The Newcomers are involved in several activities. Here are a few of our current ones.

Charity: We currently support two charitable causes. Throughout the year, we hold raffles, book swaps or just set out the 'jar' to collect donations that go to both of these charities.

• Casa Hogar for Girls: This local foster home hosts about 15 girls aged 8 - 18. The women in our club each select a girl for whom they would like to be the "Madrina". We buy birthday presents and Day of the Kings presents for the girls. On the last Thursday evening of each month we visit the girls and bring a dinner to share with them. We also bring a birthday cake to celebrate all of the birthdays during that month. We all have a great time!
  
  
• Animal Shelter: The local shelter cares for about 4,500 animals that are stray or abandoned each year. About 40% are dogs and 20% are cats. The shelter performs about 800 sterilizations per year. The monthly expenses of the animal shelter are approximately $30,000 pesos. Our donations help to defray some of the costs of the shelter's important work.
  

Spanish Café: Every other week on Friday mornings, a group that wants to practice Spanish gets together. Currently, we have a teacher who comes in to teach us how to survive in various situations: visiting the doctor, negotiating with the car mechanic, or getting what you really want at the market. It's a great, safe environment to practice in and to learn!

Book Club: The Newcomers like to read! Each month we discuss a different book. It is interesting to hear everyone's thoughts on the book and to share some laughs, experiences and ideas with each other. We select our books ahead of time based on members' suggestions. We can get the books in English when someone is traveling, or from the local Gandhi bookstore or the library in San Miguel.  Here are the books we'll be reading in the 2010-2011 club year:

• The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier (September)
  
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (October)
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (November)
  
• The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munro (December)
• The Girls by Lori Lansens (January)
  
• People of the Brook by Geraldine Brooks (February)
• Shadow of the Angel by Kathryn Skidmore Blair (March)
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (April)
• Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill (May)
• The Faith Club by Idliby, Oliver, and Warner (June)
  

Gourmet Dining Club: Every other month a host and co-host prepare a menu and share the recipies with the club.  A date is set and everyone brings their assigned dish, and a delicious meal is shared by all.