Members

How do I join the Highland Friendship Club?

Membership is easy. Go to the online registration form, complete it and send it to us. Then, check out our calendar of events and use the registration form to register by mail for the activity or email us and let us know you want to attend an activity. All members must complete an HFC waiver form once a year too.

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.

Now I’m an HFC Member, how do I sign 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 Christina Geng at cgeng@highlandfriendshipclub.org If there's an activity fee, you can send a check with your registration or bring it with you to the event.

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 my 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 bring my money to pay for the activity and pay when I 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 I can’t afford to pay for a HFC activity?

HFC has scholarships available for members who are not able to pay the whole cost of an activity. 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 if I forgot to sign up for an activity? Can I just show up?

One of the nice things about the Highland Friendship Club is its flexibility. If you want to join in, great! If you just want to hang out with your friends, that's OK too. Most activities are flexible enough so you can join at the last minute. However, some events and activities require reservations. For those activities, we may need to know who's coming in advance. We'll let you know when reservations are required. But, it never hurts to ask if there's room! Check the calendar to see if the class is full (link to calendar), call 651-698-4096 for the latest information or email Christina Geng at cgeng@highlandfriendshipclub.org

What do I do if I can’t come for an activity I signed up for?

Please call Christina Geng at 651-698-4096 or email her at cgeng@highlandfriendshipclub.org as soon as possible if you registered for an activity and are not able to attend the activity. For some of the activities, HFC staff will wait until all members registered for the activity arrive before starting (or leaving for the activity), so it is very helpful to know if you are not able to attend.

How do I contact the HFC staff?

Call Christina Geng at 651-498-4906 if you have any questions about activities. Our mailing address is: Highland Friendship Club, P.O. Box 16437, St. Paul, MN 55116. Our web site address is www.highlandfriendshipclub.org and our email address is info@highlandfriendshipclub.org

How do I get to and from HFC activities?

Members are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from Highland Friendship Club events and activities. Sometimes we meet at one location and then take a bus or carpool to another location. The newsletter or calendar will provide details about that.

Where do HFC activities take place?

Events and activities take place at different locations so make sure you check the calendar and the newsletter registration form to find out where and when the activity/event is taking place.

Do I have to have a family member come with me to HFC activities?

Nope. The Highland Friendship Club is your social club, so feel free to come alone! However, if your parents or family members decide to tag along, they're welcome and can use the time to make new friends with other members' parents and siblings. If you need help with personal care or need to take medication during the time you are at the HFC activity then you should bring a family member or adult with you to help you. HFC staff cannot give medication and are not able to help with personal care as they are busy coordinating the activity!

Do I have to bring my own PCA?

Yes. If you need personal assistance, it's up to you to make sure you have the resources you need. Highland Friendship Club staff does not provide personal care assistance services. Some activities require one-to-one assistance and it is beneficial to everyone if personal care assistants or a companion participate to make sure that everyone is able to fully participate in the activity.

Is membership only for people who live in Highland Park?

No. The Highland Friendship Club started in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul and many of the activities take place in Highland Park but everyone is welcome. Our members come from all over the Twin Cities to participate in Highland Friendship Club events that interests them. The Highland Friendship Club is open to teens and young adults - with and without disabilities - who are looking for ways to make new friends and get out of their house.  If you're interested, join us!

What if I don't want to participate in an activity?

No problem. You decide the activities you want to be a part of - no one is forced to participate. Even if you've signed up for an activity but change your mind when you get there, that's OK. You can watch for a while and join in when you're comfortable. It's your choice. Some members participate in every event; some pick and choose just one or two. It's up to you.

How do you decide what activities to offer?

The classes we offer change all the time, depending on the interests of our members and the resources we can identify. HFC members help us decide what activities we should offer, HFC members meet quarterly to let us know what type of activities we should Check the current Highland Friendship Club schedule and our member newsletters for the latest offerings. If you have an idea, let us know! Send your suggestions to cgeng@highlandfriendshipclub.org

If I am a HFC member, can I also volunteer with the Highland Friendship Club?

Absolutely. HFC members are some of our best volunteers! Check out our volunteer opportunities and let us know if you are interested in any of them. We will work with you to make sure the volunteer opportunity is a good fit for you.

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 I get my money back if I paid in advance and decide not to go to an activity?

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

Will I get my money back if HFC cancels the activity?

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