MABUHAY FROM FAASSU

AN APPRECIATIVE LOOK BACK. Some people believe the more members a student organization has, the more highlights you're bound to have. Not so with FAASSU.

Even with our small membership size from 2007-2008, we had so many laughs and unforgettable moments. The memories and friendships that were made all along will last for years to come. Now-former historian and recent SSU graduate Scott Ma made the following slideshow as a way to honor literally every single member who contributed to FAASSU's great year. Also, new secretary Tracy Chang created this awesome presentation as a tribute to the FAASSU seniors who graduated on May 24. Congratulations!! Again, thanks to everyone who made this past year memorable. Let's stay in touch!!

CALENDAR:
We are anxiously preparing for 2008-2009!! As a sneak preview to the upcoming school year in August, do check out the special FAASSU Friendship Games section below. As the section indicates, Friendship Games is an annual event FAASSU participates in every year. Looking ahead to 2008-2009, Friendship Games will take place in mid-October, either the second or third weekend. The 2008 dates have yet to be determined. This will be your chance to bond with other FAASSU members and possibly re-connect with former classmates.

Also, when the new school year begins, FAASSU will be out tabling at locations around SSU that are yet to be determined. But rest assure we are a loud cultural organization. So if you hear cheers or chants, that might be us. Hope to see you next year!!

UPDATES:
- Official website under construction
- FAASSU MySpace = temporary club site until further notice!!
- All photos in club history are not available now, but will be shortly

"ALL THAT JAZZ" ABOUT FAASSU

HISTORY OF EXCELLENCE & DIVERSITY
Considering Sonoma State is one of the smaller universities in California, it isn't too surprising that FAASSU is almost equally small, compared to other Filipino-American clubs up and down the state. That may seem like a negative, but there's actually more positives to it.

While other Filipino student organizations in California and all across the West coast have rich histories, the same can be said about FAASSU. We've only been around since 1995, but in our short existence made significant strides. We made our first-ever appearance in SSU's student-produced newspaper, The Star, on March 14, 2007, for Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Then on the weekend of October 19-21, 2007, at Friendship Games 2007 in Fullerton, we finished second place in three of the five relay picnic games. This was our best-ever finish at the annual Friendship Games event, one that involves a slew of other universities in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii.

Friendship Games is just one of several events FAASSU offers its club members, in addition to local social outings and community outreaches in Sonoma County. The events we do vary from year to year. However, Friendship Games is an annual one we always participate in. We also invite people to join us in exploring Filipino culture and heritage through cultural lessons and field trips. All of these opportunities are open to everyone, not just people of Filipino descent. One of the guiding principles of FAASSU is providing an environment where everyone feels welcomed and comfortable in socializing with each other and learning about Filipino history and traditions and what it means to be Filipino-American.

Since its birth, FAASSU has become a larger prescence at SSU, growing in membership size and the number of events it does each year. Much of the credit comes from the various styles of leadership and new visions. A side effect of that has seen the club become a multicultural organization. Out of the five or so cultural clubs at SSU, FAASSU is the most diverse. Besides people of Filipino descent, there are also students who come from Chinese, Japanese, Mhong, German, Mexican, and African backgrounds. Of course, we're always interested in other ethnicities as well. This really makes for an interesting group of students because each member's heritage adds something special to FAASSU.

THE AMAZING FAASSU EXPERIENCE
In its colorful history at Sonoma State, FAASSU has seen many distinct personalities come and gone. Members, past and present, will tell you its the camaradarie and the energy people bring to the table that gives the club such a different feel from other SSU student organizations. Such things have not gone unnoticed. In fact, FAASSU was previously nominated for the following awards by the Associated Students: best club, best club event (Island Fever Funk Fest), and best club member. Moreover, ASI also recognized FAASSU for its positive service to the communities of Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Santa Rosa. So what to make of all this? Even though some of us have moved on, others keep coming back for more.

NITTY-GRITTY BASICS
- General meetings, Tuesdays 12-1pm @ Erin Fisher Room
- $10 club due to treasurer every semester ($20 for a whole year)
- Contact club secretary to subscribe to e-mailing list
- Share your thoughts about FAASSU by e-mail or MySpace
- Go to "view comments" to see what people are saying about FAASSU

Note: E-mail addresses for FAASSU officers will only be made available to you if made by request through e-mail or a MySpace message. They are not posted because privacy and security are of utmost importance, in lieu of the kind of suspicious activity that occurs on MySpace.

MEDIA
PHOTOS: All pictures in FAASSU history are being moved around a bit. They will soon be available via tons of MySpace albums, or on our official website when it is completely revamped. Stay tuned!!

