FAUSA Highlights Magazine Updated
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<strong>FAUSA</strong>'S ACTIVITY GROUPS<br />
<strong>FAUSA</strong> Houston Group<br />
The Houston Group had a fun, action packed year full of cultural, social and philanthropic activities. Besides helping<br />
others and learning new things, we got know each other better and share our overseas experiences. Thanks to Mallery<br />
van der Horst, our Events Liaison, who planned and sent out all invitations and details, and to Dena DeClute-Melancon<br />
who is our philanthropy liaison. January started with a Zoom celebration of the Lunar New Year and a review of<br />
Houston’s Asiatown. It gave us several ideas for future luncheons! In February, we visited a new event space and<br />
dining area called The PostTX. It had incredible architecture and beautiful views of downtown. March took us to the<br />
YMCA International volunteer site where we sorted items for the Afghan refugees, the lunched at one of the Dim Sum<br />
restaurants we learned about in January. During the Spring, we viewed the Obama Portraits at the Museum of Fine<br />
Arts Houston followed by lunch at the Hotel ZaZa. We also walked outside in the Houston Arboretum before it got too<br />
hot, adding to our <strong>FAUSA</strong> in Motion tally! Putting together Back-to-School backpacks and distributing them to<br />
disadvantaged families is a much needed philanthropic event in Houston. This took place in early August.<br />
Organizational and Bi-lingual skills were used. And we made PB&J sandwiches for lots of hungry pre-school children<br />
who live with food insecurity every day. We enjoy going to Kids’Meals every year to help out. Mostly because of the<br />
hairnets! We finished out the year with some of us going to the Get-Away in Santa Fe, then celebrated a Friendsgiving<br />
dinner with spouses at a cozy Italian restaurant and ushered in the Holidays with a Pot Luck luncheon and White<br />
Elephant gift exchange that had us ROFL. Everyone brought a food dish that represented their time overseas and all<br />
were delicious! What a way to end 2022!!<br />
<strong>FAUSA</strong> New York City Metro Group<br />
The NYC Metro Group enjoyed an outing to the New York<br />
Botanical Garden in the Bronx for the annual orchid show last<br />
April. Due to a few last minute cancellations, there were only<br />
two of us there to enjoy the beautiful blooms and sunshine.<br />
Getting this group together isn't easy - we're scattered around<br />
New York, New Jersey and Connecticut but we are looking for<br />
ways to become more active.<br />
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