Hi uNAVSA community,

Thank you for your continued dedication to uNAVSA’s Collective Philanthropy Project and all of your efforts, both in fundraising and spreading the awareness about our beneficiary this year.  The Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation’s 500 Oral Histories project is a generation-defining project that will allow us to capture an incredibly rich part of our ancestry.  The CPP with VAHF is unique because it allows all of you to be a part of this grand scale project.  For all of those who are interested in taking a leadership role within the project, I urge you to consider applying for the positions below.  It is an incredible way to bridge the inter-generational gap and to help define the Vietnamese American experience.
Regards,Brian
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Hello members of the uNAVSA family,

It’s summer time now and we are just wrapping up the Chapters of Us CPP campaign for this year!  Thank you all so much for all of your hard work and support for this year’s cause, the Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation’s 500 Oral Histories Project.  We know that many of you have expressed interest in becoming a part of the actual interviewing process and we also recognize that many people within the uNAVSA network have demonstrated great leadership throughout this campaign.  VAHF is hoping to channel some of that energy into the project by recruiting you!  Without the help of volunteers and community leaders such as yourself, VAHF cannot achieve their mission of collecting 500 oral interviews of academic quality.  Here’s your chance to step up to the plate and be a leader in this movement!  VAHF is offering this great volunteer and leadership opportunity for the 2010-2011 school year. Attached you will find an invitation and application to be a Regional Director for the VAHF project.  As uNAVSA members and attendees, we know that you have interest and qualities that make you strong candidates.  Apply now!  The deadline is approaching on July 1^st!

Paul Khang Nguyen
CPP Liaison  |  500 Oral Histories Project
Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation

Regional Director Application

** In honor of the 35th Anniversary of Black April, the members of the uNAVSA Executive Board would like to share our thoughts and feelings about Black April. For this 5-Part interview Series, each E-board member will answer three questions to reflect on this commemorative occasion. **

** In honor of the 35th Anniversary of Black April, the members of the uNAVSA Executive Board would like to share our thoughts and feelings about Black April. For this 5-Part interview Series, each E-board member will answer three questions to reflect on this commemorative occasion.

Part IV

Vũ Linh Kim
External Vice President
Macon, GA

Where were your parents and what were they doing on April 30, 1975?
My parents were in Saigon.  The morning of April 30, 1975, my mother went to the church where she and my father had planned to meet in case something were to happen that day.  She stayed for many hours in the midst of the mass frenzy until the priest advised to go home as the area became more and more chaotic.  In her frightened state, she forgot to tell the priest where she was going.  When my father was able to get to the church, he could not find my mother anywhere but had to leave quickly.  Later that day, my mother was told that the ship that my father was on had sunk.  She had no way of knowing if he had lived or died.  It wasn’t until five months later that she received a communication from my father saying that he was alive and had made it to Hong Kong.

What was the most meaningful cultural value your parents instilled in you growing up?
The most meaning cultural value my parents instilled in me was resilience.  I have known Vietnamese people to be fighters, to bear unimaginable hardships, and to survive with our heads held high.  We come from an ancestry of strength.  I see it everyday.  My parents came to America, just as many others did, without anything to their name.  But that didn’t stop them; they persevered.  They have worked everyday to provide for my brothers and me.  That is why I prize this value of resilience that my parents have taught me in their everyday life.

What was the most inspiring moment you had while engaging with a Vietnamese community?
I am most inspired when I see young leaders thirsting to learn more about their heritage, striving to become better leaders, and empowering others.  I remember one time I encouraged one of my VSA members to be the emcee for our annual cultural show.  He did a great job as I knew he would.  Afterwards, he told me that one of the audience members later on saw him on campus and complimented him.  I saw him beam with joy from the accomplishment and I knew that is how we strengthen our community – by empowering others.  It is an inspiration to me when I see other young members of the community support and encourage their fellow peers.

** In honor of the 35th Anniversary of Black April, the members of the uNAVSA Executive Board would like to share our thoughts and feelings about Black April. For this 5-Part interview Series, each E-board member will answer three questions to reflect on this commemorative occasion.

