Tuesday, September 6, 2005: Volume #2, Issue #88
The VERB Weekly Email Digest
Edited by Sophy Pich, VERB Project Associate

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In This Week's Issue

1. Announcements
• NAVASA
• NCVA
• SEARAC Gala
• CANC
• Peninsula Silicon Valley Funders Fair
• NCVA
• NAPALC
2. Promising Practices
• Promoting Your Not-for-Profit through Public Relations
3. News
• Minority businesses growing fast
• Remembering and Honoring Hmong & Lao Vietnam War Veterans
• New Hmong mural dedicated
• Lessons to digest
• Witnesses' statements conflict, Vang lawyer says
• Fennell announces he's running for City Council
• Vietnamese Americans Stranded in Hurricane Zone
• POW/MIA bracelets help to remember, honor service members
• South Bay and Peninsula
• AAJA 2005 National Conference
• Dozens of Vietnamese Americans Stranded in Versailles, Outside of ...
• Juicy juice
• Hu visit stirs range of reactions
• Lao-Hmong fest this weekend
• Vietnamese in OC Fear for Gulf Coast Relatives
• Slow boat to Cambodia
• 'They Just Left Us Here to Die'
• Fitchburg celebrates 2006 Hmong New Year
• Vietnamese share stories of survival
• Chamblee changed by challenge of immigration
• Vietnamese evacuees find hope in Texas
• Summary: Wis. to Pick Jury in Shootings
4. Funding Opportunities
• Nickelodeon
• Environmental Protection Agency
• The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
• AmeriCorps
5. Resources
• Philanthropy Journal Online

I. Announcements

For Immediate Release
Date: Friday, September 2, 2005

Contact: An Vo
301-587-2781 or an.vo@navasa.org

Vietnamese Americans in Louisiana Seeking Refuge in Houston, Texas: How You Can Help

Washington D.C.- Since Monday morning, Hurricane Katrina has left a devastating trail for many in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. There are currently more than 30 counties in Louisiana that require individual and public assistance. Although the storm is now gone, many are faced with homelessness, health care, lack of water and food, and lack of financial support. Because of the amount of chemicals, industrial waste, human feces, heavy metals, and other various hazardous materials that are mixed with the flood water and the city's water system, major clean up efforts are required once everyone is safely evacuated. City Officials estimated that it will take at least 3 months or more before residents can move back to their homes.

There are a total of about 34,656 Vietnamese American, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, lived in the federally-declared disaster areas, with Louisiana in the lead with 23,434 people. Many Vietnamese American families are seeking refuge in either Texas, Houston particularly, or Louisiana's more inland counties such as Baton Rouge and LaFayette. Since Tuesday morning, more than 1,500 Vietnamese Americans arrived at Hong Kong Mall IV in Houston, Texas. They were greeted with open arms by the fellow Vietnamese Americans. Restaurants in Hong Kong Mall gave out free food to those and their family members that possess a Louisiana driver license. A number of generous residents also offered to house families from Louisiana. Many are touched with the warm welcome received in Texas. In an interview with Viet Bao, Ms. Sinh Vu, who has a family of 20, expressed her amazement, "Coming to Houston, we were so well treated, it was hard to believe our eyes. Like this afternoon, we received clothing for our children from Hong Kong Mall IV, and received Food Stamps. When coming to a Vietnamese restaurant, all we need is to show our Louisiana ID, and we get to eat for free".

Currently, there are no exact counts of how many casualties and survivors of the hurricane due to still ongoing evacuation and rescue efforts. However, it is expected that much post hurricane relief, such as providing the evacuees with housing, food, and proper medical attention, will be needed. In response to this unfortunate event, NAVASA will contribute in the following ways: (1) NAVASA is collecting donations and will send these contributions to Texas State Representative Hubert Vo and the Vietnamese Community of Houston and Vicinity to assist in providing proper care for Louisiana hurricane refugees, (2) NAVASA will continue to inform and keep an update on Vietnamese communities affected by the hurricane, and (3) NAVASA will be involved in the long-term plan in assisting evacuees.

NAVASA would like to call for your kindness and generosity in contributing easement to those that are currently suffering from this natural disaster. There are a number of ways in which you can contribute.

