The Friendship Force of Lincoln Club Profile

Closest major airport: Eppley Airport (OMA) Omaha, Nebraska (50 miles). Transportation from Eppley to Lincoln is via Omalink Shuttle Service (402-475-5465); group round trip rate (2009) is $40 to $50 per person.

Closest local airport: Lincoln Airport (LNK); hosts will meet ambassadors at no charge

Maximum number of Ambassadors FFL can host: 25 to 30

About the Club: The Friendship Force of Lincoln (FFL) was founded in 1981.  Memberships in 2009 = 151 (67 family; 83 individual) or 217 persons.  Most members live in Lincoln, the capital city of the State of Nebraska, U.S.A.

About the Region: The State of Nebraska is in the middle of the U.S.A. Lincoln, it's second largest city, has a population of 251,000 (2008 est.).  There is no such thing as a typical Nebraskan; most are highly individualistic, self reliant, and conservative.  Lincoln has a small town friendliness and charm. A visit to Lincoln is a unique combination of urban and rural experiences. Its 90 parks cover more acres per capita than parks do in any other U.S. city. Lincolinites take pride in their trees, possibly because the city was treeless until a tremendous hand-planting program began. The city has many historical, cultural, and recreational attractions including the Nebraska State Capitol, home to the country's only one-house legislature; the historic market district with antique shops, art galleries, restaurants, nightspots, and a Saturday farmers' market May through October; and free summer concerts in the park presented by the Lincoln Municipal Band. Lincoln's economy is based on government, education and business while agriculture supports out-state Nebraska. Interesting adventures for daylong excursions include:

• Beatrice, site of the nation's first homestead-"Free Land! for people reaching for their piece of the American dream in the 1800s."
• Rock Creek Station near Endicott, a stagecoach and Pony Express station established in 1857
• A cruise on the Missouri River aboard the Spirit of Brownville
• Wilber, Nebraska's Czech Capital-see handcrafted quilts and ethnic artifacts at their museum.
• Nebraska City where Arbor Day originated, a yearly holiday recognized internationally as a day to plant trees. Also the site of apple orchards and fall apple festivals.
• Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo is one of the top zoos in the U.S. It features aquatic life in environments such as polar seas, cold oceans, tropical seas, coral reefs, riverbanks and ocean beaches; the world's largest indoor tropical rain forest; a Desert Dome; and North America's largest cat complex.
• Boys and Girls Town, founded in 1917 by Father Edward Flanagan for troubled boys.
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About the Exchanges: Welcome and Farewell dinners generally include Nebraska beef and homegrown tomatoes. Day outings to nearby towns are popular activities. Or, board the Magic Friendship Bus for a 3- or 4-day trip to see (a) Ashfall Fossil Beds, site of pre-historic animals buried by volcanic ash ten million years ago, (b) the sandhill crane migration on the Platte River, a natural world-wide wonder, (c) Nebraska's amazing sandhills, home to cowboys, and (d) the Great Platte River Road where an Oregon Trail experience takes you across America on a wagon train. While in Lincoln, visit the state Capitol and enjoy lunch at the Governor's residence; Morrill Hall - Natural History Museum where a rare collection of pre-historic fossil elephants uncovered in Nebraska are on display; Museum of Nebraska History to learn about the Indians of the Great Plains and pioneer days; and, the new International Quilt Study Center and Museum, home to the world's largest publicly held quilt collection with unique quilts from over 25 countries.  Small group dinners and potlucks are excellent chat times with Nebraska hosts. Home hosts are happy to arrange for an Ambassador's expressed interest or request. 

      Visit Lincoln, Nebraska! Learn about our culture, and take home fond memories.

Updated July 16, 2009