Monday, July 18, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #82
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

1. Announcements
• Resettlement of Hmong Refugees
• SEARAC
• Cambodian Buddhist Society
• Disaster Recovery 101
2. Promising Practices
• Avoiding the Messaging Trap
3. News
• Bicycling Activists Ride with Message
• Ties with Vientiane Grow Steadily Closer
• Southeast Asia Trip Offers Educational Experience
• Auburn Group Helping Out Half a World Away
• Plymouth Independent Film Festival - Plunging Into the Movies ...
• Former South Vietnamese Prime Minister Candidate's Ashes Laid in ...
• Lao Hmong Refugees Given Thai Aid
• Renew Mccain Refugee Amendment
• Old Flag Stirs Strong Feelings Among Vets
• Hmong Arrivals Tackle Language Barrier
• Vietnam Through Other Eyes
4. Funding Opportunities
• U.S. Department of Labor
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Sierra Health Foundation
• The Community Foundation Silicon Valley
• California Council for the Humanities
• The Mattel Children's Foundation
5. Resources
• Enterprise MoneyNet

I. Announcements

Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
July 8, 2005

Resettlement of Hmong Refugees

The United States Government has no plans to initiate a resettlement program for Hmong residing in Petchaboon, Thailand. The ongoing refugee resettlement program for Hmong who had been living at Wat Tham Krabok will soon conclude, and is not open for additional applications. There are no plans for any additional resettlement of Hmong from Petchaboon or elsewhere in Thailand. 2005/688

Released on July 8, 2005

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 12, 2005

Contact: Doua Thor at 202/667-4690 or doua@searac.org

Khammany Mathavongsy Named California Projects Director by the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (Searac)

Washington, DC—The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Khammany Mathavongsy as its California Projects Director.

Mr. Mathavongsy will implement the Southeast Asian American Healthy Elders Leadership Project (HELP) with major funding from The California Endowment, as well as other initiatives in California. Through HELP, Mr. Mathavongsy will provide advocacy, training, and technical assistance services to Southeast Asian American community organizations that provide services to the elderly.

Mr. Mathavongsy's appointment marks the establishment of SEARAC's California office, in Sacramento. "This has been a dream of ours for many, many years. The Southeast Asian American communities are largest in California, so it's important that SEARAC have a strong presence there. Through this office in Sacramento, we'll be able to provide better services in the state, and make sure state policies are more responsive to the communities" according to Doua Thor, SEARAC's incoming Executive Director. SEARAC, based in Washington, DC, has been primarily managed by and for Southeast Asian Americans since 1979. SEARAC strengthens a national network of over 180 community organizations, carries out advocacy for and with the communities, and produces informational resources.

Mr. Mathavongsy came to the United States as a teenage refugee from Laos. He graduated from California State University, Chico in 1995 with a BA in International Relations. While pursuing his undergraduate education, he completed his internship with SEARAC. He received his Master of Public Administration degree in Public Policy from California State University, Hayward. Prior joining SEARAC, he was with the San Francisco Unified School District, Marin Education Fund, Mills College, Council for Opportunity in Education and AACE Educational Services. He is a founding member of Southeast Asian Students Association (SEASA) at Chico State, and the Laotian American National Alliance (LANA). Currently, Khammany is also the Vice President of the LANA Board, and a Vice President of the Board of Trustee for the Wat Lao Rattanaram temple in Richmond, California.

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!!VERB Sub-Awardee!!

The Cambodian Buddhist Society's Musician and Dancers perform, led by Master Chum Ngek, 2004 winner of the NEA's Lomax Award.

July 28, 2005
Meyer Auditorium, 7 P.M.
More info at www.asia.si.edu

Free tickets available through Ticketmaster beginning 1:00 A.M. the second Monday before each event, www.ticketmaster.com , 202-397-7328; 703-573-7328; 410-547-7328. Tickets also available at the door.