1. Make a donation to NAVASA to be sent to Houston Texas for the relief effort for Vietnamese Americans from Louisiana. Donation information can be found on our website.
2. Make a donation through United Way, Catholic Relief Services , the American Red Cross , or other emergency relief agencies.
3. Become a volunteer to provide medical and resettlement needs for the evacuees. Please note, it is critically important that volunteers do not show up in the affected areas on their own, as you can put yourself in harm's way and possibly hamper rescue efforts. It is advised that you join certified volunteer organizations
4. Help mobilize your community to contribute to this relief effort.

As a Vietnamese saying goes, "A small portion during hunger is equivalent of a large portion when full." NAVASA urges everyone to take action and contribute, large or small, in the wake of this devastating event. For updated information about hurricane Katrina rescue efforts, visit: www.fema.gov. Regarding Vietnamese Americans, visit www.radiosaigonhouston.com, www.vietbao.com; www.nguoi-viet.com; and www.vietcatholic.net.

National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 310 Silver Spring, MD. 20910 Tel: 301/587-2781 * Fax: 301/587-2783 * Email: navasa@navasa.org

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Thank you to all of you who assisted in this rescue! Working together, we made a difference.

NCVA is currently in the process of compiling a list of Vietnamese American survivors and victims of the Hurricane. If you are aware of any one, please send us their name, most recent place of origin (i.e. New Orleans, Biloxi, etc), and where they are currently located. We will post this information from our various resources to give some form of comfort to families and friends who are searching for loved ones.

We encourage you to make a donation to local efforts and to the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities or other charitable organizations providing relief assistance. For more resources, visit http://www.fema.gov.

For those who wish to volunteer, visit http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

Any donations made to NCVA will be directed to assist the Vietnamese Americans affected by this natural disaster in the areas of New Orleans, Biloxi and other gulf cities.

Thank you,

Hung Nguyen
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA)
www.ncvaonline.org

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Less Than Two Weeks Until SEARAC Gala!

Beyond Refugees: From Flight to Setting Roots
September 17, 2005

In 2004, SEARAC celebrated its 25th year advancing the issues of Americans with heritage in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. This year marks the 30th year of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement to the US and the 25th Anniversary of the Refugee Act. In this time, SEARAC has come a long way, hitting many milestones. On Saturday, September 17, 2005, SEARAC will stage a benefit dinner in Washington, DC - Beyond Refugees: From Flight to Setting Roots - to commemorate these milestones.

Across the country, Southeast Asian Americans now number over two million. They are artists, professors, meat-packers, shrimp farmers, state senators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. While the community still faces many challenges, they face them with the knowledge that SEARAC is there to develop emerging leaders, advocate for important issues on the Hill, and lead the way in groundbreaking academic and community-based research - ensuring that Southeast Asian American voices are heard loud and clear. After thirty years of resettling to the US, they are taking the refugee experience beyond the legacy of war, genocide, and instability. They are setting roots in the US - their new homeland.

Join SEARAC as we honor individuals and organizations that have supported the Southeast Asian American communities and SEARAC over the years. Plus, enjoy a night of entertainment by Southeast Asian American performers.

September 17, 2005 from 6:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Tony Cheng's Restaurant, 619 H Street, NW, Washington, DC

To receive more information regarding sponsorship, placing an advertisement in the gala program, or purchasing a ticket, please contact Tong Lee at (202) 667-4690 or tong@searac.org

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Cambodian American National Council (VERB National Partner)

Dear Friends,

The Cambodian American National Council is looking for award candidates in the following categories:

1. Cambodian Community Leader Award
2. Cambodian Business Leader Award
3. Cambodian Future Leader Award

These awards will be presented at the Cambodian American National Conference in Houston on Saturday, October 8, 2005.

All Cambodian American community organizations, members and leaders in the United States are encouraged to identify and nominate a candidate by Monday, September 19th 2005 by 4:00 PM.

Please see the Award Nomination Form via the link below.

1. http://www.cancweb.org/canc/announcements/CANC_Award_Nomination_Form.pdf or
2. http://www.cancweb.org/canc/announcements/CANC_Award_Nomination_Form.doc

Thank you for your help.

Schanley D. Kuch
Chairman, CANC Award Committee

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The Peninsula Silicon Valley Funders Fair

Thursday, September 15, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.

