The Incredible Journey of Friends of India

Brief History of how Fol evolved: Friends fo India organized in 1986 with a small group of India Returned Peace Corps Volunteers: Steve Thompson, Katie Fisken, Kay Stone, Suzanne Zapasodi, Sylvia Morrison, Reid Melton and Randy Baxter. The first FOI Newsletter was printed in 1987 by editor Steve Thompson. The Newsletter was sent as a hardcopy via USPS quarterly for many years. In recent years the newsletter has been sent annually in December electronically only via email. The FOI now runs with zero overhead, it's a labor of love for time invested in Fol .

List of FOI Presidents: Steve Thompson, Brian Hernon, Ed Willett and Jack Slattery.

Treasurer/Editor: George Nepert and Merele Kinsey as data-base for mailing labels for hard copies.

Milestones:

• 1988, FOI became 501(C)(3) tax exempt status with the lRS. 1989, FOI published its first membership Directory

FOI function early on was to have yearly gatherings to talk about India past & present. Also to re-unite with other India RPVC's. It's last gathering was in 2011.

• 1995, Fol began to commit to its first charity
• 1997, Fol began to commit to its second charity (closed in 2014)
• 1997, Fol began to commit to its third charity (closed in2002)
• 2001, Guj.arat earthquake relief efforts donation
• 2004, Fol website started : ganga633
• 2004, Bhavsor, Gujarat, Community Building constructed for the poor 2005, Tsunami Relief Efforts to fishing villages on south India coast 2005, Fol began to commit to its third charity
• 2007, Fol began to commit to its fourth charity
• 2008, FOI began to commit to its fifth charity
• 2010, Haiti earthquake relief efforts donation
• 2012, Fol began to commit to its sixth charity