NCVA eREPORTER - May 24, 2005

In this NCVA eReporter:

EVENTS

• California Conference on the Internment of Japanese Americans
• Asian Americans in Politics: A Discussion with Officeholders and Candidates – June 7, 2005
• Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference – June 22-25, 2005

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program Accepting Letters of Intent
• Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowships Now Accepting Applications
• Applications Invited for Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society's Emerging Leaders International Fellows Program
• Applications Invited for Drucker Award Honoring Nonprofit Innovation
• Social Entrepreneurs Invited to Apply for Reinhard Mohn Fellowship
• Verizon Foundation Offers Funding for Literacy, Technology, and Healthcare Programs Serving New Jersey
• Support for Community Development
• Adoption Programs Funded
• Social Issues Addressed
• Youth and Community Service Programs Funded
• Support for Animal Welfare and the Environment
• Grants for Native Environmental Programs

JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

• Introduction of the 2005-06 Jefferson Science Fellows

TIPS/RESOURCES

• Most Important Legacy: The Next Board
• Finance - 10 for-profit steps
• Benchmarking - Donor performance index
• Management - Leadership instability
• Essential Elements of Great Fund-raising

NEWS

• On Display (Nguoi Viet)
• Asian influence growing at polls (San Gabriel Valley)
• Gala Celebrates Viet-Am Icons (AsianWeek)
• E Pluribus Unum –– APA Heritage Month (AsianWeek)
• Vietnamese vote called key (Mercury News)
• Asians try to win advocacy for issues through forums (Associated Press)
• Statement on H.R. 606, the Angel Island Immigration Station (Press Release)

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EVENTS

CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE ON THE INTERNMENT OF JAPANESE AMERICANS

NOTICE TO ALL, the California Conference on the Internment of Japanese Americans is sponsored by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) - California State Library.

The Conference is an essential initiative in communicating civil liberties through the lessons of the Japanese American experience and bridging communities of understanding.

NOTICE TO ALL is for all individuals interested in bringing forth the lessons of the Japanese American internment experience and its impact today.

CCLPEP invites all youth, educators, artists, historians, community leaders, activists and concerned citizens. All recipients of CCLPEP grants are encouraged to attend this conference.

NOTICE TO ALL will showcase the individual projects created by CCLPEP grant recipients, as well as forums on internment as it influences us today. Conferees will have direct input to the future directives and priorities of the CCLPEP.

About the CCLPEP
The California Civil Liberties Public Education Program (CCLPEP) was created in 1999 as the result of the passage of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Act (AB1914 and AB1915) sponsored by then-Assemblymember Mike Honda.

Honorary Committee
The Members of the Honorary Committee are policy makers who have been supportive of the California Civil Liberties Public Education Act.

Volunteer Opportunities
The Conference is seeking college students as "Recorders" for the conference workshops. Each workshop is 1.5 hours and each college student will be compensated with a stipend of $40 per workshop.

Thursday, June 2  12 noon - 5:00pm
Friday, June 3  10:30am - 5:30pm
Saturday, June 4  10:00am - 3:00pm

If you are interested in participating, or have questions about the schedule, please call Ken Maeshiro at the JCCCNC at 415.567.5505 or email kmaeshiro@jcccnc.org

(http://www.cclpepconf.org/)

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The Asian  American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts and The Asian American Center at Northeastern  University present

ASIAN AMERICANS IN POLITICS: A DISCUSSION WITH OFFICEHOLDERS AND CANDIDATES

Tuesday, June  7, 2005
Northeastern  University, McLeod Suites (Curry Student Center)
Reception at 5:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion at 5:30 p.m.

This forum will explore issues facing Asian Pacific American (APA) politicians in a state where APAs comprise one of the fastest-growing populations in many major towns and cities but have yet to elect a statewide representative.  The panelists will examine topics such as the significance of an APA identity for elected officials the difficulties of representing a diverse, non-homogenous ethnic group to the impact of demographic trends on political races.

OPENING REMARKS BY GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS

Moderator:
Professor Paul Watanabe, Director, Institute for Asian  American Studies and Assoc. Prof. of Political Science, University of  Massachusetts Boston

Panelists:
Amy Mah Sangiolo, Vice President, Newton Board of Aldermen
Sam Yoon, Candidate, Boston City Council
Ramesh Advani, Chairman, Norfolk Board of Selectmen
Greer Tan Swiston, Candidate, Newton Board of Aldermen

Event Co-Sponsors:  The President's Asian American Advisory Group at Northeastern University;  Political Science Department at Northeastern University; and the  Commonwealth Legislative Seminar ASIAN AMERICAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION  OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC.

Direct questions and RSVPs to:

Tina Matsuoka at tinaryoko@yahoo.com or Andrew Shen at a.shen@neu.edu

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VIETNAMESE AMERICAN YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Registration Deadline: June 8, 2005

Join us for a 4-day Summit, including Banquet & Dance!
$50 Conference Only
$100 Conference and Housing

The Vietnamese American Community is growing in both population size and political clout.  From 1990 to 2000, the number of foreign-born Vietnamese increased 82%.  As the Community matures, it needs dynamic young people with leadership skills and the vision to lead.  Young Vietnamese Americans will need to hone their talents, understand the complex national and local issues that affect their communities, bridge the generation and cultural gaps, and effectively lead by example.

Recognizing the emergence of this young population and its impact on the political, economical, and social spectrums, the Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference (VAYLC) seeks to harness this energy by bringing young Vietnamese American and Asian & Pacific American students and young professionals to Washington, D.C. for a summit on June 22-25, 2005.

OBJECTIVES
*  Develop leadership skills for young Vietnamese American and Asian Pacific American (APA) students and young professionals.
*  Provide a forum for young Asian Americans to discuss national and local issues and establish a network for young leaders to meet and exchange ideas.
*  Promote Vietnamese American values, culture, and heritage.
*  Prepare young professionals and students to become public leaders in their communities.

