Monday, May 23, 2005:
Volume #2, Issue #75
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate
Note: Documents on this page or in this section may be in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. In order to read them, you require Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is downloadable free from Adobe.
In This Week's Issue
- Announcements
- National Congress of Vietnamese Americans
- Entrepreneurs Academy
- Third Annual Multicultural Business Conference
- Funding Opportunities Part 1
- Promising Practices
- A "360 Degree Evaluation" of the Agency
- News
- A Life in Danger
- Achiever Has Traveled Far in Many Ways
- 'Dream Broken' As Homeland Fell
- Asian Americans Look to Increase Political Clout
- Vietnamese Americans Want Community Flag Recognized
- St. Paul Student First MN Hmong in Naval Academy
- Letting Our Friends down
- Making a Difference in Cambodia
- National Congress of Vietnamese Americans Prepares
- Vietnamese Ambassador Brings Strong Message of
- Richmond Report
- Hmong Fighter Was Shackled for Three Years before
- Embassy Row
- How to Rewrite Asian American History 101
- A Brother in Arms Pays Debt
- Heritage Events
- E Pluribus Unum: Apa Heritage Month
- Hmong Beginning to Be Recognized for War Sacrifices
- Hmong War Stories Give Power of Understanding
- Vietnamese Vote Called Key
- Funding Opportunities
- The Network of Cultural Centers of Color/National Performance Network
- The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation & the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- The United States Golf Association
- Youth Service America and Youth Venture
- The Western Growers Charitable Foundation
- The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program
- The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society's Emerging Leaders International Fellows Program
- NetAid Global Citizen Corps
- Bertelsmann Global Media
- American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc.
- Tyson Foods Corporate Giving Program
- The UPS Foundation
- Resources
- Advanced Public Speaking Institute
- GetActive
- Verizon Foundation Resource Center
I. Announcements
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans Prepares Tomorrow's Leaders Today
A program of the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA), the
Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference (VAYLC) provides a forum
for young professionals to network and build relationships to lead and
strengthen the Vietnamese American community in the nonprofit, government
and business sectors.
(PRWEB) May 19, 2005 -- "Exploring the Present and Building the Future"
The Vietnamese American Community is growing in both population size and
political clout. As the Community matures, it needs dynamic young people
with leadership skills and the vision to lead. Recognizing the emergence of
this young population and its impact on the political, economic and social
spectrums, the Vietnamese American Youth Leadership Conference (VAYLC)
seeks to harness this energy by bringing young Vietnamese Americans and
Asian Americans students and young professionals to Washington, D.C. for a
summit from June 22 - June 25, 2005.
"State Farm® and the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans realize that
investing in the energy and creativity of young leaders is the key to our
national future. We are proud to partner in developing leadership and
career skills of young Vietnamese Americans," said Leslie Moe-Kaiser, State
Farm® Corporate Relations Manager.
VAYLC provides a forum for young Asian Americans to discuss national and
local issues and establish a network for young leaders to meet and exchange
ideas and information. VAYLC seeks to prepare young professionals and
students to become public leaders in their communities.
Quan Hoang, President and CEO, AnviCom, Inc. said, "I think it is important
that our young people feel confident in their ability to lead in our
communities, in the business world, and in society. They will need to
recognize and then step up to many opportunities as life presents them. I
am glad this program exists to help."
The four-day summit includes workshop sessions emphasizing leadership
skills, public speaking, and team building. Participants will visit
Congress, tour the Capitol, attend a White House briefing, and enjoy a
multi-course gala dinner. Experienced professionals, scholars and activists
will lead the interactive sessions.
"Leadership Development is the key driver in shaping the minds of our
youth. Citigroup is committed to helping the Vietnamese American Youth
Leadership Conference achieve its goals. Last year, Citigroup made a
10-year, $200 million commitment to promote financial education worldwide,
we look forward to helping in future community initiatives," said Bao
Nguyen, Vice President, Citibank, NA.
To learn more about VAYLC, please contact us at 877-592-4140 or visit us on
the web at www.vaylc.org
****
Entrepreneurs Academy
As a community, Vietnamese-Americans hold close to 40% more patents than
IBM, the number one holder of U.S. patents for the past eleven years. To
help translate those inventions into business opportunities, VSVN has
established the Entrepreneurs Academy, a business educational center for the
over 600 members of VSVN and other high-tech entrepreneurs. We, along with
AAMA, ASVC, SiPA, and SVASEi, proudly invite you to our one day inaugural
seminar on JUNE 11, 2005.
