVG Anti Virus - Free Edition had a brand new version of the Free Program, so I went and checked it out and this is what I found. Please also be advised, that as of December 31st, 2004, database updates and support for older versions of AVG Anti Virus - Free Edition will no longer be available. If you are currently using an older version of AVG Anti Virus - Free Edition, we encourage you to download the new version of AVG Anti Virus - Free Edition by the end of 2004. GRISOFT will notify AVG Anti Virus - Free Edition users about the availability of the new AVG Anti Virus - Free Edition via the regular update process. Luv & hugs BigSisPat from Ontario, Canada Do you have any tips or recommendations that you would like to pass along to the other members. Email me and I will get it published. DISCLAIMER: Tips reflect member suggestions and are not verified by the WWWCOF. To the Top

News & Announcements Just a quick note to say Hello and wish you all the best for 2005. I thought you might like to see the gingerbread carousel that my son made for the competition at the Hyatt Hotel in Vancouver. This year the proceeds went to UNICEF. Jim is not a baker but the sous chef at the Sands Best Western. He was fortunate enough to win second place in the professional division for this year and he also won first place in the Peoples' Choice. It took him over 2 months to complete and we are very pleased with the results.This year one of the other chefs helped him by hand painting some of the details. Ann, aka Spiderlady from Vancouver Island, Canada. WOW! That is fantastic Anne -- congratulations to Jim. To the Top Post Card Club The list of names for the postcard club has been sent out so if you have not received your copy yet please be sure to get in touch with Becky from Maryland, USA To the Top The Argentinean Chapter You can read about Argentina, the country I adopted here Love from Daphne To the Top FEATURED SITES Bea from Florida, USA would like us to have a look at a Friends Around the World quilt challenge site. The contest to name the You Are Not Alone site's mascott is coming our way soon. We are just waiting for a picture of Charla's little orphaned red zebra. Do you have a favourite site that you would like to share with the members. Please let me know and I will be happy to put it in the newsletter. To the Top Recipes New Years Recipe First, take twelve, finely-aged months, see that they have been thoroughly peeled and cleaned of any lingering bitterness, resentment, envy or spite. Pick off any unpleasant memories that may remain and wash away all feelings of anger and hatred. Make sure that these years are completely cleansed of the past. Divide these months into parts, 30-31 per month (one month may only have 28). A full batch will keep for a year, so do not attempt to prepare the entire batch at once. Prepare one day at a time, as follows: Into each day mix these ingredients: Faith Patience Courage Work Hope Devotion Faithfulness Liberality Rest Prayer Meditation Knead all ingredients together with love, grace and kindness, then place on a well blessed sheet of honor. ~ Bake with joy and optimism! ~ For the icing, mix a cupful of good humor, a teaspoonful of good spirit, a dash of fun and a pinch of silliness. Spread generously over each new day, then top with a sprinkling of playfulness and garnish with the Resolution of your choice and a smile! Have a wonderful New Year! Hugs, Jami from Maryland, USA! Do you have a recipe for us to enjoy? We would love for you to add it to all the wonderful recipes being collected in the WWWCOF Cookbook or email The Recipe Lady aka Claudia who will be happy to add them for you. To the Top Swaps Keep your eye on section of the newsletter for our International Swap Information. Questions? Need additional information? Email our Swap Queen, Ruth. These exchanges are a lot of fun, they are inexpensive and are a great way to get to know the fantastic people who belong to this wonderful circle. Have a wonderful time doing these swaps!!! To the Top Newspaper Articles Tilbury Times - July/04 The Hastings Reminder Travelling Mascott Read all about our globe trotting mascot in her journal by clicking on the picture of her logo! Email Ruby and don't be surprised when you see your message in her online journal! I know she would love to hear from you. If you want to get your name on the list for Ruby to visit you, just drop a line to Daphne from Argentina and she will add you. Who knows, yours just might be the name little Agos picks out.... as she is the one in charge of the draws. To the Top please be sure to visit Bigsis Pat's January Trivia Pages Birthdays and Anniversaries for January include: Jan 7: Romina (Daphne's daughter) and Germ�n will be tying the knot rominalunda@hotmail.com Jan 9: Agostina Lunda (Daphne's granddaughter) daphne@speedy.com.ar who I believe will be 7. Jan 11: Sheri & Carie Huntley (Nancy Huntley's daughters) nancyhuntley@hotmail.com Jan 16: Taylor Duncan (Bea's granddaughter, Nancy Williams daughter) adtsdds4@aol.com will be 13. Jan 17: Jasmina Novakovic (Maxine's granddaughter, Michelle's daughter) crazy67@hotmail.com will be 10. Jan 18: Leo Lunda�s birthday as well as Leo & Daphne�s anniversary daphne@speedy.com.ar Jan 22: Our own Peachy Marie celebrates her birthday on this day marie682@webtv.net Jan 25: Ruben Lunda (Daphne's son) lundaruben@hotmail.com Jan 27: Sean Carr (Melinda's son) melinda_carr32@hotmail.com will be 5. Jan 31: Alan DeFraia (Pami's hubby) pdefraia@hvc.rr.com Jan 31: Woody Wood (Loretta's hubby) galowood@earthlink.net Please take a moment to send your best wishes to these folks. And when you get a chance visit the Department of Vital Statistics where you find links for the Trivia Page, The Celebration Gallery, and the calendar Page (with a slightly new look). Also, you will find instructions there to view the Circle of Friends Photo Albums. To the Top More Photo Albums for your enjoyment! Member Albums To the Top Fun Tests & Quizzes & Games Five questions to test your power of perception. Have fun! To the Top Let's Do Lunch What for exciting news about the next member lunch! To the Top I hope you have enjoyed this first issue of 2005 which I would like to close with How To Be Happy In 18 Steps 1. Pursue Achievable Goals 2. Keep Genuine Smiles 3. Share with Others 4. Help Thy Neighbors 5. Maintain A Youthful Spirit 6. Get Along with the Rich, the Poor, the Beautiful, & the Ugly 7. Keep Cool Under Pressure 8. Lighten the Atmosphere with Humor 9. Forgive the Annoyance of Others 10. Have a Few Pals 11. Cooperate and Reap Greater Rewards 12. Treasure Every Moment with Your Love Ones 13. Have High Confidence in Yourself 14. Respect the Disadvantaged 15. Indulge Yourself Occasionally 16. Surf the Net at Leisure 17. Take Calculated Risks 18. Understand "Money Isn't Everything" Have a nice day! Vicki from Vancouver Island, Canada. HAPPY NEW YEAR