For the seventh year, Peninsula Community Foundation and CompassPoint Nonprofit Services are proud to produce the Peninsula Silicon Valley Funders Fair.

Featuring 15 sessions, the Funders Fair provides an opportunity for nonprofits to hear directly from funders, attend skills-building workshops, and get hands-on assistance in addressing their organization's fundraising challenges.

Location: Crowne Plaza Foster City

Reality Grantmaking Session: $1000 will be Awarded to One Organization. You've experienced reality TV, now get ready for Reality Grantmaking. In this workshop, participants will witness proposal review and decision-making as a panel of real grantmakers review proposals. The agency with the highest scores will receive a cash grant at the end of the workshop. If you would like to submit a proposal for consideration at this session, see the RFP at: www.compasspoint.org

All finalists must be present for the Reality Grantmaking workshop session. Submit your proposal before September 1st!

Click here for more information

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Career Opportunity Seminar

New York Life Insurance Company In Cooperation With National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (VERB Subawardee)

Attend The CAREER OPPORTUNITY SEMINAR and Make An Informed Decision

The New York Life Insurance Company Training

Allowance Subsidy Plan can add up to $50,820 (maximum for 3 contract years) which will help you start your career with confidence.

New York Life cordially invites you to a Career Opportunity Seminar to help you find out more information about the above opportunity. The seminar will be held on:

Friday, September 30, 2005

6:00pm - 8:30pm

at: Democracy Center
6901 Rockledge Drive, Suite 800
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-214-6600

Seats are limited. Please call 1-877-NYL-VIET (1-877-695-8438) to reserve your seat.

Your guests are also welcomed.

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NAPALC COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONFERENCE 2005

"Building Bridges"
October 14-15, 2005
Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Save the Date!

What: NAPALC Community Partners Conference
When: October 14-15, 2005
Where: Washington, D.C., Phoenix Park Hotel
Why: To learn about policies affecting Asian Americans, including immigration, language rights, voting rights, anti-Asian hate crimes; to network with national groups and local groups from across the country. To learn skills for increasing and sustaining capacity in your organizations.

Who Should Attend: Staff of community-based organizations, social service organizations and legal organizations that serve Asian Americans.

Agenda and registration materials available at www.napalc.org/conference

***Register by Sept. 9 to be eligible for travel/lodging scholarships***

For more information, contact Pang Houa Moua at pmoua@napalc.org or 202-296-2300, ext. 122.

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II. Promising Practices

• Framing the story and writing a news release
• Targeting and connecting with the appropriate media
• Distributing your news
• Developing experts and promoting them as a reliable source
• Monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of your efforts

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III. News

Minority Businesses Growing Fast
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
August 29, 2005

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Remembering and Honoring Hmong & Lao Vietnam War Veterans
WSAW
August 29, 2005

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New Hmong Mural Dedicated
Kansas City Kansan
August 30, 2005

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Lessons to Digest
Fresno Bee
August 30, 2005

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Witnesses' Statements Conflict, Vang Lawyer Says
Minneapolis Star Tribune
September 1, 2005

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Fennell Announces He's Running for City Council
Lowell Sun
September 1, 2005

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Vietnamese Americans Stranded in Hurricane Zone
UVSASC
September 1, 2005

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POW/MIA Bracelets Help to Remember, Honor Service Members
The Beam
September 2, 2005

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South Bay and Peninsula
San Jose Mercury News
September 2, 005

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AAJA 2005 National Conference
St. Paul Asian American Press
September 2, 2005

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Dozens of Vietnamese Americans Stranded in Versailles, Outside of ...
New California Media
September 2, 2005

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Juicy Juice
The Capital Times
September 2, 2005

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Hu Visit Stirs Range of Reactions
Seattle Times
September 3, 2005

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Lao-Hmong Fest This Weekend
Green Bay Press Gazette
September 3, 2005

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Vietnamese in OC Fear for Gulf Coast Relatives
UVSASC
September 3, 2005

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Slow Boat to Cambodia
Dallas Morning News
September 4, 2005

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'They Just Left Us Here to Die'
Los Angeles Times
September 4, 2005

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Fitchburg Celebrates 2006 Hmong New Year
Fitchburg Sentinel
September 4, 2005

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Vietnamese Share Stories of Survival
Macon Telegraph
September 4, 2005

