Tuesday, October 4, 2004: Volume #2, Issue #48
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
• Vietnamese Professionals Society North American Conference
• 5th Annual Asian Pacific American Film Festival
• Absentee Ballots
2. Promising Practices
• In-Depth Database Needs Assessment
3. News
• for Many Who Were Born There, Vietnam Fatigue
• Groundbreaking a Toast to Wellstones' Memory
• Los Altos Weighs Limit on Nail Salons
• Concentration Camp Escapee Finds Life in Nc
• Laos-y Flavors
• Millions of Asian Americans and Pacific...
• California Governor Signs Controversial Charity Bill
• Author Fadiman to Speak at LR
• Joining Hands to Save Children
• Doug Grow: Hmong Scout Troops Have Proven Their Merit
4. Funding Opportunities
• Pulte Homes Charitable Giving Program
• Allstate Foundation
• The U.S. Department of Labor
5. Resources
• Best Practices Database

I. Announcements

Vietnamese Professionals Society North American Conference

Roles of Vietnamese Professionals - Global and Local Perspectives Saturday, October 23rd - Sunday, October 24th 2004 Link: http://www.vps.org/bm2004/

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Washington, D.C. -- APA Film will present the 5th Annual Asian Pacific American Film Festival October 7-16, 2004 at locations throughout the Washington, D.C., area including the Smithsonian Institution's Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The festival will showcase daily short film programs, documentaries, and feature length films by Asian filmmakers based in North America and abroad. All screenings are open to the public and many will have free admission.

A complete schedule of films will be posted online in late September at http://www.apafilm.org

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Even if you won't be around on Election Day, you can still cast your vote! Request an absentee ballot from your Local County or city election official or clerk . However, you must be registered to vote in order to request an absentee ballot. The requirements for requesting an absentee ballot vary from state to state. Go to http://www.iop.harvard.edu/voter_info_absentee_guide.html to learn more about absentee voting.

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II. Promising Practices

In-Depth Database Needs Assessment

By TechSoup

In the Needs Assessment, you should look for and identify the following types of key issues:

• Replacing an existing database system with a new one is always very costly, but may also bring major benefits. Would it be possible to fix or work around problems or limitations in the current database system, so that it would not be necessary to replace it with a new one?
• Since a problem with a non-software related issue can prevent the successful implementation of a new or improved database, you should look for any non-software related issues which must be resolved wither before or in tandem with changes to new database software.
• Requirements that might force you to build a custom software solution, rather than purchase a software package.
• Database requirements that will be key differentiators among different software packages. For example: Does it have to run on a Mac? Do you require dial-up or web access? Do several users require simultaneous access?
• Surprises: has the organization anticipated all the costs, changes, impacts and risks implied by a database change? Is the organization prepared for them?

This questionnaire form is extremely detailed. Focus on getting complete information for key areas and less complete information for non-critical areas, and don't try to fill in the entire questionnaire in complete detail, since you will have a limited time budget for performing the data collection and analysis phase of the project.

Read on: http://www.techsoup.org/howto/worksheetpage.cfm?worksheetid=54

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III. News

For Many Who Were Born There, Vietnam Fatigue
New York Times
September 25, 2004

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Groundbreaking a Toast to Wellstones' Memory
Pioneer Press
September 27, 2004

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Los Altos Weighs Limit on Nail Salons
San Jose Mercury News
September 27, 2004

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Concentration Camp Escapee Finds Life in NC
Kinston Free Press
September 29, 2004

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Laos-y Flavors
Monterey County Herald
September 29, 2004

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Millions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at Increased ...
National Institutes of Health
September 29, 2004

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California Governor Signs Controversial Charity Bill
The Chronicles of Philanthropy
September 30, 2004

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Author Fadiman to Speak at LR
Charlotte Observer
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/states/north_carolina/count

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Joining Hands to Save Children
Philadelphia Inquirer
October 3, 2004

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Doug Grow: Hmong Scout Troops Have Proven Their Merit
Minneapolis Star Tribune
October 3, 2004

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IV. Grants

1. (National)
   Pulte Homes Charitable Giving Program

   The Pulte Homes Charitable Giving Program primarily supports nonprofit organizations in company communities, with emphasis on the Detroit, MI metropolitan area. The grantmaking focus areas currently open for application include education, with support directed to improving programs targeted toward the Residential Homebuilding Industry at U.S. universities; environment; and health and human services. Nonprofit organizations in company communities in the 28 states where the company operates and Washington, DC are eligible to apply. Applications are accepted year-round.

2. (National)
   Allstate Foundation

   The Allstate Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations for national programs and for local programs in company communities throughout the United States. The Foundation focuses its support on three areas: tolerance, inclusion, and diversity, including teaching tolerance to youth, alleviating discrimination, and ending hate crimes; safe and vital communities, including catastrophe response and mitigation, youth anti-violence, and neighborhood revitalization; and economic empowerment, including financial and insurance education, economic literacy, and entrepreneurial business skill development. Applications are accepted throughout the year. Visit the above website for more information.

3. (National)
   The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

   The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) has announced a competition for the balance of the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program (VWIP) grant funds for Program Year (PY) 2004, as authorized under Section 168 of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of

   The VWIP programs are designed to be flexible in addressing the universal as well as local or regional problems that may have had a negative impact on veterans as they adapt to the competitive challenges of the 21st Century workforce. The project design may provide for one of the following two options: 1.) Employment and training services such as basic skills instruction, training necessary to fill gaps in academic or experiential requirements necessary for a license or professional certification, remedial education activities, job search activities including job search workshops, job counseling, job preparatory training including resume writing and interviewing skills, subsidized trial employment, on-the-job training, classroom training, placement follow-up services, and other services provided under WIA. 2.) Outreach activities such as local or regional newsletters or other communications devices that convey important information to all entities involved in providing employment and training services to veterans, or regional or national conferences.

   Eligible Applicants: VETS is seeking applications that take one of two approaches--either providing direct services to veterans that result in jobs and job training or credentialing opportunities, or providing outreach and public information activities that result in jobs and job training or credentialing opportunities for veterans. VETS notes that services should "focus on emerging high growth industries and target occupations where documented shortages exist. Some examples might include health care professions, information technology, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, financial services, or other occupations where a license or certification is either required or desirable." Eligible Applicants should have a familiarity with the area and population to be served and can administer an effective program.

   Award Amount: VETS anticipates that up to $3,800,000 in PY 2004 funds will be available for grant awards. The awards will be in the form of 6-month grants. It is anticipated that funds will be made available under this solicitation beginning January 1, 2005, and must be obligated no later than June 30, 2005. Awards are expected to range from $75,000 to a maximum of $375,000.

   Deadline: November 1, 2004

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V. Resources

Best Practices Database

This homepage offers examples of Best Practices in the forms of programs, services and publications of the Center for Excellence in Non-profits (CEN). The goal of the center is to provide improved leadership and services, and to elevate the whole community of nonprofit organizations.

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