WORKSHOPS
The following is a partial list of workshops:
*  Political Empowerment & Involvement: Getting Involved
*  Understanding Your Cultural Values: Devise solutions to rectify stereotypes and misperceptions
*  Community Service: Making a Difference
*  Cool Careers: Beyond the 9-5 Jobs
*  The Art of Networking: Get things accomplished and help build a sense of community
*  21st Century Leader: Be comfortable with your identity and operate effectively
*  Funding Resources: Show Me the Money

VAYLC is a program of the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, VAYLC aims to raise awareness of issues, provide skills necessary to participate in the solution process, and network interested persons with non-profit organizations.  Our goal is to provide a forum for young professionals and students to network and build professional relationships to lead and strengthen the Vietnamese American and Asian Pacific American communities.

VAYLC is funded by our generous donors and sponsors:
American Legacy Foundation, AnviCom, Bao Nha Magazine, Catholic University of America, Citibank, Eden Center, Inc., Federal Asian Pacific American Council, Freddie Mac, International Leadership Foundation, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Moonlight Group, National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies, National Marrow Donor Program, Spectrum Knowledge, State Farm Insurance®, Vietnamese American Communication Network, Vietnamese Professionals Society - DC

(www.vaylc.org)

(www.ncvaonline.org)

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON COMMUNITY HEALTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ACCEPTING LETTERS OF INTENT

Deadline: September 22, 2005 (Letters of Intent)

The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership  Program (CHLP) honors outstanding individuals who overcome  daunting odds to expand access to health care and social  services to underserved and isolated populations in  communities across the United States. The program\'s goal  is to elevate the work of its leaders through financial  support, opportunities for growth and networking, and  assistance raising awareness of their contributions.

Community-based health providers and advocates in mid-career who have created or significantly improved health  programs in local communities where healthcare needs have  been ignored and unmet, are eligible to be nominated.  Nominees must be a United States citizen or permanent  resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, or  Puerto Rico. They must be currently working in their own  local community (not on a national or international level)  in affiliation with a nonprofit or government agency, on a  three-quarter to full-time basis.

The award is $120,000. $105,000 is for the support of the leader's program and $15,000 is a personal stipend. Ten  awards are made each year.

Nominations are welcomed from consumers, community leaders, health professionals, government officials, and  others who have been personally inspired by people  providing essential community health services. Nominations  from development and public relations departments or  professional grant writers cannot be accepted. The nomination process begins with a Letter of Intent.  Nominators of selected candidates will receive full nomination packages.

The program will begin accepting LOIs through its Web site on May 11, 2005. Visit the Web site for complete program information and nomination procedures.

(http://www.communityhealthleaders.org/)

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PAUL MILLER WASHINGTON REPORTING FELLOWSHIPS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

Deadline: June 17, 2005

The National Press Foundation ( http://www.nationalpress.org/ ) is accepting applications for the 2005-2006 Paul Miller Washington  Reporting Fellowships. The program is supported by grants  from the Gannett Foundation  ( http://www.gannettfoundation.org/ ) and the Freedom Forum (http://www.freedomforum.org/ ) and by the National  Press Foundation's program fund.

This monthly series of one-day seminars (September 2005 - June 2006) is for reporters for newspapers and other media  who currently or soon will be based in Washington, D.C. Miller fellows learn from veteran colleagues, officials, and experts how to mine the nation's capital for important  local news.

Fifteen reporters will be selected competitively.  Supervisors must agree to allow reporters to attend seminars, and reporters must attend. This program is designed primarily for regional reporters, but other  journalists will be considered.

Program information and application procedures are available at the National Press Foundation Web site.

(http://www.nationalpress.org/programs3516/programs_show.htm?doc_id=271985)

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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR CENTER ON PHILANTHROPY AND CIVIL SOCIETY’S EMERGING LEADERS INTERNATIONAL FELLOWS PROGRAM

Deadline: August 15, 2005

The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society's ( http://www.philanthropy.org/ ) Emerging Leaders International Fellows Program provides leadership training through applied research and professional mentorships for young scholar-practitioners in the nonprofit sector.

The program is open to scholars and practitioners under the age of 36 interested in building third-sector capacity in the United States and overseas. This year's fellows will be selected from abroad and also from communities of color under-represented in the U.S. grantmaking sector.  Fellows are based at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where they design and pursue an  individualized research project and participate in a  three-month seminar (March 1 to May 31, 2006) on the U.S. and international voluntary sectors.

The research topic for applicants to the 2006 Emerging Leaders Program is community foundations. In addition, a  limited number of fellowships for research on diaspora philanthropy, as well as other topics, may also be  available for applicants based outside the United States.

Applicants must hold a college or university degree and speak and write English fluently. Preference will be given to candidates with strong ties to a third-sector institution and demonstrated research skills. Traditionally, selected fellows are citizens of countries other than the United States.

Each fellowship covers the cost of tuition and includes a  $1,300-per month stipend to cover living expenses. The center will also provide accommodations and round-trip air travel to and from the United States.

(http://www.philanthropy.org/programs/intnl_fellows_program.html)

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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR DRUCKER AWARD HONORING NONPROFIT INNOVATION

Deadline: August 12, 2005

The Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation is  presented each November to three U.S. nonprofit organizations in recognition of an innovative, existing  program that has made a difference in the lives of the  people it serves. Peter Drucker's definition of innovation - "change that creates a new dimension of performance" -- is key to consideration for the award.

The award is accompanied by a first-place prize of $20,000  and two runners-up prizes of $2,500 each. The cash prizes  are unrestricted and designed to celebrate and further the work of innovative nonprofit organizations in the United  States. The Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, administer the award.

The selected program must have specific and measurable outcomes; exemplify innovation by demonstrating a new dimension or standard of performance; have made a  demonstrated difference in the lives of the people it  serves; and serve as a model that can be replicated or  adapted by other organizations.

Applications must be submitted by the organization responsible for the program; third-party nominations will not be accepted. The organization must be a U.S.-domiciled entity serving a U.S. population and be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, while the program must be fully operational at the time of application.