VIDEO: Created in December 2007, the FAASSU YouTube page is home to all videos in club history. A few members have also posted their own FAASSU videos, including the club's Friendship Games roll call dances for 2005 and 2006. But to be sure you get as many FAASSU videos as possible, just type "FAASSU" in the YouTube search bar. Have fun!!

FAASSU LOVES FRIENDSHIP GAMES

WHAT'S FRIENDSHIP GAMES ABOUT?
If there's one event you really must attend as a member of FAASSU, it's Friendship Games. This is an annual event where several colleges and universities from the West Coast gather in the spirit of friendship to compete in picnic relay games. It's also a chance for you to network with students from other Filipino-American clubs and possibly meet up with old high school classmates.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES IT TAKE PLACE?
The games take place every October on the campus of Cal State Fullerton, usually during the second or third weekend of the month. The dates obviously change from year to year. We usually leave for Southern Cal on a Friday afternoon from the main entrance to Sonoma State and don't return until late Sunday evening. The games take place on that Saturday.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING FG WEEKEND?
Lots of excitement, for sure. Below is an outline of the weekend.

FRIDAY
The plan is to leave Rohnert Park late morning or around noon. We leave in usually three or four rental vans, and make at least two to three pitstops for gas, bathroom breaks, and meals. We like to leave when we do because Friday traffic, no matter where you go, is generally heavy. And considering we go through the heart of Los Angeles, leaving early from SSU is advisable.

SATURDAY
Traditionally some members have chosen to be night owls upon arriving in Fullerton on Friday night because it's a quick turnaround for Saturday morning. That means you get little sleep, if at all. We are not kidding you on this.

We end up leaving our hotel rooms between 4-5am to get to the CSU Fullerton campus in order to setup camp, register, and practice our roll call dance. More than 30 schools participate in Friendship Games every year, and so it's very crucial we arrive early.

By dawn, roll call dances are done and Friendship Games officially begin. The games usually start around mid-morning--say 9-10am, give or take--and don't finish until mid-afternoon, around 3-5pm. Afterwards, we return to our hotel and prepare for the Friendship Games afterparty and awards ceremony. The location varies every year, but one popular location has been the House of Blues in Downtown Disney.

SUNDAY
Friendship Games are now over, sadly. Sunday is largely a travel day. We pack up our bags, check out from the hotel, and leave for Rohnert Park by the early afternoon. But we have a tradition of stopping by Downtown Disney usually for lunch and some shopping, before returning to SSU later that night. On the way back, we take time for bathroom breaks and dinner, just like we do on the Friday coming to Friendship Games.

THE HEAT OF FRIENDSHIP GAMES
This is that time during Friendship Games where you will likely get down and dirty. Okay, only some of the games do, but once the competition begins, you will work up a sweat. Before the games start, each school in attendance is asked to perform a "roll call" dance. What this means is each school has chosen a theme (i.e. Super Mario) and performs a short skit/dance that accompanies it. Afterwards is when you will need to bring your "A" game on. Below are descriptions for each of the five relay games.

---THE NASTY---
Can you dart across a soccer field with a metal rod between your legs AND be able to transfer it to your partner's legs (waiting for you at the end of the field) before the other schools do?

---CONVEYOR BELT---
On that same soccer field, a package in the form of a (preferably lightweight) club member will traverse the dirty terrain, using only his or her friends as means of getting across! Those with allergies ought to take their medication before taking part in this one. No joke.

---TIDAL WAVE---
This is the classic of the "spirit-week" type of games, where a bucket (full of holes) is filled with water and is transferred over a line of friends with a solid container waiting at the end. The school that retains the most water at the end wins the match.

RECOMMENDED: Don't forget to bring a dry set of clothing on that day before you participate in this one. A towel helps, too.

---ALPINE GREEN---
A team of students race across the field with their feet tethered to a set of "skiis." They're really nothing more than a pair of long wooden slabs with straps on each one. This game requires a lot of coordinated work on the team players.

---GROUNDHOG---
Friendship Games' greatest challenge. A single-file line of students form a "tunnel" with their legs while their friends race against other schools by moving as quicky as they can through the tunnel.

SO, THIS IS WORTH MY TIME, RIGHT?
Definitely!! Gatherings like these will especially appeal to freshmen, who are mostly likely to be reunited with their high school friends who chose to attend another UC or CSU and join a Filipino student organization there. New members will also enjoy the camaraderie that Friendship Games offers. It is also the defining moment where they will also realize that they have a place with FAASSU.

FAASSU MYSPACE LOGISTICS

LINKS
If for some reason a link or picture on the FAASSU MySpace website doesn't work, send us an e-mail or MySpace message.

CREDITS
Created by Rachel Espinoza. First website special makeover by Scott Ma. Site maintained by Teresa Mullings.

DISCLAIMER
The views of the advertisements on this site are not of FAASSU or Sonoma State University.




Copyright © 2008 FAASSU