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Disaster Recovery 101 - Is Your Organization Prepared?

Does your nonprofit organization have a plan for business continuance in the event of an Information Technology disaster? While there is no question organizations have benefited from the ability to manage information electronically, this same reliance on technology infrastructure can cripple your ability to work and be productive during network outages or when data is compromised.

Join Sebastian Fazzino, VP of Sales Engineering at Perimeter Internetworking (TM), as he explains the importance of a disaster recovery plan, best practices to consider when creating your plan, and efficient ways to quickly restore critical information in the event of a data loss.

Topics will include: Remote data back-up services, remote computing, redundancy policies and procedures, as well as simple and cost effective steps that can be taken to mitigate your risk of experiencing a costly IT disaster recovery

DATE: Wednesday, July 20, 2005
TIME: 1:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time
LOCATION: Web link & Phone conference

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II. Promising Practices

Avoiding the Messaging Trap

from GuideStar

Messaging is how we use words to move people to take action. The increased sophistication and power of tools at our fingertips has created a dangerous trap, however. A novice can now create a fairly sophisticated Web site or e-mail campaign. A glossy, professional look is necessary but not sufficient in moving a target audience to the desired actions. Similarly, clear, concise, and grammatically correct text is not enough. An excellent and inexpensive guide to how to craft and tune your message is Writing Copy for Dummies.

Key points on how you communicate who your organization is include:

• Emphasize the benefits! (should relate to your mission)
• Highlight your key difference
• Be consistent (about who you are)
• Be credible
• Keep it simple

Read on...

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III. News

Bicycling Activists Ride with Message
OCRegister
July 10, 2005

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Ties with Vientiane Grow Steadily Closer
Bangkok Post
July 10, 2005

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Southeast Asia Trip Offers Educational Experience
Sheboygan Press
July 11, 2005

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Auburn Group Helping Out Half a World Away
Auburn Journal
July 14, 2005

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Plymouth Independent Film Festival - Plunging Into the Movies ...
The Patriot Ledger
July 14, 2005

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Former South Vietnamese Prime Minister Candidate's Ashes Laid in ...
Falls Church News Press
July 14, 2005

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Lao Hmong Refugees Given Thai Aid
BBC News
July 14, 2005

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Renew McCain Refugee Amendment
St. Paul Asian American Press
July 15, 2005

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Old Flag Stirs Strong Feelings Among Vets
San Jose Mercury News
July 15, 2005

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Hmong Arrivals Tackle Language Barrier
Green Bay Press Gazette
July 17, 2005

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Vietnam Through Other Eyes
OCRegister
July 17, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   U.S. Department of Labor

   Executive Summary: The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), announces the availability of approximately $5 million in demonstration grant funds to test unique and innovative training strategies for services to individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) (those who do not speak English as their primary language and who have a limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English) and Hispanic Americans, specifically, those who lack basic and occupational skills needed by high-growth occupations. This demonstration program is targeted to incumbent workers, new job entrants or youth who lack the language, basic skills, and occupational skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace. This demonstration program emphasizes the use of innovative contextualized learning strategies which simultaneously provide language and occupational skills training that open career opportunities and pathways for LEP and Hispanic Americans. The Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and Hispanic Worker Initiative is a strategic effort to improve access to employment and training services for LEP persons.

   Deadline: August 15, 2005

2. (National)
   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

   Developing Adoption Services and Supports for Youth Who Wish to Retain Contact with Family Members in Order to Improve Permanency Outcomes

   WHO: Nonprofit organizations including faith-based and community-based organizations, State, County, City, or township governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations

   WHAT: The purpose of these demonstration projects is to demonstrate effective implementation of strategies for introducing the concept of open adoption to youth and/or sibling groups who prefer to maintain contact with birth families and/or siblings.

