VAYA Official Newsletter: 01/28/10 (Volume V1: Issue 19)

Dear VAYA Members and Supporters,

Please find the latest updates from VAYA in the following categories:

I. VAYA General Updates
II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
III: VAYA & the Community

IV: Other Announcements & Information

I. VAYA General Updates
A. Upcoming VAYA Meeting(s)

Sunday January 31: VAYA Meeting @ Tea N' More (7380 Clairemont Mesa Blvd - Ste 120, next to 99 Ranch Supermarket). (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM).

B. Ways to get MORE involved with VAYA

At VAYA, we work to promote youth leadership, cultural awareness, social activism, and community development. Therefore, we make every effort to provide our members the opportunity to lead and make a difference. To get involved, please visit our web site for more information. Please direct any questions or concerns to VAYA Secretary, Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen, at secretary@vayasd.org.

*** Access Application(s) @ http://www.vayasd.org/downloads/

II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
A. General Tet News & Information
Photos and Audio Samples on the Top 10 Golden Voice (Giong Ca Vang) Contestants are up. Please check it out and Vote for "Audience Choice": http://www.sdtet.com/program/golden-voice-contestants-2010/. * Voting will begin early February 2010.

Photos and Information on the Top 20 MVSD 2010 Contestants are up. Please check it out and Vote for Miss Photogenic 2010: http://www.sdtet.com/pageant/2010-contestants/.

Photos and Information on the Top 8 Mr. Vietnam 2010 Contestants are up. Please check it out and Vote for Mr. Photogenic 2010: http://www.sdtet.com/pageant/mr-vn-2010-contestants/.

VAYA 2010 Tet Festival Sponsorship: Interested in being a sponsor for our 3-day festival? Visit http://www.sdtet.com/sponsorship/ or email sponsor@sdtet.com for more information.

VAYA Street Squad will be distributing flyers and promoting the 2010 VAYA Vietnamese Lunar Year Tet Festival on Saturday January 30, 2010 in the "Linda Vista" area. To join them, please meet at: Thuan Phat Market (6935 Linda Vista Rd San Diego, CA 92111) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Stop by to get more information or ask them questions about the upcoming festival. For more information, email: publicity@sdtet.com.

For more information about the 2010 VAYA Vietnamese Lunar Year Tet Festival, please visit: http://www.sdtet.com/. Buy your festival tickets NOW for ONLY $4.00 (online special limited time) at: http://www.sdtet.com/tickets/.

III: VAYA & the Community
A. Updates from Mid-City Community Advocacy Network
1. Job Announcement: Program Manager
Pro Kids Golf Academy and Learning Center, located in City Heights, seeks an enthusiastic and experienced individual to advance its mission by challenging under-served youth to excel in life. Primary responsibilities include managing the volunteer and mentoring programs, administering the college preparatory and scholarship programs, and promoting positive life choices through model interaction with members. This full-time position also supports the general educational and community service goals of our member programs.

A successful candidate will have a bachelor's degree in education, sociology, or equivalent, plus a minimum of three years related experience. This detail-oriented candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills and must have experience in project management, volunteer programming, and youth development.

Please send a cover letter and resume to Colleen Pelak, Director of the Learning Center, at cpelak@prokidsonline.org or fax to (619) 582-9377.

IV: Other Announcements & Information
A. ETA4 (English Through Academics, Athletics, and the Arts Abroad)

ETA4 is a 501(c)3 non profit dedicated to the advancement of English education for underprivileged children abroad, and provides no-cost, rewarding, and successful English instruction to achieve that goal. For more information, please visit: http://www.eta4.org/.

B. Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT)

VAYA's very own Community Relations Coordinator II (English), Calix Vu-Bui, is currently in Taiwan as the latest VietACT Intern (http://www.vietact.org/). Follow her experience in Taiwan @ http://vietactintern.blogspot.com/.

C. Vietnamese Americans for the Cure

For more information about "Vietnamese Americans for the Cure", please go to http://www.viet4cure.org/ or contact: Nick Tran OR Tracey Nguyen @ info@viet4cure.org.

D. California Endowment /Mid-City CAN (Community Advocacy Network)

For more information on the CA Endowment Initiatives, please visit http://www.calendow.org/. For more information on the Mid-City CAN, please visit http://www.midcitycan.org/.

E. Census 2010

In 2010, the U.S. Census will define who we are as a nation. Taken every 10 years, the census affects political representation and directs the allocation of billions of dollars in government funding. For more information about the U.S. Bureau of Census, please visit: http://www.census.gov/.

For a complete listing of VAYA's upcoming events/meetings, please visit our official calendar at: http://www.vayasd.org/calendar/. Please direct any questions or concerns to VAYA Secretary, Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen, at secretary@vayasd.org.

On behalf of VAYA's Executive Board and Staff, thank you for your continual support.

About the Author: Anthony (Vinh) T. Nguyen serves as Secretary for VAYA.