Lorenzo Vizzolo and Stephen Staszewski spent the holidays in Greece as the guests of Haroula Gotsi. From the looks of the pictures, they seemed to have had a great time. Keep the connections going!!! Lorenzo, Haroula, and Stephen
A “Lincoln” Wish and more on Summer Conference
December 25, 2008 – 12:25 pm
Heading out Thursday to scout for a summer site. Will be great to see folks. Happy holidays to everyone from the BFTF. It has been 
rewarding learning how spectacular your life are unfolding. Much to be proud of.
If you know of BFTF alumni who are not on Facebook, please invite them to signup and join “BFTF 2009 Reunion” group to receive updates on planning.
Thought you might enjoy the Lincoln Twins, as a reminder of our connectedness and good times in hot DC over two summers. Nasser Left, Theo Right.
Preliminary Summer Plans
December 19, 2008 – 5:33 pm
The Conference/Reunion is getting close to being set. Al Louden is traveling Dec 27-Jan 10, to view potential host sites in Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey. It will most likely be the 3rd/4th week in July, depending on the availability of venues. Looking forward to seeing everyone together again. Will keep folks posted via Facebook groups and web page. If you are not on a facebook groups for any of the three years of BFTF just search bftf for groups and join one for announments.
Revised - 2008 Yearbooks On-Line
August 22, 2008 – 7:34 pm
The Founders and Diplomat Yearbooks are now available as pdf files. Printed versions will be mailed to the Fellows when they are ready. Thanks to editors Aila Lonka, Rohit Nath, and Odile Hobeika for all their hard work on these projects. Click to open the pdf file. Revised editions, and Yes Pavel is included . . .
Megan Monitors Dems in Denver; Dr. Petrou Reports Republicans
August 18, 2008 – 2:37 pm
Megan 
Foelsch is working with The Washington Center Seminar for the Democratic National Convention, where she is helping prepare and manage scores of college students from around the country studying and working with the convention. The Democrats will gather in Denver, Colorado, to nominate Barack Obama, July 25-28. You can follow Megan’s convention blog as well. Tony Cerise, our host in Washington at the TWC, oversees the program.
Dr. Linda Petrou, also working with TWC program as a professor will be doing her blog from Minneapolis and the GOP convention, September 1-4, where John McCain will be nominated. Linda’s blog is up and running and will likely really go next week as she begins her work with the assembled college students.
Two Founders Establish Follow-on Web Sites
August 4, 2008 – 1:21 pm
Two Founders in their first week home have established Web Sites designed to make a difference. Congrats, be sure the check them out.
Angela Espinosa Ruiz, Spain has a new site, Icoicoae Project, designed to “promote poetry and music from different countries around the world, and help new poets and musicians make a name for themselves.” [Her latest blog features “Mihai Eminescu was a Romanian late Romantic poet. He was born in 1850 in Botoani, Moldavia, Romania and died in 1889.”]
Dexter Zhuang, Michigan USA, has a new blog Michigan Youth Political Alliance dedicated to
not looking through liberal or conservative lens on current issues that dominate state, national and global affairs, but rather through a diverse set of youth opinions, offering you a more complete view of the world around us.
“Secret” Malta Photos Surface
July 31, 2008 – 7:59 am
Malta 2008: BFTF Secret Reunion photos make way to the web.
‘Good Tears’ - Diplomats Leave for Home
July 30, 2008 – 5:06 pm
Three and one half weeks go fast - shared experiences, new insights, and fast friendships expressed through hugs and goodbyes, and more than a few tears. But they were “good tears” of having bonded with some special individuals. And soon families will be reunited with more hugs and tears. Another chapter in the Ben Franklin script has been written . . .
“I wanted to let you know that i was lucky to see through the tears and the tissue and recognize exactly where my gates were and how to board. After I thought of all the times we had together and all the great memories we created I had a hard time exiting the window because i has such a wide smile it would not fit through the doors.” – Andrea Ruiz
Diplomats’ Video Yearbook
July 30, 2008 – 3:38 am
On the Eve of the Diplomats’ departures, Andrea of the BFTF Diplomats makes a video yearbook of all the 2008 BFTF fun for the Diplomats.