We have friendship links in five different areas;
Winchester in England;
Goztepe in Izmir, Turkey;
Prague in the Czech Republic;
Pori in Finland and
Viareggio in Italy.
Several of these links were started at conferences and most have continued for many years. The link with Goztepe arose from the Istanbul conference in 1983. Winchester link was started at the Edinburgh conference in 1985. Pori became a link after the Turkish Union conference in Istanbul in 1995 and we met members in Helsinki at the International Conference in 1999. The link with Prague was formed after a visit to the city and Viareggio became our latest link when some of us met their members at the Glasgow conference.For each we have a special correspondent but other club members are in touch with them as well, by email , letters and cards. We send and receive news of families and holidays and occasionally we hear about club activities. We value the close friendships that have arisen from these links. Many visits have been made to and from all the clubs either privately or as club members, to Friendship weekends and Charter celebrations. Projects have been shared; Education Egetem in Goztepe was a very worthwhile project helping women to become self sufficient. Money was sent to help when there were floods in Prague and help was offered after a gas explosion in Viareggio.