(http://www.cgu.edu/pages/2417.asp)

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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS INVITED TO APPLY FOR REINHARD MOHN FELLOWSHIP

Deadline: August 1, 2005

The Reinhard Mohn Fellowship, a program of Bertelsmann Global Media, will select up to five social entrepreneurs from all over the world for a twelve-month fellowship dedicated to in-depth project work and training in a global media company. The fellowship is designed to strengthen fellows' leadership and entrepreneurial skills for executing future projects.

The program seeks talented and highly motivated leaders from all sectors of society -- business, the public sector, nonprofit organizations, science, politics, culture, sports, social organizations -- who take new entrepreneurial approaches to social and political issues.  The fellows' common denominator is a dedication to serving the community.

Fellows are given the opportunity to obtain valuable knowledge and expertise and build up extensive networks  through selective training and a wide range of project work in a variety of divisions and at different locations within the Bertelsmann group of companies. Fellows are expected to expand on their existing potential and apply their experience to projects in their own field of activity.

Fellows receive a taxable remuneration of Euro 60,000, a  housing allowance, and travel expenses. The next fellowship round begins on May 1, 2006.

(http://www.reinhard-mohn-fellowship.com/index_txt_bruecke.php3)

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Verizon Foundation Offers Funding for Literacy, Technology, and Healthcare Programs Serving New Jersey

Deadline: June 30, 2005

The Verizon Foundation ( http://foundation.verizon.com/ ) is currently inviting applications from nonprofit  organizations in New Jersey for grants supporting literacy,  technology, and health care initiatives.

Applicants must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations whose programs benefit underserved communities in Verizon-serving territory. For purposes of this program, underserved communities include low-income, ethnic, minority, limited-English-speaking, and disabled communities in New Jersey's various rural, urban, and inner-city regions. Nonprofit organizations located outside of Verizon-serving territory but assisting under-served communities in Verizon-serving territory are also eligible for consideration.

Grants will be awarded in the following program areas:

Verizon Reads - Literacy Grant Awards: Proposals that focus on basic literacy programs that build on reading skills for children and adults; and proposals that focus on computer and Web-based literacy programs.

Verizon Connects - Technology Grant Awards: Proposals to  improve the operational efficiency of a nonprofit through  the use of computers and the Internet; proposals for  technology applications that enable nonprofits to reach  the community they serve more effectively; proposals that  provide technology (job-related) training for individuals,  including welfare-to-work and school-to-work training  programs; and proposals that assist people with  disabilities in acquiring computer skills through adaptive  technology that prepares them to enter the workforce.

Verizon Health Care - Technology-In-Health Care Awards:  Nonprofit use of telecommunications technology to improve  the quality of medical care for consumers and healthcare  professionals.

A total of $500,000 will be distributed through the program in 2005, with grant amounts ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 for a one-year period.

(http://foundation.verizon.com/rfp/2005_rfp_nj.shtml)

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SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Nehemiah Community Foundation

Nehemiah Corporation of America is a nonprofit community development corporation specializing in homeownership, affordable housing, and community development. The mission of the Nehemiah Community Foundation is to support faith-based and community-based organizations and to encourage individual achievement and self-sufficiency. The Foundation focuses support on nonprofit organizations working in the headquarters city of Sacramento, CA and in a number of selected cities; however, requests are accepted from throughout the U.S. Grants are made to projects that address the following program areas: affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization; job training and placement for low and moderate-income individuals; and education. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.nehemiahcorp.org/info_ncf.html)

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ADOPTION PROGRAMS FUNDED

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's primary interest is in funding projects that directly impact permanency through adoption of waiting children in the United States and Canada. Emphasis will be given to programs and projects on a national or regional basis that will help move children out of foster care and into adoptive homes. The Foundation is especially interested in addressing the permanency needs of children who are older, medically and/or emotionally challenged, from an ethnic minority and/or sibling groups who seek to be adopted together. The remaining deadlines in 2005 are July 6 and October 5.

(http://www.davethomasfoundationforadoption.org)

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SOCIAL ISSUES ADDRESSED

Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock

The Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock supports denominational organizations as well as nonprofit organizations whose goals reflect the principles of Unitarian Universalism. The program's interest areas include: social justice, civil rights and sustainable communities, economic equity, and building democracy. The program's non-denominational grantmaking is limited to U.S.-based organizations with a locus of activity in the United States. There is also a separate program that supports organizations that advance economic and social equity on Long Island and in New York City. Applications may be submitted at any time.

(http://www.uucsr.org/veatch)

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YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS FUNDED

Janus Foundation

The Janus Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that are innovative, visionary, and forward-thinking in their approach in communities throughout the country. The Foundation provides grants nationally in the following two giving areas: At-Risk Youth through Education and Community Service and Volunteerism. The Foundation also supports cultural institutions in the Denver metro area that enrich and enhance the community by furthering arts and culture. Funded organizations should provide unique services and have strong partnerships with other nonprofit organizations in order to provide comprehensive services to their constituents. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://ww4.janus.com/Janus/Retail/StaticPage?jsp=jsp/Janushome/JanusFoundation.jsp)

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SUPPORT FOR ANIMAL WELFARE AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Horizon Organic Dairy Charitable Contributions Program

The Horizon Organic Dairy Charitable Contributions Program supports nonprofit organizations that focus on issues that address the company's mission of respect for the environment, animal welfare, food safety, and health and nutritional needs. Support is provided to organizations that champion one of the following categories: environmental education and preservation; family farmers and rural issues; animal welfare; and organic research, education and promotion. The company provides cash contributions and donations of Horizon Organic products. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.horizonorganic.com/about/corporate/index.html)

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GRANTS FOR NATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS

Honor the Earth

Honor the Earth is a national foundation and advocacy organization that supports front line Native environmental work. The organization's mission is to create awareness and support for Native environmental issues and to develop needed financial and political resources for the survival of sustainable Native communities. Grants are provided to Native groups that are directed and controlled by Native peoples, and working in one of Honor the Earth's program areas: Environmental Justice; Building Sustainable Communities; and Nuclear Waste/Safe Energy. Grants range from $1,000 to $5,000. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

(http://www.honorearth.org)

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JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC

May 23, 2005

INTRODUCTION OF THE 2005-06 JEFFERSON SCIENCE FELLOWS

On Tuesday, May 24, 2005, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will introduce the 2005-2006 Jefferson Science Fellows that will begin working at the State Department in September 2005. This event will take place in the Benjamin Franklin Room of the U.S. Department of State at 1:00 p.m. before invited guests.