TO REGISTER: http://www.vsvn.org/event_registration.htm
We have restricted this seminar to the first 50 people to sign up at
www.vsvn.org with 10 seats reserved for students.
JUNE 11, 2005
Fenwick & West
801 California St.
Mountain View, CA
****
Access to Success: Global Challenges and Regional Opportunities
Theme and Goals of the Third Annual Multicultural Business Conference
The theme for this year's conference is "Access to Success: Global
Challenges and Regional Opportunities". Access, to training, timely
information, resources and ability to identify new business opportunities
remains the crucial element in any small, minority and women owned
businesses in the area. While the multicultural business community has
becomes the fastest growing segment of our regional economy, many are facing
stiff competition from overseas. Through the conference training workshops,
legislative forum, networking with other businesses and government agencies,
attendees will be able to map out a short and long-term business strategy to
grow their businesses. Attendees will also be able to see the demonstration
of how e-Commerce, e-Procurement, and e-Marketing can help increase their
productivity.
The Location
The Johnson Center of George Mason University is a unique facility designed
to encourage learning. Its programming and use of space emphasize
integration of the curricular and extracurricular activities of the diverse
communities that comprise George Mason University
General Information Contact: Lauryn Han at (703) 993-4873, or Jenny Rico at
(703) 538-7412; Fax (703) 237-3996; Email: lhan@bdag.org; Website:
www.bdag.org
Media and Advertising Contact: Ms. Doan Huynh, Asian Marketing Service,
(703) 534-8676; Fax (703) 534-8696
(http://www.bdag.org/2005Access.html)
****
06/04/2005 Funding Opportunities Part 1. Open to the Public. All day.
Location: Milwaukee, WI. Registration: Required. Host: Holy Redeemer
Institutional Church of God in Christ. Contact: Dr. William Rogers. Phone:
414-466-1800 Ext. 5161. Email: wrogers@hrcogic.org
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II. Promising Practices
A "360 Degree Evaluation" of the Agency
From Board Cafe
Nonprofit board members often have a hard time judging how well the agency
is functioning. First, board members usually have only a limited time each
month to spend on their volunteer board commitments. Second, board members
are often unfamiliar with the intricacies of their agencies services,
and/or elements of nonprofit management. Finally, board members often
receive most of their information from the agency's executive director when
in many ways the best judges of the agency's performance are the clients
and community served. As Aristotle commented long ago, "The guest is a
better judge of the feast than the cook."
As you probably guessed from the name, a 360 Degree Evaluation defines a
circular process. In a 360 Degree Evaluation, the board seeks feedback from
those who stand around the outside of the circle (as well as inside it):
clients, the community, volunteers, donors, funders, and staff. The
following examples suggest strategies for gathering input from a variety of
constituents and sources:
1. From Staff:
Consider asking staff, as well as board members, to complete an Executive
Director's Annual Assessment and/or a staff "climate survey" to learn more
about their perspective of the agency's strengths and weaknesses. These
responses should be given directly to the board president. Staff and board
comments can either be submitted anonymously, although people could be
encouraged to sign their names so follow-up questions could be addressed to
the right individual. In order to respect confidentiality, any report than
comes from these evaluations would not attribute a specific comment to any
one individual. A summary of the staff and board's feedback would be shared
with the executive director and the few board members who are delegated
responsibility for the ED's evaluation. Board officers or a small committee
of the board should meet with staff to respond to concerns and
recommendations.
Read on: http://www.boardcafe.org/bc1999_04.html
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III. News
A Life in Danger
Pioneer Press
May 16, 2005
***
Achiever Has Traveled Far in Many Ways
Contra Costa Times
May 16, 2005
***
'Dream Broken' As Homeland Fell
Pioneer Press
May 17, 2005
***
Asian Americans Look to Increase Political Clout
Voice of America
May 17, 2005
***
Vietnamese Americans Want Community Flag Recognized
KGO
May 18, 2005
***
St. Paul Student First MN Hmong in Naval Academy
WCCO
May 18, 2005
***
Letting Our Friends down
Town Hall
May 19, 2005
***
Making a Difference in Cambodia
Village News Network
May 19, 2005
***
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans Prepares Tomorrow's ...
Emediawire
May 19, 2005
***
Vietnamese Ambassador Brings Strong Message of Healing to Terre ...
