On February 24th, VSO’s officers and members woke up bright and early to show up at the Gainesville Garden Club by 8AM to start setting up its semi-annual Phở fundraiser. For those of you who don’t know at the Phở fundraiser customers can spend $6.50 for their choice of either a bowl of Phở or vegetarian Bún bò Huế plus a drink and Chè as well as an opportunity to support their favorite Vietnamese suborg.

By 10AM preparations were complete, the sriracha and hoisin sauce especially.

Customers received a numbered card when they ordered so that volunteers would know what table to take their Phở to. If you look carefully you might see a few familiar numbers mixed into the bunch.

One good thing about AASU is that even though it’s divided into the various sub organizations, we all support each other. FSA represented early to start the day off with some delicious Phở for breakfast.

Our treasurer Trinh was there most of the day to collect money and show his dedication to VSO, although he might have had ulterior motives…

VSO’s Officers weren’t the only people working to make the Phở fundraiser a success, many members helped out throughout the day by delivering Phở to tables, working the front desk, and even supported by buying this year’s VSO’s shirt.

Although customers trickled in at first, by lunch time turnout was impressive. The Garden Club was filled to capacity and had lines out the door filled with people waiting for a bowl of VSO’s delicious Phở.

CASA came out to support in mass as well after their football practice.

Here’s a little behind the scenes action – Each customer’s order is written on a post it note with the order number and placed on this fridge, then they’re taken off and thrown away as the order is filled. At some points during the day the fridge had even more post it’s than it does in this photo ^_^;.

Support for VSO doesn’t only come from its members and the Gainesville’s community, but also from some of the member’s parents who came from out of town to visit and enjoy some Phở.

Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority also showed up as a group.

Unbeknownst to many, this semester VSO introduced $20 all day all you can eat Phở. Only a few brave souls took up the challenge, but this little champion took it to the extreme and ate 4 bowls in one sitting and came back later in the night for more.

Just as there’s more to Phở prep than making Phở, there’s more to Phở fundraiser than just the Phở. Many of our patrons come and spend hours singing karaoke as well.

The fundraiser went well into the night with the last few bowls being served as we closed at 8PM. Thanks to Co Lien’s impressive planning we managed to perfectly sell out of Phở as we were closing.

Previous Photos by Christopher Chin-Sang

If you came out to the Phở fundraiser you obviously know how much of a success it was, but if you didn’t be sure to come out next semester so you can have a chance to find out why VSO his hot as Phở.

More phởtos (XD) at:

Christopher: Album 1, Album 2

AASU and VSO Historian,

Christopher Chin-Sang

What semester is complete without VSO’s semi annual  fundraiser?

VSO’s most dedicated members and its officers gathered on Saturday February 23rd at the usual spot, Co Lien’s house, to prep the Phở for Sunday’s Phở Fundraiser.  Each semester members come out and help slice ‘n dice all the Phở ingredients.

While some members show off their knife skills, members who can speak fluent Vietnamese hit the phones lines and call up the members of Gainesville’s Vietnamese community to come out and support VSO on Sunday.

Although plenty of people come to help out during Phở prep, Saturday is not just about the making the Phở. One big motivator to all the people that come out to help is that the Phở preppers get to eat Co Lien’s delicious Bún bò Huế throughout the day.

No club could run like VSO does without dedicated officers, and that shows during the down time where some officers break out the books to study.

Not everyone uses the downtime to study though, plenty of people choose to play games, such as one where you spell your name out in the air with your butt.

Of course no Phở prep would be complete without a few people passing out on Co Lien’s couch either.

In the end regardless of all the side activities the Phở always gets done in time for the fundraiser on Sunday.

And even though Phở prep can be hard work at times, VSO’s amazing member and officers always make it as fun as possible and have a great time bonding and supporting VSO.

Photos By: Christopher Chin-Sang

More photos: 

Christopher: Album 1, Album 2

Stay tuned for the Phở Fundraiser post…

AASU and VSO Historian,

Christopher Chin-Sang