Family Members

How do I sign up my family member for the Highland Friendship Club?

Membership is easy. Go to the online registration form, complete it and send it to us. Then, talk to your family member and check out our calendar of events. Use the registration form to register by mail for the activity or email us and let us know which activities they want to attend. All members must complete an HFC waiver form once a year too. Parents or guardians must sign the waiver form and return it to us by mail.

What activities does the Highland Friendship Club offer?

The list changes constantly. We schedule regular movie nights for film buffs, birthday bash nights are just right for members who want to sing karaoke and belt out a few favorites, and community events give us a chance to do things with our friends. Then, of course, there are special activities like art classes, Community Club and Adventure Days. For some of our activities we partner with organizations that are trained to work with disabilities.

When my family member becomes a HFC Member, how do I sign them up for HFC activities?

That's easy! Simply go to the newsletter and download a copy of the activity/event registration form. Then, fill it out and return it to Highland Friendship Club offices by the deadline on the form. If you aren’t sure about the deadline, give us a call or send us an email and we’ll let you know if you can still sign up. You can send the registration form in the mail or attach it to an email. If there's an activity fee, you can send a check with your registration or send it with your family member to the activity.

How much does it cost?

There is no fee to join the Highland Friendship Club and become a member. All of our activities have a small fee which you can pay in advance or many times can pay at the event. Many activities cost only $5!

Do activity fees pay the whole cost of the HFC activity?

The Highland Friendship Club uses donations from individuals, community groups, businesses and local foundations to support the activities offered by HFC. Member activity fees pay for about 75% of the cost of the activity, HFC raises the funds to pay for the difference.

Can I pay for the activity fee using a credit card?

HFC does not accept credit card payment for activities at this time. We are able to accept credit card donations through our partnership with GiveMN.org but only donations to HFC can made through this partnership.

Where do I send fees for activities?

You can see a check for your activity fees to the Highland Friendship Club at the following address:
Highland Friendship Club P.O. Box 16437 Saint Paul, MN 55116

Can I send money with my family member to pay for the activity and pay when they get there?

Most of the time you can pay your activity fee when you go to the activity. Make sure you are signed up so they know to expect you and let us know that you plan to pay at the door. For some activities, you must pay in advance and mail the activity fee. Check the newsletter to find out if you need to pay in advance for an activity or if you can pay at the door.

What if my family member can't afford to participate in an activity?

No one will be turned away because he or she is unable to pay. The Highland Friendship Club offers financial assistance to any member who wants to participate in an event but isn't in a position to do so financially. Simply note on the registration form how much you can pay for a particular event and we'll chip in the rest. We ask that members try to pay a small portion of the fee for an activity or a portion of the total cost of the activities they choose for the month. For example, if you sign up for four Friday Fun Nights, an Adventure Day and a cooking class in January, we would expect you to contribute a portion of the total cost for attending the activities you chose that month. We do not want anyone to miss an activity due to fees. Just send us a note with your registration form and tell us about your situation and we will take it from there.

What forms do we need to fill out?

All members must complete registration and waiver forms every year and have them on file with the Highland Friendship Club. Membership forms can be downloaded and filled out in advance and returned to Highland Friendship Club staff via email or traditional mail along with your registration for an activity. We ask that your family member's personal and emergency contact information be updated regularly so it is up-to-date.

Does a parent or guardian have to stay during the activity or event?

No, unless they need assistance with personal care or need to have medication administered during the activity. They do need to check-in with HFC staff and leave a phone number where they can be reached during the activity. If a family member does opt to stay, he or she is encouraged to let the HFC member hang out with their friends and the HFC staff and assist only if needed. After all, one of the Highland Friendship Club's goals is to foster independence!

Why do we have to come inside to drop off our family member for a HFC activity?

We ask everyone who is dropping off a HFC member to check-in with staff and leave a phone number where you can easily be reached during the activity. It’s important to us to be able to reach you if an emergency arises during the activity.

Sometimes a HFC staff person will ask me to stay for an activity, why?

