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Jump Planet Wednesday, November 11th, 2:15pm |
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Members List:
FYI LINKS
President, Lending Library:
Sharon Kiddle
Vice President, Orphanage Support, Grow Bag:
Laura Provitola
Board, Co-Treasurers:
Lynn & Mark Austin
Board, Secretary, Newsletter, Website, Directory:
Terry Mandeville
Board, Member at Large:
Elizabeth Nachman
Single Parents:
Debbie Erickson
Membership:
Shauna McGuinn
Education:
Debbie McGrew
Olympia:
Cecilia Brennan
Links listed below are either public resources or FRUA INC members
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ANNUAL EVENTS
One of the FRUA, INC kids, dressed in traditional
Kazakhstan costume, welcomes guests to Winterfest
with traditional bread and salt
Pre-Spring Celebrations (AKA Winterfest)
Every year, in late winter / early spring we gather to celebrate the foods, customs, & music of our combined cultures. This is usually one of our two biggest gatherings. The goal is to have lots of fun, to have an opportunity to socialize with other families who have adopted from Eastern European & Ex-Soviet countries, and to share in the wealth of culture of our children's heritages. We make food from the countries of our children's origins & there is usually plenty of ethnic music, folk dancing, crafts, country exhibits, party favors, folk characters, singing & merriment. Often there is a fund raiser to benefit orphans, orphanages, &/or children’s homes. Watch for announcements on the E-Group, in the Newsletter, & on the Website.
the Snow Maiden
Sometimes we try our hands at making ethnic foods. For weeks before the event recipes are flying on the internet. We have sampled Borsht, Pelmeni, Bulgarian Shopska Salata, Ukraine Tvorog Galushki, Georgian Kaurma, Kazakh Pilaf... and much more. Other times guests have brought traditional pancake fillings as volunteers sling flapjacks and Blinchiki for a Russian Maslenitsa celebration.
Held in early September, our
Summer Picnic is our other biggest event of the year.
Rain or shine, we gather in a picnic area to meet new friends and connect with old ones, to watch our kids play, to eat ethnic foods, to raise funds for orphanage / orphan support, & to just generally have fun. It's a wonderful occasion to meet other
families & have a relaxing time. It is also a good
opportunity for those interested in adopting to come &
meet others who have been through it. Watch for
announcements on the E-Group, Website, & in the Newsletter.
Baba Marta and the Snow Maiden welcome guests to the Pre-Spring Festivals Annual Summer Picnic
sandcastle building at the Annual Picnic
At the picnic we always have fun and games - like scavenger hunts, wading or swimming, playground play, sandcastle building contests, icebreaker games, prizes, covered play area activities, crafts, air pump rockets... and more! Sometimes there is ethnic music/dance, or a special guest from one of our children's homelands.
fun learning new dances
The picnic is also a time that we usually eat various foods from our children's heritages. Sometimes it is potluck, and we try our hands at such things as Kazak Salad Shalgam, or Bulgarian Guyvetch. Sometimes we have a "bring your own ethnic barbeque" with a little Shashlyk, Georgian Basturma, Bulgarian Kepapche, and such.
look for the flags!