   AWARD AMOUNT: 0 to 6 awards of up to $300,000 totaling $1,800,000

   Deadline: August 10, 2005

3. (National)
   Sierra Health Foundation

   Up to six youth-serving nonprofits in the California Capital Region will be awarded grants via the Sierra Health Foundation's capacity-building grants program.

   Under the program, grantees will perform a full assessment of their organization with the assistance of an independent consultant and develop an action strategy to increase their capacity. Awards will total approximately $10,000 per organization.

   All 501(c)(3) nonprofits with an operating budget of $500,000 or more operating youth services in the California Capital Region -- which includes Sacramento County and portions of the surrounding counties -- are eligible to apply.

   Deadline: August 12 2005

4. (Silicon Valley)
   The Community Foundation Silicon Valley

   The Community Foundation Silicon Valley has revised its community grants program and launched a new Web site with the goal of making its programs easier for nonprofits and community members to access and understand.

   CFSV will now provide general operating support to Silicon Valley grantees through its renamed Community Investment Grants program. (Previously, the Community Foundation only provided support for specific programs.) The program will provide one-year general support grant awards of up to $20,000 to nonprofits working in one or more of the following focus areas: Arts and Cultural Participation; Education and Lifelong Learning; Neighborhood and Civic Engagement; and Self-Reliant Individuals and Families.

   There are four quarterly grant application deadlines for these grants. To be eligible, organizations must have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and the organization's core program must serve a significant population in Santa Clara County and southern San Mateo County, California.

   Deadlines: September 1, 2005; November 1, 2005; February 1, 2006; and May 1, 2006

5. (California)
   California Council for the Humanities

   Guidelines are now available for the California Documentary Project, a program of the California Council for the Humanities that supports the work of experienced photographers, film and videomakers, and radio producers who document contemporary California life and explore issues of significance to Californians.

   For the October 2005 deadline, preference will be given to projects that document the challenges of making a life in California, including projects that explore the relations between newcomers and established residents, the various ways people become active members of a California community, how Californians encounter and cross cultural divides, and how identities are shaped and changed by living in a multi-ethnic state.

   Photography projects may apply for grants of up to $20,000. With support from the Skirball Foundation, film, video, and radio projects may apply for an additional $60,000, for a total of $80,000. To be eligible for the additional funds, projects must be suitable for national broadcast and demonstrate interest from a national broadcaster. CCH is particularly interested in projects that can be used to spark community discussion.

   Projects must be sponsored by a California not-for-profit organization or state or municipal government entity.

   Program guidelines and project requirements are available at the CCH Web site. An online application will be available at the Web site on September 1, 2005.

   Deadline: October 3, 2005

6. (National)
   The Mattel Children's Foundation

   The Mattel Children's Foundation, a philanthropic program of Mattel, Inc., has announced the recipients of its first round of domestic grants, representing the first time the foundation has awarded funds through its online, unsolicited grant application program. Thirty-eight nonprofit organizations directly serving children in need in twenty-one states will receive grants ranging from $3,000 to $25,000.

   The grants represent one of the programs announced earlier this year as part of the foundation's relaunch, and are expected to help improve the lives of children in need throughout the U.S.

   Applications for the second round of grants are now being accepted.

   Charitable organizations in the U.S. that directly serve children in need are eligible for grants ranging between $5,000 and $25,000.

   Applicant organizations must have 501(c)(3) public charity status under the Internal Revenue Code. Funding priority will be given to organizations or programs that creatively address a locally defined need directly impacting children in need (particularly children between the ages of 0 and 13) and that align with Mattel's philanthropic priorities, which include health, education, and girls' empowerment.

   Two types of grants will be considered: 1) program-specific grants—i.e., funding for the launch of new programs or expansion of existing programs; and 2) core operating support—i.e., support of organizations to sustain their programs.

   Applications must be submitted online through the Mattel Web site.

   Deadline: September 30, 2005

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V. Resources

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If you wish to contribute to the VERB Weekly e-Digest, please send all materials to sophy@searac.org