1/1/2008 - Central Lee sophomore to participate in AFS program during summer of 2008

DONNELLSON - Lynnely Parker, a sophomore at Central Lee, is busy making plans to travel to Australia in July 2008 as a participant in the AFS (America Field Service) program.

On Christmas morning, Parker found that many of her packages beneath the tree contained gifts which will add to her enjoyment of Australia.

She is the daughter of Dave and Lisa Parker of rural Donnellson.

In addition to ‘necessities’ like luggage, a roll up piano (in case her new family is piano-less), and a digital video camera with plenty of memory cards, there were several items which will help her learn more about the country before making the trip, including videos and books.

Parker and her family are no strangers to AFS and the American Field Service program. Her grandparents, Russ and Bonnie Randolph, hosted Cristina Loguercio from Italy during the 1977- 78 school year. This was when Parker’s mother, Lisa, was in high school. The family has stayed in close contact with Cristina, with several visits having been made back and forth across the ocean.

In addition, they have since hosted a boy from Spain, a boy from Germany, and in 2005-06, another girl from Italy.

AFS has a long history, having started during World War I by ambulance drivers transporting wounded soldiers. After the war was over, student exchanges were initiated between the countries. The ambulance corps segment was reinstated during World War II while student exchanges continued.

The group still works to create cross-cultural understanding and tolerance. Today, that long-lasting tradition persists in promoting world peace and tolerance, one student at a time.

Central Lee also has a long history of involvement in the AFS program.

The first class graduated from the new high school in the spring of 1961. By the fall of 1962, the wheels were set in motion to raise money to sponsor a student at Central Lee.

In the beginning, the American Field Service was reluctant to accept Central into the program because of its rural setting, feeling it couldn’t offer all the opportunities a city could. Persistence paid off, and early in 1964 permission to participate was granted, and by fall the Merton Lind family was hosting a student from Thailand, the first of many exchange students to come to Central Lee.

In 1974-75, the 10th year of the AFS program at Central, two students were hosted and a Central student went to Germany on the summer program.

Thanks to an active AFS Chapter, the tradition is continuing up to the present time with a girl from Thailand staying with the Denise and Paul Rairden family.

In the past few years, students also have been hosted through other programs, including Future Farmers of America.

The Deb and Rob Ridgway family is hosting an FFA student this school year.

Parker has yet to find out just where in Australia she will be going and the name of her host family. In the meantime, she and her family are busy raising funds for the trip. Several fund-raisers have already been held, with more planned for the spring.

One of the more creative fund-raisers Parker is doing is collecting old cell phones.

There are collection boxes at Central High School, Middle School and Pilot Grove Savings Bank in Donnellson. Anyone can drop off cell phones at these locations. The phones do not have to be in working order, they do not have to have the numbers erased and they do not need to have the adapters (and yes, they even accept the old bag phones).

Local businesses that may have old phones are welcome to donate them, as well. One local business graciously donated its phones which garnered $276 for Parker.

Persons interested in contributing to Parker’s trip, may do so using donation cans at Pilot Grove Savings Bank in Donnellson, KSB Bank in Montrose, Apple Tree Antiques in Donnellson and Prime Design in Fort Madison, or by contacting the family directly.