The Jefferson Science Fellows program was established in October 2003 by former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to continue elevating the role of science and technology in U.S. foreign policy. It brings five tenured professors each year from American universities for one-year assignments at the Department, followed by a five-year consultancy after returning to their academic careers.

The program is supported by generous grants from the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation on a three-year pilot basis, in addition to financial support from participating American universities. A broad range of professional societies and organizations have also endorsed the Jefferson Science Fellows program

The Jefferson Fellows are chosen through a competition administered by the National Academy of Sciences and the Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State. They are selected for their scientific achievements, articulation and communication skills, abilities to accurately describe scientific topics for non-scientific audiences, and their interest in science and engineering policy. Through their participation in policy discussions, the Fellows help increase understanding among policy officials of complex, cutting edge scientific and engineering fields, and advise policy makers on the wider international implications of important emerging scientific issues. In this capacity, they bring valuable knowledge from their university and professional networks to bear on the work of the Department and, through the Department, to the wider U.S. Government science and technology community.

The 2004-2005 Fellows are completing successful assignments in August. They include:

Dr. Julian Adams, evolutionary biologist, University of Michigan, Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade at USAID; Dr. Bruce Averill, chemist, University of Toledo, Office of Regional Economic Policy and Summit Coordination, Bureau of Western Hemispheric Affairs; Dr. Melba Crawford, mechanical engineer, University of Texas at Austin, U.S. National Commission to UNESCO; Dr. David Eastmond, environmental toxicologist, University of California at Riverside, Office of European Union and Regional Affairs, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs; Dr. Kalidas Shetty, microbiologist and nutritionist, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Office of Agricultural, Biotechnology, and Textile Trade Affairs, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

For further information, please contact: Helen Kim, Office of the Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary, at (202) 647-8725, or Susan Povenmire, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, at (202) 647-3486.

2005/544

Released on May 23, 2005

(http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/46629.htm)

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TIPS/RESOURCES

MOST IMPORTANT LEGACY: THE NEXT BOARD

By Alice Korngold

Boards are instructed to create a vision for the organization and then build the organization accordingly. Boards also need to create a vision for the board and then build the board accordingly. In fact, the greatest legacy a board can leave is a new board.

Boards go through a variety of generations and phases. Newly established organizations are often referred to as founding boards. They usually glom onto a visionary and provide the initial support to advance a new initiative. Boards move on to future phases that run the gamut from stagnant to progressive; irrelevant to vital; lethargic to dynamic.

The people who comprise the board will make an organization whither or thrive. Boards are key to selecting the right CEO, supporting or alienating an effective CEO, dismissing or retaining an ineffective CEO, raising money or shirking the responsibility, reaching out to new supporters or being apathetic.

Good boards do not just happen. Good boards are built by design. Moreover, there is a right board for the right time. Boards that want to take their organizations to the next level of achievement and performance must proactively create and implement a plan to replace themselves -- to create the right board for the next decade.

The Board Governance Committee (the more contemporary version of the traditional Nominating Committee) should play a formidable role in this process, working in partnership with the board chair and CEO. With board input, and ultimately the board's full support and participation, the Governance Committee should determine who needs to be on the board 5 years hence and how to make that happen.

Here are the key steps:

Know the issues. Look at the key challenges and opportunities facing the organization, especially in terms of the mission, revenue model, and strategic alliances. Understand the "business" of the organization and what it will take to maximize revenues, focus on a mission that is compelling, provide significant value to the community, and communicate the organization's effectiveness and impact.

Decide how the board can add value. Figure out the expertise, diversity, and relationships that will be needed at the board level. For example, if the organization is funded primarily by public/government sources, then it could be important to have public policy experts on the board; if the organization needs to diversify its funding sources, then consider the expertise that will be useful; if the organization serves a homogeneous population and the community is changing, then determine the variety of perspectives that will enrich and illuminate the board.

Paint the picture of the next board. Imagine the types of people who need to be on the board. Create the perfect board, describing the qualifications and backgrounds of the people who will be needed most.

Create a plan to build the next board . Determine how you will identify, cultivate, recruit and engage the right people. Figure out who needs to be involved in reaching out to the candidates that are most important. Current board members and funders can be most helpful.

Take stock of the pluses and minuses. That is, what will appeal to or scare away board member prospects? Remedy the matters that are easy. For example, if the board decides it needs to add successful business people, it is important that board meetings be scheduled at convenient times and locations.

A more complicated matter to address is fiscal accountability. Boards that seek to recruit high-potential board members should be sure the organization's financial house is in order; nothing is scarier to board member prospects than cloudy financials.

Another factor that will matter to a new prospect is the capability of the CEO; board members want to work with well-qualified CEOs so that the board can do its work and not the executive's job.

Identify board candidates and court them. Many of the most desirable board candidates will take time and attention. Today's board members should be engaging good future prospects by bringing them as guests to organization events, taking them to lunches with fellow board members and the CEO, and eliciting their input.

Some of the best board members need to be "queued up." Although their volunteer time might be fully committed at the present, they can often be recruited for the next round.

Map the transition. Plan a timetable and a process. This will depend on how much of a change the board designs for itself. In some cases, a controlled evolution will work perfectly well.

In other cases, the board might need to be more ambitious to take the organization to a new level on a more radical schedule; such a goal for the board will require a more creative approach -- possibly establishing a small band of high-caliber candidates and positioning them for greater responsibility through a carefully orchestrated transition. Funders can be key allies, and an outside consultant can be a useful facilitator.

The board of one national organization recently "retreated" to envision the board they would like to have replace themselves over the next few years. This board had already spent two arduous years creating a bolder vision for the organization, hiring an outstanding new CEO, and creating the framework of the new strategic plan. This board realized that their next task was to create a board on which they themselves would never be invited to serve.

