After experiencing the marvels of traveling or living overseas, the International Friendship Club invites residents to build new relationships. While it is not a requirement to have traveled or lived overseas, the club focuses on other cultures.
The club is composed of people who speak more than 20 different languages.
Hal Meeks, club president, lived in Caribbean for more than 35 years before moving to Sun City. Over those years, Meeks lived in St. Thomas, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and Saba, Netherlands Antilles.
After graduating from the University of Oregon, Meeks and his wife Judy Meeks decided to travel overseas.
"I got a job as a news anchor in the Caribbean, but my plan was to stay there a year then travel somewhere new," Meeks said. "Somehow we ended up spending 35 years there and continue to visit every year."
Meeks became interested in the Caribbean after a college professor shared his experiences of the island life. When Meeks moved to Sun City in 2000, he joined the International Friendship Club.
While mostly a social club that meets to build friendships, it also educates residents on the diverse backgrounds and cultures of people who live in Sun City. In October, the club met and shared in the Hispanic art, culture and food.
"It was a fun meeting with the Hispanic theme," Meeks said. "Members dressed in the vibrant clothing shared dances and foods that displayed their culture."
This year, the International Friendship Club plans to have about five meetings which inform the members about a different culture. Lore McMillen, club vice president, is a native of Lebanon. In February, McMillen plans to share with the members about the Lebanese wine industry.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Patrick Beer joined the club in 2011 shortly after moving to Sun City from Charlotte. As club secretary, Beer hopes to continue encouraging members to share in their overseas adventures. "Like it is implied in the name most people join the club to make friendships," Beer said. "Since joining, I've enjoyed meeting new people with diverse backgrounds."
Beer said he may be interested in sharing his traveling experiences to Indonesia, Iran or Norway.
"Members enjoy the friendships made and is the primary reason they keep coming back," Meeks said. "When we have meetings, most just sit at the table where their friends speak the same native language they do and enjoy their company."
With about 110 members, the International Friendship Club welcomes all people who have an interest and respect for other cultures.