Welcome to VAYA's Official Blog. This exciting new blog provides an opportunity for VAYA to engage in a dialogue with our members, the community, and those interested in our organization. This blog will feature commentary and observations from VAYA Executive Board Members, contributions by VAYA Staff and members, as well as approved guest bloggers from outside of VAYA. This blog will only be a true community if you participate, so please send your thoughts to eboard@vayasd.org. Please be respectful and considerate when posting comments and thoughts. All comments will be reviewed and approved prior to publication. Thank you for visiting this blog!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

VAYA Official Newsletter: 05/20/10 (Volume V1: Issue 27) FINAL

Newsletter URL: [http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=4377d8d683101c4e65b9ff3be&id=39008d0b18]

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. "Thank You" from VAYA Executive Board (2008-2010)

Thank you everyone for an awesome past two years. Your dedication, commitment, and time is deeply appreciative. As we hand over the reign to the incoming E-Board (TBD/TBA via www.vayasd.org), we hope you’ll continue to support and volunteer your time with VAYA in the coming years. With your help, we can develop and improve our community together!

For those interested in being a member of VAYA E-Board 2010-2012 (a two year commitment) or a staff (a one year commitment), please contact Eboard@vayasd.org ASAP for more information. Those interested in being a staff for the 2011 Tet Festival, please stay tune this summer/early fall for more information. If you have any immediate questions about Tet, please direct those questions to chair@sdtet.com.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors! Have an awesome summer!

Best,

2008-2010 VAYA Executive Board

II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
A. General Tet News & Information
Thank you EVERYONE for your support in the 5th Annual VAYA Lunar New Year Tet Festival 2010.

2010 VAYA Volunteer Appreciation Banquet VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6iRNKNNosQ

If you would like to take a lead in next year's festival, please visit www.sdtet.com regularly for information and updates on committee chair positions and application. If you have any immediate questions on ways to get involved, please contact the current Tet Chairs at chair@sdtet.com.

III: VAYA & the Community
A. UCSD-VSA: Community Service Event
From: Tracey Nguyen, UCSD-VSA External Vice President
UCSD-VSA is having another community service event on May 22, 2010 from 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM. We will be in front of City Heights Public Library (3795 Fairmount Ave. San Diego, CA 92105-2605), helping the elders with their English and citizenship exams, and showing them how to use the internet, etc. Please forward this information to those you know that might be interested in taking advantage of this opportunity. Visit http://vsasd.org/ or email vsa@ucsd.edu for details/questions.


IV: Other Announcements & Information

A. Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT)

VAYA's very own Community Relations Coordinator II (English), Calix Vu-Bui, is BACK from her VietACT Internship in Taiwan (www.VietACT.org). Read about her experience in Taiwan @ http://vietactintern.blogspot.com/.

B. Vietnamese Americans for the Cure

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

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

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

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.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

VAYA Official Newsletter: 05/06/10 (Volume V1: Issue 26)

Newsletter URL: [http://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=4377d8d683101c4e65b9ff3be&id=66c283285f]

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
A. VAYA 2010 Election
DOWNLOAD THE VAYA 2010 ELECTION APPLICATION HERE: http://V117H.fileave.com/VAYA2010EBoardApp.doc
Its that time again for the Biennial VAYA Election to determine the leaders for the year 2010-2012. If you're interested in running for an E-Board position (President, Internal Vice President, External Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), please download the application and read the rules and regulations carefully to see if you qualify. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact secretary@vayasd.org.
*Staff positions (e.g. Historian, Webmaster, etc.) will be appointed by the new E-Board shortly after this year's election).
This year's Election Committee will consist of Anthony (Vinh) Nguyen, Cuong Pham, Kari Lam, and Michael Thai. They will be the governing board to ensure a smooth and fair election. They'll review all application from candidates and determine who can run. They'll also determine who gets to vote and distribute ballots accordingly.
*No one on the Election Committee will be running for this year's election.
Election Day will be May 16, 2010 (at TNT Radio Station - Conference Room), therefore, ALL APPLICATIONS must be submitted to secretary@vayasd.org by Saturday May 8, 2010 (DEADLINE EXTENDED) by midnight PST.
Sunday May 16: VAYA 2010 Election @ TNT Radio Station - Conference Room (4120 30th Street - Suite 202 - San Diego, CA 92104). (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM).
Feel free to submit nominations to secretary@vayasd.org. All names/nominations will be posted via http://www.vayasd.org/ on a weekly/asap-basis.
Good Luck!
II: VAYA Tet 2010 Updates
A. General Tet News & Information
Thank you EVERYONE for your support in the 5th Annual VAYA Lunar New Year Tet Festival 2010.
2010 VAYA Volunteer Appreciation Banquet VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6iRNKNNosQ
If you would like to take a lead in next year's festival, please visit http://www.sdtet.com/ regularly for information and updates on committee chair positions and application. If you have any immediate questions on ways to get involved, please contact the current Tet Chairs at chair@sdtet.com.
III: VAYA & the Community
A. UCSD Gach Noi Student Magazine

