This is to invite you, a young person in your late teens or early twenties, to attend VAYLC 2009, a youth training program meant to prepare you for the exciting challenges of the world of work and leadership that are awaiting you. VAYLC this year will be held at George Mason University Metro Campus in Arlington, Virginia, from May 20 to May 23, 2009.

As you probably know, this will be the eighth Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference organized under the auspices of NCVA, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans, a non-profit organization founded in 1986 to coordinate our actions nationally for the advancement of our people. Based on our records, a full 25% of VAYLC alumni are presently serving on Capitol Hill and other government offices at the federal, state and local levels.

The idea behind VAYLC (www.vaylc.org or see under www.ncvaonline.org) is simple. As you are about to go into the world, a young person in America needs:

• A good understanding of personal finances and responsibilities that accompany the handling of personal finances (such as bank accounts, car loans and home mortgages, insurance policies, etc.).
• Skills that build one’s confidence as one goes into the world of work and prepare one for leadership positions.
• Networking that broadens one’s connections and vision of life.
• Finally, an understanding of government at the local, state and federal levels so that one can take advantage of opportunities that present themselves, whether it is bidding for contracts, running for public offices or serving causes that are beneficial to the community.

Registration for the three days of workshops and conference is a very modest fee of $60 per person ($50 per person if you pre-register by or before May 8, 2009), payable to NCVA and to be sent to the NCVA address above (in the letterhead). This includes continental breakfast and lunch on May 21, 22 and 23 and a Gala Dinner on Friday, May 22, 2009.

Hoping to hear from you soon, we wish you a splendid school year or what is left of it. And may we see you at VAYLC 2009 in Arlington, Virginia.

Best regards,

Nguyen Ngoc BICH

Chairman & Executive President, NCVA