We may ask you to stay with your family member if there is a large group attending the activity or your family member needs some more one-to-one support. Usually we will call or email you in advance to make sure you or someone else is available to stay for the activity.

A sibling will usually drop off our Highland Friendship Club member. Is that OK?

Absolutely, just make sure they know they need to follow the check-in and check-out procedures. Siblings are welcome to stick around and meet the siblings of other Highland Friendship Club members. Many have found it a great way to build friendships with others who share the experience of having a sibling with disabilities. Some may prefer to drop off their sibling, then return when the activity or event is over. That's OK, too. There's no "right" way - it's up to each family to decide what's best.

Is there anything we need to know about sending our family member to a Highland Friendship Club event or activity?

You can help make sure your family member's experience is fun and uneventful by:

1. Discussing the activity, what he or she can expect, friends that might be attending, etc. with your family member prior to arriving at the activity.
2. Making sure they are dressed appropriately for the activity, including bringing along outdoor clothing if members will going outside for a hike or outdoor sporting event.
3. Sending activity fees along with your family member if you haven’t paid in advance for the activity - checks can be made out to the Highland Friendship Club.
4. Making sure your family member understands where and when he or she will be picked up when the activity is over.
5. Following the Highland Friendship Club's check-in procedures to ease the transition and ensure your family member's safety.
6. Offering insights to program staff at the activity about your family member's interests, anxieties and "triggers" and offering suggestions to help calm his or her fears if the need arises.
7. Picking up your family member promptly.
8. Following the Highland Friendship Club's checkout procedures.

Is Highland Friendship Club staff trained to work with people with disabilities?

Yes. Our staff is trained to work with people with disabilities and all have passed a thorough background check. Program volunteers must also pass a background check. Check out the staff bios for more information on HFC staff. Please let us know if you ever have questions about our staff.

What is the best way to let staff members understand my family member's unique needs?

You can pass on that information in several ways. You can:

1. Send us an email at info@highlandfriendshipclub.org with an update before an event.
2. Call our staff at 651-698-4096 to discuss your concerns and offer tips for helping your family adjust to new situations.
3. Talk to one of our staff members when checking in your family member at an activity.

What commitment does our family have to make in order for our family member to become part of the Highland Friendship Club?

Beginning in 2010, we are requesting that HFC families donate a minimum of 10 hours of volunteer time to HFC each year. The Highland Friendship Club is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteer support and runs on a modest budget. You can do your volunteer hours at home, at a HFC fundraiser or by helping at a HFC activity. We have many opportunities for HFC families to help. Look on the volunteer page to find out how you can help.

How do I make a donation to the Highland Friendship Club?

We gladly accept all donations to HFC. HFC families have given generously to our organization since its formation and we are grateful for their support. Your donation will be used to provide year round activities for HFC members. You can send a check or make a donation online. Go to the donor section of the website for more information about how you can support HFC. The Highland Friendship Club is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit and your donation is tax-deductible.

Does HFC ever cancel activities due to weather or other problems?

If HFC needs to cancel an activity or program due to weather or any other unforeseen issues, we will notify by email all HFC members who have registered in advance or rsvp’d via the phone or email for the activity. HFC members who do not use email need to notify HFC staff and let us know that you will need to be notified of cancellations by phone. Please make sure we have a phone number where we can reach you easily. We will try to notify the general HFC member list by email of the activity cancellation if possible.

Will my family member get their money back if they paid in advance and decide not to go to an activity?

If the HFC member can’t come to an drop-in activity, the $5 ones, that they paid for in advance and they let us know that they won’t be there, they can request a reimbursement from HFC. We will reimburse them with HFC gift cards in the amount they paid. We cannot reimburse them for activities that have a set fee like swimming or music.

Will my family member get their money back if HFC cancels the activity?

If HFC has to cancel an activity due to staff illness or weather related issues, your family member can ask for their fee back if they paid in advance. We will use HFC gift cards to reimburse them for the activity that was cancelled. They need to email or call us and let us know they would like to be reimbursed.