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Chamblee Changed by Challenge of Immigration
Atlanta Journal Constitution
September 5, 2005

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Vietnamese Evacuees Find Hope in Texas
KLFY
September 5, 2005

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Wis. to Pick Jury in Shootings
Guardian Unlimited
September 5, 2005

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Nickelodeon Children's television network Nickelodeon (http://www.nick.com) has announced the launch of the 2005-2006 "Let's Just Play" Giveaway Program, where the network will distribute more than $1 million from September 2005 to June 2006. The "Let's Just Play" Giveaway offers kids around the United States the opportunity to take action and enter for a chance to win $5,000 to improve their school or community program's fitness resources. The initiative is part of the network's three-year pro-social "Let's Just Play" campaign, which encourages healthy and active lifestyles for kids and families. For ten months, Nickelodeon will award a minimum of 20 winners per month with $5,000 each to help facilitate play in their community. To enter, kids ( 6-15 years of age), partnering with teachers and other community-based leaders, must tell Nickelodeon what they need for their public or private school (grades K-9) or community-based after-school organization to help them play better and why, and give three reasons why play is important. Once the entry form is completed and mailed to Nickelodeon, the winners will be randomly selected and announced via Nickelodeon Online at the top of each month, beginning in September. As a partner of the "Let's Just Play" Giveaway, the Kellogg Company (http://www.kellogg.com) will match a Nickelodeon grant of $100,000 for September, enabling the network to award funding to 40 winners that month. The partnership is part of the network's efforts to bring corporate partners on-board for the "Let's Just Play" Giveaway in order to increase the total funds distributed to $2 million. Deadline: Rolling, until May 31, 2006
2. (National)
   Environmental Protection Agency

   Since 1971, the Environmental Protection Agency has sponsored the President's Environmental Youth Awards. The program recognizes young people across America for projects which demonstrate their commitment to the environment. Young people in all 50 states and the U.S. territories are invited to participate in the program.

   Projects submitted in the past have covered a wide range of subject areas including recycling programs in schools and communities; construction of nature preserves; major tree planting programs; videos, skits, and newsletters created by students that focused on environmental issues; and environmental science projects. To be eligible to compete, a student or students, sponsored by an adult, must submit to their local EPA regional office evidence of a completed project as defined in the President's Environmental Youth Award application, as well as a completed application.

   Deadline: October 31, 2005

3. (National)
   The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has announced that the nomination period for the 2006 Hilton Humanitarian Prize is now open. The Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is awarded annually to an organization making extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world. For the 2006 prize, the Hilton Foundation board has increased the prize amount to $1.5 million. Nominations are sought from throughout the international community. An independent international panel of jurors will make the final selection; the award recipient will be announced in the fall of 2006. Nominees must be organizations, not individuals. Nominees must be established, non-governmental, publicly supported charitable organizations. U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status -- or the equivalent for international organizations -- will determine eligibility. Nominees must be legally established for at least five years (established prior to 2001) in order to be considered. The nominator should have direct knowledge of the nominated organization's work. The nominator may not be an officer or employee or any other individual receiving remuneration for their services from the nominated organization. Board members may nominate providing they receive no payment for their service. The nominator may not be a family member of an officer or employee of the nominated organization. Since the prize is not a grant, nomination material should emphasize the organization's accomplishments rather than future goals. Both historic and recent performance should be addressed. Deadline: November 7, 2005
4. (National)
   AmeriCorps

   AmeriCorps offers services and personnel to nonprofit organizations through its National Professional Corps Grants Program.

   Professional Corps programs will place AmeriCorps members in communities in need of nurses and healthcare providers, teachers, and other professional staff. This year's focus areas includes education, the environment, public safety, ensuring a brighter future for all of America's youth, and student community engagement, including generating service learning in the K-12 environment and involving more students in higher education institutions in addressing the needs of their community.

   Public, state, and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, city, state, local and tribal governments, and public-housing authorities are all eligible to apply.

   Deadline: February 14, 2006

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V. Resources

Philanthropy Journal Online

This weekly electronic journal provides a wide range of information about nonprofits, fundraising, and volunteers. You may also sign up for a free e-mail newsletter, Philanthropy Journal Alert. Philanthropy Journal Online is available free on the world wide web.

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