v      Official club name: The Friendship Force of Lake Hartwell

v      Closest major airport: HartsfieldInternationalAirport, Atlanta, Georgia or Greenville-Spartenburg International, South Carolina

v      Cost of transportation between the airport and our city (based on 20 people): by bus:  $50.00 by private car, if Hosts meet the Ambassadors at the airport: no charge

v      The maximum number of Ambassadors our club can host: 25

v      About the club: Our club was organized in late 1994 and chartered in January 1995.  Members come from Hartwell and surrounding communities in Georgia and South Carolina; membership is about 94.  Our club has hosted one incoming exchange each year.  Our first outgoing exchange is planned for October 1998.  We meet almost every month and enjoy social events prior to each general meeting.  Some of our members have signed on with other clubs to go on outgoing exchanges; some have attended festivals and international conferences.

v      About the region: LakeHartwell, constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1962-64, is one of the largest and most popular recreation lakes in the southeastern USA.    Those of us living on or near the lake have easy driving, within a 70 mile (112 km) radius, to Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, the North Georgia mountains, and the University of Georgia in Athens, GA The average summer temperature is 78 F. (25 C.)  Average winter temperature is 43 F. (6 C.)  Annual snowfall average is 3.9 inches (10 cm) and annual rainfall average is 52 inches (133 cm).  The elevation of LakeHartwell at full pool is 660 feet (281 m) above sea level.  The lake comprises nearly 56,000 acres (22,663 ha) of water with a shoreline of 962 mi (1548 im).  During spring, summer and fall, LakeHartwell is an exciting place to sail, jet ski, canoe and water ski.  In the quiet coves, fishermen angle for striped bass, crappie and catfish.  Tennis courts and golf courses are conveniently located around the lake.  Between Anderson, SC on the east side and Hartwell, GA on the southwest side, retail businesses, numerous industrial plants, agricultural complexes, and diary/cattle operations form the base of the region's economy.

v      About the exchanges: Our club has hosted three clubs: Altotonga, Mexico (1995); Gelsenkirchen, Germany (1996) and Kumamoto, Japan (1997).  Because water sports (swimming, water skiing, tubing, etc) are so popular on LakeHartwell, we have incoming exchanges from May through early September.  We have entertained our guests with a combination of the following activities: Bus tours of Atlanta; University of Georgia in Athens, GA; North Georgia mountains (Alpine village of Helen, GA and AnnaRubyFalls); and Abbeville, SC (walking tour of antebellum homes, dinner and theater production in the opera house).  Our club has guided tours of Hartwell dam and several industrial plants. We have a welcoming party, usually a pot-luck supper and receive a formal welcome from the mayor of Hartwell,GA.  We also have poolside parties, barbecues, picnics, and shopping excursions to the large factory outlet center in Commerce, GA and the mall in Anderson, SC.  One of our favorite activities involves an afternoon "boat-float."  A half dozen members bring their pontoon boats or cruisers, tie up all together in the middle of the lake and Ambassadors and hosts can swim, ride jetski, water ski, and picnic.  The Friendship Force of Lake Hartwell has developed a reputation for its southern hospitality.  Our members are fully committed to providing the best exchange activities they can and to make lasting friendships with Ambassadors who come to Hartwell.