This board understood that their greatest legacy would be the development of the next generation of the board to advance the organization further yet. This is the best gift the board could leave to the organization and those it serves.

Alice Korngold is author of "Leveraging Good Will: Strengthening Nonprofits by Engaging Businesses." Her Web site is www.alicekorngold.com and her email address is alice@alicekorngold.com

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/May05/news/news-0505_4.html)

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FINANCE – 10 FOR-PROFIT STEPS

As nonprofits and for-profit entities find more ways to link their objectives in a manner that benefits both, there is an increasing awareness of what must be done in order to maximize returns.

At a recent conference on fundraising, several ideas were offered with the aim of helping nonprofits get the most out of becoming part of the world of for-profits, of becoming part of the business strategy. This means taking on a for-profit mentality, which requires a new way of thinking, a new way of behaving, a new aggressiveness and a strategy and plan.

This in turn involves ten important steps or considerations:

* Accept the new world. The new world of business is that customers want a relationship with business. The new world of nonprofits is that they need not be at the mercy of the person in charge of "charity."

* Get buy-in. There must be acceptance and commitment on the part of everyone.

* It's all about the brand. Customers and donors want solutions, not products.

* Understand your product or service line. Know what you are offering.

* Develop guidelines -- all kinds

* Learn business. This usually works for businesses.

* Learn proposal-less fundraising.

* Understand needs. It helps if supply meets demand.

* Use the Got It, Need It, Can't Do It system. Know which is which.

* Use basic account management principles.

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

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BENCHMARKING – DONOR PERFORMANCE INDEX

Having a vast amount of fundraising data is a good beginning, but the information is useless if it is not analyzed correctly and put to some good purpose.

At a recent conference, the topic of donor data gained quite a bit of attention because of the need of nonprofits to manage the donor relationship in such a way that each person feels as if the nonprofit organizations knows him/her personally.

Thus there is a Donor Performance Index, a list of items to keep in mind when attempting to get the most useful information out of a mound of data. The Index includes such items as:

* At what rate is the program growing?

* How large is the typical gift and how has gift size changed over time?

* What is the frequency of giving and how has the frequency of giving changed over time?

* How long have donors been giving and how much money are donors worth over their lifetime?

* What are donors' renewal and attrition rates?

* Who are your core donors?

* How many lapsed donors do we have?

* How much revenue do lapsed donors represent? Which ones are worth re-soliciting?

* Who is upgrading their support, who is downgrading and what is the pattern?

* Which donors respond to which appeals?

* How many donors gave more than one donation this year? Last year?

* How long do we have to wait to get a second gift?

* How many major donors do we have?

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

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MANAGEMENT – LEADERSHIP INSTABILITY

Instability can be bad for any organization. Operations may be adversely affected, and morale can suffer badly, in a snowballing way.

In their book Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations, Barry Dym and Harry Hutson argue that, as troublesome as instability may be, it can present an opportunity for momentum and creative ideas because feelings of confusion and anxiety make people receptive to new ideas and unfamiliar concepts.

Dym and Hutson identify three states of instability, and they offer what they call the preferred intervention style in each case:

* Confusion and disorientation. Leaders and staff become more confused and disoriented than they let on. They may lose confidence in themselves and each other. Preferred intervention: Instead of putting on a brave face, name and affirm the confusion. The organization may then push toward a new and coherent way to operate.

* Anxiety. This combines confusion with worry. Organizational problems become personalized, and staff take them home. Preferred intervention: leaders must name, not ignore or deny, the cause of anxiety. A leader should draw out both individual and collective elements of anxiety. This is a time to provide structure, maybe a new strategic plan.

* Panic and crisis. People become fearful and grow irrational.  This become contagious, and leaders look on helplessly. Preferred intervention: Remain calm, and share thoughts that can become the seeds of creative solutions. An organization can become transformed because the disorganization caused by panic loosens patterns and opens the door to radical new patterns of experience.

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

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ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF GREAT FUND-RAISING

As you prepare for a campaign, it's good to review some basic elements of fund-raising that we all need to recall from time to time. Even pro athletes go through basic training every year. So, no matter how many years you have been in the business, you should pause to remember the basics. You may have some of your own to add.

People give to people. People don't donate to a building or a cause. They give because someone asks someone (not a company, organization, or foundation) and because someone believes in the need. People are the basics of every campaign.

Fund-raising is not about money. It is about the work or a need that changes or saves lives. Money is how we make it happen.

Fund-raisers need to be able to see things through the eyes of their donors. This is one reason why volunteers are so important. As we work for organizations, we often get too close to our product and what we are trying to sell. Getting feedback from volunteers and donors can help keep us on track.

Fund-raisers, whether they are volunteers or staff, should be donors first. No one should ask for a gift who hasn't first made a gift of their own. Think about it. If an acquaintance asked you to support a cause and you asked if they supported it and they replied, "No," would you give a gift?

Friend-raising comes before fund-raising. Fund-raising is not just selling. Fund-raising is cultivating a prospect until they see the need and are ready to give.

Fund-raising is not just asking, it's inspiring. Fund-raising is the business of inspiring people to fill a need.

Fund-raising is about needs, not achievements. People applaud achievement but give to change lives and save lives. This is why great fund-raisers are also great storytellers. Pull in the audience and tell the story in a way to which they relate.

Learn how to harness the power of emotion. Fund-raising should first appeal to a person's emotion. Logic then reinforces the appeal.

Offer a clear, succinct problem to which people can relate. First open their hearts and minds. Then they will open their wallets.

The trustworthiness of a fund-raiser and his/her organization is the reason people start to give then continue support. Look at your organization and make sure that you can answer tough questions about how money is spent.

A fund-raiser's biggest asset is his or her sincerity. Learn everything you can about your organization and your cause. Support it with all of your heart. As you talk about your organization and your cause to volunteers and donors, the passion in your voice will mean more than the words you speak.

Learn to talk to your donors where they are. Know your donor base. Who they are, how much they can give, and when is the appropriate time to ask them to give. Once this is done, they will give on their terms, not where the fund-raiser wants them to be.