Terre Haute Tribune Star
May 20, 2005
***
Richmond Report
Falls Church News Press
May 20, 2005
***
Hmong Fighter Was Shackled for Three Years before Tasting Freedom
Pioneer Press
May 20, 2005
***
Embassy Row
Washington Times
May 20, 2005
***
How to Rewrite Asian American History 101
Asian Week
May 21, 2005
***
A Brother in Arms Pays Debt
Pioneer Press
May 21, 2005
***
Heritage Events
Asian Week
May 21, 2005
***
E Pluribus Unum: APA Heritage Month
Asian Week
May 21, 2005
***
Hmong Beginning to Be Recognized for War Sacrifices
Pioneer Press
May 21, 2005
***
Hmong War Stories Give Power of Understanding
Pioneer Press
May 22, 2005
***
Vietnamese Vote Called Key
San Jose Mercury News
May 22, 2005
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IV. Grants
- (National)
The Network of Cultural Centers of Color/National Performance Network
The Network of Cultural Centers of Color/National Performance Network Collaborative Subsidy Project is an expanded
funding opportunity for performing artists and presenters of color.
The project supports the touring of work by artists of color across the
United States by subsidizing performance residencies and is intended to
expand the pool of artists of color who are presented in the United States.
Subsidies are available to artists or presenters who are members of NCCC
and/or NPN Partners. Artist or presenters who are not NCCC members or NPN
Partners can apply but will be required to become an NCCC member upon
receipt of an award.
Up to $5,000 in subsidy support is available for artist fees only. The
requested subsidy amount cannot be greater than the total artist fees.
Projects requesting support must meet the following minimum requirements:
involve the presentation of performing artist(s)/company featuring artists
of color; and the artists be presented must live at least one hundred miles
outside the community where the performance residency is taking place.
Projects should adhere to a performance residency model -- i.e., a minimum
five days of activities that involve the local community and entails at
least one public performance.
Deadline: August 1, 2005
- (National)
The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation and the William and Flora
Hewlett Foundation have announced a special round
of $50,000 grants for the creation and production of major new dance
compositions by young California choreographers.
These new works will be commissioned and premiered by Bay Area dance
companies and other performing arts presenting organizations, and created
by California choreographers of great promise who are age 35 or younger at
the time of application.
This 2005 program will grant up to six awards of $50,000 to nonprofit arts
groups presenting dance (dance companies, community arts facilities,
performing arts centers, festivals, etc.) that are based in the counties of
San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Contra Costa, San
Mateo, or Santa Clara.
In 2006, the initiative will fund commissions for emerging young
playwrights, and in 2007 commissions for emerging young composers. Details
on the 2006 and 2007 commissioning initiatives will be announced in those
years.
All applications must be submitted by nonprofit, tax-exempt dance
companies, dance presenting organizations, or multi- disciplinary
presenting organizations. Applications may not be submitted by individual
artists.
Deadline: August 25, 2005
- (National)
The United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association (http://www.usga.org/) offers "For the
Good Of the Game" grants to empower organizations that introduce the game
of golf to people who would otherwise not have the opportunity,
specifically kids from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and
individuals with disabilities.
Grant awards are directed to instructional programs, caddie or other
work-based curriculums, and the construction of facilities that make the
game both more affordable and accessible as well as teach individuals the
life values inherent in the game.
The USGA will consider funding requests for the following items provided
the applicant is committed to the goals of the "For the Good of the Game"
program and its target population(s): golf course and practice range
access; golf instruction; golf equipment, including adaptive golf equipment
for individuals with disabilities; transportation; and construction costs
for alternative, beginner-friendly golf courses and golf facilities in
areas where there are obstacles to affordable access to the game.
The amount and duration of grants awarded vary greatly based upon the type
of organization, proposal, and needs specified. The USGA will not fund the
entire budget of a program, and expects applicants to have a feasible plan
for future fiscal sustainability.
All grant recipients must have tax-exempt status as defined by U.S.
Treasury and IRS regulations.
Deadline: July 1, 2005
- (National)
Youth Service America and Youth Venture
Youth Service America and Youth Venture are offering funding to enable young people
to engage in community service projects in conjunction with National Youth
Service Day (NYSD).
Funding is available to help turn NYSD 2005 projects into sustainable
community service ventures or to create new sustainable projects for NYSD
2006, April 21st-23rd.
