NCVA eREPORTER
- May 5, 2005
In this NCVA eReporter:
EVENTS
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
TIPS/RESOURCES
NEWS
******************
EVENTS
You are invited to attend a reception for Dean Harold Hongju
Koh, Dean of Yale Law School.
EVENT: Reception for Dean Harold Hongju Koh, Dean
of Yale Law School
DATE:
May 10, 2005
TIME: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
PLACE: National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
(NAPAWF) Conference Room
1050 17th St., NW, Suite 250
Washington, DC 20036
(p) 202/293-2688
Farragut North is the closest metro.
RSVP: Please e-mail your RSVP by
May 6, 2005,
to Courtney Chappel, NAPAWF Legislative Staff
Attorney/Women's Law Fellow at
cchappell@napawf.org
SPONSORED BY:
Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL);
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF);
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC); Asian
Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington,
D.C. Area (APABA-DC); Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Educational Fund (AEF);South Asian Bar Association (SABA);
National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC);
Korean American Coalition-DC Chapter; Organization of
Chinese Americans (OCA); National Coalition for Asian
Pacific American Community Development (NCAPACD); Southeast
Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Japanese American
Citizens League (JACL); Hmong National Development, Inc. (HND);
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
(NAKASEC); and the Asian Pacific American Institute for
Congressional Studies (APAICS).
SUMMARY OF EVENT:
This reception provides an opportunity to meet with Dean Koh,
one of the preeminent legal scholars in the Asian American
community and a champion for human rights and civil rights.
Dean Koh will be in Washington, D.C. on May 10, 2005, and is available from
4:00 PM -
5:00 PM to meet with representatives from local and
national
APA organizations. Dean Koh is required to leave
sharply at
5:00 PM to catch a flight, so please arrive promptly at 4:00 p.m. The
reception will be open to all interested individuals. Light
refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend.
******************
ACCESS TO SUCCESS: GLOBAL CHALLENGES
AND
REGIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
History
The first Multicultural Business Conference was held on
March 28, 2003
at the Sheraton Premiere in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The
theme was “Break the Walls, Break the Barriers, and Build
Bridges to Succeed”. The conference drew more than 400
business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate and government
people. The success of this event led to our Second Annual
Multicultural Business Conference, which was held at the
Johnson Center of the George Mason University on
August 12, 2004
with over 500 attendees, and 36 exhibitors and major
corporate sponsors. The theme of our second conference was
“Access to Success” highlighting the importance of
networking, access to resources and business opportunities,
education and training, and multicultural marketing.
Theme and Goals of the Third Annual Multicultural
Business Conference
The theme for this year’s conference is “Access to Success:
Global Challenges and Regional Opportunities”. Access, to
training, timely information, resources and ability to
identify new business opportunities remains the crucial
element in any small, minority and women owned businesses in
the area. While the multicultural business community has
becomes the fastest growing segment of our regional economy,
many are facing stiff competition from overseas. Through
the conference training workshops, legislative forum,
networking with other businesses and government agencies,
attendees will be able to map out a short and long-term
business strategy to grow their businesses. Attendees will
also be able to see the demonstration of how e-Commerce,
e-Procurement, and e-Marketing can help increase their
productivity.
Conference Organizers and Partners (Preliminary List)
Business Development Assistance Group, Center for Business
Planning and Development, Arlington and Fairfax Counties,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), US Small
Business Administration (SBA) Washington District Office,
Virginia Department of Business Assistance, Virginia
Department of Minority Business Enterprise, Mason Enterprise
Center of the George Mason University, Northern Virginia
Community College, Arlington Small Business Development
Center, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
Korea-American Association of Northern Virginia, National
Congress of Vietnamese Americans, and Asian Marketing
Services.
The Location
The Johnson Center of George Mason University is a unique
facility designed to encourage learning. Its programming and
use of space emphasize integration of the curricular and
extracurricular activities of the diverse communities that
comprise George Mason University
Special Guest Speakers (invited)
Governor Mark Warner
Legislative Briefing: Federal Agenda for Small, Minority
and Woman -Owned Businesses (invited)
Congressman James P. Moran (8th District, VA)
Congressman Frank Wolf, (10th District, VA)
Congressman Tom Davis (11th District, VA)
Global Challenges and Regional Opportunities
(Panel Discussion) led by experts from the School of
Public Policy of George Mason University, and leaders from
the four fastest growing industries: Information Technology,
Import/Export, Retail/Service, and Healthcare.
General Information Contact: Lauryn Han at (703)
993-4873,
or Jenny Rico at
(703)
538-7412; Fax
(703)
237-3996; Email:
lhan@bdag.org; Website:
www.bdag.org
Media and Advertising Contact: Ms. Doan Huynh, Asian
Marketing Service, (703) 534-8676; Fax
(703)
534-8696
(http://www.bdag.org/2005Access.html)
******************
2ND ANNUAL CALIFORNIA ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER
LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS POLICY SUMMIT
“Unity In Action”
Sponsored By
California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus
Institute
Monday -
June 6, 2005
Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento, California
PRE-REGISTRATION
FORM
__ Please pre-register me for the 2nd Annual API Summit and
send me a complete registration packet.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Name Title
____________________________________________________________________________________
Company/Organization
____________________________________________________________________________________
Address City, State & Zip
____________________________________________________________________________________
Telephone Fax Email
__ I WOULD LIKE TO BE A SUMMIT VOLUNTEER.
__ PLEASE LIST MY ORGANIZATION AS A COMMUNITY SUPPORTER. I
WILL ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.
GENERAL INFORMATION
SUMMIT CONFERENCE FEE: $50
API LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS INSTITUTE DINNER: $65
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
The California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus has
reserved a limited number of rooms at the Sheraton Grand
Hotel at a reduced rate. Call Sheraton Reservations at
1-800-325-3535 and cite "API Policy Summit" to receive group
rate of $149.
HOTEL RESERVATION DEADLINE: May 20, 2005.
RETURN THIS
FORM TO
Mail this form to
API
Summit, P.O. Box 189488, Sacramento, CA 95818 or fax this
form to 916-442-3102.
For more information, call Pam Chueh at
(916)
319-3686 or email
pam.chueh@asm.ca.gov.
******************
NAVASA 2005
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
In celebrating NAVASA’s 10th Year Anniversary of supporting
Vietnamese American nonprofit organizations across the
United States, NAVASA 2005 National Conference will focus on
“Empowering the Community Through Giving”, in which NAVASA
encourages an “everybody-gives philosophy”. Whether you are
from a corporation, foundation, federal agency, community,
small business, or nonprofit, NAVASA would like to cordially
invite you to join us in promoting the spirit and concept of
giving. NAVASA’s 2005 National Conference will be held at
the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on July 15 and 16, 2005.
The two-day conference will feature training workshops
targeting current and future nonprofit sector employees. In
addition to scheduled workshops, there will also be an open
forum, focusing on “Youth, Elders, and the Generational
Gap”, in which conference participants will have the
opportunity to share with each other their concerns, their
professional and personal experiences, and possible
solutions to problems they see within the Asian American
community. Moreover, experienced professionals will present
promising practices and programs addressing the topic at
hand.
The conference will conclude with a recognition banquet
where three “past givers” will be recognized and ten young
potential social change philanthropists will be
acknowledged.
NAVASA 2005 National Conference: “Empowering the Community
Through Giving” online registration is available at:
http://www.navasa.org/National_Conference/2005/conference2005/register.htm
(if the link does not work, copy & paste onto new browser)
The Deadline for Conference Registration is June 30, 2005.
NAVASA has a limited number of rooms reserved at the Hilton
McLean Tysons Corner hotel (7920 Jones Branch Drive,
McLean, VA 22102)
at a discounted price of $95 per night on Thursday, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday nights, $129 per night on Wednesday
night. Rooms with discounted rate are limited, and will be
available on a first-come first-served basis. Register early
to secure these discount rates for your hotel rooms.
For Reservations please call: 1-800-Hiltons or
703-847-5000.
Refer to “NAVASA Conference” to receive the discounted rate.
You can also make reservation online at
www.mclean.hilton.com (use the discount code: NAS)
In an effort to help you in lowering your hotel costs,
NAVASA has set up a forum to assist conference participants
who are looking for roommates. It is an open forum where you
can post your contact information so that other conference
participants who are also looking for a roommate can contact
you.
The forum is located at:
http://www.navasa.org/board/
The Login in name and password is (case sensitive):
Lodging
For updated information about NAVASA 2005 National
Conference as well as online registration and hotel
information, visit the conference website at:
http://www.navasa.org/National_Conference/2005/index.htm
NAVASA looks forward to welcoming you to Washington D.C.
******************
WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON MUSEUM COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
Smithsonian Institution: Introduction to the Management of
Museum Collections
"Introduction to the Management of Museum Collections," a
workshop sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, focuses
on the various elements in the management of collections.
The workshop will address the practical application of
policies and procedures necessary to establish and maintain
intellectual and physical control of museum collections.
This workshop is designed for people responsible for
planning, managing, coordinating, delegating, and performing
collection care and management activities. The workshop will
be held on the September 26-30, 2005 at the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington, DC. The application deadline for
attendance is
June 10, 2005.
(http://museumstudies.si.edu/workshops/colmgt.htm)
******************
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) – ADDRESSING PRIORITY
POPULATIONS IN TOBACCO CONTROL
DHS/Tobacco Control Section announces a tentative release
date of
May 2, 2005,
for RFA TCS 05-102 entitled Addressing Priority Populations
in Tobacco Control.
The purpose of this RFA is to fund local community planning
grants to conduct tobacco control need assessments for the
following communities: 1) African American; 2) American
Indian/Alaskan Native; 3) Asian and Pacific Islander; 4)
Hispanic/Latino; 5) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender;
6) Low Socio-Economic Status.
Approximately $7 million is estimated to be available for
this RFA. The contract period begins October 1, 2005, and ends
June 30, 2008, for a project period of 33 months. Projects will be expected to
complete two phases: 1) A nine month assessment phase; and,
2) A two year implementation phase.
The RFA information meeting schedule is: Monday, May 9, 2005
The Letters of Intent are due
May 20, 2005
The anticipated proposal due date is
June 7, 2005
You can download the RFA at the TCS website:
www.dhs.ca.gov/tobacco after
May 9, 2005.
Please contact Marjorie Rogers at
(916)
449-5517 or E-mail:
mrogers1@dhs.ca.gov for questions
******************
NEW GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR NONPROFIT ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
Strengthening Silicon Valley arts organizations and building
connections to the arts are the goals of Community
Foundation Silicon Valley's Advancing the Arts Initiative.
Applications due Monday, May 9 for Advancing the Arts
grants!
* $5,000 to $15,000 grants
* Additional technical assistance funding available (up to
$1,500)
* Networking, workshops, and technical assistance
* One-year grant period
* 15 to 20 grants will be awarded
* Small and mid-sized arts organizations (budgets between
$50,000 and $2M)
* Serving Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County and Southern
San Mateo County)
* Grants will be awarded in June 2005
To achieve the goals of the Advancing the Arts Initiative,
the Community Foundation will award grants to organizations
that represent diverse geographies, budget sizes, and
disciplines. A full description of the Arts Initiative and
the Application Guidelines and Procedures are available
online at
http://www.cfsv.org/advancingthearts.html
Questions? Contact Maya McCray, Program and Grant
Services Manager, at
MMcCray@CFSV.org or (408) 278-2224.
(Made possible by The James Irvine Foundation and the David
and Lucile Packard Foundation)
(www.cfsv.org)
******************
GOOGLE OFFERS
FREE
SEARCH TOOLS TO NONPROFITS
Google Public Service Search
Google, through its new Public Service Search section, is
offering nonprofit organizations two free search tools for
use on their websites: SiteSearch, for searching within
sites, and WebSearch, enabling users to search the Internet
by keyword. The new, cost-free service also offers traffic
reports, unlimited queries, and allows for customization,
and no banner ads or other paid advertising will show on
search result pages.
(http://services.google.com/publicservice/login)
******************
FUNDING FOR
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
May Department Stores Company Foundation
The May Department Stores Company Foundation primarily
supports nonprofit organizations in the communities where
company stores are located throughout the U.S. Selected
national organizations are also supported. The Foundation
provides grants for programs that fall into the following
major categories: health and welfare, education, arts and
culture, and civic affairs. Applications are accepted
throughout the year.
(http://www1.mayco.com/common/com_index.jsp)
******************
SEED MONEY FOR
ARSON PREVENTION
FM Global Arson Fund
The FM Global Arson Fund supports fire departments and other
public agencies throughout the world by providing seed money
to assist in the development of arson prevention and control
programs. Grants have been awarded to fire departments and
related agencies for investigative tools, flammable
accelerant detectors, training programs and juvenile
firesetter programs. Grants have also funded computer
software to track arson incidents, training seminars for
arson investigators, student workshops on fire
investigation, and equipment purchase. Applications are
accepted throughout the year.
(http://www.fmglobal.com/about/facts/arson_grant_program.asp)
******************
SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTERS
Microsoft Unlimited Potential
Microsoft Unlimited Potential is a global initiative that
focuses on improving lifelong learning for disadvantaged
young people and adults by providing technology skills
through community technology centers. A community technology
center is a free or low-cost place (in a community center,
school, library, housing facility, etc.) where people of all
ages and abilities can come to learn about computers, use
the Internet, explore new careers, further their education,
or participate in community activities. The initiative
provides grants, software donations, technical assistance,
and in-kind support to eligible nonprofit organizations in
the U.S. and non-governmental organizations outside the U.S.
Applications are accepted throughout the year. For
information on how to apply through Microsoft subsidiary
offices located around the world, visit the website listed
above.
(http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/citizenship/giving/)
******************
GRANTS FOR YOUTH
PROGRAMS
Finish Line Youth Foundation
The Finish Line Youth Foundation provides funding to
organizations where company stores are located, or
communities where donations to the Foundation are raised.
(Finish Line operates over 605 stores in 46 states. To find
out if there's a store in your community visit
http://www.finishline.com/store/corporate_info/storelocator.jsp.)
The Foundation's primary focus is to support youth athletic
and wellness programs. Grants generally range from $1,000 to
$5,000. The remaining application deadlines in 2005 are June
30, September 30, and December 31. Application guidelines
and forms are available online.
(http://www.finishline.com/store/corporate_info/youthfoundation.jsp)
******************
RURAL PROGRAMS
SUPPORTED
CHS Foundation
The
CHS Foundation is committed to investing in the
future of rural America, agriculture and cooperative
business through education and leadership development. The
Foundation supports national efforts, as well as those
within the
CHS
trade territory. The Foundation's funding focuses on the
following six program areas: Cooperative Education, Rural
Youth and Leadership Development, Farm and Agricultural
Safety, Returning Value to Rural Communities, Emergency
Assistance and Disaster Relief, and Scholarship Programs.
All grants requests are accepted on an ongoing basis, with
the exception of the Cooperative Education Grants, which are
due in the fall of each year.
(http://www.chsfoundation.org)
******************
FUNDING FOR
ALCOHOLISM PREVENTION
Christopher D. Smithers Foundation
The Christopher D. Smithers Foundation focuses its
grantmaking on the issues of alcoholism, including
prevention, treatment, research, public education, and
creating awareness of these problems in the nation's work
world. The main thrust of the Foundation's funding is in the
field of alcoholism prevention and education. While a number
of grants go to national organizations, regional and local
organizations across the country also receive funds.
Applications are accepted throughout the year.
(http://www.smithersfoundation.org)
******************
JOBS/INTERNSHIPS
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT – ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR THE ASIAN
AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM
Associate Director
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks an
Associate Director for the Asian American Studies Program,
an interdisciplinary academic program that coordinates a
wide range of research, teaching, and public service
activities centered in the humanities and social sciences.
Position:
The Associate Director works closely with the Director to
develop and implement programs, policies, procedures, and
objectives of the Program and to advance research, teaching,
and service in Asian American Studies. The Associate
Director supervises other program staff and student
employees of the unit and oversees daily operations. S/he
also represents the Program and its needs on campus,
locally, and in the national community. The Associate
Director provides primary support to the Director and
assumes full direction in the absence of the director.
The Associate Director's duties include (but are not limited
to): developing and coordinating the curricular developments
of the program (advising of students and helping build
future undergraduate and graduate degrees); implementing
conferences, symposia, speaker series, and other public
events on topics of political, social, and cultural
importance for Asian American communities; fostering student
development in the Program through collaboration with
Student Affairs; identifying and obtaining support for the
Program through grants, alumni networks, and development;
assisting with hiring and personnel issues including faculty
searches, post- doctoral fellowships, graduate
assistantships, and student employment; overseeing the
publishing of Program public relations materials such as the
newsletter, brochure, and website.
Position Requirements:
Minimum education: Ph.D. or equivalent, terminal degree,
with preference given to candidates with research/work in
Asian American studies.
Required work experience: Interest and/or experience in the
field of Asian American Studies; strong writing and
communication skills; an ability to multitask; interest in
and ability to work with faculty, staff, students, and
administrators; and an ability to work with people of
diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Work for this job
often extends beyond regular working hours, including
weekends and evenings.
Preferred Qualifications: Two to three years of
administrative experience at university/college level.
Managerial/supervisory experience.
This position is a full-time, 12- month Academic
Professional administrative position. Proposed starting
date: July 16, 2005. Salary commensurate with experience. Generous vacation/ sick
leave/ paid holidays. State retirement system. State
sponsored group health, dental, vision and life insurance.
Application:
Applicants should submit a detailed letter of application
explaining qualifications for the job; a resume or
curriculum vitae that includes work history; names and
addresses of three references; and any additional relevant
information. To ensure full consideration, applications
should be received by
June 10, 2005.
Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date;
however, no hiring decision will be made until after that
date.
Send application to:
Search Committee, Asian American Studies
1208 W. Nevada, MC-142
Urbana, IL 61801
217-244-9530; fax:
217-265-6235
For more information, contact the Director, Kent A. Ono, at
kaono@uiuc.edu
The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action, Equal
Opportunity Employer
******************
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT: CALIFORNIA PROJECTS DIRECTOR
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
Sacramento or San Francisco Bay Area, California
April 29, 2005
Link:
http://www.searac.org/po-help-caprodir-42905.pdf
Summary: The California Projects Director will provide a
wide range of integrated advocacy, training, and technical
assistance services to Southeast Asian American (SEA)
communities and organizations throughout the State of
California. S/he will be a highly skilled professional with
a wide range of community and technical skills. S/he will
have primary responsibility for implementing SEARAC's
projects in the State of California, including HELP (SEA
Healthy Elders Leadership Project;
http://www.searac.org/help.html) and the California
components of the VERB project (Values, Empowerment,
Resources and Betterment). Beginning in 2005, this will
entail the re-establishment of full-time staff presence in
California for SEARAC, the initial implementation of the
HELP project, and the provision of training and technical
assistance services to SEA community organizations that are
SEARAC subgrantees through the VERB project. In future
years the California Projects Director will supervise
additional SEARAC staff members in California, and
participate in project development.
Location of Position: Primary preference is
Sacramento with consideration for San Francisco Bay Area.
Major Responsibilities:
* Work in close cooperation with SEARAC's Executive Director
and Deputy Director in Washington, DC (who are the
supervisors for this position), in addition to state-wide
partners California Health Advocates (CHA) and the National
Asian Pacific American Center on Aging (NAPCA).
* Southeast Asian American Healthy Elders Leadership Project
(HELP):
o Lead the selection, with partners, of six
SEA
mutual assistance associations (MAAs) that will serve as
partners in the project during project year one, six
additional MAAs in project year two, and six more in project
year three;
o Provide training and technical assistance in
diverse organizational development and advocacy topics to
MAA partners, in coordination with state-wide project
partners, and (after project year one) with additional
project staff;
o Lead planning and implementation for annual
advocacy trainings for SEA elders and friends in Sacramento;
o Lead hiring of additional project staff for Central
California (year two) and Southern California (year three);
o Supervise additional California staff members;
o Lead the drafting and submission of reports to
funders; and
o Carry out additional duties as described in the
HELP proposal and directed by supervisorss
* Values, Empowerment, Resources and Betterment (VERB)
Project: Provide training and technical assistance to four
VERB project partners in Northern California.
* Planning: Participate in project planning, including
ongoing planning for existing projects as well as planning
for new projects.
* Fundraising: Participate in fundraising for existing and
new projects.
* Representation of Community Concerns: Represent SEA
concerns with state legislators and other California-focused
decision-makers.
Required Qualifications:
* Relevant experience working within, or with, SEA MAAs or
other community-based groups in California.
* Experience advocating for the interests of SEA
communities.
* Fundraising and program-planning experience.
* Experience in staff supervision and hiring.
* Extensive knowledge of
SEA
cultures and languages.
* Superior verbal and written communication abilities.
* Experience in budgeting, financial management, and project
reporting.
* Ability to work with minimal direct supervision.
* Undergraduate degree.
Preferred Qualifications:
* Two or more years of experience in budgeting, financial
management, and project reporting.
* Two or more years of experience with program planning and
fundraising.
* Experience working with
SEA
American elders.
* Research and publication experience.
* Graduate degree.
Compensation: $50,000-$55,000 depending on
experience, plus a strong benefits package.
Starting Date:
June 1, 2005
or as soon as possible.
Deadline: This position is open until filled.
Application Procedure:
Doua Thor
Deputy Director
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
1628 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
Fax: 202/667-64490
E-mail:
doua@searac.org
SEARAC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
******************
MINERVA SCHOLARS
PROGRAM
Maria Shriver and the Governor and First Lady's Conference
on Women and Families are proud to announce the Minerva
Scholars Program. The program is committed to providing
California women with a means to further their personal and
professional goals, while inspiring a desire to make
community service an important part of their lives.
Scholarships will provide $25,000 for the final two years of
undergraduate study at a four-year college or university in
California..
Eligible applicants for the Minerva Scholars Program are
women who:
* Are California residents completing their second year in
a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited two- or
four-year college or university in California;
* Plan to pursue a bachelor's degree in one of the
following areas of study: nursing, business, math or
science, or special education (with plans to become a
special education teacher); and,
* Have demonstrated considerable involvement in community
service activities over the past two years.
Finalists will be selected on the basis of financial need,
leadership and participation in community activities, past
academic performance, statement of career and educational
aspirations and goals, unusual personal or family
circumstances, outside appraisal and an essay.
The program will provide one scholarship for each of the
four designated areas of study. Scholarship awards may fund
comprehensive school costs, including tuition, fee, books
and supplies, room and board, and estimated transportation
costs, when applicable.
Applications are due by June 1, 2005. Final selection of applicants will be complete by the end of
August 2005. For scholarship applications and additional
information, visit
www.minervascholars.scholarshipamerica.org or call (507)
931-1682.
(www.minervascholars.scholarshipamerica.org)
******************
DIRECT
MAIL
–
NEW
NEIGHBORHOOD, NEW DONORS
Movers are givers. Historically, this "change-of-life" niche
market has been very responsive to a variety of fundraising
offers
According to Bruce Dulberg , president and CEO of HomeData
Corporation, Melville, N.Y., first and foremost, the New
Homeowner segment is establishing roots within their
community, thus they contribute generously to local
fundraising chapters. Second, they have just been approved
for a mortgage, thus they have established credit
worthiness. Third, they are big spenders.
In general, their basic profile makes them a good donor
prospect. But why to fundraising offers?
Movers have a tendency to change their buying preferences
and are also very impressionable buyers, thus a timely
fundraising offer seems to generate response, Dulberg
explained. As noted above, since they have money and are big
spenders, they do give generously. Many prominent nonprofits
have discovered that by putting a simple address label offer
in front of a family in need of such an item, they will not
only use these stickers, but donate generously for you
providing them with this much needed little stipend. Who has
time to shop for things like stationary right after they
move?
It is important to note that those fundraisers who enjoy
success mailing both the new mover and new homeowner market
segments take advantage of two important features. They mail
movers right away, because most are in their homes for just
a matter of weeks and, secondly, they mail them frequently,
because this market represents a continuum of new mailing
prospects.
Mailing the same donor files all the time just equates to
lower response rates, mailbox glut, and saturation of your
best mailing prospects. By introducing movers into your
mailing mix, offers you a fresh, lucrative, and responsive
new audience to mail, he said.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/directmail.html)
******************
GRANTS –
ELEMENTS OF A CASE STATEMENT
A good case statement must be one that grabs a reader's that
is prospective donor's attention, and then offers a solid
reason for investing in a program..
According to Jerold Panas in his book Making the Case, a
case statement must have eight essential elements. Panas
cautions that these elements will not necessarily show up as
separate items and that they may overlap or even be
repeated. Nevertheless, they must be present.
The elements are::
* The title. It develops the theme and the tone for the case
statement. Its job is to get the reader to turn to page one
and begin reading.
* Grabbing the reader. This happens in the first few
paragraphs. Often, a compelling quote in the early part of
the case works wonders.
* The irrefutable case. Here is the need and the urgency.
* Your unique position. This describes how the organization
is positioned to meet the need head on. It must burn itself
into the minds and hearts of the readers.
* Waving the flag. Here you describe the history of the
organization, its mission and its history.
* Reinforcing the urgency. This reminds the reader of how
pressing the need is and how it must be dealt with
immediately.
* Making it happen. This describes what will be required
financially to relieve the need.
* The benediction. This provides the closing and final
blessing to the program. The theme is employed again for
emphasis.
(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/grants.html)
******************
NEWS
April 26, 2005
MORE YOUNG AMERICANS TAKE CHINESE LANGUAGE CHALLENGE
By Paul Eckert, Asia Correspondentt
POTOMAC, Maryland (Reuters) - Studying geometry can be
taxing for a 10-year-old. But Dr. Zhang's class of young
American students are not merely learning all the angles,
they are doing it in Chinese.
Maryland's Potomac Elementary School, in a prosperous suburb
north of Washington, D.C., is one of a growing number of
U.S. schools that teach Chinese -- a hot language thanks to
China's surging economy and growing world clout.
At Potomac Elementary, children as young as 6 are honing
their Chinese, motivated by a mix of parental prodding and
their own desire to do something different.
"It's pretty amazing, especially the first few months at
school, when you walk into a kindergarten classroom, and the
children are understanding what the teacher is saying and
it's all in Chinese," said Linda Goldberg, the school's
principal.
"Half of the time the kids aren't even aware that the
teacher is speaking a different language. They just fall
right into it," said Holly Hand, whose daughter Chloe is in
Zhang's immersion class.
The United States has declared 2005 the "year of languages"
although few Americans are aware of the designation.
According to a 2002 Modern Language Association survey, more
college students are studying foreign languages than ever
before. Enrollment in Chinese rose 20 percent over 1998.
The 1.4 million students learning 15 leading languages
represented a 17 percent increase over 1998. But only 9.3
percent of Americans are able to speak both their native
language and a second tongue, compared to 52.7 percent of
Europeans, according to the
Census Bureau.
At first glance, weighty national priorities take a back
seat to the fun of cultural exchange at Potomac Elementary.
Hallways are festooned with Chinese art and learning aids,
such as stuffed animals labeled with Chinese names. Children
sing Chinese folk songs and U.S. nursery rhymes in Chinese.
CRITICAL LANGUAGE
But in Zhang Zhian's fifth-grade immersion class, songs and
games come only after a rigorous vocabulary drill and
lessons on triangles and trapezoids -- all taught in
Chinese.
"My students are good at listening and do pretty well at
reading, but writing is a weak point," said Zhang, who has a
Ph.D. in education and was a teacher in his native Beijing..
Ian Alers said mastering Chinese characters was tough.
"Writing's pretty hard because you have to do the strokes in
the right order," said the fifth-grader..
Chloe Hand, 10, says Chinese is "cool" and that she is
starting to catch on to the complex writing system of
characters that contain elements of meaning and sound.
"It's a totally different language. There's nothing to refer
to," she said. "I can write Coca-Cola in Chinese and it has
a lot of little boxes that refer to a mouth."
Dreams of selling Coca-Cola and other U.S. products to China
have helped drive interest in Chinese studies. According to
the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition,
640 U.S. colleges offer Chinese programs, while 102 schools
from kindergarten to 12th grade teach Chinese.
Teaching Chinese is also of keen interest to the U.S.
government, which launched the National Security Education
Program (NSEP) in 1994 to fund university studies of
languages of key world regions, including East Asia and the
Middle East.
The NSEP in 2002 inaugurated the National Flagship Language
Initiative, a pilot program in Arabic, Chinese, Korean and
Russian -- languages deemed critical to U.S. security.
GREAT
LEAP FOR AMERICA
At the London School, a private boys school in nearby
Bethesda, Maryland, 17-year-old Quentin West said he started
Chinese six years ago because "I thought it would be pretty
fun."
But as he contemplates college, the Clinton, Maryland native
recognizes good opportunities in China.
"China's expanding, and now they need services and what not,
and I guess lawyers and businessmen," West said.
Parents of Potomac students, some of whom are taking Chinese
night classes to keep up with their children, say they are
loathe to plan careers for 10 year olds.
"Even if my child doesn't use her Chinese going forward,
she's learned so much about another culture," said Hand.
Learning Chinese helps kids by "making their synapses jump
in a different way than if they just learn their ABCs," she
said.
Allison Rosenstock, 10, said she wants to follow her father
and "start my own business and have an office in China."
Landon student John Skolnik, 17, said his studies would
bring national gain as well as personal achievement.
"When a lot of kids like us grow up and hopefully are able
to speak Chinese, and get jobs with businesses who are
trading and doing business with China, it will be a big leap
for a country like the United States," he said..
(http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050426/lf_nm/life_language_dc)
******************
Press Release
April 27, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HAWAII’S UKULELE SENSATION JAKE SHIMABUKURO TO PERFORM AT
APAICS GALA
Washington, D.C. - APAICS’ eleventh annual Gala Dinner on
May 17 will feature the ukulele talents of 28-year-old Jake
Shimabukuro from Honolulu, Hawaii. Though Jake has full
respect for his roots in traditional Hawaiian ukulele music,
he skillfully blends jazz, blues, funk, pop, Hawaiian and
rock to create music that demonstrates the instrument’s
broad range of capabilities, as well as his own. Often
referred to as the ‘ukulele master,’ he was taught by his
mother to play the ukulele, a four-string, two-octave
instrument, at the age of four.
Starting from performances at local café’s, Jake has debuted
at both the national and international levels. He has played
at hot spots such as the House of Blues in Las Vegas, the
Knitting Factory in Los Angeles, B.B. King’s Nightclub in
NYC, and at the 2003 Fuji Rock Festival in Japan. He was the
first Hawaiian musician and the first ukulele artist to sign
with Epic Records, International, a division of Sony Music
Japan, International. In February, his last CD, Walking Down
Rainhill was listed as the #1 album in Okinawa, Japan.
Aside from his musical talent, Jake Shimabukuro is also
known for his good heart. After the 2001 fatal collision of
a U.S. submarine with the Japanese fishing vessel, Ehime
Maru, Jake arranged a musical piece and named it after the
vessel to honor the 9 victims and their families. Ehime Maru
was recorded as a single, and its proceeds were placed in a
fund for these families. While home, he visits schools to
talk with and play music for the young children. He was
named Hawaii’s goodwill ambassador to Japan in 2004 and is
the spokesperson for the Hawaii Alliance for Arts Education.
Jake Shimabukuro’s performance is being sponsored by
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
The Gala, to take place in Washington, DC, will pay tribute
to the late Congressman Robert T. Matsui and the late Dr.
John Tsu. Tickets will be available until May 9. For more
information please visit <http://www.apaics.org//>.
(www.apaics.org)
******************
April 27, 2005
30 YEARS AFTER THE FALL
By Crestina Chavez
News 8 Austinn
April 30 marks 30 years since the Fall of Saigon, and the
end of the Vietnam War.
Many Americans remember it as the day the United States gave
up trying to keep Communism out the Southeast Asian Country.
But three decades after what seemed like a failure, many
Vietnamese in the States are living better, free lives.
On that day in 1975 thousands of people rushed to boats and
helicopters to escape from Communism. It was a journey some
didn't survive.
"I'm one of the lucky ones. A lot of people lost their
life," said Luan Nguyen.
Nguyen was one of them. It's hard for him to think back on
that time.
"People losing parents, losing relatives, losing kids over
there, either because of the war, or going out in search for
a new life," Nguyen said.
Others remember the horror and the struggle.
"I remember it well because my father served in the war.
And,just like any other officer, he was sent to re-education
camp, almost died in prison. When he was released that was
our ticket to America," David Nguyen, president of the
Vietnamese-American Community of Austin, said.
He was just 5 years old..
"How your fate is going to like, or determined by somebody
else. It was very scary and dangerous and I still remember
fresh in my mind," said David.
Three decades later, it's not just an older generation that
remembers the communist takeover, but a younger one that's
risen from the fall.
"We really don't know that much. they don't teach us that
much in the textbooks, They leave out important details.
And, what we really can do, is listen to those who are
older, listen to those that have been through it," Paul
Nguyen of The University of Texas
Vietnamese Student Association
VSA is hosting an event called Black April a day of
remembrance for those who fought in the Vietnam War, those
who survived and those who didn't, trying to free Vietnam.
"To have that link, because if we don't have these kinds of
events, we're not gonna have the same culture. We're not
gonna have the same knowledge," Paul said.
That's exactly why their elders want these young adults to
embrace new lives here..
David has become a financial advisor. Luan owns his own
company.
"We've made something good out of life at the same time, we
contribute back to the community." said Luan.
Reflecting on the time, they don't look back with defeat
but, with the thought of how much more they want to do for
those they left behind.
"We always have a tie back there and to make life better in
Vietnam."
A banquet and candlelight vigil to honor Vietnamese and
Americans killed during the "Fall of Saigon" will be at 6
p.m. Saturday at the Tien Hong restaurant at
8301 Burnet Rd.
There is a charge for this fundraising event. Money helps
the Vietnam Veterans living in Ho Chi Minh City.
((http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=136150)
******************
April 28, 2005
HISTORY ISN’T PAST FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEE
By William F. West
Montgomery Advertiser
Van Nguyen considers the American fighters who died in the
Vietnam War brave, and he said he tries everyday to be a
U.S. resident worthy of their sacrifices.
Nguyen, who lives in Montgomery, was forced to flee his
native South Vietnam as it began falling to Communist North
Vietnamese forces 30 years ago Friday. Though he was forced
to bid an abrupt farewell to his homeland, he feels no sense
of abandonment by U.S. forces.
"They are my heroes," he said of the Americans who perished
in combat.
Nguyen expressed those sentiments in a recent letter to a
Vietnam War veteran in Mississippi.
"I often think about the extended families of those service
men and women who did not return home, and the veterans who
are still living with their scars today," he wrote.
"You and your comrades were placed in a war that you were
not allowed to win," he added.
Nguyen works for a business in Atlanta, but calls Alabama's
Capital City home. He maintains his journey to the United
States isn't any more spectacular than any other immigrant
arriving with nothing but a shirt on the back.
Yet it's a dramatic story.
On April 29, 1975, Nguyen was a teenager and one of the
masses of people fleeing Saigon, the South Vietnamese
capital, as the North Vietnamese Army tanks were rolling in.
U.S. involvement in the unpopular war ended following the
1973 signing of the Paris Peace Accords. North Vietnam then
made an all-out thrust into South Vietnam, routing the
American-trained army and causing the collapse of the
pro-western regime in Saigon.
The city quickly became gripped with hysteria.
Nguyen's father was a South Vietnamese Army colonel, so
there was no question the family would have to leave, and
fast.
The problem was that droves of others were trying to do the
same thing. The exit options were becoming increasingly
narrower, especially when Than Son Nut Airport came under
North Vietnamese fire.
Nguyen and his family went to the U.S. Embassy, which was
the American-planned fallback escape point.
When they got there, he recalled, "We looked up at the top.
Helicopters were coming in and out. People were pushing off
each other."
Seeing they couldn't get inside the compound, Nguyen's
family instead went to the shipyards and managed to board a
vessel being sponsored by a Catholic ministry. They made it
to the massive U.S. Navy force dispatched to the South China
Sea to lead the rescue effort, and eventually got to
America.
Had they been able to get past the U.S. Embassy gates in
Saigon, chances are they could have been rescued more
quickly and by Darrell Browning, a Montgomery resident
originally from Frisco City in Monroe County.
Despite the chaos engulfing Saigon, Browning was one of a
group of Marine helicopter pilots who helped lift
approximately 7,000 people out by flying aircraft back and
forth from the Navy ships to the embassy roof.
"It was kind of a defining moment of my military career,"
said Browning, a retired colonel with 30 years of service.
During his time in the military, he directed the Marine
Corps Command and Staff College, based at Quantico, Va. He's
now retired from the real estate business.
In 1975, Browning was a young lieutenant who, along with his
fellow squadron members, were ordered to leave their base in
Japan to help with the evacuation. By the afternoon of April
29, he had to begin making what turned out to be about eight
hours of shuttle flights to the U.S. diplomatic high-rise.
Browning made his rooftop landing with a helicopter capable
of transporting 21 people. Soon, he was improvising and
hauling as many as 36 people at the time.
"That shows you the urgency or desperation to get as many
out as we could," he said. "We did what we had to do,
regardless of what the book said."
"In actuality, aside from the political issues associated
with the Vietnam War, militarily that was the largest
helicopter evacuation ever," he said.
However, it's the American policies in Southeast Asia that
continue to spark intense feelings among Americans who
served in the Vietnam War. Nguyen has never returned to
Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City in honor of the late
North Vietnamese leader. But he said he nonetheless
appreciates the freedoms he currently enjoys at home.
"I'm always going to do the best to really prove to these
guys that they did not die for nothing," he added.
(http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5early2_28.htm)
******************
May 3, 2005
A NIGHT FOR
PRIDE
AND
FOR THANKS
ANH
DO
ASIAN AFFAIRS, Register columnist
WASHINGTON, D.C – . The superlatives started rolling.
Incredible, the participants said. Unimaginable. Amazing.
Awesome..
Those attending the Vietnamese -American National Gala - a
celebration of a community and what it has built in 30 years
- and those who staged it Monday gushed when asked to
describe it.
But who can blame them, I thought. Half the guests had
arrived hours before the dinner began. At the Mayflower
Hotel, an entire ballroom graced with calla lilies filled
with movers, shakers, donors and mentors, flying in from
Hollywood, from Houston, from Atlanta. An entire delegation
from Orange County packed the red-eye flights to make it
here, wanting to be seen and heard and to laud three of its
own activists - honored for achievement in arts, public
service, politics.
Everyone seemed to have a message.
Reach back to your history and be proud, they told each
other. Fight for a voice in the houses of government. Give,
always give, to the nation that welcomed us as immigrants,
then give more to advance the causes of these immigrants.
I stood in a corner, soaking up the scent of wine, my
fingers racing to catch up with what they were saying.
Someone in the sea of gowns bumped into me. I stepped back,
and the budding singer in flowing silk whispered: "You know
what? I'm so excited. I just feel like dancing! This, this
whole evening has been a long time in coming."
A long time, for sure.
The folks behind the event, VANG, a word that in my native
language means "gold," thought it would be a good idea to
pay tribute to pioneers in different professions - sort of
the best of the best - and to do it in May, a month when
Asian Pacific Americans and their heritages would be
highlighted. So they started fundraising and selecting from
their Rolodexes of who's who. Who to acclaim? Who to invite?
They launched their first ceremony in 2004, followed by this
one, flashing the images of the refugee escape from Vietnam
on a screen during the program, moving many of us to tears..
I hopped from crowd to crowd, and for a change, source after
source appeared, glad to be quoted. They were lawyers and
professors, doctors and millionaires and mothers. Some felt
humbled by the collective talent under one roof. Others felt
pushed to do much, much more.
"We had 400 attendees, confirmed, with 180 on the waiting
list. It's very, very hard to get in," said Ryan Nguyen
Hubris, one of the main organizers. "Ultimately, we want to
showcase Vietnamese-Americans. To find a way to use our
leverage, to boost our strength. In one word, I think it's
'inspirational.'"
I'd like to offer still another word: Essence.
To me, the meaning of the gathering lies in longing. The
longing to express ourselves as humans. We live our outer
lives and our inner lives, asking: Where is our place in the
world? Where is our home? Where is our heart?
On this night, at least, our heart was tied to our people,
the Vietnamese people, at once struggling and thriving far
from the native soil. We move forward - and we have America
to thank.
CONTACT US: Apart from this installment, this column on
Asian cultures and communities appears every other
Friday in Local. Please contact Do at
anhdo_2000@yahoo.com.
(http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/05/03/sections/local/local_columns/article_504795.php)
******************
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 3, 2005
ASIAN/PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, 2005
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of
America
Millions of Americans proudly trace their ancestry to the
many nations that make up Asia and the Pacific islands. For
generations, Americans of Asian/Pacific heritage have
strengthened our Nation through their achievements in all
walks of life, including business, politics, education,
community service, the arts, and science.
This month we honor Asian/Pacific Americans for their
contributions to our Nation's growth and development and to
the spread of freedom around the world. This year's theme,
"Liberty and Freedom for All," honors the sacrifices of
Asian/Pacific Americans in the defense of freedom and
democracy. We remember the bravery of soldiers of
Asian/Pacific descent who have served in our military. These
proud patriots stepped forward and fought for the security
of our country and the peace of the world, and they will
always hold a cherished place in our history. As we confront
the challenges of the 21st century and fight the war on
terror, Americans of Asian/Pacific descent continue to serve
in the Armed Forces and are working to secure our homeland
and promote peace and liberty around the world. Their
dedication and patriotism uphold the highest ideals of our
country.
To honor the achievements and contributions of Asian/Pacific
Americans, the Congress by Public Law 102 450 as amended,
has designated the month of May each year as "Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 2005 as
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. I call upon the
people of the United States to learn more about the history
of Asian/Pacific Americans and their many contributions to
our Nation and to observe this month with appropriate
programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third
day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and
of the Independence of the United States of America the two
hundred and twenty ninth. GEORGE W. BUSH
# # #
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050503-6.html)
******************
May 3, 2005
D.C. GALA MARKS
PROGRESS
Vietnamese- Americans gather to recall difficult times,
honor the present and look hopefully to future.
By Dena Bunis
The Orange County Register
WASHINGTON – Just days after the 30th anniversary of the
fall of Saigon, a who's who of Vietnamese-American society
gathered in the nation's capital Monday evening to pay
homage to the struggles of the past but mostly to revel in
their community's accomplishments since.
The second annual Vietnamese-American National Gala tapped
six Vietnamese-Americans in business, culture, politics,
service, medicine and technology to receive Golden Torch
awards.
It was the ultimate networking event for about 400
Vietnamese-Americans from all over the country. There were
pre-dinner receptions, a dinner program that featured
remarks from Secretary of Labor Elaine Chou, a fashion show
of ao dai – the traditional Vietnamese dress – and a
post-dinner dessert reception.
The most emotional part of the evening was a vivid video
that started with the despair of 1975 and the journey of
tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees and included a
photo of Camp Pendleton's tent city. But the film soon
became a celebration, chronicling the successes of those
same refugees and the next generation of
Vietnamese-Americans.
When Hau Thai-Tang was a young boy in Vietnam, he dreamed of
one day maybe owning a car. Thirty years later, he led the
team that designed the new 2005 Mustang. He compared the
need to keep the character of the classic sports car while
still modernizing the design to his community's
transformation.
"Events like this evening demonstrate that we can leverage
and embrace our heritage and history and further advance
ourselves and contribute to American society,'' he said.The
award recipients were a mix of the generations.
"Tonight the old generation and young generation meet,''
said actress Kieu Chinh of Garden Grove, who is best known
for her role in "The Joy Luck Club." "We really need that."
Tony Lam, who as a member of the Westminster City Council
was the first Vietnamese-American elected to public office
in 1992, said his work was done and it was time for him to
"pass the torch'' to the next generation of political
leaders. Former Orange County Supervisor Chuck Smith and
Westminster Mayor Margie Rice attended the dinner in honor
of Lam.
Rep. Loretta Sanchez said the events in Washington make a
statement about the growing political clout of
Vietnamese-Americans.
"It says we're strong, we're united and we're going to have
our presence felt in Washington,'' said Sanchez, D-Santa
Ana. Sanchez said she has seen the community mature
politically much quicker than other immigrant groups,
including Latinos.
"Vietnamese parents have said, 'Stay politically active.
Make your voice heard. Don't let what happened in Vietnam
happen here,'" she added.
Rep. Ed Royce said their power will be felt beyond a gala
honoring their own.
"Work will go on as they continue to try to keep a spotlight
on the conditions that the Vietnamese face with respect to
human-rights abuses and the lack of religious freedom in
Vietnam,'' said Royce, R-Fullerton.
CONTACT US: (202) 628-6381 or
dbunis@ocregister.com
(http://www.ocregister.com/ocr/2005/05/03/sections/local/local/article_504973.php)
******************
MEDIA ADVISORY-ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE
AND EDUCATION FUND
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, May 3, 2005
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Margaret Fung, Exec. Dir. 212.966.5932 x201
Glenn D. Magpantay, Staff Att'y, 917.439.3158
Nancy Yu, Policy Analyst 212.966.5932 x207
THE ASIAN AMERICAN
VOTE 2004
With special analysis about Asian American women voterss
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund reports on
exit poll results
Washington, DC . On Monday, May 16, the Asian American Legal
Defense and Education Fund will present findings from its
national multilingual exit poll of almost 11,000 Asian
American voters in the November 2004 Presidential Election,
the largest nonpartisan survey of its kind in the nation.
AALDEF's new publication, The Asian American Vote 2004: A
Report on the Multilingual Exit Poll in the 2004
Presidential Election, provides a snapshot of the voter
preferences of Asian Americans in 20 cities in 8 states: New
York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Michigan,
Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Detailed information
will be given on the following topics:
* Vote for president and most important reasons whyy
* Party enrollment
* First-time voters
* Top immigrants' rights issues
* Foreign born vs. native born voters
* Citizenship tenure (duration)
* Ethnicity
* English proficiency
* Use of bilingual ballots
* Main source of news
* Voting barriers
AALDEF's multilingual exit polls reveal vital information
about Asian American voting patterns that is often
overlooked in mainstream voter surveys. AALDEF has
conducted exit polls of Asian American voters in every major
election since 1988. The 2004 multilingual exit poll was
conducted in 23 Asian languages and dialects. AALDEF worked
with several community groups to mobilize 1,200 attorneys,
law students, and volunteers to conduct the multilingual
exit poll and to monitor poll sites for incidents of voter
discrimination.
EVENT:
Presentation on The National Asian American Vote 2004: A
Report on the Multilingual Exit Poll in the 2004
Presidential Election with special analysis about Asian
American women voters
DATE/TIME:
Monday, May 16, 2005
11:00 AM
PLACE:
Longworth House Office Building, Room 1539, S.E.
Independence Avenue, between South Capitol St. and New
Jersey Ave., S.E.
Metro Orange and Blue lines to Capitol South
SPEAKERS:
Margaret Fung, AALDEF Executive Director
Janelle Hu, APIA Vote 2004 National Director
Kiran Ahuja, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
Executive Director
Jane Chung, National Korean American Service & Education
Consortium Prog. Assoc.
Deepa Iyer, South Asian American Leaders for Tomorrow
Executive Director
RSVP: 800-966-5946, ext. 200 or
info@aaldef.org
* * *
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, founded
in 1974, protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian
Americans through litigation, legal advocacy and community
education in the areas of immigrant rights, civic
participation and voting rights, economic justice for
workers, racially-motivated violence and police misconduct,
youth rights and educational equity, and language rights.
MARGARET FUNG
Executive Director
mfung@aaldef.org
212.966.5932 x201
******************
May 5, 2005
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
By Anh Do
WASHINGTON — The lights dimmed. The noise of the crowd, at a
crescendo before the emcees walk onstage, started to dip as
a voice announced: “And now, the moment we’ve all been
waiting for...” He invited the VIPs to come on up..
A single file follows, the men in tuxedoes, the women
bedecked. They sit back on brocade chairs as one by one,
they will be singled out for honors.
The main event of the main event had arrived. At the
Vietnamese American National Gala celebrated Monday, the
audience was about to meet those whose work they came to
laud.
More than 400 people, in a ballroom at the Mayflower Hotel,
graced with lilies, turned to the podium. They had flown in
from Atlanta and Houston, from the huge immigrant
communities in California to the less than a handful guests
hailing from Hawaii, echoing thanks for freedom and more
importantly, thanks for America, which welcomed them and
these pioneers, many who fled Việt Nam in 1975, at the end
of the war.
Participants said they were proud of how much their people
had thrived in 30 years. And on the anniversary of the three
decades, they applauded their host country and the success
stories it helped to inspire:
Kiều Chinh
The actress is not just a presence in front of the camera.
Away from it, she is a humanitarian, an author, an Emmy
winner and a mother. Her personal story of her refugee
flight became a documentary, chosen for that award by the
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Growing up in
battle-scarred Việt Nam, she overcame the loss of most of
her family to emerge as the biggest female star in
Indochina, only to lose it all again with the fall of Sài
Gòn.
She was calm, modest, accepting the Golden Torch trophy this
week..
“There are so many out there, doing just what I do, hoặt
động trong bóng tối,” she says, referring to their activism
in the shadows. “They are unsung heroes, they deserve
praise.”
Kiều Chinh says she’s been lucky.
Her son says she’s the quintessential Vietnamese woman,
caring, risking everything for her brood. “In the history of
our country, every mother is a special mother, and mine is
truly that,” said Tuấn Cường, who accompanied her to her
table. “She shows me how to live life just being a good
person. She tells me that whatever you do, never harm
anyone, and always be clean. Cleanliness is important.”
So is consistency. The resident from Garden Grove, Calif.,
has appeared in countless films, from “The Joy Luck Club” to
three starring roles this year alone, in “Journey from the
Fall,” in “Face” and “Five Spices.””
She is the co-founder and co-chair of the Vietnam Children’s
Fund, a nonprofit with volunteers building schools in the
most damaged areas of her homeland. She received the “Woman
Warrior Award” from the Asian Pacific Women’s Network and
was the only Vietnamese person asked to speak at the 10th
anniversary ceremonies for the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in
Washington, D.C., in 1996.
Chi Văn Đặng
The educator is a multi-tasker. He is vice dean for research
at the School of Medicine at Johns Hop-kins University in
Maryland, where he oversees its Institute for Cell
Engineering. He’s a professor of medicine, pathology,
oncology and cell biology with a joint appointment in
molecular biology and genetics.
But it doesn’t end there.
Đặng is senior editor of Cancer Research and serves on
editorial boards of Current Cancer Therapy Reviews, Drug
Discovery Today, Journal of Clinical Investigation and
Neoplasia. He is also the highest-ranking physician of
Vietnamese heritage in academic medicine worldwide.
He and his wife, Mary Seeley Đặng, have two children, Eric
and Vanessa. At the podium, holding his award, he said: “I
thank America for the room to fly... as high as I can.” He
then expressed gratitude to his father, the late Đặng Văn
Chiêu, former dean of the faculty of medicine at the
University of Sài Gòn. In 1975, upon his dad’s arrival in
the United States, instead of getting a subsidy check, he
got a lawnmower, his son recalled, toiling to reestablish
himself in the new country as a neurosurgeon.
Nam Lộc Nguyễn
“This is heavy,” said the activist of all trades, picking up
his trophy. “I accept it on behalf of many individuals and
organizations working with me through the years,” he added,
thanking his parents, his wife who stays home day after day
to look after their two daughters while he’s on the road
campaigning, and rallying groups for political and human
rights causes. This was never in the “marriage contract,” he
joked.
Nguyễn is director of the immigration and refugee department
of Catholic Charities in Los Angeles, which assists an
average of 10,000 people per year. In the last decades, he
also has sacrificed much of his time, traveling to refugee
camps in Southeast Asia, including Việt Nam, as well as
Eastern Europe and the Middle East to evaluate the treatment
of families. For his service, he has received dozens of
honors, including awards from former California governors
Pete Wilson and Gray Davis.
Apart from his community work, he also delves into the arts.
Nguyễn is an accomplished music composer and his song,
“Farewell Saigon,” is hugely popular for sharing the
experience of the escapees and their quest for freedom. The
tune has been featured in a novel and used in the acclaimed
“Green Dragon,” a movie based on his early days as a refugee
and directed by Tim Bùi.
“To me, when I do anything, I do it with passion. And when
people notice the work it’s a happiness of the highest kind
in life,” he said. “But no one can ever do anything alone...
So I accept it for the others.”
Bính Nguyễn
The CEO, when his name was called, walked forward, shy.
Nguyễn is the co-founder of Aureflam Corp., the company that
operates and franchises Phở Hòa soup restaurants, famed for
its noodles in hot broth. He started it in 1984, in San
Jose, with a tiny kitchen and a few seats. Today, his
customer base spans seven countries with nearly 100
locations worldwide.
The entrepreneur, with three children, lives in Sacramento
after successfully sharing his business model with a slew of
other Vietnamese entrepreneurs and expanding his menu to
include rice dishes and tasty appetizers.
Yet he seems to be a man of few words.
In the shortest speech of the night, he thanked his “current
employees, managers and owners. Without them, our
accomplishment would not have been possible.”
Tony Quang Lâm
His voice booms into the microphone, allowing guests seated
far away to hear easily as he says he’s been told to keep
his remarks under two minutes. He goes on, stretching it,
grinning like a boy, expressing gratitude to the VIPs in his
own life.
Lâm is the first Vietnamese American to be elected to
political office in the United States. After serving on the
city council of Westminster — the California hub known for
Little Saigon — for a decade, he retired in 2002. But the
requests for his help continued. Candidate after candidate
needed his counsel as they mounted their own campaigns for
local and state seats, and through his involvement,
Vietnamese Americans registered to vote by the thousands.
The father of six — among his children are two engineers,
two dentists, a chef and a marine biologist — is credited
with organizing his community’s first ESL class, Tết
festival, Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and multiple
social-service programs. He also worked with developers,
businesses and state officials to get a “Little Saigon”
district marker on area freeways.
“I cannot retire,” the grandfather of 13 says, chuckling. At
68, he still manages a soybean and tofu factory.
Westminster’s mayor, Margie Rice, who nominated him for this
award, and former mayor Chuck Smith, paid their own way and
accompanied Lâm and his wife, Hợp, to Washington.
“I could not not be here,” Rice said. “When any group in our
city needs help, Tony is always there to answer the call. He
has raised money for virtually every segment of the
community,” she wrote to the selection committee.
“He’s kind of a ball of fire,” Smith said. “He’s a
well-intentioned do-gooder, always has been, always will be.
I could just not not be here, either.”
Hậu Thái-Tăng
The youngest of the honorees, 38, came to the gala with his
wife, parents and grandmother, the latter whom he says
inspired him when she immigrated to this country at age 60,
tackling at the same time a new language and driving
freeways.
Thái-Tăng is the force behind the 2005 Mustang, the iconic
car that turned 40 this year and which he built “with 200 of
my closest friends,” he says, laughing. As chief engineer of
the vehicle at the Ford Motor Co. in Michigan, he says his
goal was to use modern technology to improve the design,
while staying true to its muscle-car and pop culture roots.
He is now director of advanced product creation, with early
stints at the company’s European Product Development Center
in Cologne, Germany, and its CART program, where he worked
on the Newman-Hass CART team, co-owned by actor Paul Newman.
There he said he learned how to perform under intense
deadlines, and his reward came when racedriver Nigel Mansell
won the driver’s championship in 1993.
In 1997, he became the vehicle dynamics supervisor, the
later vehicle engineering manager, for the 2000 Lincoln LS
that won Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year.””
“Being an engineer is not atypical for Vietnamese
Americans,” he said. “But you have to focus on the end goal.
You have to have a work ethic, and be a good listener. My
motivation is to keep liking it, for when you find something
that you love doing, that’s what helps you do it well.”
Despite his clout, Thái-Tăng says he’s still on the waiting
list — one of 14,000 — to get this year’s Mustang in his
color of choice, red.
“My aspirations were to someday own a car,” said the father
of two, remembering his childhood in his homeland. Citing
the other winners, he added, “I’m humbled to be in your
company.”
VANG organizers gave a special Honorary Vietnamese American
Award to the late John B. Tsu, who dedicated the last
decades of his life to education, public service and was a
leader in increasing Asian participation in mainstream
American politics. His involvement with the Vietnamese dates
back to the early days of President Ngô Đình Diệm, with whom
he became friends when Ngô came to the United States to
study, helping the newcomer to adjust and to network.
Many people tapped Tsu’s expertise, inviting him to take
high-level positions, including President Nixon, who
appointed him to the Presidential Advisory Commission on the
Education of Disadvantaged Children; President Ford, who
appointed him to the National Heritage Studies Committee;
President Bush who appointed him as chair of the President’s
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders; and President George H.W. Bush, who appointed him
as co-chair of the Presidential Personnel Advisory
Committee. Tsu’s niece, Catherine Downard, accepted on his
behalf.
He was a “tireless advocate for our inclusion in government,
in education, and in American society as a whole,” said U.S.
Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta, last year’s winner
of this award. “The tremendous respect he garnered among
Asian Pacific Americans was a testament to his lifelong
commitment to bringing out the best in our community, and
helping to put that talent to use in service to the nation.””
The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service also earned a
National Leadership Award for its help resettling tens of
thousands of Vietnamese refugees. Since its founding, the
group, according to its mission, “has served the most
vulnerable, giving hundreds of thousands of people a new
start in the United States as they have sought protection
from countries where war and oppression have threatened
their existence.”
Ralston Deffenbaugh, Jr., its president and CEO, said after
the applause: Vietnamese Americans “have given back far more
than you received, and for those of us who work with the
refugees, we have received far more than we have ever
given.”
To hear more from him, and from other guests — please read
Nguoi Viet 2 next Thursday to learn about a landmark
Vietnamese American exhibit at the Smithsonian — and its
immigrant supporters across the nation..
(http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=23132&z=19)
******************
May 5, 2005
SCENE
AND
HEARD
In a gathering this mixed, there were bound to be opinions
this mixed..
The young, the old and the older shared their thoughts with
Nguoi Viet 2 as they made their way from the Smithsonian to
the White House to Capitol Hill, culminating in a glittering
Vietnamese American National Gala. We asked them:
How does it feel to come together?
How did the event come together?
What have you witnessed in the media about this moment —
marking 30 years?
And what will emerge, marking Vietnamese Americans even
more, in the near future?
Meet some of the participants and take stock of their
observations:
“We worked like crazy on this because it’s important to us
and to the community. And the fact that (U.S. Secretary of
Labor) Elaine Chao would come, and would make time for this,
says a lot to me. All the Asians, they all want a piece of
her, and we’ve been talking to her office about this since
last October.
It’s great if everything goes well because if the Vietnamese
businesspeople like what they see, they might be able to
give back to the community. Vietnamese everywhere are active
and we can do so much.”
Hùng Nguyễn, president and CEO, National Congress of
Vietnamese Americans, Springfield, Virginia
“VANG, I think it’s so wonderful. The main thing is to
develop potential young leaders for the community, to bring
together people and to stress achievement. We should also
live by example. You can be successful, but you can also be
very conscientious.””
Emily Mai Woo, president of Willows Development Company,
Falls Church, Virginia
“This is fantastic. More and more so, there’s a need or
desire for Vietnamese Americans of various ages to do
something that’s not controversial. Some groups push for a
particular objective that’s not supported by other groups,
and this is kind of politically neutral...
This is to focus on a topic other than the government of
Viet Nam and to show if we pull together, we can get changes
and results in Viet Nam.”
Việt H. Ngô, attorney with Steptoe & Johnson, Washington,
D.C.
“I wouldn’t say this is necessary, but it’s good to have,
though it’s mostly Republican. The organizers need to look
harder to make sure all fields are represented. What about
bankers, what about Wall Street? What about honoring someone
in the movie industry such as a producer?”
Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, professor, George Mason University’s
department of public and international affairs, Fairfax,
Virginia
The coverage on the 30-year anniversary “has been naive.
I’ve yet to read anywhere that there might have been
something morally unacceptable about the fall of South Viet
Nam. Heaven forbid someone might say ARVN (Army of the
Republic of Viet Nam) soldiers fought with courage...
Thirty years later the Vietnamese American community should
have taught us one lesson — that their cause was as just as
any Iraqi’s. Who can deny that living under freedom is ever
a choice?
The other side is that Việt Nam won the war so they get to
write the history. But we should make no mistake, 30 years
later, that this was not just an American war.”
Larry Berman, director and professor, University of
California Washington Center, Washington D.C..
“I went to a Japanese American Museum event, and on the dais
four years ago, there was this moment when I saw everyone
there and what they had accomplished and I thought, ‘We
gotta do something for our community.’ Now, to launch it
here, to have a foundation, is something...
If you see it one day, two days, there’s no significance. We
need to carry on, to highlight some pioneers, and we’re the
first Vietnamese American group to do so. We want to show
what else we can do to be a part of this mainstream
community.””
John Quốc Dương, vice president of Bridgecreek Development,
Huntington Beach, California
((http://www.nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=23134&z=19)
******************
US Rep. Mike Honda
15th District, California - Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus
For Immediate Release
May 5, 2005
Contact: Jay Staunton: 202.225.3327
jay.staunton@mail.house.gov
HONDA RESOLUTION RECOGNIZES HEPATITIS B THREAT TO AAPIs
House of Reps Passes Measure with Unanimous Supportt
Washington, DC - Efforts by Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), Chair of
the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), to
increase awareness of Hepatities B received Congressional
endorsement today when the U.S. House of Representatives
unanimously passed Honda's Resolution recognizing the goals
and ideals of May 9-16 "National Hepatitis B Awareness
Week."
"This Resolution is an important step in increasing
education and awareness about the very serious threat posed
by Hepatitis B," Congressman Honda said. "We must act with a
sense of urgency to raise the visibility of this
under-diagnosed disease."
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) partnered with Congressman Honda to
sponsor of H.Res. 250, which recognizes Hepatitis B as the
world's most serious liver infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
estimates that 1.25 million Americans are infected with
Hepatitis B infection. More than 6,000 Americans die
annually from Hepatitis B and Hepatitis B-related liver
complications, including liver damage (cirrhosis) and liver
cancer.
As Chair of CAPAC, Honda noted that Hepatitis B poses a
particular threat for Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders
(AAPI), who account for more than half of the chronic
Hepatitis B cases and half of the deaths from this
life-threatening disease.
"Liver cancer rates among males are 13 times higher in
Vietnamese Americans, 8 times higher in Korean Americans,
and 6 times higher in Chinese Americans," Honda said. "Up to
20,000 women in the United State who gave birth each year
are chronically infected with the Hepatitis B virus, 54
percent of whom are AAPIs."
Despite these infection rates, Honda noted that there are
currently no federal program or recommendations for routine
Hepatitis B screening in the high-risk AAPI community.
Additionally, there is no funding budgeted specifically for
liver cancer prevention and research.
"There's a real need for increased awareness and education
in the AAPI community," said Jeffrey Caballero, Executive
Director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community
Health Organizations. "More than half of the deaths from
Hepatitis B are from this community, yet the seriousness of
this disease is underappreciated, underdiagnosed, and
undertreated."
Community health advocates and policymakers around the
country will be convening events to raise awareness on
Hepatitis B. Several of the currently known Hepatitis B
Awareness Week Activities include:
Philadelphia "Countdown to a Healthy Liver" Patient
Roundtable
Date: Tuesday, May 10
Panel discussion: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing, 200
S. Columbus Blvd.
Contact: Molli Conti, Vice President of Outreach Programs,
Hepatitis B Foundation: 215.489.4900
Caroline Pavis, Golin Harris:
312.729.4179
New York City Local Media Event
Date: Wednesday, May 11
9 to 10:30 a.m.
Location: Millennium Hotel, 55 Church St., New York
Contact: Molli Conti, Vice President of Outreach
Programs, Hepatitis B Foundation: 215.489.4900
Caroline Pavis, Golin Harris:
312.729.4179
San Jose "Countdown to a Healthy Liver" Patient Roundtable
Date: Thursday, May 12
Panel discussion: 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hilton San Jose & Towers, 300 Alameda Blvd., San
Jose, CA
Contact: Molli Conti, Vice President of Outreach Programs,
Hepatitis B Foundation:
215.489.49000
Caroline Pavis, Golin Harris:
312.729.4179
San Francisco Local Media Event
Date: Friday, May 13
9 to 10:30 a.m.
Location: W Hotel San Francisco, 181 Third Street, San
Francisco, CA
Contact: Molli Conti, Vice President of Outreach Programs,
Hepatitis B Foundation:
215.489.4900
Caroline Pavis, Golin Harris:
312.729.41799
Chicago Local Media Event
Contact: Molli Conti, Vice President of Outreach Programs,
Hepatitis B Foundation:
215.489.4900
Caroline Pavis, Golin Harris:
312.729.4179
#
******************
Press Statement
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
May 5, 2005
UNITED STATES – VIETNAM RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AGREEMENT
We are pleased to announce that we have concluded an
agreement with the Government of Vietnam that addresses a
number of important religious freedom concerns. Vietnam's
progress on these issues and the outstanding work to be done
will be topics of discussion during Deputy Secretary
Zoellick's visit to Hanoi on Friday, May 6.
This achievement advances a key component of the President's
freedom agenda. Working with Congress under the
International Religious Freedom Act, the Bush Administration
has secured continuing cooperation with Vietnam on our
religious freedom concerns. The commitments made by the
Government of Vietnam result from our work over the past
several years to advance religious freedom in that country.
In recent weeks, Vietnam banned the practice of forced or
coerced renunciations of faith, released a number of
prominent prisoners of concern, and has begun to register
and to permit the reopening of churches that had previously
been closed. Most importantly, Vietnam has also enacted
significant legislative reforms that hold the promise of
major improvements in religious freedom in the near future.
A new Ordinance on Religion took effect on
, and the crucial implementation regulations for
this ordinance were just released in early March. These new
laws and policies provide increased latitude and protection
for religious belief and practice. In addition, the Prime
Minister issued special instructions in February aimed at
alleviating restrictions on religious practice faced by many
Vietnamese Protestants.
To build on these first steps, the Vietnamese have made a
significant number of commitments. The Government of Vietnam
has committed to fully implement the new legislation on
religious freedom and to render previous contradictory
regulations obsolete. They have also committed to instruct
local authorities to strictly and completely adhere to the
new legislation and ensure their compliance. The Government
of Vietnam will also facilitate the process by which
religious congregations are able to open houses of worship,
and give special consideration to prisoners and cases of
concern raised by the United States during the granting of
prisoner amnesties. While these commitments offer a strong
foundation, other important public steps remain to be taken,
and the United States will continue to monitor developments
in Vietnam closely.
2005/473
Released on May 5, 2005
(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/45712.htm)
Daily Briefing (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2005/45716.htm)
******************
About NCVAA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese
Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy
organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese
Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum –
by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens
engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil
liberties.
UPCOMING NCVA EVENTS: Our signature youth leadership
program, the Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference
(VAYLC), will be held at Catholic University of America in
Washington, DC on June 22-25, 2005. Visit
www.vaylc.org for more information.
The 19th Annual Convention will be held in San
José, CA on October 21-23, 2005.
Copyright material is distributed without profit or payment for
research and educational purposes only, in accordance with Title
17 U.S.C. section 107
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