Say "Thank you" properly and often. Remember, your donors also give to other organizations and causes. Make sure they remember yours. Research shows that a person needs to hear from the organization seven times to remember you. Look at your cultivation plan. How many times per year are you touching your donors?

Great fund-raising is based on ethical people who care. You will get great results by taking careful risks, innovating, using new technology, patience, sincerity, and caring!

The next time you are planning a major gifts call, take a moment to review these basic fund-raising elements. Are you practicing your craft in the most effective way? Getting back to basics could make the difference in your campaign and your next call.

Jan Murfield, Jeffrey Byrne and Associates, Inc.
© 2004, Jeffrey Byrne and Associates, Inc.

Jan Murfield is vice president of Jeffrey Byrne & Associates, Inc., a nonprofit capital campaign consulting firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, with offices throughout the United States.

(www.jeffreybyrneandassociates.com)

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NEWS

May 12, 2005

ON DISPLAY

Nguoi Viet

WASHINGTON — This year, as tens of thousands of immigrants remember the day — three decades earlier — when they first came to America, they and others also are looking ahead.

Ahead to May of 2006, to be precise.

That’s when the Smithsonian Institution’s first-ever exhibit on Vietnamese Americans and their resettlement will take center stage in a much-anticipated debut. The show, focusing on the escape of families, their sacrifice and their survival, has already garnered more than $100,000 in support from donors across the nation. But boosters last week asked for more.

Museum officials gathered nearly 200 men and women at the Freer Gallery of Art, inside the huge Smithsonian complex, to explain why.

“The Vietnamese American population certainly is one of the critical ones that can help illuminate American history,” said Franklin Odo, Smithsonian’s director of Asian Pacific American programs. He asked the crowd to share the news of what’s being planned and to open their wallets to help make it happen.

“There’s no finer organization to showcase Vietnamese Americans,” added Frank Jao, president of Bridgecreek, the premier developer of Little Saigon in Southern California. He is a member of the Founder’s Circle — 31 individuals or groups — who gave in the first phase of fund raising, totaling $107,000. Another $80,000 must be collected for installation and to allow the material to travel in the United States for two to three years.

“I and all of us here tonight, I’m sure, will give the best support we can,” Jao said.

He spoke to an audience that had come to Washington for the Vietnamese American National Gala, a star-studded celebration of cultural heritage and pride. This throng was among the events leading up to the VANG dinner.

Why give?

Organizers passed out a list offering inspiration:

The exhibit honors the triumph of the Vietnamese people against overwhelming odds.

The Smithsonian has the resources and distribution to reach a national audience.

The staff of the APA Program, led by Odo, will create curriculum and events to blend into the show, maximizing its learning potential.

Any amount is appreciated, but only donations $2,500 or above will be thanked publicly, says development consultant Francey Youngberg.

“Do you see yourself” when you go to museums, she asked listeners. “Do you see the story of your family? Can you bring your children and see Vietnamese American history being reflected?”

To motivate potential donors and to allow participants a glimpse of what will go on display, researcher Vũ Phạm delved deeper. He titled his presentation: “Who are Vietnamese Americans?”

“What comes to mind when you hear the words Vietnamese Americans?” he questioned, citing a list: “War. Refugees. Gangs. Nail salons. Fish sauce. Ardent anti-communists.”

Phạm, who holds a Ph.D. from New York’s Cornell University and whose work focuses on this group of immigrants, is working with Smithsonian staff to plan the exhibit content. He says he wants to share the challenges and contributions of Vietnamese Americans, along with the diversity of their daily life.

The challenges: Migration. Adaptation. Generational differences. The isolation of the elderly to the education of youth. Then there’s the language barrier.

The contributions, what these people have offered their new country, include: Entrepreneurs. Technology. Shining achievements in sports, entertainment, media, arts, literature, government, along with participation in nonprofit organizations and building Little Saigon communities.

He talked about Web site news and lesson plans and an exhibit, he says, that would do the community “proud.”

Supporters say they can’t wait.

“The Smithsonian would be the best place” and most “prestigious place to exhibit our culture,” said Nguyễn Xuân Ngài, board chairman for Viet Heritage Society, a donor based in San Jose.

“This is the first project that requires our contribution on a national scale,” said Thanh Nguyễn, a board member of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. “Community actions are what counts.”

“We’re very excited that we can find a museum to exhibit the past, the present and the future of Vietnamese Americans,” added Jackie Bông-Wright, author of “Autumn Cloud: from Việt Nam War Widow to American Activist” who lives in Virginia. “All of us have to be involved, to contribute a piece of art, an idea or finances.”

(http://nguoi-viet.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=23522&z=84)

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May 14, 2005

ASIAN INFLUENCE GROWING AT POLLS
Population gains slowly taking hold

By Cindy Chang, Staff Writer

Fourth in an occasional series

It has been more than two decades since immigrants from Taiwan and Hong Kong began their massive influx into the San Gabriel Valley. Yet Asians have not achieved political power anywhere close to their numerical dominance.

A smattering of Asians sit on local school boards and city councils. Two of the area's representatives in the state assembly are Chinese American.

But of the eight area cities with majority or near-majority Asian populations, only Monterey Park and Walnut have more than one Asian city council member.

Rosemead, a city with an Asian population of just under 50 percent, elected its first Asian-American council member in March. Matthew Lin of San Marino and Chi Mui of San Gabriel are the first Asians to occupy the city council dais in those near-majority Asian communities.

"So many Asians I spoke to when I was campaigning were so happy that they might get representation," said Gary Yamauchi, the third-generation Japanese American who became Alhambra's first Asian council member in November. "I had a lot of Japanese saying, 'We're so happy a Japanese American is getting in there, starting to get involved in politics.' "

The reasons for the lag in political representation are many, experts and Asians say. Some would-be candidates are too busy trying to establish themselves in a new country, or are not confident enough in their English skills, to run for office. Those who do run may find it difficult to break into old-boy networks that still operate in some cities. Racism is not as prevalent as it once was, but some Asian politicians say they still encounter subtle forms of discrimination.