Twenty awards of up to $1,000 in start-up funds are available to young
people (ages 12-20) who want to create sustainable new, civic-minded
organizations, clubs, or businesses ("Ventures"). These Ventures must be
created by youth, youth-led, and designed to be a lasting asset to the
community. YSA Youth Venturers are required to host a NYSD event.
Deadline: June 13, 2005
- (National)
The Western Growers Charitable Foundation
The Western Growers Charitable Foundation, the public outreach and research
arm of Western Growers, invites educational
facilities in Arizona and California to apply for Growing With Children
grants to fund a school garden.
Schools, youth groups, community centers, clubs, and any organization that
supports gardening with children (ages 0-18) throughout Arizona and
California are eligible to apply for a grant.
Selected schools will receive a grant of up to $1,500, gardening supplies,
and a gardening curriculum. Funds must be used for materials related to
starting or maintaining a garden.
Grants will be awarded on November 15, 2005, and April 15, 2006.
Applications submitted by September 1, 2005, will be eligible for both
grant cycles.
Deadline: September 1, 2005
- (National)
The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program
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.
Deadline: September 22, 2005 (Letters of Intent)
- (National)
The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society's Emerging Leaders International Fellows Program
The Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society's 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.
Deadline: August 15, 2005
- (National)
NetAid Global Citizen Corps
The annual GCC Summit brings together select GCC Leaders from across the
country for an intensive, week-long training program in New York. GCC
Leaders work in their schools and communities to implement a series of
Global Action Days which raise awareness about global poverty and build
momentum for poverty-fighting campaigns.
Who should apply? High school students living in the U.S. who want to
receive the tools, guidance and support needed to help improve the lives of
the world's poor.
NetAid Global Action Awards
Who should apply? High school students living in the U.S. who have
organized and led a project that has directly impacted people living in
poor countries or raised awareness in their own communities about global
poverty.
What do honorees receive? Honorees receive $5,000 for their higher
education or a charitable cause of their choice, and and a trip to New York
City for the Awards celebration.
Deadline: June 15, 2005
- (National)
Bertelsmann Global Media
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.
Deadline: August 1, 2005
- (National)
American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc.
All 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for the American
Legion Child Welfare Foundation, Inc.'s annual grant program.
The foundation has a broad-based initiative focusing on contributing to the
"physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare of children," either
through the creation of new programs or the strengthening of existing ones,
so that knowledge and services can be better accessed by the community at
large. Programs should affect more than one state.
Grant awards range from $1,500 to $70,000 over a one-year period. Requests
for applications must be received by July 1, or else application will be
held until the next funding year.
Deadline: July 15, 2005
- (National)
Tyson Foods Corporate Giving Program
Tyson cares about important issues, such as families, the environment,
communities, food safety, and education. This section of our site is
dedicated to the efforts of our Team Members across the country as they
work to make their world a better place.
The Tyson Foods Corporate Giving Program supports a wide range of nonprofit
organizations in the communities where the company has operations. For a
list of Tyson facilities go to the website.
Tyson's areas of grantmaking interest include families, community services,
food safety, hunger relief, and the environment. Organizations in Tyson
communities should contact the local Tyson facility directly for grant
application information.
- (National)
The UPS Foundation
The UPS Foundation supports high impact organizations nationwide whose
programs directly affect the quality of life in communities where UPS
employees live and work. The Foundation focuses its financial and
non-monetary contributions on organizations that address hunger, literacy
and volunteerism. Support is primarily provided to national programs in the
following areas: human welfare, including programs for children, families,
and the disadvantaged; education, including academic research, family
learning, and school improvement; and major initiatives, including hunger
and literacy.
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V. Resources
Advanced Public Speaking Institute
Polish your public speaking skills and technique, online!
****
Since 2000, GetActive has been developing online communication tools for
membership organizations. Our suite of software products facilitates online
communications and helps organizations build stronger relationships with
their constituents. Our product offering includes tools to facilitate
online fundraising and dues collection, grassroots advocacy, events
management, community building, and website management. We are privately
held and experiencing significant growth.
****
The Verizon Foundation Resource Center, located at
http://foundation.verizon.com/resourcecenter, is available round-the-clock,
seven days a week. The center provides free access to a national database
of technology resources that include an online library, research papers,
articles and specialists who can assist nonprofits in running their
business operations more efficiently.
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If you wish to contribute to the VERB Weekly e-Digest, please send all
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