FCCLA members gathered in chapter advisor Amanda Harter’s classroom Monday evening to go over this year’s goals. Chapter advisor Chelsea Nelson made a presentation about what FCCLA has to offer this year for students interested in participating. 

“Our goal for this year is to be more connected with our community,” Nelson said. “Our chapter’s goal is to have more community service hours and win the chapter service contest at regionals in February.”

This first meeting of the year was to give non-members a chance to see what the organization was about.

“We had a great turn out at the interest meeting,” Nelson said. “I am excited to see what this year brings.”

To make things more interesting, Harter brought out a game of bingo as an icebreaker to get to know each other better. Three $15 Amazon gift cards were handed out to the first three players who won. Miriam Flores and Yuliet Gonzalez won the first two rounds, while Yurit Espina and Yana Bharat both called out bingo in the last round and challenged each other to a rock-paper-scissors game. Yurit Espino took the last Amazon gift card home. 

“The meeting was really exciting and fun,” Bharat said. “Bingo was definitely my favorite activity we had that evening.” 

But Bharat also knows that there is plenty of fun and learning to come during the year.

“I look forward to meeting new people at the conferences,” Bharat said. “I am glad I am stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something I never thought I would do.”

This year’s Texas theme is Bee Connected. FCCLA has been advertising the new theme and members are turning in their dues so that they can attend their September Leadership workshop in Huntsville. Chapter Vice President Brayden Lack has been competing in FCCLA since she was a freshman and is excited for the new year.

“I am a little heartbroken about it being my last year in FCCLA, and I want to do the best that I can,” Lack said. “I cannot wait to make new memories with everyone.”