At the same time, Asian candidates are unable to fully tap into their natural base: Asian voter turnout is substantially lower than the group's share of the general population.

But politicians and academic experts say the seeds for change are in place, and it is only a matter of time before there are as many Asian faces on local diases as there are in local classrooms. Much progress has been made in the last decade, with the number of Asian officeholders creeping upward and new faces like Yamauchi, Lin and Mui winning breakthrough elections in their cities.

"(Chinese residents) feel more comfortable with me -- they feel we have a connection," Mui said. "I speak Cantonese and some Mandarin, I can read and write. They feel more comfortable getting involved."

The vital structures of minority politics -- Asian networking groups and fund-raising arms, nonprofits specializing in registering Asian immigrant voters -- are already functional, if not fully developed. As more Asians rise to positions of power, they will evolve their own systems of patronage, just as their African-American and Latino predecessors have, political analysts say.

And as the Asian population continues to grow in both influence and numbers, politicians running for statewide and national office will begin to pay attention to the needs of a group that has been labeled a "model minority" but still has many members who are limited by poor English skills and are struggling to obtain citizenship and establish themselves financially.

"For sure, you're going to see a lot more Asian-American elected officials at all levels -- the city council, the school board, the assembly, the state senate for sure. The only question is how fast the pace will be," said Paul Zee, an immigrant from Hong Kong who in the 1990s became the first Asian to serve on the South Pasadena City Council.

Blueprint for victory

From the outset of his Alhambra City Council campaign, Yamauchi enlisted a cadre of Chinese-American volunteers who were plugged into both the city's business establishment and its Chinese-speaking immigrant circles.

In what was shaping up to be a tooth-and-nail battle between two factions for control of the city, Yamauchi was backed by Alhambra's political establishment. But he still needed every vote he could get.

He was not sure how his Japanese ancestry would play. Unlike most of Alhambra's Asian residents, he was not a Chinese or Vietnamese immigrant and could communicate with non-English speakers no better than any other candidate. His main opponent, a young Latina attorney, had the backing of a powerful, regionwide Latino political machine.

Yamauchi's strategists mapped out a campaign schedule that included stops at nearly every restaurant opening and awards ceremony where the Chinese-language media would be in attendance. He won endorsements from Asian groups like the Chinese American Business Association, emphasizing the need for an Asian representative who would have a natural sympathy with immigrant constituents.

"Gary's got a very good opportunity, because at least he's Asian and he'll get a little bit more coverage in the Asian papers," said Stephen Sham, a Yamauchi campaign aide who is contemplating his own City Council run in two years.

Sure enough, Yamauchi's candidacy was featured in publications like Sing Tao and the Chinese Daily News, primary sources of information for Alhambra voters whose poor English keeps them from accessing the mainstream media.

But any advantage conferred on Yamauchi by his Asian ancestry was diminished by a simple calculus: Many of the city's immigrant voters are not U.S. citizens, and many of those who have made it through the lengthy naturalization process are not registered to vote.

In the November 2000 elections, which like 2004 included a presidential contest and city council and school board contests, Alhambra's Asian voters cast 38 percent of the city's ballots, according to a study of U.S. Census and county voting data by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.

That constitutes a sizable voting bloc but one that is still much smaller than Asian residents' 48.6-percent share of the population.

Getting immigrants to the polls

The voting gap begins with citizenship. Only 49 percent of voting-age Asians in Los Angeles County are U.S. citizens, according to the APALC study.

Those who are citizens are registered to vote at rates much lower than the population at large. Between 55 and 60 percent of the county's eligible Asians are registered to vote, compared with 82 percent of the general population.

In Alhambra, only about 45 percent of eligible Chinese were registered. In Rosemead and El Monte, the figure was about 38 percent for Chinese voters. Those Asians who are registered to vote generally turn out at lower rates than the rest of the population, though there are exceptions.

Race-specific data for the 2004 elections is not yet available.

"They say they're too busy. They're afraid it'll mean jury duty. They say they don't speak English or they can't take off from work,"said Sandra Chen, former executive director of the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment, or CAUSE, a Pasadena-based group that registers Asian-American voters.

Experts cite a variety of reasons for low voting rates among Asians, most centered on the immigrant population's continuing adjustment to life in the U.S., whether it is poor English, burdensome work schedules or unfamiliarity with democratic institutions. The same factors, the experts say, have likely limited the pool of qualified Asians running for office.

Local observers credit CAUSE with registering many new Asian voters and guiding them through the voting process. But CAUSE, the only group in the San Gabriel Valley that focuses on Asian voters, operates with four full-time employees and can only do so much to reach the tens of thousands of Asian citizens who remain unregistered.

Some of the slack is taken up by Asian candidates looking to give themselves an edge by narrowing the gap between the population figures and turnout figures. Those candidates describe running into the same obstacles as their counterparts at CAUSE.

"It's so labor-intensive, my God. You have to take them by the hand," said Joaquin Lim, a Hong Kong immigrant who is in his second term on the Walnut City Council. "If they're newly registered, that doesn't mean they'll vote. You have to call them, remind them there's an election coming up."

While African Americans and Latinos lean heavily Democratic, Asians split about evenly between the two major political parties and register Independent at a rate twice that of other ethnic groups, according to a study by the Public Policy Institute of California.

In part because of the difficulty of crafting a message for such a diverse audience, most candidates for statewide office have done little to reach out to Asian voters, even though they constitute 12 percent of the population and 8 percent of registered voters statewide.

A community that is already culturally and linguistically diverse is becoming even more fragmented as it grows in numerical and political strength, some observers say, making it harder for Asian politicians to establish a base.

"Community leaders often struggle to find common ground between different Asian-American groups. That can mean divisions along ethnic lines, religious lines, gender lines or generational lines," said Janelle Wong, a professor of political science at USC. "I don't think people realize how difficult it is to bring the Asian-American community together to vote as a bloc."

Becoming 'one of them'

With the influence of a core constituency diminished, Asian politicians cannot rely exclusively on the Asian vote, even in majority or near-majority Asian cities. The need to capture mainstream votes may be one reason why Asian political representation has lagged.