Part III

Name: Nick Ngo
E-board Position: Secretary
City: Portland, Oregon
Parent’s hometown: Dad (Binh Gia), Mom (Sa Dec)

What does Black April mean to you?
Historically speaking, this day marks the fall of Saigon, an event in history that will forever affect not only our parents and the older generation but our generation. It embodies the struggle of thousands of Vietnamese refugees, literally, fighting to escape tyranny and war. When I look back at the past 30 years, I truly commend and respect my parents, older relatives and fellow community members for what they’ve endured. I’m in awe of the struggles they’ve endured and the achievements/success of the Vietnamese community. Not only did they face losing their homes, but arriving at a foreign country where they encountered issues such as language barriers, racism, education and assimilation/cultural preservation. Yes, Black April represents a day where we lost our country and loved ones; however, it also symbolizes the strength and ability that our community has to adapt and succeed in any condition.

What was the most meaningful cultural value your parents instilled in you growing up?
Perhaps the most meaningful value that my parents have taught me is the importance of family. My family is major part of my identity and upbringing. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my parent’s hard work and sacrifice, and the countless support my family has given me. Through them, they have shown me that unity and trust in one another will bring about great accomplishments. Members of my family own their own businesses and are always busy; however, they never fail to stop and support the one another.

What was the most inspiring moment you had while engaging with a Vietnamese community?
Honestly enough, the most inspiring moments I’ve had in engaging the Vietnamese community is with uNAVSA and working with the young leaders of our nation. Before joining staff for uNAVSA-5, I had very little thought of what VSA is — let alone the shear magnitude of what our combined efforts can do. It was just some club that throws a yearly culture show at the most. However, after joining staff and constantly meeting great, inspiring and fun leaders, young professionals, I am continually amazed by the Vietnamese American youth. Seeing their dedication and vision encourages me to stay involved and assures me of the potential of our Vietnamese community.

** In honor of the 35th Anniversary of Black April, the members of the uNAVSA Executive Board would like to share our thoughts and feelings about Black April. For this 5-Part interview Series, each E-board member will answer three questions to reflect on this commemorative occasion.

Part II

Name: Jenny Le
E-board Position: Treasurer
City: Santa Ana, CA

What are your hopes of how VSAs will commemorate Black April this month?
My hope is that our generation will never forget this monumental day and that we will forever remember the sacrifices that our parents and ancestors made to provide us with opportunities that they had only dreamed of at the time.  I highly encourage VSA members to participate in the Black April commemoration events and educate themselves about this historic day.  Additionally, I hope that everyone can realize that Black April is also an opportunity for us to connect with our parents and grandparents to listen to their stories and personal experiences.

What was the most meaningful cultural value your parents instilled in you growing up?
The most meaningful value my parents instilled in me is best described in the Vietnamese proverb, “Uống Nước Nhớ Nguồn” (When you drink water, remember the source).  This seemingly simple proverb acts as a reminder to never forget my roots and always appreciate the sacrifices others have made in order for me to be able to have the opportunities that I have now.

Dear uNAVSA community,

It is with great pleasure that I introduce uNAVSA’s Annual Report for 2009. In these pages, uNAVSA’s Executive Board and Council of Regional Representatives would like to share with you our efforts over the 2009 calendar year as well as our goals over the current 2010 year. I would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone in the community to join me and your uNAVSA leaders to participate in a fireside chat on Sunday, May 2 at 9pm EST. We will be sharing with you and elaborating on the details in the Annual Report. Most importantly, we would like to take the time to field your questions and thoughts about our organization, being receptive to any ideas you may have for how we can be strengthening our community. I look forward to speaking with all of you.

Regards,
Brian

Annual Report

When: Sunday, May 2, 9-11pm EST
Where: 218-936-4700, x774459

** In honor of the 35th Anniversary of Black April, the members of the uNAVSA e-board would like to share their thoughts and feelings about Black April. For this 5-Part interview Series, each E-board member will answer three questions to reflect on this commemorative occasion.

