Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association

GSVA Information

Founded in December 1992, GSVA is committed to promoting positive relationships and mutual understanding between the people of Greater Seattle and the people of Viet Nam. We will accomplish this by promoting contact and cooperation in the areas of education, humanitarian work, trade and the arts.

As an all volunteer organization, GSVA directs almost 100% of its funds to humanitarian and education projects in or related to Viet Nam.

See our 2002-2003 Annual Report here.

Some of Our Activities …

Publishing bi-monthly newsletter Update.

Working in Collaboration with Government, Business, and Non-Governmental Organizations in VN Projects.

Trade and Friendship Mission.

Teaching English Project in Viet Nam.

General Membership Social Events.

Supporting Orphanages and Children Programs/Projects in Viet Nam.

Providing Aid for Viet Nam Flood Victims.

Supporting local Vietnamese American Community Groups.

Some of Our Supporters and Partners …

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Asia Society

Bank of America

The Boeing Company

The Port of Seattle

City of Seattle

Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle

Office of the Ambassador – United States Embassy in Hanoi

University of Washington

Washington Council on International Trade

Washington State Office of Trade & Economic Development

World Affairs Council

Our Sister City … Seattle – Hai Phong Sister City

On September 30, 1995, the Seattle City Council passed a resolution declaring Hai Phong City Seattle’s 20^th sister city.

Through sister city programs, GSVA and local governments work together to promote international understanding and goodwill. Out of the exchange of ideas and shared experiences, true friendships have developed. Each experience results in increased understanding, living proof that language is no barrier to communication. Trade and tourism, benefit all cities and countries, have become increasingly important segments of the sister city links. Exchanges and activities are conducted in the following categories: Education, Language, Art, Song and Dance, Cuisine, Social Issues, Youth, Trade, Sports, Health, Medicine, Science, Technology, Wildlife, Plants, Environment, and Government.

Seattle’s sister city program is coordinated by the Mayor’s Division of International Affairs and is a member of Sister Cities International.

Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association
Board of Directors and Advisory Council

OFFICERS

Son Michael Pham
Co-President

Gary Johnson
Co-President/Treasurer

Khue Dang
Vice President

Judith Henchy
Secretary

Lea Ann Kaplan
Membership Chair

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Dean

Richard Hunter

Imbert Matthee

Alex Nguyen

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Patricia Davis
Commissioner Port of Seattle

Sue Donaldson
Daniel J. Evans School
University of Washington

Jan Drago
Seattle City Councilmember

William Glassford
Bank of America

Christopher J. Flint
The Boeing Company

Mike Lowry
Enterprise Washington

Jim McDermott
U.S Congress

Paige Miller
Commissioner Port of Seattle

Douglas “Pete” Peterson
Former U.S Ambassador to Viet Nam

William Stafford
President Trade Development
Alliance of Greater Seattle

Jim Street
Executive Director, Reinvesting in Youth

Betty Tisdale
President, HALO

ANNUAL REPORT

Our activities during the fiscal year of 2002-2003:

o On-going:

Update Newsletters published quarterly.
Participated in the Seattle Sister Cities Coordinating Committee.
Participated in the Seattle Sister City Council.
Kids Without Borders Program and Events.

o List of Events:

September 30 – October 1, 2002: Rotary International Landmine Conference in Seattle. Conference was sponsored by Rotary International, and the U.S Department of State. Board President attended the conference on behalf of GSVA, joining several Seattle-based non-governmental organizations and hundreds of delegates from around the world.
October 3 – 16, 2002: HumaniTour Viet Nam. With combined funding and support from GSVA, the Rotary Club of the University District Seattle and Kids Without Borders, the HumaniTour team delivered scholarships to orphanages, safety helmets to school children, new clothes and medical supplies to children throughout Viet Nam.
October 23, 2002: 10th Year Anniversary Celebration. Celebration event was held at the Port of Seattle to celebrate GSVA’s 10th birthday. Special guests in attendance including several founding board members, and members of the Advisory Council.
January 18, 2003: Board Strategic Planning Retreat.
January 27 - 31, 2003: hosted visiting teacher from Viet Nam of the GSVA ‘Teaching English Program’.
March 12 – 31, 2003: HumaniTour March 2003 / Trade & Friendship Mission. Official visit to Hai Phong led by Seattle City Councilmember Drago. During the Trade & Friendship Mission, the Seattle team engaged in meetings with the Hai Phong government related to the Seattle-Hai Phong Partnership Program sponsored by the World Bank. The HumaniTour Team members made donations of school scholarships, new clothes, dental care and medical supplies, toys and sport equipment, to orphans and poor children in various areas throughout the country.
April 6 – May 4, 2003: hosted visiting team of Viet Nam Doctors participating in the Rotary International Group Exchange Study Program.
June 1, 2003: participated in Wheel & Grace fundraising event in California by the Wheelchair Foundation, Rotary International and VNHelp. The event raised funds to purchase and distribute 1,500 wheelchairs to disabled people in Viet Nam.
June 13, 2003: co-sponsored with the Greater Seattle Trade Development Alliance Business Breakfast featured Viet Nam Ambassador to the U.S. Event was held at the Rainier Club during the official visit to the state of Washington by a delegation led by the Viet Nam Ambassador. The delegation was brought to Seattle by the Boeing Company on the occasion of the delivery of a new Boeing 777 to Viet Nam Airlines.
June 15 – 23, 2003: joined the City of Seattle, Trade Development Allaince, University of Washington, and Port of Seattle, hosting the Hai Phong delegation in Seattle as part of the Seattle-Hai Phong Partnership Program sponsored by the World Bank.
Jul;y 20 – August 4, 2003: hosted Viet Nam Doctors in Seattle for training program by Counterpart International and the University of Washington.
September 16, 2003: Benefit Dinner event ‘Teach Me To Fish’ held at Andre’s Restaurant in Bellevue to raise fund for the Teaching English program in orphanages in Viet Nam.
September 29, 2003: attended luncheon featuring visiting delegation from Viet Nam led by President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. Event was sponsored by the Port of Seattle, Washington Council for International Trade, and Peacetrees Viet Nam.
October 2, 2003: Annual Meeting and Board Elections.
October 14, 2003: Benefit Dinner event ‘Teach Me To Fish’ held at Andre’s Restaurant in Bellevue to raise fund for the Teaching English program in orphanages in Viet Nam.
November 3-16, 2003: HumaniTour Viet Nam. The HumaniTour team participated in the delivery of a donation of 1,500 wheelchairs, funded by Rotary International, the Wheelchair Foundation, VNHelp, and Pro Sports Club of Bellevue. Team members also gave out school scholarships to orphans, donations of new clothes, dental care and medical supplies, school supplies, toys, sports equipment, and safety helmets. In addition, team members delivered two computers donated by Digital Partners (a Seattle-based nonprofit organization) and Microsoft to two orphanages, and purchased several cribs for the life-threatening ill babies at the Go Vap Orphanage in Saigon.
November 11, 2003: Benefit Dinner event ‘Teach Me To Fish’ held at Andre’s Restaurant in Bellevue to raise fund for the Teaching English program in orphanages in Viet Nam.
December 2003: launched a clean water project to support a small hilltribe village in the central area of Viet Nam.
December 2003: launched a project supporting schools in the Mekong area.

Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association
P.O.Box 23282; Seattle, WA 98102 USA
206-322-1178 * Fax 206-374-2944 * Email info@seattlevietnam.org

GSVA Webmaster:
Lea Ann Kaplan
GSVA Website created February 2001