"With any minority group growing through immigration, you always have a lag. There's a chunk not eligible to vote, and the population is a little higher than the voting power. Gradually they'll gain power and do it in their own way," said Fred Register, a Pasadena-based political consultant who worked on the re-election campaign of Assemblywoman Carol Liu, D-Pasadena.

Some Asian candidates run "outsider" campaigns or live in one of the few cities where they can afford to draw support mainly from Asian constituents. Others, like Yamauchi and Zee of South Pasadena, were supported by mostly white establishments -- still the most feasible route to power in many jurisdictions.

Barriers at community service organizations like the Rotary Club and the YMCA, where local politicians traditionally cut their teeth, have fallen, with many Asians now serving as board members.

"In Alhambra you haven't been able to elect an Asian because of the old boys – a small group of old-timers that controls the city. Not one of them is Asian," said David Lang, who has worked as a campaign consultant to Chu and former Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo and heads the Indochinese American Political Action Committee. "To overcome that, there are no shortcuts. You have to develop relationships with these people, become one of them."

That is just what Yamauchi did, serving as Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce president before running for City Council with the support of the Alhambra business establishment -- a path that would have been unlikely for an Asian American a generation ago.

Sham, the Hong Kong immigrant who helped Yamauchi with his campaign, has followed in Yamauchi's footsteps, holding many of the same offices and cultivating relationships with both mainstream power brokers and the Chinese community as he eyes a City Council run in two years.

"I'm 60. Guys 50, 60, 70 are truly lucky to be where we're at because of our parents opening doors. They went through the bigotry and the discrimination, not us," said Yamauchi, who was born in 1944 shortly after his parents were released from an internment camp for Japanese Americans in Arkansas.

'We've come eons'

Even as some old barriers remain and the numbers show that there is still a long way to go, the progress made by Asian-American politicians in the last decade is tangible.

While Asians in Alhambra are just getting started, Monterey Park in 2003 elected a majority Asian City Council for the first time. In a city with an Asian population of over 60 percent, residents typically have a long list of Asian-surnamed candidates to choose from.

A group called Chinese Elected Officials has about 25 members who currently hold office in Southern California and another 10 or so who are former officeholders. That's a long way from its beginnings in the 1980s when Monterey Park Councilman David Lau and just a handful of others, including Judy Chu -- then a Monterey Park councilwoman and now a state assemblywoman -- held meetings at a local restaurant.

Chu, D-Monterey Park, who started her political career during a time when white residents were pushing for "English only" signage and an us-versus-them mentality prevailed, is finishing her third and final term in the State Assembly, a beneficiary of a redistricting map that was expressly drawn to favor an Asian candidate. There are eight Asian-American assemblymembers, up from zero a little over a decade ago.

The overtly racial issues that marked Chu's days on the Monterey Park City Council have been replaced by more pedestrian concerns like balanced budgets and traffic.

"We've come eons, I think. It's almost like a whole new world today," Chu said. "In those days, people said the most insensitive things and did not expect the Asian-American community to push back. But today, people are more careful to say such things. Today, we also have people in the Asian community who are more involved in the political process, so they are there to catch things before they get to such a polarized point."

Just a matter of time?

All indications point to a continued influx of Asian immigrants into the San Gabriel Valley the coming decades. Asians, like Latinos, will have to contend with the eternal uphill battle of registering new immigrants to vote. While undertaken to some extent by political candidates themselves, the task is left mostly to under-funded nonprofit groups like CAUSE.

But as immigrants who arrived in prior decades put down roots in the San Gabriel Valley and a native-born second generation comes of age, the Asian political presence is almost certain to grow, local politicians and analysts predict. The Asian Pacific American Legal Center and research institutions like the UCLA Asian American Studies Center are churning out policy papers, and networking groups like Chinese Elected Officials are showing neophyte politicians the ropes.

Lawmakers like Chu are moving beyond the local level and will use both their name recognition and their backroom credentials to lay the groundwork for successors to be elected.

"I think that as Asian Americans recognize how important politics is, they'll recognize that they have to get involved, that if they want their interests to be reflected in politics, that Asian Americans have to be there," said Leland Saito, a USC professor and the author of a 1998 book on racial politics in Monterey Park.

-- Cindy Chang can be reached at (626) 578-6300, Ext. 4586, or by e-mail at cindy.chang@sgvn.com.

(http://www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205%257E31703%257E2870593,00.html?search=filter)

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May 20, 2005

GALA CELEBRATES VIET-AM ICONS

AsianWeek Staff Report

WASHINGTON –– The Vietnamese American National Gala (VANG) presented the Second Annual Golden Torch Awards at the historic Mayflower Hotel.

The gathering is a national celebration of Vietnamese heritage and pride held in conjunction with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Ms. Betty Nguyen, anchor for CNN/U.S., and Mr. Quang X. Pham, author of A Sense of Duty –– My Father, My American Journey, presided over this year’s ceremonies.

Golden Torch Awards honored Ms. Kieu Chinh, a legendary actress with a career spanning 50 years; Mr. Loc Nam Nguyen, director at Catholic Charities for that group’s immigration resettlement efforts; Mr. Binh Nguyen, owner of noodle chain Pho Hoa with more than 100 locations; Dr. Chi Van Dang, the highest-ranking physician of Vietnamese heritage in academic medicine worldwide; Tony Quang Lam, the first Vietnamese American to be elected to public office in the U.S.; and Mr. Hau Thai-Tang, chief engineer for the iconic 40th Anniversary Ford 2005 Mustang.

VANG is hosted by Viet Heritage Society, and sponsored by law firm Greenberg Traurig and the Vietnamese American Real Estate Professional Association. “Honorary Vietnamese American” was posthumously bestowed on Dr. John Tsu, who passed away in March. The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service was presented with the National Leadership Award.

For more information, contact Chau Nguyen at (301) 520-9265 or Ryan Nguyen Hubris at (408) 238-7780, or visit www.vangUSA.com or www.VietHeritgeSociety.org.

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 19^th 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