Part I

Name: Don Nguyen
E-board Position: Internal Vice President
City: Seattle, WA

What are your hopes of how VSAs will commemorate Black April this month?
My hopes are that VSAs will recognize this turning point in Vietnamese history, which ultimately led to the Vietnamese Diaspora that exists abroad today.  By looking on the past I hope VSAs will not only acknowledge what has happened, but to use it as a driving force to continue the amazing things they are doing in their respective communities in the present and for the future. I hope VSAs will not only include their members, but also the community in this time of reflection in order to be reminded that we have all been given an opportunity for a fresh start here and that creating a better future for our people stands above all else.

What was the most meaningful cultural value your parents instilled in you growing up?
The most meaningful cultural value my parents instilled in me is probably respect, for not only our elders and the opportunities they have given us, but also for any loved ones.  Along, with respect I would have to include all the skills and knowledge my parents have given me to preserve the culture in my generation and for the sake of passing it along to future generations.  I did not grow up in a Vietnamese community, nor did I know or have any Vietnamese friends until college and joining VSA.  Due to this, the only way I would ever learn to speak, read, or write Vietnamese was through my parents who would make sure I also used these skills to learn about my culture through reading Vietnamese books and news publications. Altogether, having these skills along with a good sense of respect has allowed me to fully embrace my Vietnamese heritage by gaining an insurmountable amount of knowledge and experience through being involved with the Vietnamese community.

What was the most inspiring moment you had while engaging with a Vietnamese community?
My most inspiring moment engaging with a Vietnamese community would have to be my first uNAVSA Conference in 2007. Before then, my involvement in the community was only locally in the Seattle, WA area working with the UVSA there as well as the general Vietnamese community.  After only being involved in the community here I was recruited, you could say, into uNAVSA as a regional representative.  During this year I would soon partake in the formation of the first annual northwest regional summit, and take on the role of the CPP selection director for the upcoming uNAVSA4 Conference in New Orleans. All of these things led me to uNAVSA4 where I met some of the most inspiring and influential people I have ever met through their works in VSA.  My experience cannot be summed up in only a hundred words or so, but can be understood through my actions since then. At the end of the conference I was elected for another term as the regional representative for the Northwest, which led to the now, almost four years later on the Executive Board still contributing in any way I can and will surely continue to do so after uNAVSA.

Dear uNAVSA leader,

We need your help!

Our friends over at The University of Texas at Austin are in danger of losing their Vietnamese language courses.  After Vietnamese student leaders fought hard for two years from 2004-2006 to finally get Vietnamese language courses and as a result of Asian Studies budget cuts (30% overall), the Vietnamese language course is the ONLY language department to get completely cut because they had only one professor, even though Vietnamese is the 3rd most spoken language in Texas!

Community leaders from the Asian American community at The University of Texas at Austin are working with administration and are asking for our help.  They will be meeting with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts who will ultimately decide the fate of Vietnamese language courses at UT. With enough support from our community, there’s a good chance that we can save the course.

Here’s where your leadership and help can come in:

1.  Our friends from Texas would like for you to write a letter on behalf of your VSA and/or related organization in support of preserving Vietnamese language courses, if it is something that you would support.  They have been contacting influential leaders from the Vietnamese community around Texas and now the nation, which is why we are contacting you.

Attached is an example of what they’ve written on behalf of the Texas Exes Asian Alumni Network.  Feel free to modify it to reflect the organization you represent or write your own words of support and encouragement!  Send your reply to geewey.yue@unavsa.org by Monday night April 12, 2010, as this is a time-sensitive issue.  They will be compiling everything for a Student Government and Student Senate meeting on Tuesday, before their representatives will meet with the Dean for Liberal Arts on Wednesday.

2.  We would like you to help increase awareness of the issue.  You can do so by “attending” this Facebook event, inviting everyone you know to increase awareness of the issue, and to drive traffic towards the online petition.  If we can show solidarity through unity and support, there is a chance that Vietnamese language courses at The
University of Texas at Austin can be saved.

Let’s show our friends from Texas our support!

Brian Vo
uNAVSA President

Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=107201769320593&index=1

Online Petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/save-vietnamese-classes-ut

TEAAN Letter for Vietnamese Courses.doc