BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Houston Focus on Concerns for Women - ECPv6.15.17//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://hfcw.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Houston Focus on Concerns for Women REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20240101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250430T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250430T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T192044Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250410T203322Z UID:10000126-1746011700-1746018000@hfcw.org SUMMARY:Revealed: The Mysterious Ins and Outs of Houston Recycling  DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Everyone knows Houstonians can recycle paper\, plastics\, and glass using the big green recycling bins. But what about mattresses? \n\nCan you recycle pizza boxes?\nWhat about envelopes?\nDo you need to crush the plastic water bottles so they take up less space?\nMust you remove the staples from documents?\n\nOur speaker will divulge the inside information on food cans: How clean do they really need to be? \nAfter a peek into the guidelines from the City of Houston Department of Solid Waste\, you’ll walk away with a handout and an app to help you recycle things properly. This is useful\, practical information you can use every day. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Veronica Lizama is the Deputy Director of Administration for the City of Houston\, where she manages the Capital Projects\, Communications\, Customer Service\, Community Outreach\, Safety & Training\, Auditing\, and Recycling divisions after being promoted from Chief of Staff of the Solid Waste Management Department. Prior to that\, she worked as Staff Analyst and Senior Financial Analyst for the City of Houston\, where she developed the capital improvement plan and budget monitoring for city facilities. She also worked as Chief of Staff & Agenda Director for Council Member Peter Brown and Office Manager for Civic Design Associates\, LLC. Veronica studied business management at Park University and served as Senior Project Manager at Lone Star College. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/recycling/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250528T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250528T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T192404Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T214609Z UID:10000127-1748430900-1748437200@hfcw.org SUMMARY:An Exciting Way to Make Your Mark DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Innovation is a process — a people-oriented process that gives you the thrill of creating something new and useful. As long as your brain is still working\, you can experience the excitement of being an innovator\, whether that is making small improvements in a system or coming up with a completely new product. The process is the same\, starting with ideation\, naming\, drawing\, feature design\, prototyping\, and marketing. Jeanne will share some of her own innovations and will help you get started on your next fabulous idea to bring it to fruition. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jeanne Perdue grew up in LeRoy\, NY\, where Jell-O was invented. She was Salutatorian of the Class of ‘76 and editor of the school newsletter. She received a BS degree in chemistry from the State University of New York at Albany. She started her career as a chemist at the Texaco Research Laboratories in Bellaire\, Texas. Before Google was invented she conducted research and literature searches at the Texaco Library. Jeanne then covered drilling and information technology as an oil and gas journalist for Hart’s E&P magazine. She launched the award-winning magazine: Upstream Technology. She is now a technical writer at Occidental Petroleum\, preparing field development plans\, maintenance and operations procedures\, technical papers\, and concession proposals for the Middle East Support Team. \nA Distinguished Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers\, Jeanne has been an active volunteer and was Chair of the SPE’s Gulf Coast Section in 2014. Today she serves on the SPE Distinguished Lecturer Committee and the Business Management and Leadership Committee. A staunch supporter of education\, Jeanne was elected to the Alief ISD school board in the 90s and was president of the Alief ISD Education Foundation for 10 years. Today she serves on the board of the Houston Community College Foundation\, the UH Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board\, and the FHPW Educational Foundation. She is a past president of Houston Focus on Concerns for Women. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/make-your-mark/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250625T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250625T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T193247Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250525T222705Z UID:10000128-1750850100-1750856400@hfcw.org SUMMARY:The Elephant Spa and Other Tales DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Our speaker has lived in Southeast Asia. Travel with her as she explores that exotic region. She will reveal her Indonesian adventures along the way. You’ll discover what happens with the elephants at the elephant spa. Other adventures and the lessons learned will take you along to this far away land. Travel Lesson: always be open for amazing experiences such as a surprise invitation to a Hindu wedding in Bali. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Shelia Neale is a native Texan. She started creating unique clothes from antique fabrics and quilts. Her creativity continued at The Frame in Galveston with her husband Rob. \nQuite a change from her Texas surroundings\, the couple moved to Indonesia. There she worked with ex-pats to establish a Christmas bazaar supporting the national school. Texas drew her home again\, and with a friend\, she developed the Sterling Rose specializing in sterling jewelry and unique stone-bead jewelry. \nHer next move was to Navasota\, where she became involved with the Navasota Theatre Alliance. Shelia served on the board and even helped design sets. She excelled at designing and making costumes. \nAfter moving to Georgetown\, Texas with another friend\, they developed the Cotton Candy Cowgirls selling 50 flavors of cotton candy at festivals and other events. \nNow retired\, Shelia is heavily involved in pulling together her new home’s custom interior and her bountiful garden in Dayton\, Texas. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/the-elephant-spa/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250730T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250730T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T193453Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250701T182840Z UID:10000129-1753874100-1753880400@hfcw.org SUMMARY:Discover Hidden Knowledge About George Washington DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Did you know that our first President did not want to be President? You will be surprised at other things you do not know about George Washington. The real scoop on this remarkable patriot reveals some little-known specifics. You may know his teeth were not wooden. Did you know he didn’t have a middle name? \nYou will come away with a renewed interest in our nation’s first leader. And you will be armed with some intriguing truths you can sprinkle into a conversaton. Did you know that his mother had a lot of animosity toward her son?  She did and it was evident until her passing. \nAs a bonus\, this program also delivers background covering some of the well-known myths surrounding President Washington.\n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n In 2010\, after almost 35 years as a dental hygienist\, Linda Percell left private practice to become a full-time educator. As a Clinical Director\, she was instrumental in forming that portion of the Dental Hygiene Program at Houston Community College (HCC)\, Coleman Campus\, which included both didactic and clinical studies. While teaching full-time at HCC\, she also challenged herself to complete her master’s degree in health sciences concentrating on Education. After achieving this accomplishment in 2012\, she decided to take a less stressful role and joined the Department of Dental Hygiene at Lone Star College in Kingwood as adjunct faculty until retirement. \nAfter retiring in 2016\, she now devotes time to her art which focuses on nature. She works with two disparate mediums: graphite and clay. Her studies with clay feature animals and the colors of nature. Her favored use of clay is in hand building and sculpting a myriad of animals in traditional form. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/george-washington/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250827T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250827T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T194106Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250521T214813Z UID:10000130-1756293300-1756299600@hfcw.org SUMMARY:First Lady Edith Roosevelt and Her Husband Teddy DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Edi and Teedie were childhood neighbors and close friends throughout their high school years. If so\, how did Edith Carow become Theodore Roosevelt’s second wife?  Interesting! \nThe public tragedy of President McKinley’s assassination resulted in Theodore Roosevelt becoming the 26th President of the United States while Edith became First Lady. \nAmid the president’s Whitehouse workspaces\, Edith raised six children. Theodore directed the building of executive office space next to the residence. More than a century later we call this once “temporary” space the West Wing. \nEdith guarded the family privacy and assumed her duties with characteristic dignity. This administration was the social center of the land. Edith was described as a gentle and high-bred hostess. She was not only cultured\, but scholarly\, and had a profound love of reading. Her personality was a perfect balance to that of her exuberant husband. \nFor the new ground floor entryway\, Edith directed the hanging of likenesses of—“all the ladies…including myself.” Because Edith was also an admirer of Whitehouse china\, she officially launched a china collection. She exhibited an enlarged collection of presidential china and brought to fruition First Lady Caroline Harrison’s dream of a display of every administration’s china for public view. \nIt is Carolyn’s pleasure to share with you the life of this quiet and refined First Lady\, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Carolyn Tucker Myers is originally from Memphis\, Tennessee. Her family moved to a suburb of Detroit\, Michigan where her father worked with General Motors. After five years of snow and ice\, he moved the family to Houston. In 1951\, her parents opened a hardware store in Pasadena\, where they both worked. \nCarolyn graduated from Pasadena High School in 1955 and the University of Texas\, Austin\, in 1959\, and married shortly thereafter. The couple were stationed in Morocco where her husband spent two years in the Air Force. They returned to Coleman in central West Texas where she taught elementary school for six years. \nIn 1977\, she moved back to Pasadena with her only child\, a son. She joined the family business where she worked for 34 years. After the death of her parents and 60 years later\, Tucker Hardware was closed in 2011. \nA previous member and international secretary of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority\, Carolyn also served as president of Soroptimist International of Pasadena\, a service organization. She was recognized as a Woman of Excellence at the 2000 Federation of Houston Professional Women Gala. She feels honored to be recently accepted into the DAR\, Daughters of the American Revolution\, Lady Washington Houston chapter. \nCarolyn became interested in presidential libraries when she attended the annual hardware market in Atlanta\, Georgia with her mother. They toured the library of President James E. “Jimmy” Carter. Thus began her mother’s collection of presidential plates\, which Carolyn now proudly possesses. The other presidential libraries she has visited include: John F. Kennedy\, Lyndon B. Johnson\, George H.W. Bush\, and George W. Bush and found each different and intriguing. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/edith-roosevelt/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250924T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250924T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T194355Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250409T220740Z UID:10000131-1758712500-1758718800@hfcw.org SUMMARY:Never Say “No Way” DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n How one 8th-grade dropout became an internationally published novelist and a university instructor. \nIf asked\, most of us would say\, “No way can an 11-year-old child\, with a mom who doesn’t sew\, learn to create her own school clothes.”  Or “No way is a 14-year-old wife and mother\, who grew up eating sandwiches and take-out\, able to cook responsibly for her own family.” Or “No way will an 8th-grade drop-out with no additional schooling pass the Scholastic Aptitude Test for the University of Houston.” And “No way could that same person\, after taking only English 101\, Speech 101 and a drawing class\, create and manage her own graphic communications firm before becoming an internationally published author.” \nChris Rogers will reveal how – through self-study and determination – whatever you want to accomplish in life is possible. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chris Rogers is a Texas novelist whose stories cover an array of genres\, including mystery\, suspense\, paranormal and science fiction. As a ghostwriter\, she has co-authored nonfiction\, she has published her own books and articles on writing\, and has spoken often at writing seminars. Her work has been included in Writer’s Digest Magazine\, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine\, various anthologies and a Writer’s Digest book – Crafting Dynamic Dialogue. Also\, an artist of abstract-expressionist paintings\, Chris’s work can often be found at Texas galleries. \nBefore moving to the countryside\, Chris was president of the National Association of Women Business Owners – Houston Chapter\, Mystery Writers of America – Houston Chapter\, and Houston Focus on Concerns for Women. She also served on the board of the Greater Houston Speakers Association. Chris’s work can be seen at chrisrogers.com. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/never-say-no-way/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251029T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251029T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T194623Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250629T232729Z UID:10000132-1761736500-1761742800@hfcw.org SUMMARY:It’s Not Your Grandma’s Breast Cancer Anymore DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n While breast cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide\, great strides in detection\, and treatment are happening. Survival rates have improved\, thanks to better screening\, targeted therapies\, and supportive care. \nWe all know that early detection saves lives. The Director of Corporate and Community Relations for The Rose will reveal new technologies\, improvements in mammograms\, and even added information on self-exams. All of these efforts can help catch cancer early when it’s most treatable. \nOur presenter speaks to groups about the importance of “taking care of you.” And she explains what those words really mean. \nCome learn the GOOD NEWS about breast health from the enthusiastic Chris Noble. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Christine Noble \nChris is Director of Corporate and Community Relations for The Rose\, a community leader in breast health\, founded in 1986. In her position at The Rose\, Chris works within the community\, bringing the message of screening and early detection to local companies and their workforces. Chris says her job at The Rose is as the “friendraiser.” \nShe also heads The Rose’s initiative in the African American community\, providing breast cancer awareness information as well as raising funds to provide mammograms for uninsured women. \n Now in its 39th year\, The Rose provides mammograms and other breast diagnostic services to all women. By having their mammogram at The Rose\, three insured women help support one woman without insurance. \nPrior to The Rose\, Chris owned an IT firm. Her company was in business 24 years when she closed it in 2012.  Over the years\, her firm garnered numerous awards. \nChris has served many leadership roles in local and state women’s organizations. She was recognized as one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women\, and as a Distinguished Leader Impacting Our Community; honored as a Top Women in Technology\, named Women Business Owner of the Year\, honored as a Women of Excellence\, and a 2001 Leadership Texas graduate. She holds a BS and MS from the University of Houston. \nIn November 2021 Chris received Joe Biden’s Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. \nIn December 2022 Chris received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Leaders Esteem Christian Bible College \nIn June 2024 Chris received The Humanitarian Award for The HERprenuer Network. \nIn November 2024 Chris was honored for her Diversity and Community Service from The Skin I’m In Fashion Week. \n  URL:https://hfcw.org/event/breast-cancer/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251126T000000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251126T000000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T194759Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250222T193107Z UID:10000133-1764115200-1764115200@hfcw.org SUMMARY:NO MEETING DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/no-meeting/ LOCATION:TX CATEGORIES:NO MEETING ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20251203T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20251203T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T195030Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251130T223534Z UID:10000134-1764760500-1764766800@hfcw.org SUMMARY:Holiday Fun Comes Wednesday DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Snowflakes\, Icebreaker Questions\, and a New Recipe. Our holiday gathering will include some hands-on magic when we make it snow! You will learn how to create a six-pointed snowflake as we share our answers to some jolly icebreaker questions. Most people make paper snowflakes with four or eight points (Those look like doilies). Real snowflakes in nature form with six points. Don’t wait for Houston to have any of the white stuff. You’ll need to bring a Pencil\, Eraser\,and Small Scissors (bring extras if you have them). Paper will be supplied. \nAlso take a trip through your recipe box and select one card to go in the drawing. At the end of our meeting everyone will draw a card. The “chef” will tell us about it\, and you’ll come away with a new recipe. \nBRING: \n*  A guest. \n*  $95 dues check. \n*  Recipe card with one of your recipes for the drawing. \n*  Pencil \n*  Eraser \n*  Small scissors + extra scissors if you have them. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Arranged by Mary Abshier\, Leigh Owen\, and Jeanne Perdue URL:https://hfcw.org/event/holiday-celebration-2/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Celebration Gathering,Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260128T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260128T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20241219T195147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T071752Z UID:10000135-1769598900-1769605200@hfcw.org SUMMARY:The Surprising Story of the White House DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n On November 1\, 1800\, President John Adams became the first resident of the White House. Since then\, every U.S. President has lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.\, each adding a new chapter to its history. \nThe People’s House has been through two total destructions. In 1814\, the White House was burned by the British Army. The rebuilt executive mansion was actually considered unsafe in 1848. It was then demolished for the second time and rebuilt during the Truman Administration. \nYou will learn that future Presidents and First Ladies have added their touches to the structure\, design\, and furnishings. You’ll discover that the West Wing was added by President Theodore Roosevelt and the Oval Office was first occupied by President William Taft in 1909. \nCarolyn will share the story of the beautification\, preservation\, understanding\, and appreciation of the People’s House. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Carolyn Tucker Myers is originally from Memphis\, Tennessee. In 1951\, her parents opened a hardware store in Pasadena. \nCarolyn graduated from Pasadena High School in 1955 and the University of Texas\, Austin\, in 1959. Newly married she lived in Morocco while her Air Force husband was stationed there. \nIn 1977\, she moved back to Pasadena with her only child\, a son. She joined the family business where she worked for 34 years. \nInternational secretary of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority\, Carolyn also served as president of Soroptimist International of Pasadena. She was recognized as a Woman of Excellence by the Federation of Houston Professional Women. She has recently been accepted into the DAR\, Daughters of the American Revolution\, Lady Washington Houston chapter. \nCarolyn will now share her fascination with The People’s House…The White House. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/story-white-house/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260225T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260225T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T204235Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260203T205324Z UID:10000136-1772018100-1772024400@hfcw.org SUMMARY:Treat Yourself to Simple Pleasures DESCRIPTION:Program \n \n \n \n \n \n We are commanded at every turn to pamper one’s self. Self-care\, self-care; everywhere. The best definition of self-care is actually found by recognizing the simple pleasurers around us. You’ll discover self-care brings you comradery\, support\, wisdom\, laughter\, sympathy\, empathy\, and joy. You’ll come away after learning how to fold a little folder. Also\, you’ll receive some pocket-sized lists of simple pleasures. \nTreat yourself to some self-care on February 25. \n \n \n \n \n \n About The Speaker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Leigh Owen is a connector. She is passionate about matching people with other people\, organizations\, and resources. She is a past president of the Federation of Houston Professional Women\, Houston Focus on Concerns for Women\, and the FHPW Educational Foundation. She served 20 years on the UH Friends of Women’s Studies board and is a zealous supporter the UH Rare Books Collections. \nLeigh is a member of the Houston Book Arts Guild\, Houston Calligraphy Guild\, and the Houston Visual Journalers. She is a lifetime member of Women in the Visual and Literary Arts and chaired their advisory board. She loves collage\, journals daily\, and writes personal essays and haiku. \nShe is a new member of the Lady Washington chapter\, the largest DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) chapter in the world. She is a new member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Her genealogy studies revealed that her great\, great\, great uncle William E. Summers fought and died at the Alamo. \nA graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University\, her first job was in book publishing and it became her lifelong career. Leigh has three decades of book publishing and marketing experience. She began by designing books and handling their printing for Gulf Publishing Company then focused on marketing books and educational training for Vickie Milazzo Institute. \nLeigh and Tim\, both native Texans\, live in a brick bungalow in the Houston Heights. Avid birders\, they love traveling Texas back roads. Their marriage has been celebrated together at the Menger Hotel in San Antonio for 44 years in an unbroken line. \nLeigh is often told\, “You know things!” URL:https://hfcw.org/event/simple_pleasures/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260325T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260325T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T204552Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T015458Z UID:10000137-1774437300-1774443600@hfcw.org SUMMARY:UH Cullen College of Engineering: Growth and Goals DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n US college engineering enrollments have declined since 2020\, and now are half what they were in the mid-1980s. In fact\, international engineering students greatly outnumber domestic students in the US\, particularly in graduate programs. Fortunately\, the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering has a new dean with a big vision and specific goals\, which he shared at a recent Executive Leadership Board meeting. HFCW member Jeanne Perdue represented the UH Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board at that meeting. She took copious notes (of course)\, and will share some of the more interesting quotes and numbers on Cullen College’s path to improvement. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jeanne Perdue grew up in LeRoy\, NY (where Jell-O was invented)\, and earned a BS in Chemistry at State University of New York at Albany. She worked in the Texaco research labs as a chemist for 9 years and as a librarian for 4 years. She then became Senior Technology Editor for Hart’s E&P magazine and later launched the award-winning Upstream Technology magazine. She then spent 14 years as Technical Writer at Occidental Petroleum\, where she taught her Oil Patch Writing class and hands-on Innovation Workshop. Since retiring in 2024\, she teaches her writing class for PetroSkills and has published a book of poetry and a children’s book titled Dillon the Dawdler. \nA past president of Houston Focus on Concerns of Women\, Jeanne serves as Secretary of the University of Houston Petroleum Engineering Advisory Board and Chair of the HCC Petroleum Technology Advisory Board. She is President of the Federation of Houston Professional Women (FHPW) and serves on the FHPW Educational Foundation Board. URL:https://hfcw.org/event/growth_and_goals/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260429T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260429T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T204750Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260417T021640Z UID:10000138-1777461300-1777467600@hfcw.org SUMMARY:Mastering Your Second Act: A Soulful Approach to Retirement DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Crystal Lynn Garrett will discuss her book “the Next Chapter”. \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Crystal Lynn Garrett URL:https://hfcw.org/event/mastering-second-act/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260527T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260527T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T205501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T231928Z UID:10000139-1779880500-1779886800@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION:Program \n \n \n \n \n \n TBD (speaker Missy Bosch)  \n \n \n \n \n \n About The Speaker URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-4/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260624T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260624T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T205804Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T205804Z UID:10000140-1782299700-1782306000@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-5/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260729T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260729T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T205949Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T185227Z UID:10000141-1785323700-1785330000@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION:Program \n \n \n \n \n \n TBD (speaker Linda Percell) \n \n \n \n \n \n About The Speaker\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Linda Percell URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-6/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260826T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260826T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T210135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T210135Z UID:10000142-1787742900-1787749200@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-7/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260930T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260930T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T210321Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T210321Z UID:10000143-1790766900-1790773200@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-8/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261028T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261028T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T210934Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T210934Z UID:10000144-1793186100-1793192400@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-9/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261125T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261125T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T211156Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T211156Z UID:10000145-1795605300-1795611600@hfcw.org SUMMARY:NO MEETING DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/no-meeting-2/ LOCATION:To Be Announced\, Houston\, TX\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261202T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261202T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T211415Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260219T231647Z UID:10000146-1796210100-1796216400@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM DETAILS\n \n \n \n \n \n Holiday Gathering \n  \n \n \n \n \n \n ABOUT THE SPEAKER\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Arranged by Mary Abshier\, Leigh Owen\, and Jo Rosenbloom King URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-10/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Celebration Gathering,Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270127T111500 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270127T130000 DTSTAMP:20260424T050944 CREATED:20260125T211558Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260125T211558Z UID:10000147-1801048500-1801054800@hfcw.org SUMMARY:TBA DESCRIPTION: URL:https://hfcw.org/event/tba-11/ LOCATION:Sorrento Italian Restaurant\, 415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106\, Houston\, TX\, 77006\, United States CATEGORIES:Monthly Meeting ORGANIZER;CN="Mary Abshier":MAILTO:info@hfcw.org GEO:29.7442261;-95.3868489 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Sorrento Italian Restaurant 415 Westheimer Road Suite 106 Houston TX 77006 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=415 Westheimer Road\, Suite 106:geo:-95.3868489,29.7442261 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR