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About NCVA
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.


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NCVA eREPORTER - April 13, 2006

The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans' NCVA eReporter is a regular email newsletter containing information on grant/funding opportunities, events/forums/conferences, available internships and news items pertinent to the Vietnamese American and Asian Pacific American communities.

In this NCVA eReporter:

EVENTS

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

TIPS/RESOURCES

NEWS

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 EVENTS

NATIONAL VIDEOCONFERENCE AND WEBCAST TOWNHALL MEETING TO ADDRESS CAMBODIAN AMERICAN HEALTH EMERGENCY

For more information on participation and how to connect, please contact Theanvy Kuoch from the National Cambodian American Health Initiative at 1-800-505-4637 or 1-860-561-3345.

APRIL 17th 2006, 11:00am - 3:00pm CENTRAL STANDARD TIME

The National Cambodian American Health Initiative (NCAHI) is a nationwide collaboration of community based organizations and individuals committed to addressing the health disparities faced by Cambodian Americans.  NCAHI believes that recent health studies have shown that Cambodian Americans continue to face the ongoing degenerative effects of genocide even after three decades of refugee resettlement in the United States. Cambodians are dying disproportionately from complications associated with diabetes, heart disease, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Cambodians are among the largest groups of survivors ever admitted into the United States.  Over 147,000 arrived as refugees in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and continued to be resettled throughout the 1980's.  Nearly all suffered extreme starvation and faced torture and trauma under the genocidal Khmer Rouge creating health problems that continue to this day.  The upcoming trial of the Khmer Rouge is scheduled to begin in early 2007.  This historic event will be the first attempt at seeking justice for the crimes against humanity committed by the Khmer Rouge.  Trials of perpetrators of torture and genocide are generally associated with increased levels of PTSD that will have a great impact on the health and mental health of Cambodian Americans.

April 17th marks the Cambodian New Year as well as the infamous day when the Khmer Rouge came to power.  The day will be a forum for Cambodian community members, community leaders and health experts to discuss the health emergency faced by Cambodians.  Information gathered from this meeting will be used in developing a national strategic plan to address the health issues.

Organizations participating by videoconferencing are the Cambodian Association of America in Long Beach, CA; Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization in Portland, OR; a coalition of organizations from Lowell Massachusetts that include the Lowell Community Health Center- Metta Health Center and the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell; Khmer Health Advocates in West Hartford, CT; and the Cambodian Association of Illinois in Chicago, IL. At this writing, arrangements are being made for other organizations to join the meeting via web casting. For more details on hot to join us through webcast, please contact Mary Scully at (860)561-3345 or email to mfs47@aol.com

For more information, please contact: Theanvy Kuoch at 1-860-561-3345 or 1-800-505-4637.

NATIONAL TOWN HALL MEETING SITE LOCATIONS AND TIMES*

Host Site
Illinois
11am-4pm Central Time
Cambodian American Heritage Museum
2831 West Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-7090

*Videoconferencing Sites *
California
9am-2pm Western Time
Cambodian Association of America
2390 Pacific Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90806
562) 988-1863

Connecticut
12pm-5 pm Eastern Time
University of Connecticut Health Center
Henry B.C. Low MD Learning Center
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030
(860) 561-3345

Massachusetts
12am-5pm Eastern Time
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Coburn Hall - South Campus
850 Broadway Street, RM 112
Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 746-3107

Oregon
9am-2pm Western Time
Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization
10301 Northeast Glisan Road
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 234-1541

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BECOME A VOLUNTEER FOR HANDS ON DC!

On Saturday, April 29, CAPASA will be participating in a community service project for Hands on DC.  Last year, CAPASA members and supporters volunteered to help beautify the middle school at Eastern Market.  It's fun and rewarding!

Hands on DC is an all-volunteer project that creates better schools and brighter futures for students in the District of Columbia. Thousands of volunteers have a great time each spring as they join together for a one-day work-a-thon that improves conditions in the public schools and raises money for college scholarships. Since 1995 more than 19,000 volunteers have created a better environment for learning in over 100 schools and have collected more than $400,000 to help local students pay for further education.  Website: http://www.handsondc.org/index.php

To sign up or for more information, contact Jeewon Kim, Community Service Chair, jeewon.kim@mail.house.gov, by April 19.

(http://www.handsondc.org/index.php)

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THIRD ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNITY DRIVEN RESEARCH AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

“Transforming DC through Community-Based Learning and Research”

Saturday, April 29th, 2006
8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Mary Graydon, American University
Washington, D.C.

Registration Starts at $35
Students Free

Published Authors Submit books Information to info@coralnetwork.org

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Participation is open to anyone engaged in service-learning/community-based research in the greater Washington metropolitan area.

CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS:
CoRAL welcomes proposals for paper, poster, and work shop presentations on “Transforming DC thru CBLR” through community based learning and research initiatives. Faculty and students of affiliated universities and community partners are especially encouraged to submit proposals.

AT THE CONFERENCE:
* Learn about the CoRAL Network
* Examine Impact of CBL on Non-Traditional Students
* Hear Speakers Present Current Community-Based Research Projects
* Discuss Critical Issues in the Capital Region
* Network With Community Partners Committed to Social Change

Support for this conference is provided through a Learn & Serve grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

(http://www.coralnetwork.org)

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THE ESSENTIAL OF REPRESENTING NONPROFITS AND FOUNDATIONS ONLINE SEMINAR

Alliance for Justice is hosting an online seminar for attorneys, accountants and other professionals who represent tax-exempt organizations engaged in lobbying and election-related activity.

Beginning May 2, 2006, Alliance for Justice will conduct a weekly online seminar on tax and election law for attorneys and accountants representing nonprofit organizations and foundations.  Our attorneys will explain the elements of representing nonprofit organizations that lobby for legislation, support or oppose ballot measures, or become involved in candidate elections, as well as the rules of foundation support for advocacy.  Participants will learn the answers to such questions as:

How much lobbying can charities do?

How can foundations support public policy?

What are the rules governing election-year activities by nonprofits?

What are the common pitfalls of reporting lobbying to the IRS (Form 990)?

Beginning May 2, 2006
Every Tuesday for 7 Tuesdays*
2:00 pm- 3:00 pm  EDT

The registration fee of $150 covers all 7 trainings and reference materials.  Contact Abby.Levine@afj.org (mailto:Abby.Levine@afj.org) to register for the full course. Individual trainings can be purchased for $30.00.  Registration for individual workshops can be purchased on-line at http://www.afj.org/nonprofit/workshops_events/index.html


Agenda:

5/2/2006:  Lobbying Fundamentals
The session will identify basic distinctions between lobbying, advocacy, and electioneering by 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and 527 organizations (PACs).  This session also explains the law governing 501(c)(3) lobbying.  It includes discussions of the 501(h) election, lobbying limits under 501(h) and the Insubstantial Part Test, the definitions of direct and grassroots lobbying, and the application of these rules to ballot measure activity.

5/9/2006:  Lobbying Advanced and the Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act
This session includes an examination of the special rules for membership communications, mass media advertisements, and the exceptions to the definition of lobbying.  The session concludes with a discussion of record keeping techniques, the rules governing mixed-message communications, and the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act.

5/16/2006:  Form 990
IRS Form 990, Schedule A, Part VI must be completed by all 501(c)(3) organizations for purposes of reporting their lobbying expenditures.  This session will assist attorneys and accountants in advising their clients on how to avoid an IRS audit prompted by inaccurate reporting.  It discusses how to complete the form properly, identify mistakes, and determine when to correct errors.  The session concludes with information on how to respond to requests for public disclosure of the documents.

5/23/2006:  Funding Advocacy
This session discusses advocacy from a funder's perspective.  It begins with a discussion of foundation support of advocacy, the practical and political concerns of foundations, and the importance of supporting advocacy.  In addition, this session discusses the legal rules governing private and community foundation support for lobbying and other advocacy, general support grants and project grants, and describes grant language that foundations can adopt to comply with these rules.

6/6/2006:    Electioneering Rules under Tax Law
This session explains the IRS's "facts and circumstances" review of 501(c)(3) election-related activity and candidate elections, highlighting or summarizing available precedential and non-precedential guidance from the IRS including rulings on voter guides, voting records, and candidate debates and forums.  The session will also summarize IRS restrictions on election-related activity by 501(c)(4)s and 527 organizations.

6/13/2005:  Electioneering Rules under Federal Election Law
This session discusses the key limits on 501(c)(4)s, unions, and 527 organizations' activity under the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), including changes that resulted from the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2003, highlighting restrictions on contributions, coordinated communications, and express advocacy communications.

6/20/2006:  Affiliated Organizations
This session discusses the different roles and functions of 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, and PACs, and the federal rules on how these types of organizations work together.  The session explores the legal separation necessary between affiliated organizations, the fundraising constraints of each organization, the lobbying distinctions and permissible electoral activity for each organization.

*There is no training the Tuesday after Memorial Day, May 30, 2006.

Questions? Contact Abby Levine at (202) 822-6070 or Abby.Levine@afj.org

(http://www.afj.org)

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 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

PROJECT IGNITION – APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED

Your high school can win a $2,000 grant to help save teen lives.  The deadline for applications has been extended to April 30, 2006.

Project Ignition showcases teen driver safety because car crashes are the No. 1 killer of our youth.  Many teens who get involved in Project Ignition have experienced such a tragedy and want to make a difference with their families and friends.  And, they help their schools have a positive, direct impact on their communities.

To learn more about this teen safe driver project and to see what other schools have done, visit www.sfprojectignition.com.

Twenty-five schools will be selected to receive $2,000 grants.  Up to 10 will be invited to attend the National Service-Learning Conference, in Albuquerque, N.M., in March 2007, where one will win a $10,000 grant for their school to continue the work.

Project Ignition is a countrywide service-learning program for high school students sponsored by the State Farm(r) Marketing Department in partnership with the National Youth Leadership Council.

State Farm supports service-learning because it promotes excellence in public schools. Service-learning is a teaching approach that integrates service to the community with classroom curriculum through a hands-on approach.  Students address community needs like teen driver safety, while strengthening their academic performance.  They also learn civic responsibility and develop meaningful workplace skills.

(http://www.sfprojectignition.com)

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COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: OPERATIONAL PROJECTS

WHAT: The Community Economic Development program supports projects that create employment and business opportunities for low-income residents and their communities through business, physical, and commercial development.

WHO: Community Development Corporations (CDCs), including faith-based CDCs, that are experienced in implementing economic development projects.  NOTE: Proof of experience in developing and managing economic development projects is required in application.

WHEN: Applications are due May 12, 2006.

AWARD AMOUNT: 19 to 20 awards of $700,000 per project period.

CONTACT: Debbie Brown at OCSGRANTS@acf.hhs.gov.

FULL ANNOUNCEMENT:
(http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2006-ACF-OCS-EE-0019.html)

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NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS: LEARNING IN THE ARTS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to the goal of enabling all Americans to enrich their lives through the arts. The goal of the NEAs Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth program is to advance arts education for children and youth aged 5 to 18 in school-based or community-based settings. The program offers funding for projects that help children and youth acquire appreciation, knowledge, and understanding of and skills in the arts. Support is provided for in-depth, curriculum-based arts education experiences that occur over an extended period. Projects must provide participatory learning and engagement of students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art. The application deadline is June 12, 2006.

(http://www.arts.gov/grants/apply/GAP07/LearningintheArts.html)

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YOUTH VENTURE SEED GRANTS FOR YOUTH PROJECTS

Youth Venture is a national movement of young people who are proving that their dreams, creativity, and abilities make a positive difference to communities across the nation. The Youth Venture Grant Program provides grants to young people (ages 12 to 20) who have a dream or identify a need in their school or community, develop an idea and then, with a team, launch their own community-minded organizations to address that dream or need. Each venture team must have an Ally - a caring adult who advises the team. Grants of up to $1,000 are provided to help launch the organization. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.youthventure.org/index.php?tg=articles&topics=43&new=0&newc=0)

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MERTZ GILMORE FOUNDATION: HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE U.S. PROGRAM

The Mertz Gilmore Foundations Human Rights in the U.S. Program is designed to explores the viability of using a human rights framework to realize social and economic justice objectives in the U.S. The Foundation will support the following: projects that demonstrate what and how human rights can accomplish social and economic justice objectives in the U.S.; networks and coalitions that build and strengthen cross-issue and/or cross-constituency linkages; and capacity building through human rights training. Projects will be considered across the full spectrum of human rights - economic, social and cultural as well as civil and political - and support a variety of constituencies, and/or methods. The next deadline for letters of inquiry is June 15, 2006.

(http://www.mertzgilmore.org/www/default2.asp?section=what)

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W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION FUNDS PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation's mission is "to help people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations." The Foundation provides support for educational and service projects of potential national and international importance. In the U.S. the Foundations national grant program areas include: health, with an emphasis on community health care; food systems and rural development; youth and education; and philanthropy and volunteerism. Grants are also made to local organizations in the Battle Creek, MI community, and to NGOs in Southern Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.wkkf.org)

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M.J. MURDOCK CHARITABLE TRUST SUPPORTS PACIFIC NORTHWEST ORGANIZATIONS

The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust's mission is to enrich the quality of life in the Pacific Northwest by providing grants to organizations that seek to strengthen the region's educational and cultural base in creative and sustainable ways. Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations located in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Although major emphases are education and scientific research, grants are given to a wide variety of organizations, including those that serve the arts, public affairs, health and medicine, human services, and people with disabilities. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.murdock-trust.org)

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TEENS, CRIME, AND THE COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

The National Crime Prevention Council's Teens, Crime, and the Community Initiative is currently accepting applications for grants to support service-learning projects for youth-led projects that address and seek to prevent crime, violence, and drug abuse in their schools and communities. Awards will be up to $500. The deadline is June 1.

(http://www.ncpc.org/new_ncpc/programs/tcc/Funding_Opportunity.php)

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KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES

The Kauffman Foundation's response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina includes a unique opportunity for minority-owned businesses: Kauffman Coaches. The Foundation will help minority entrepreneurs position themselves as integral pieces of the rebuilding and recovery effort by educating them about effective private and government contract procurement, and assisting them to gain the skills they need to grow their businesses. No monetary awards are involved.

(http://www.kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=679)

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BOWLING FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES GRANT PROGRAM

The Bowling Foundation,  the philanthropic arm of the bowling community, sponsors the Bowler's Ed Youth In-School Bowling Program, which promotes lifelong physical activity by providing elementary and middle school teachers with free bowling curriculum enhanced with math, spelling, physics, and other important skills.

The Bowling Foundation is accepting applications to help teachers implement the Bowler's Ed In-School Bowling program. Funds can be used to purchase in-school bowling equipment or host an in-school bowling training seminar.

Educational institutions and nonprofit organizations serving youth are eligible to apply. Approximately $20,000 in total grants will be awarded in 2006.

(http://www.bowlingfoundation.org)

(http://www.BowlersEd.com)

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ANGEL SOFT ANGELS IN ACTION NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM WILL HONOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH FOR VOLUNTEER EFFORTS

The Angel Soft Angels in Action Awards Program, now in its seventh year, aims to recognize children and youth who are performing exemplary acts of community service. Georgia-Pacific, the makers  of Angel Soft toilet paper, invites teachers, parents, guardians, and friends to submit nominations to honor "ordinary kids who are doing extraordinary things" to help improve their communities.

For the first time since the program's inception, one outstanding child or teen will be awarded $15,000 for "Program of the Year." Two grand-prize winners (one from each age category) will receive $10,000 and ten finalists (five from each age category) will receive $1,000.

The age categories are 8 to 15 years old and 16 to 18 years old.

Nominators who are 18 years or older are asked to submit an essay of two hundred words or less on the nominee's service accomplishments.

(http://www.angelsoft.com/angelsinaction)

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COMMONWEAL FOUNDATION OFFERS COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON, DC REGION

The Silver Spring, Maryland-based Commonweal Foundation supports educational programs and projects assisting disadvantaged youth in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia. The foundation focuses on secondary and, to a lesser extent, elementary education.

Through its Community Assistance Grants, the foundation supports a variety of social service endeavors, including after-school tutoring for at-risk youth, mentoring and enrichment programs, youth entrepreneurship, and programs that encourage students to finish high school and to apply for college.

Applicant programs should accord with the foundation's mission; be located in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Northern Virginia; and have an annual budget not exceeding $1 million. All programs must have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The maximum grant award is $25,000.

The Commonweal Foundation requests that organizations use the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers common grant application format.

(http://www.washingtongrantmakers.org/wg/Home.asp)

(http://www.cweal.org/cag.htm)

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GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2006 AWARDS

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors young people between the ages of 8 and 18 who have shown leadership and courage in public service to people and our planet.

Each year, ten national winners each receive $2,000 to support their service work or higher education.

Winners must have organized and led a truly extraordinary service activity that has clearly benefited other people, our fellow creatures, or the planet we share. The winner's service activity must have been initiated and motivated primarily by the winner him or herself. Winners must have participated in their heroic work within the twelve months prior to the nomination deadline of April 30, and must be legal residents of the United States or Canada.

Nominations can be made by responsible adults who have solid knowledge of a young person's heroic activities and who are not related to the nominee.

(http://www.barronprize.org)

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DO SOMETHING TO HONOR YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS

Each year, the Do Something Brick Award honors six outstanding leaders age 18 and under and three outstanding leaders age 19 to 25 who use their talents to take action that measurably strengthens their local communities in the areas of community building, health, or the environment. The award is meant to highlight the achievements of individual social entrepreneurs who have made a difference in their communities.

Each of the "18 and under" winners is awarded a $5,000 higher education scholarship and a $5,000 community grant to be directed by the award winner to the not-for-profit organization of his or her choice. Winners in the "19 to 25" category each receive a $10,000 community grant.

Members of the Brick Selection Committee evaluate applicants on the following criteria: communication skills; ability to motivate and mobilize community members; originality of approach to strengthening the community; knowledge and understanding of how the local community works; leadership, development of key collaborations and relationships, and demonstration of long-term commitment to the community; social entrepreneurial skills; ability to create programs and initiatives, and/or to build upon existing programs; ability to tangibly improve the lives of others; ability to measurably strengthen the quality and health of community institutions through community work; and ability to have a sustainable impact on the community at large and to catalyze long-term improvement  in the community.

This is an award for social entrepreneurs, not activists or fundraisers. Brick winners are builders and creators who start programs/organizations and/or modernize older programs/organizations. Although founding a program or organization is not a requirement for the award, it does demonstrate that the applicant is a social entrepreneur and will be scored accordingly. By the same token, if an applicant has brought new and fresh leadership to a stale organization, that also shows social entrepreneurism.

(http://www.dosomething.org/awards/brick/apply)

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TARGET STORES GRANTS

Through its Store Grants, Target supports local giving in the categories of Arts, Reading, and Family Violence Prevention.

The program awards Reading grants to schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations, supporting programs such as weekend book clubs, after-school reading programs, and events encouraging family reading time. Arts grants are given to programs that bring the arts to schools or make it affordable for families to participate in cultural experiences, such as school touring programs, field trips to the theater or symphony, or artist residencies and workshops in schools. Family Violence Prevention grants support groups working to make individual homes and entire communities safer, such as child abuse counseling programs and shelters.

Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, schools, or units of government.

Most grants average between $1,000 and $3,000.

Funding is limited to the communities in which Target does business. Because applications will be reviewed as they are received, applicants are encouraged to apply early.

Applications for Target Store Grants are available at local Target stores and online through the Target Web site.

(http://sites.target.com/site/en/corporate/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-001818)

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AVON FOUNDATION OFFERS SUPPORT FOR LOCAL AND REGIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ORGANIZATIONS

The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women. The foundation brings this mission to life through two key areas of focus: breast cancer and domestic violence.

In its commitment to end domestic violence, the Avon Foundation in the United States supports awareness, education, direct services, and prevention programs. The foundation offers two grants programs in this area: Helping Children of Domestic Violence, and the Grants Program for Local and Regional Domestic Violence Organizations.

In administering the Grants Program for Local and Regional Domestic Violence Organizations, the foundation works closely with Avon regional offices in the United States and Puerto Rico to support community-based organizations that provide direct services to domestic violence victims. The Avon Foundation is seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations and agencies that provide programs which deliver essential services to domestic violence victims, including shelter, counseling, educational and professional  training, and advocacy and case management.

For this grant program, the foundation only supports organizations that are in proximity to Avon locations across the U.S. The list of eligible geographic areas and Avon office contact information is available at the foundation's Web site.

The foundation makes grants only to organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $25,000, depending on size, scope, and impact of the program proposed, though most grants will be in the $1,000 to $10,000 range.

The proposal deadline date is August 1. As the foundation receives many more proposals than it can support, organizations are encouraged to submit preliminary Letters of Inquiry prior to August 1 to ascertain whether the foundation will have an interest in considering their project.

(http://www.avoncompany.com/women/avonfoundation/gapeop.html)

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ROHM AND HAAS SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE

Rohm and Haas, a specialty chemical company, provides the Community Partnership Initiative grant of $30,000 at certain of its facilities throughout North America. The grant program is conducted in conjunction with local Community Advisory Committees, groups of community representatives who serve as a link between local communities and Rohm and Haas sites.

Proposals are currently sought for the following Community Partnership Initiative locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Targeting the neighborhoods of Bridesburg and Lower Wissinoming. This RFP focuses on after-school programs for youth and programs for senior citizens. Deadline: April 20, 2006. Contact giroudconsulting@comcast.net for the RFP and application procedures.

Bristol Pennsylvania/Burlington, New Jersey: Targeting Bristol Borough, lower sections of Bristol Township, the City of Burlington, and western sections of Burlington Township. The RFP focuses on after-school programs for youth. Deadline: April 21, 2006. Interested nonprofits  may apply online at:
(http://www.rohmhaas.com/bristol/goodneighbors/cpi.htm)

Spring House, Pennsylvania: Targeting Ambler Borough, Upper Dublin, Lower Gwynedd, and Whitpain townships. This RFP focuses on after-school programs for youth. Deadline: May 1, 2006. Interested nonprofits may apply online at:
(http://www.rohmhaas.com/springhouse/goodneighbors/cpi.htm)

Newark, Delaware: Targeting Greater Newark Area from the C&D Canal, the Delaware/Maryland state line, and Route 7. The RFP focuses on providing youth education and recreation programs. Deadline: May 12, 2006. Interested nonprofits may apply online at:
(http://electronicmaterials.rohmhaas.com/community/cpi.asp?caid=49)


(http://www.rohmhaas.com/community/giving/NARprograms/nar_cpi.html)

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 JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

3rd ANNUAL SHARTSIS FRIESE PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWSHIP AT THE EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW CENTER

General Description
The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) and the law firm of Shartsis Friese LLP are pleased to announce the 3rd Annual Shartsis Friese Public Interest Fellowship at EBCLC. The Shartsis Fellow will provide direct legal assistance to CalWORKs (welfare) recipients, with an emphasis on serving Southeast Asian clients with disabilities and language access needs, including:

1)         In-depth client interviews to assess client needs and objectives;
2)         Intensive fact investigation;
3)         Counseling to present clients with the full range of legal options;
4)         Representation before welfare case workers and administrative law judges (including writs to Superior Court as necessary); and
5)         Outreach to the Southeast Asian Community.

Successful advocacy will restore clients’ aid and link them to other community services with the long-term goal of self-sufficiency for clients and their families.

Minimum Experience
Member of the California State Bar or sitting summer 2006. Desirable skills and experience include: a commitment to direct legal services to low-income clients; experience in public benefits assistance; ability to work effectively with a diverse range of groups, including low-income and minority clients, students, and service providers; good public speaking skills; flexibility to respond to changing community need. Bilingual skills, especially Vietnamese or Cambodian, highly desirable.

Application Process
Submit a cover letter, resume, three references, and a short writing sample no later than Friday, April 21, 2006 to:
East Bay Community Law Center
Attn: Shartsis Fellowship Committee
3130 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705

EBCLC is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, sexual minorities and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

(http://www.ebclc.org)

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VIETNAMESE VOTING EDUCATOR – ORANGE COUNTY ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, INC.

FLSA: Non-Exempt                         Supervisor: Mary Anne Foo and Katrina Jaffe

Pay Range/Rate: $ 13.00-17.00 per hour DOE. Hours per week (75% - 100%) depending on the applicant's availability. Benefits are included provided enough hours (30 - 40 hrs.) are worked.

Summary 
Under the supervision of the Policy Manager, the Voting Educator is responsible for conducting voter education and outreach to the Vietnamese community to encourage low propensity voters to participate in the electoral process.  The Voting Educator will work closely with the Policy Manager to implement an action plan to improve voting rates among Vietnamese Americans in Orange County.  "Special Service for Groups/OCAPICA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer"

Essential Functions

Administration (10%)
*         Complete all necessary documentation for program evaluation.

Community education (80%)
*         Conduct outreach education to the Vietnamese community regarding voting rights and electoral process.
*         Identify community sites to conduct voter education at.
*         Develop, translate and evaluate voter education materials in Vietnamese.
*         Develop voter education workshops for the Vietnamese community.

Networking and media relations (10%)
*         Attend meetings, trainings, and cultural events
*         Develop news articles for the Vietnamese media on voting topics

Minimum Qualifications - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required
*         Must be fluent in verbal, written, and reading of Vietnamese
*         Must have excellent community relation skills
*         Have at least 3 years of experience working with the Vietnamese American community
*         California Driver's License and transportation to travel to conferences, meetings, and trainings, and community outreach

Desired Qualifications - Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
*       Voting education background desired, but not necessary
*       Willingness to be trained on policy issues affecting the Vietnamese community
*       Community outreach skills
*       Must be comfortable with the philosophy and goals of OCAPICA.

Supervisory Responsibilities
*       No supervisory responsibilities

Environmental Conditions (Working Conditions)
*       The environment for this position is an office environment, as well as weekly outreach in the Vietnamese community (businesses, community organizations, churches, temples, etc.)

Physical Requirement
*       In the course of performing this job, the incumbent typically spends time sitting, standing, walking, typing, filing, listening and speaking.

Mental Requirement
*       The incumbent in this position must be able to accommodate to any/all of the following: tolerance for distractions and interruptions.

Application Process:
Application deadline: April 28, 2006

Please e-mail a cover letter, resume and 3 professional references (past supervisors including e-mail address and phone number) to: Mary Anne Foo and Katrina Jaffe

E-mail: mafoo@ocapica.org and kjaffe@ocapica.org

(Please ensure that the email subject has the job title: Vietnamese Voting Educator)

No Phone Calls Please

Agency Background:
The Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) is dedicated to enhancing the health, and social and economic well-being of Asians and Pacific Islanders in Orange County, California. Established in 1997, OCAPICA works to improve and expand the community's opportunities through service, education, advocacy, organizing and research. These community-driven activities seek to empower Asians and Pacific Islanders to define and control their lives and the future of their community.

Special Service for Groups, Inc. (SSG) serves as the legal employer to this position.  "Special Service for Groups is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer"

Katrina Jaffe
Policy Manager
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
12900 Garden Grove Blvd., Ste. 214A Garden Grove, CA 92843
(714) 636-9095
(714) 636-8828 fax
kjaffe@ocapica.org

(http://www.ocapica.org)

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NATIONAL LOW INCOME HOUSING COALITION – OUTREACH STAFF

The National Low Income Housing Coalition is hiring multiple Outreach Staff to engage NLIHC members in federal policy advocacy and voter participation by low income people, and to expand NLIHC's base. Applicants must have strong written and oral communication skills; excellent electronic technology skills, including high proficiency in database management; organizing experience, including successful meeting planning; knowledge of federal housing policy; and commitment to social justice. Bachelor's degree required. All positions are based in Washington, DC, but will require travel. NLIHC offers competitive salary and benefit package. NLIHC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Send resume and cover letter to Deputy Director, National Low Income Housing Coalition, 727 15th Street NW 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20005 or fax to: 202/393-1973.

Sheila Crowley
President
National Low Income Housing Coalition
727 15th St. NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
202-662-1530 x 225
fax 202-393-1973

(http://www.nlihc.org)

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ASIAN-PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH ESSAY CONTEST

World champion figure skater Michelle Kwan.

First Asian-American in space Ellison Onizuka.

Best-selling author Amy Tan.

Bose Corporation founder Amar Bose.

Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

They've left their mark in history. Now leave yours.

NBC4 and Freddie Mac invite local high school students to write an essay on the importance of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

To submit your essay, send it, along with
(http://www.nbc4.com/download/2006/0321/8169359.pdf) the application, to the following address. Entries must be received by Thursday, April 20, 2006:

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Essay Contest
c/o NBC4/WRC-TV
4001 Nebraska Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016

Winning essays could earn up to $1,500 toward college tuition.

Application
(http://www.nbc4.com/download/2006/0321/8169359.pdf)

(http://www.nbc4.com/community/8146690/detail.html)

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 TIPS/RESOURCES

MANAGEMENT: ENSURING INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC

* Including the public in the nonprofit mission is an important aspect of the sector that is likely to gain in value over the years. This inclusion is no sure thing, however, if organizations don't continue to make concerted efforts to have a broad base.

* In their book Results That Matter: Improving Communities by Engaging Citizens, Measuring Performance, and Getting Things Done, Paul D. Epstein, Paul M. Coates, and Lyle D. Wray offer several suggestions for making citizen engagement inclusive.

The authors acknowledge that the more diverse a community the greater challenge of keeping citizens engagement inclusive and representative, but it is necessary:

* Identify and remove barriers to participation. When people from one group turn out in large numbers but those of another group do not, it is incorrect to assume that those who are underrepresented do not care about the issue or cannot be motivated. Typical barriers include lack of access to information, difficulties with transportation, or distrust of people from outside one's own community.

* Plan recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups. Organizers of citizen engagement should consult the leaders or advocates of minority groups that tend to be less represented in order to learn about specific fears, barriers, desires and motivations.

* Keep asking “Who is not here?” and keep recruiting them. It is always a good idea to track demographics in succeeding processes and look for increasing diversity, but it is never enough to show how many different groups are involved if some are still left out.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)

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HUMAN RESOURCES: PLANNING FOR YOUR STAFF’S RETIREMENT

Any organization wants to think of what its employees will do while they are on the job, but the fact is that all organizations, nonprofit as well as for-profit, must look ahead to the time when employees retire. With that in mind, retirement programs that will offer employees a nest egg when their working days have ended are essential both to attracting good employees and to retaining them once they are hired.

With new tax laws being passed on a routine basis, there are always changes of which an organization must be aware, but there are several standard programs that help employees provide for retirement security.

Among these:

* Tax-deferred retirement savings programs. These are IRA accounts, with contributions paid by the employee while working. With traditional IRA programs, employers are not allowed to match employee contributions.

* Defined benefit pension programs. These traditional pension plans are becoming more and more rare because they guarantee a set payout upon retirement.

* Defined contribution pension plans. These are set up by employers and funded by employees. Employers may provide matching amounts. These are the standard 401 accounts.

* Cash balance pension plans. Employers establish an account containing a percentage of a worker’s salary plus interest each year. Upon separation from the organization, employees receive either lump-sum or annuity payments.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/humanres.html)

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POWELL ENCOURAGES STRONG LEADERSHIP, OPENNESS

By Craig Causer

Nonprofits are increasingly stepping into a leadership role in the global community and organizations need to prepare themselves through strong leadership. The best leaders can convey a message and a purpose down the line to everyone, said Gen. Colin Powell (Ret.), former secretary of state during the Monday opening plenary session during the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ annual conference in Atlanta.

Powell said that strong leadership should rely upon inspiring others, in addition to motivational tactics, and should not lose sight of the importance of “followership.”

“Don’t just tell people about what you wish to accomplish,” Powell explained. “Empower them. … You can’t supply a vision without providing the tools and equipment to realize that vision. Take full advantage of information technology.”

Powell, who was the founding chairman of America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth, has also served on the boards of the United Negro College Fund and Howard University. The retired 4-star Army General identified a growing opportunity to give to worthy causes as the world’s wealth continues to increase.

While more private individuals, such as Bill Gates, are stepping up to address international needs, America is faced with a changing environment since September 11, 2001, the war in Iraq and the continued economic development of other countries.

During his tenure as Secretary of State, Powell mentioned how he approached President Bush with the fact that people were beginning to turn away from coming to the United States , particularly for higher education. “It’s a global environment where people no longer have to come here for education…Our great hospitals and teaching clinics would suffer as a result,” Powell said. “You can get quality healthcare elsewhere in the world.”

Powell said that he worked to increase the number of foreign scholarships and started programs to bring kids to the U.S. He told the story of a group of 12 Brazilian kids who visited the United States for two weeks. Powell visited with them upon their return to their homeland they where they spoke of how they wanted to be doctors, lawyers, politicians and business people. But what stuck most with them was one evening out at a Chicago restaurant. The group miscalculated and was unable to pay the bill. After the waitress was notified she returned and informed the group that the manager was allowing the group to dine free of charge as a welcoming act. Those kids continued to speak about that unexpected act of generosity in America above all else, Powell said.

The “real America” is a nation touched by every nation and that also touches every nation and it must remain open despite the challenges of today’s world, Powell added.

“Terrorists may blow up buildings and take lives but what they cannot do is change who we are as a people, our value system and what we believe in. Only we can do that,” he said.

We must continue to welcome people to the U.S. and encourage them to contribute to our society. By remaining open, they may very well return home but with a greater knowledge of this country that’s “beyond the Michael Moore or sitcom stereotypes” that are often portrayed around the world, Powell added.

(http://www.nptimes.com/dishoftheday/story5.html)

******************
 NEWS

March 28, 2006

UCLA RESEARCH FOCUSES ON CRIME IN ASIAN AMERICA

Date: March 28, 2006
Contact: Russell Leong (rleong@ucla.edu)
Phone: 310-825-2968

Amerasia Journal, the leading research journal on Asian Americans in the nation, announces the publication of "Deporting Our Souls and Defending Our Immigrants," a special issue on crime in Asian America that, for the first time, gathers together the perspectives of scholars, researchers and ex-prisoners.

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many Asian Americans — including Southeast Asians and South Asians — have become especially vulnerable to criminalization and have been legally, politically, economically or culturally ostracized and discriminated against.

Bill Ong Hing, professor of law and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Davis, and the author of "Defining America Through Immigration Policy," said that this Amerasia issue "gives us a picture of the level of criminal activity in many Asian American communities, the lack of re-entry programs across the country, the voices of offenders that provide troubling insight into why some individuals have turned to crime, and how racial‑political forces have plotted to criminalize many Asian Americans."

A central focus of this special issue is the recent deportation of Asian non-citizens to their countries of birth. Hing investigates how alleged criminality and criminal acts can lead to the unfair deportation of Asian Americans who have grown up in the United States. High crime rates in certain Asian American communities, together with the non-citizen status of many Asian Americans, are a "recipe for disaster," according to Hing. Common criminal acts plus aggravated felonies can lead to permanent deportation. Young Cambodian and Vietnamese youth who had survived the trauma of the war in Southeast Asia are especially vulnerable to falling into lives of petty crime and possible deportation on criminal grounds. Many Asian American families, according to Hing, "confront poverty, school issues, role reversal, family disruption, and culture clash."

The 200-page issue, guest-edited by Hing, features research and essays on:

*  How after the Sept. 11 attacks Arab and Muslim communities are being targeted and criminalized by the media, the state and the courts; by Louise Cainkar and Sunaina Maira.

*  How data on Asian and Pacific Islander youth should be analyzed; by Thao N. Le and Isami Arifuku.

*  Re-entry issues of Asians and Pacific Islanders; by Angela E. Oh and Karen Umemoto.

*  Asian and Pacific Islander re-entry issues in New York; by Michelle Tseching Fei and Gerald P. Lopez.

Together with the above essays, Richard Kim's first in-depth interview of Chol Soo Lee and K.W. Lee explores the case of Chol Soo Lee in the 1970s and 80s. Chol Soo Lee's case became a rallying point for both immigrant and American-born Asian Americans who identified with the immigrant youth's conviction on false grounds and subsequent death row sentence. K.W. Lee, a Korean immigrant himself and award-winning journalist, first met Chol Soo Lee in 1977 and published a two-part investigative series in The Sacramento Union.

In addition to this interview, Chol Soo Lee shares with Amerasia readers "A Silent Plea," a poem written in prison.

Other articles, memoirs and essays include writing by Duc Ta, Mia F. Yamamoto, Andrew Thi and playwright Philip Kan Gotanda. Writers on war and incarceration in this issue also include E. San Juan Jr., Ramsay Liem and Setsuko Matsunaga Nishi.

Individual copies of the issue and class textbook orders are available for $15 plus $5 handling, or $35 for annual individual subscriptions to Amerasia Journal, from UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press, 3230 Campbell Hall, Box 951546, Los Angeles, CA 90095‑1546. For e-mail orders, contact the business manager at aascpress@aasc.ucla.edu. To order by telephone, call (310) 825-2968.

-UCLA-

(http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6929)

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March 29, 2006

Ethnic media filling the gap
NEW OUTLETS RUSH IN TO BRING NEWS TO VALLEY'S VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY

By K. Oanh Ha
Mercury News

Three new Vietnamese-language newspapers and an online news outlet are vying to fill the void left by the closing of the Mercury News' Viet Mercury publication, underscoring the vibrancy of ethnic media even as mainstream newspapers face uncertain futures.

Two former Viet Mercury editors plan to start publishing in the next two months while the paper's former advertising manager has launched an online news portal. A third newspaper plans to offer bilingual business news.

The publications aim to nab readers of Viet Mercury, which ceased publication in November.

``The enthusiasm for replacing Viet Mercury speaks about the viability of the market,'' said Jim Nguyen, Viet Mercury's former advertising manager who founded online news site VietUSA News after leading an unsuccessful attempt to purchase the paper. The site will soon relaunch as a news portal catering to Vietnamese readers globally, Nguyen said.

Former editor De Tran and his managing editor, Hoang Xuan Nguyen, have plans for separate publications modeled after the one they ran together for almost seven years.

The proliferation of Vietnamese and other ethnic publications is in stark contrast to the challenges facing mainstream newspapers: declining readership and advertising. Knight Ridder, the nation's second-largest newspaper chain and owner of the Mercury News, agreed to be purchased by McClatchy, a sale forced by major stockholders unhappy about Knight Ridder's financial performance. McClatchy has announced it will sell the Mercury News and 11 other Knight Ridder papers.

The landscape of the ethnic press is dramatically different. About a dozen Vietnamese publications now circulate in the Bay Area. Readers of Chinese can choose from at least six dailies and Indian-Americans, at least six monthly and weekly publications.

Richer coverage

Ethnic media, including television, online and radio, reaches one-fourth of the entire U.S. population and 80 percent of adults in minority communities, according to a 2005 study by New America Media, a San Francisco-based association of ethnic publications.

``If all the mainstream media went on strike, I wouldn't miss a beat,'' said Ling-chi Wang, a prolific reader of Chinese publications who heads Asian-American studies at the University of California-Berkeley. ``What I read in Chinese papers is so much richer than mainstream content . . . There's many more pages of news about Asia.''

The success of ethnic publications goes hand-in-hand with increased immigration. The Chinese-American population in Santa Clara county more than doubled between 1990 and 2004 to 134,000 while the Vietnamese-American population also doubled, to 107,000. Numbers of Indian-Americans grew nearly threefold, to 72,000. As a result, the circulation of monthly magazine India Currents increased 20 percent, to 22,000, in Northern California over the past five years.

``It's pretty competitive,'' said editor Ashok Jethanandani. ``I've seen so many publications come and go.''

The ethnic press thrives on a symbiotic relationship with mom-and-pop enterprises since both predominantly serve the local immigrant communities. ``Korean dry cleaners need Korean media to grow their businesses,'' said Sandy Close, founder of New America Media.

Still, ethnic press have challenges of their own. Readership drops off considerably with the second generation, according to a 2003 San Francisco State University study on ethnic media.

Mindful of that, two of the upcoming Vietnamese publications plan to offer some English content.

Leaders at the new ventures say they want to emulate Viet Mercury, which was well-received by readers for its balanced journalism and high professional standards in a community where advocacy journalism is the norm and papers are susceptible to pressures from political and business interests.

Viet Mercury was also the first local Vietnamese newspaper to attract mainstream advertisers on a large scale rather than relying on just area immigrant businesses for revenue. The new publications hope to pair that model with lower overhead that will allow them to charge less for ads.

Viet Mercury charged up to $1,000 for a full-page ad, and couldn't pull in enough high-paying advertisers. Vietnamese publications typically charge $120 for a full-page ad.

But competition is already intense, and some watchers doubt the market is large enough for many more entrants. All four of the new Vietnamese publications are currently talking to one another about combining forces.

Quality -- and profit

Tran, whose VTimes publication makes its debut next month, is convinced he can deliver both quality and profit. ``We'll have the same quality of Viet Mercury,'' he said. ``But we'll do it for less and we'll be able to charge much less for advertising.''

Tran wants his paper to be ``a bridge to connect Vietnamese-Americans to the larger community,'' he said. Viet Tribune, headed by Hoang Nguyen, will focus on culture and lifestyle, particularly on issues affecting women and seniors.

Each of the new papers is being jump-started with only a few hundred thousand dollars. They aim for circulations around 20,000, compared with Viet Mercury's 57,000. They will rely on freelancers for most content.

The small scale of those operations leave many wondering whether they can match Viet Mercury's editorial content.

``Viet Mercury raised the quality,'' said Nguyen Qui Duc, the Vietnamese-American host of KQED's Pacific Time program. ``I don't know that anyone can duplicate that because no one has those resources.''

Nguyen of VietUSA News said he wants to replicate Viet Mercury's ``integrity'' but said there may be limitations. ``Because we had the backing and protection of the Mercury News, we were able to be bold and courageous about exposing fraud and write exposes,'' he said. ``With a community newspaper that has no shield, would we be able to do those same kinds of stories?''

Tran is undeterred: ``A paper that's high-quality, objective and well-designed -- there's a great need for it in the community.''

Contact K. Oanh Ha at kha@mercurynews.com or (408) 278-3457.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/14212156.htm)

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March 29, 2006

2006 SEEN AS POSSIBLE “WATERSHED YEAR” FOR U.S.-VIETNAM RELATIONS
State's Eric John says Vietnam in process of "extraordinary transformation"

Washington File

Vietnam is in the midst of an extraordinary transformation from an inward-looking command economy to a much more open society that seeks to engage with the wider world, says Eric John, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

A convergence of issues and events involving such things as trade agreements, development assistance and educational and cultural exchanges has the potential to make 2006 a "watershed" year in U.S.-Vietnam relations, John told a joint hearing of two House International Relations subcommittees March 29.

"As Vietnam has increased its openness and integration with the global community, our bilateral ties and interactions have rapidly expanded," he said.

John cited increased ties between the United States and Vietnam in areas such as travel, investment and the issuance of visas.

U.S. businesses have taken advantage of Vietnam's open economic policies by investing a total of $730 million from 1998 to 2005, he said, adding the United States is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam.

According to John, the number of student visas issued for Vietnamese wishing to study in the United States has increased 124 percent since 2001.

"Over time, Vietnam has made some progress on human rights and allowed more personal freedoms because it recognized it could not grow its economy without releasing the dynamism of its population and increasing interaction with the international community," he said.

However, John said, there are "serious deficiencies" in Vietnam in human rights and religious and political freedoms, especially regarding the lack of access to information.

Despite the release of a few pro-democracy activists, John said, "The Vietnamese can and should do more."

In addition to the human rights dialogue, he said the United States and Vietnam are cooperating on a number of regional issues of common interest.

"The Vietnamese government favors a strong U.S. role in regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," John said.

In addition, he said, the United States supports a policy of engagement with Vietnam through assistance programs for pandemic prevention, especially HIV/AIDS and avian Influenza, as well as military education programs and increased funding for exchanges such as the Fulbright educational programs.

"Looking ahead," John said, "we face a full year of opportunity for both nations to pursue common interests and strengthen this important relationship."

For additional information on U.S. policy, see East Asia and the Pacific and Human Rights.

Following is the text of the prepared testimony:

(begin text)

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary Eric G. John
On Human Rights in Vietnam

Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations of the Committee on International Relations

March 29, 2006

Thank you for inviting me to appear before the Subcommittees today.

This hearing is timely not only because of the resumption of our bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, but also because a convergence of events and issues has the potential to make 2006 a watershed year for U.S.-Vietnam relations.

Mr. Chairman, before I delve further into this topic, I would like to thank you for your long-standing interest in Vietnam.  Your many visits to Vietnam and your forceful voice on human rights and advocacy for religious freedom have helped bring positive change in Vietnam.

Extraordinary Transformation

In previous appearances before the Committee I have described Southeast Asia as a dynamic and exciting region.  There is no more apt way to describe the current situation in Vietnam.  It is in the midst of an extraordinary trans- formation from an impoverished, inward-looking command economy with little space for personal initiative to a more open society with a vibrant, free market economy that seeks to engage with the wider world.

I recall that when I first went to Vietnam in 1989 to interview applicants for the Orderly Departure Program, Vietnam consciously tried to block out the outside world.  A uniformed official gathered all the discarded newspapers from incoming airplanes and Vietnamese customs confiscated any papers visitors tried to bring in.  Now, the situation is quite different.  Like many other foreign goods and services, international newspapers are widely available and sold in hotel lobbies and Vietnam is a destination for hundreds of thousands of tourists, many of them Americans.

Travel between Vietnam and the United States has grown at a rapid rate.  This reflects not only tourist and business travel and Vietnamese-Americans who return to Vietnam to invest, trade, visit relatives, or marry, but also increasing numbers of Vietnamese who visit the U.S.  Issuance of U.S. student and training visas reached a new high of 3,448 in 2005, which is an increase of 124% since 2001.  Business and tourist visas rose sharply last year to 21,765, an increase of 55% since 2001.

In the mid-1980s, Vietnam recognized the failure of doctrinaire Marxist economics and abandoned it in favor of a policy of "doi moi," or renovation.  Its goal was to accelerate economic development.  The government saw the need to integrate into the world economy; to attract foreign trade, investment, and technology; and to reach out to the United States and others.

Since then, we have developed a relationship with Vietnam that serves both countries' interests.  Over time, Vietnam has made some progress on human rights and allowed more personal freedoms because it recognized it could not grow its economy without releasing the dynamism of its population and increasing interaction with the international community.  With a growth rate of 8 percent, it is now one of the world's fastest growing economies.  Their eagerness to study English, business, and high-tech fields creates an enormous opportunity for us to work with the Vietnamese people constructively.

The entry into force of the U.S-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in December 2001 has led to greatly expanded trade - from about $1.5 billion in two-way trade in 2001 to $7.8 billion in 2005 - and heightened cooperation on economic reform.

U.S. businesses have taken advantage of Vietnam's new openness by investing a total of $730 million from 1998 to 2005.  Most recently, Intel announced plans to invest $300 million in Vietnam to package and test microchips that power personal computers and mobile phones.  The combined cumulative U.S. direct investment and investment from U.S. third-country subsidiaries has made us the largest foreign investor in Vietnam.

On March 24-26, we conducted a round of WTO accession negotiations in Geneva with representatives of the Vietnamese government.  Although the U.S. Government is in the process of assessing the Vietnamese offers and consulting with industry, we are clearly approaching an agreement that will open markets, improve Vietnam's trading rules, and provide both the United States and Vietnam access to dispute resolution mechanisms that will benefit U.S. companies.  The conclusion of these negotiations will trigger a Congressional vote on Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) for Vietnam.

Expanding Ties

As Vietnam has increased its openness and integration with the global community, our bilateral ties and interactions have rapidly expanded.

During Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's historic meeting with President Bush at the White House on June 21, 2005, commemorating the tenth anniversary of diplomatic relations, the two leaders agreed to cooperate to promote peace, prosperity and stability in Southeast Asia; upgrade our bilateral relations; and increase contacts of all kinds between the Vietnamese and American governments and people.

In addition to the Human Rights Dialogue, we are now frankly discussing a broader range of regional issues because we recognize that we have increasingly common interests.  The Vietnamese Government favors a strong U.S. role in the region and realizes the importance of U.S. ties to regional organizations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

We now have regular U.S. Naval ship visits to Vietnamese ports and we enjoy good cooperation with the Vietnamese government on identifying and repatriating the remains of American servicemen who lost their lives in the Vietnam conflict. So far, 599 Americans have been identified and repatriated since 1973, and our efforts continue. We are asking the Vietnamese to do even more to help us account for the remaining servicemen.

Growing Assistance

In their June 21, 2005 Joint Statement, President Bush and Prime Minister Khai also agreed to "strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on transnational issues, including the global fight against terrorism, transnational crime, narcotics, trafficking in persons, health and humanitarian issues, including the prevention of pandemics, especially HIV/AIDS and Avian Influenza."

We are following up this commitment by providing Vietnam with $34 million in Fiscal Year 2006 assistance under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, to support prevention, care and treatment programs to combat HIV/AIDS.  With this funding, U.S.-supported programs will reach five million young people with prevention messages, provide HIV counseling and testing for 97,000 individuals, and provide care for 1,500 orphans and vulnerable children.  In Fiscal Year 2007, our funding is expected to exceed $50 million and the number of people receiving care and treatment supported by U.S. assistance will double.

From 2004 to 2006, the United States has committed $24 million through HHS and USAID to improve Vietnam's basic veterinary and health systems to contain Avian Influenza in Vietnam, where 50 million poultry have been culled, and 42 human deaths recorded.  U.S. industry is also playing a role in this critical effort.

The United States supports Vietnam's counter-terrorism capacity with police training provided by the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok and through military exchanges.  We are seeking to expand bilateral cooperation to combat trade in illegal narcotics.  We also support anti-trafficking programs run by NGOs operating at the borders of China and Cambodia.  Furthermore, we provide assistance in humanitarian demining, clearance of unexploded ordnance, and secure trade.

Through the Support for Trade Acceleration (STAR) program, implemented by USAID, we promote trade and customs reform in Vietnam's legal system and help the country to update its civil and commercial laws and implement its obligations under the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).  STAR is effective because it strengthens the legislative role of the National Assembly, improves the business climate for U.S. companies, and helps create conditions conducive to increased prosperity and rising incomes for all participants in the Vietnamese economy.

We have a small International Military Education Training (IMET) program in which we provide English language training to Vietnamese military officers.  Building that capacity will be important for Vietnamese officers to participate in future training assignments and peacekeeping operations.

Our Fulbright program with Vietnam, funded at $5 million for the traditional programs for students and scholars, plus an additional 1.5 million for the Fulbright Economic Teaching Program in Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the largest the world.  With these programs, Fulbright funds student and scholarly exchanges and an outstanding one-year program for mid-career managers and policy makers.

One other important source for education of top Vietnamese students is the federally funded Vietnam Education Foundation.  Its mission is to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship through educational exchanges in science and technology.

In 2006, Congress appropriated $2 million in Economic Support Funds for individuals and communities in Vietnam's Central Highlands.  We have reported to Congress already on our initial planning for the use of these funds and we expect to make final decisions in the near future.

Human Rights and Religious Freedom

As Assistant Secretary Lowenkron and Ambassador Hanford laid out in detail, there remain serious deficiencies in Vietnam with respect to human rights and religious and political freedoms.  Vietnamese citizens have no meaningful vote.  The government, which is firmly under the control of the Communist Party, places severe restrictions on freedom of political speech, limits access to the internet, and continues to block Radio Free Asia broadcasts.  In addition, Vietnam remains a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom.  We are addressing these important issues head-on in the Human Rights Dialogue and in our day-to-day diplomatic conversations with the Vietnamese Government.

There are also positive developments on the human rights and religious freedoms front in Vietnam that should be underscored.  These include:  the July 2004 Ordinance on Religion and Belief and its implementing regulations; the Prime Minister's February 2005 instruction on Protestantism, which bans forced renunciations of faith; and the May 5, 2005, exchange of letters between the United States and Vietnam.  These represent a commitment by Vietnam to expand the scope of religious freedom.  We have welcomed the release of pro-democracy activist Nguyen Dan Que and religious dissident Father Nguyen Van Ly although others, including Dr. Pham Hong Son, remain incarcerated, and we are working hard to get them released.  The Vietnamese can and should do more.

Watershed Year

I see 2006 as a watershed year for the bilateral relationship.  Building on the positive momentum generated by last year's visit by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, we are working this year toward the successful conclusion of our bilateral WTO negotiations with Vietnam - an agreement that benefits both the United States and Vietnam, and leads to its accession to the WTO.

In this regard, I look forward to working with Congress when it takes up the issue of Permanent Normal Trade Relations for Vietnam.  We also will continue to press for improvements in the area of religious freedom and human rights.  The culmination of our efforts to advance the bilateral relationship in 2006 will be President Bush's visit to Hanoi for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting -- which the Government of Vietnam will host in November.

In sum, we are making progress on many fronts with Vietnam.  In confronting transnational issues, expanding prosperity, and promoting regional stability, Vietnam's interests are increasingly aligned with our own -- and, on human rights and related issues, we are narrowing our differences.  Looking ahead, we face a year full of opportunity for both nations to pursue common interests and strengthen this important relationship.

Thank you.  I would be happy to take your questions.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

 (http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=March&x=20060329181442tjkcollub0.4637262&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html)

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March 29, 2006

UNREST IN THE HOMELAND AWAKENS THAI AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Pueng Vongs, New America Media

SAN FRANCISCO--The relentless protests threatening to topple Thailand's government have triggered public demonstrations by Thai Americans, a departure for a community that tends to avoid conflict and stay out of political affairs in their adopted homeland.

"The (Thai) government thinks they have absolute power, but they have to understand that power comes from the people," says Jiab Tongsopit, a graduate student at UC Santa Cruz who joined a protest in San Francisco last week.

In Los Angeles, more than 100 Thais have gathered at weekly protests in front of the Thai consulate, donning the bright yellow and red sashes worn by their compatriots back home to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Los Angeles is the hub of the Thai immigrant community in America, with approximately 200,000 Thai residents. Similar demonstrations have erupted in Chicago and Las Vegas.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in Thailand in the past two months, in Western-style mass demonstrations calling for Shinawatra's ouster. Mounting corruption allegations exploded in January, when the prime minister profited $1.9 billion, tax-free, from the sale of his family's wireless business to a Singaporean company. The protests are the largest the country has seen in 14 years.

Highly visible protests are unusual for Thai Americans, who tend to focus on achieving economic security. Furthermore, when times are tough, Thais' Buddhist nature preaches patience. When other Asian immigrant groups such as Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese demonstrated for better housing, health care and political rights, most Thai Americans remained on the sidelines.

Behind the scenes, however, is a community actively building temples, proliferating Thai restaurants nationwide and donating quietly to political candidates in the United States.

Now the sale of a top wireless company in Thailand to Singapore appears to have fueled nationalistic fervor in Thais in America.

"We want to see Thai business returned to the Thai people. We want Singapore out," says Montree Chaisorn, head of the new, Westminster, Calif.-based Thai People's Alliance for Democracy. Chaisorn, a nurse who has lived in the United States for 32 years, says he participated in protests against the government as a student in Thailand. According to him, the sale of the wireless company is just the beginning of Shinawatra's illegal activity. Shinawatra also illegally granted Singaporean troops a long-term lease to train in Thailand, Chaisorn says.

But Thais who support Shinawatra are just as passionate as those in the anti-government camp. They too have been staging frequent protests in Los Angeles, and have collected 500 signatures and $4,000 to bolster Shinawatra's campaign. Many fear that ongoing unrest will shake their homeland's economic stability.

"I am concerned about what this will do to the Thai economy," says Rosalynn Carmen, a Thai business owner in San Diego. "Right now Asia is booming. China is doing well and Vietnam is coming back. If Thailand continues to be unstable, it will throw us way out.

"Instead of demonstrating, we should be focused on appointing a council to tackle corruption," Carmen says.

The competition between the two sides is so fervent that at a weekend Buddhist Dharma talk at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, the anti- and pro-Shinawatra camps had an intense standoff and segregated themselves from each other.

Greater access to information outside of government-controlled media in Thailand has also helped galvanize Thai activists in the United States. "The people here look at the Internet, read Thai newspapers published here or watch satellite television every day to get information people do not have in Thailand," says Paison Promnui, editor of Asian Pacific News, a Thai weekly.

Thai Americans are eager to try out new democratic ideals and tools by staging protests and voting. Shinawatra is the first democratically elected leader to last a full term in the country.

On April 2, both sides will weigh in at a provisional election to decide Shinawatra's future. Overseas Thais will be counted in the vote. In a preliminary election on March 17, Thais lined up in front of the Thai consulate in Los Angeles hours before the voting booths were opened.

Some Thai observers in the United States say that the renewed interest in elections in Thailand will encourage more Thais to participate in the American democratic process.

"People from Thailand have two houses. One here and one in Thailand, and when they are 60, they go back. But this will change," Chaisorn says. Thais, he says, are already seeking ways to become more visible. They have created a scholarship fund for a Thai human rights lawyer, and successfully pushed for the appointment of a Thai commissioner as part of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's team.

"We pay taxes here for many years and we want to have a greater say in what happens in America," Chaisorn says.

Pueng Vongs is a writer and editor for New America Media.

 (http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=907ea8a8e7e84178c865850cee0c290b)

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April 3, 2006

RED CROSS TO YIELD CONTROL OVER SOME AID DOLLARS

WASHINGTON (Associated Press) — Criticized for its Katrina response, the American Red Cross says it is relinquishing control over some disaster aid dollars and cracking down on fraud and abuse.

The nation's largest charity promised the changes in a statement to a Senate panel Monday, following its acknowledgment last year that its $2 billion response to the Gulf Coast storm fell short.

Responding to allegations of waste, the Red Cross said it was moving to standardize financial controls, hire more investigators to review whistle-blower complaints and cede control to religious groups in some underserved areas.

"Could the Red Cross and the entire non-profit community have done better? Undoubtedly," wrote Red Cross chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter to Senate Finance Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, whose committee is leading a congressional inquiry.

"There is no excuse for the instances of improper conduct which impacted on our performance and response during Hurricane Katrina and on our continued relief and recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast," McElveen-Hunter said.

The proposals come as some lawmakers, including Reps. Jim McCrery, R-La., and Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., have questioned whether Congress should rethink its national disaster response plan that gives the Red Cross the primary role and the dollars that flow with it.

Some critics have said the Red Cross failed to respond quickly enough in some low-income, minority areas, while internally some volunteers and employees have questioned whether charity dollars are being put to their best use.

In a major shift, the Red Cross told the Senate committee that it will funnel money, training and resources to other charitable groups so they can establish shelters in areas where Red Cross local chapters have less presence.

It acknowledged the potential difficulties in ceding this power, but the Red Cross said it was committed to change and had hired a new vice president for diversity to coordinate the effort.

"These would be shelters the Red Cross would recognize and support financially but would not necessarily run," according to McElveen-Hunter, who said the specifics had yet to be hammered out. "The Red Cross understands that partnership does not mean assisting the Red Cross in its mission, but helping others achieve the shared mission of serving the affected community."

The Red Cross, however, would not release — at Grassley's request — the details of hundreds of internal complaints made by employees and charities that allege fraud, safety violations and employment disputes. It cited the confidential nature of its phone complaint line.

The charity also disputed as unfounded some whistle-blower allegations made public by the Finance Committee last month — including possible theft as well as charges the Red Cross had inflated thousands of food orders from suppliers at a New Orleans feeding site in mid-September, explaining that it had relied on estimates from city officials.

The changes include:

* Upgrading service and call centers by acquiring supplies to feed and shelter 1 million people for six days and to handle 100,000 cases a day. It also will stock 1 million debit cards for emergency disaster relief.

* Improving coordination with Red Cross local chapters with proposed measures this summer to increase board participation and governance.

* Hiring outside investigators and auditors to review whistle-blower complaints deemed credible after an internal review. They include the existence of unauthorized Red Cross distribution centers or warehouses in New Orleans; improper use of Red Cross supplies at political rallies; and failure to conduct background checks on volunteers.

* The Senate inquiry comes after the Red Cross has seen two presidents resign in a little more than four years. Both resignations came after clashes with the board of governors on the tail of major disasters: Dr. Bernadine Healy stepped down shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and, more recently, Marsha Evans quit following Katrina.

(http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-03-redcross_x.htm)

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Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 6, 2006

THE UNITED STATES WILL NOT SEEK ELECTION TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

The United States will not run for a United Nations Human Rights Council seat in the Council’s first election, scheduled for May 9, 2006. There are strong candidates in our regional group, with long records of support for human rights, that voted in favor of the resolution creating the Council. They should have the opportunity to run.

Since the drafting of the United Nations Charter, the United States has led the effort to promote human rights at the UN. From Eleanor Roosevelt’s championing of the cause of human rights to the present day, our nation has led and must continue to lead at the UN and around the world. We will continue to do so.

As we said when voting on the Human Rights Council resolution March 15, the United States will work cooperatively with other Member States to make the Council as strong and effective as possible. We will support the Council and we will continue to fund it. We will work closely with partners in the international community to encourage the Council to address serious cases of human rights abuse in countries such as Iran, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Burma, Sudan, and North Korea.

Since the credibility of the Council depends on its membership, the United States will actively campaign on behalf of candidates genuinely committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, and which will act as responsible members of this new body. We will also actively campaign against states that systematically abuse human rights.

With a strong collective effort in the coming months to make the new Council effective, the United States will likely run for the Council next year.

2006/349

(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2006/64182.htm)

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April 6, 2006

NEW LANDFILL TURNS INTO LATEST REBUILDING HURDLE

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS Dozens of Vietnamese-Americans -- including nuns, children and retirees -- today protested New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's move to allow a new dump for Hurricane Katrina debris to go up near their community in the eastern part of the city.

The protesters staged a rally outside City Hall, shouting "No landfill!", and then won a resolution from the City Council that asks Nagin to rescind an emergency order clearing the way for the dump to be built.

Their outcry was the latest hurdle in the city's rebuilding. The controversies have ranged from anger over the locations selected for new trailer parks for displaced residents to legal challenges against the city's attempts to demolish homes without the consent of owners.

Today's outburst came from an influential group not known for protests: Roman Catholic refugees and their descendants who settled in eastern New Orleans after the communist takeover of Vietnam.

The U-S Census in 2000 showed eleven thousand people of Asian descent in New Orleans, and most of them are Vietnamese.

The Reverend Luke Nguyen of the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church says a landfill would drive property values down and discourage residents from returning to the area at a time when the community needs people and has begun building a "Viet-Town" to attract tourists.

He also said putting a landfill near the community was inconsiderate of their needs. Environmental groups also blasted the proposed landfill, charging that officials have tried to ram it through the permitting process. If built, the landfill would also abut the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge.

The city's sanitation director, Veronica White, says debris removal has slowed because of a lack of landfill space in the city. She says it would cost 50 grand more a day to truck that garbage to landfills outside New Orleans, noting there are still about 12-point-five (m) million cubic yards of debris to pick up.

(http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=4739055)

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April 7, 2006

US LAWMAKER FREE TO VISIT VIETNAM: OFFICIAL

Agence France Presse

HANOI - Vietnam's ministry of foreign affairs denied Friday that it refused to grant a visa to a US lawmaker representing many overseas Vietnamese to visit the country next week.

Loretta Sanchez, a Democratic congresswoman from California, is expected to be part of a delegation headed by the House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert. She said Thursday that Hanoi denied her a visa.

"The information is not accurate," foreign ministry spokesman Le Dung told AFP in a statement.

"Upon the US request, we are ready to grant a visa for madam Loretta Sanchez to enter Vietnam as a member of the delegation."

He said the Vietnamese embassy in Washington also told Sanchez's office that she is free to visit.

Sanchez is an outspoken critic of Vietnam's human rights record, and her district encompasses the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and some of Fullerton in Orange County, which includes "Little Saigon," the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam.

"I think it is a shame because in the last two years they have denied me three times entry into the country and I represent the largest Vietnamese community outside of Vietnam," she told AFP on Thursday.

Hastert will lead an eight-member delegation to Vietnam April 14-17 as part of a trip that also includes India, Nepal and Greece.

Sanchez said she wanted to meet with dissidents and political prisoners and discuss various issues with the Vietnamese government, including reunification of families, alleged human rights abuses, media restrictions and trafficking of Vietnamese women by sex syndicates.

The United States has asked Vietnam to release all key political and religious prisoners ahead of President George W. Bush's visit for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Hanoi in November.

Vietnam rejected the call saying it only jails criminals.

The US delegation will be received by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, officials said earlier. Hastert is also expected to visit a church in Hanoi.

(http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060407/pl_afp/vietnamuscongress_060407131548)

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