UCSD Gach Noi Student Magazine is hosting a fundraising dinner to benefit: Vietnam Health Clinic (VHC), which is a student-led, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care services and access to the underserved population of Vietnam. Three fourths of the money we raise will be donated to their mission this summer to Hue and Soc Trang. This will provide them with medical supplies and medicine, and other resources currently lacking for people living in poverty.

*~*EVENT DETAILS*~*
WHO: Gach Noi Student Magazine & Vietnam Health Clinic
WHAT: Fundraising Dinner & Live Entertainment
=Delicious Food
=Performers: Kim-Hong, Phuoc Dai, Minh Nhan, Thu Ly, Nguyen Le, Defiance, Mr. VN Contestants, Kimberlee Kieu Nguyen, Nalene Thanh Nha, Vivian Pham, Nga Vo, Quynh-Nga, and more...
=Slide shows
=Live & Silent Auctions
=After Social Dance
WHERE: UCSD Multipurpose Room [next to Yogurt World]
WHEN: Saturday May 15th 6-9 PM
WHY: To raise money for VHC's non profit mission this summer & provide health care in Hue and Soc Trang
= raise awareness of current health conditions in Vietnam
= bring community together for a single cause
= promote Vietnamese culture among the younger generations
= LET'S LIVE FOR THE YOUTH!

TICKETS: $15/person--->to reserve your tickets please email Thuy-Tien at ttmdiep@hotmail.com or phone @ 858-380-8111

**To learn more about our cause please visit:
http://www.vnhealth.org/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG9t0Cuyf6g

B. Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego


The Inaugural Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego is taking place on Saturday, May 8th, at the NTC Park at Liberty Station in Point Loma from 11am to 6pm.The Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego is a celebration of the diversity of San Diego and is a fun, free, family friendly festival, with martial arts, cultural dances and exhibitions, cooking demos, entertainment, games, and of course, food! More information can be found at http://www.asianculturalfestivalsd.com/.
Entertainment
Our very exciting entertainment lineup is diverse and representative of a variety of cultures, reaching all forms of entertainment genres and types of music and dances - and whether it’s the Martial Arts, contemporary music, hip hop or traditional dance, we’ve got something for everyone!
Four Minutes til Midnight * Ke Kalani O'Hana E'Kai * Naruwan Taiko Drummers * Sudipa's Bollywood Dance Group * Lindesy Yung * Van Kiep Lion Dance * Afterschoolspecial * Terry Matsuoka * Kembang Sunda * Shin Kawasaki * Brenda Xu * Terry Matsuoka * San Diego Chinese Music Ensemble * Kenta Hayashi * Jing Institute * San Diego Black Belt Club * Kung Fu San Soo Chula Vista * and many more!!!
Sponsors
We thank Barona Resort and Casino for being our title sponsor and the City of San Diego for being our Platinum Sponsor.We also thank our media sponsors, the Union Tribue, Asia Media, Asian Journal, Asian Reader, and Yelp, who are all helping to promote this wonderful festival celebrating San Diego’s diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities! We hope to see you at the Asian Cultural Festival of San Diego on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at the NTC Park at Liberty Station in Point Loma! http://www.asianculturalfestivalsd.com/
A. Vietnamese Alliance to Combat Trafficking (VietACT)
VAYA's very own Community Relations Coordinator II (English), Calix Vu-Bui, is BACK from her VietACT Internship in Taiwan (http://www.vietact.org/). Read about her experience in Taiwan @ http://vietactintern.blogspot.com/.
If you're interested in being the NEXT VietACT Intern, please feel free to apply for the 2010 VietACT International Internship Program. The application deadline has been extended. Please help VietACT spread the word about this opportunity by forwarding this message to those you know that might be interested. Thank you.

B. 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.
C. 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/.
D. 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.