Greater
Seattle Viet Nam Association
Greater
Seattle Viet Nam Association
The Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association
UPDATE
Issue December 2001
HumaniTours
A few of us at GSVA have kicked around an idea that could both raise some funds for GSVA and greatly expand awareness of humanitarian needs in Vietnam. What if we organized tours to Vietnam that combined tourist activities with visits to places involving humanitarian operations? What if people had the chance to not only see Vietnam as tourists, but also to participate in a variety of humanitarian projects? What if we called this concept “Humanitourism?”
Son Michael Pham and myself, along with an old friend of mine, Ben Field, decided to test the idea late in November of 2001. We called the trip Humanitour 2001. In my view the trip was a great success, tremendous fun, and proved that the concept could be implemented by GSVA.
Son Michael has, of course, been deeply involved with humanitarian projects in Vietnam for a number of years. Any success with Humanitourism by GSVA will depend on building upon the contacts he has already established.
Our trip began with delivering 38 “shunts” to a doctor in Hanoi. These shunts are metal tubes that are used to relieve cranial swelling in babies afflicted by hydrocephalus; a disease that attacks the brains of babies and seems fairly widespread in Vietnam. Shunts are expensive and Son Michael’s getting 38 of them donated to GSVA was quite a coup. Our delivering them to Professor Nguyen Van Bai of the Hanoi University School of Medicine made us minor celebrities in Vietnam. The presentation of the shunts was recorded by television crews and was shown on national television. We also got a chance to talk with Professor Bai and his dynamic wife Tam, both of whom are dedicated to the welfare of children in Vietnam. Mrs. Tam is associated with The National Fund for Vietnamese Children, a government agency dedicated to the protection and care of children.
We were also able to visit a center for disabled children and the aged in the Ba Vi District of Ha Tay Province southwest of Hanoi. We were able to provide much needed blankets and sleeping mats for many of the children there as well as some treats for the kids.
In Ho Chi Minh City we spent a good deal of time with the children of Go Vap orphanage, a place where Son Michael has invested a great deal of time and effort. GSVA provides funding (from a teaching English grant by the Boeing Company and Airborne Express) that allows Mrs. Phan Thanh Minh Hieu to teach English to the older children one day a week. We had a ball taking the 11 children of the English class on a field trip and helping them develop their English skills. And, in return, the kids taught me how to count to ten in Vietnamese.
Leaving bustling Saigon, we went far south to rural Bac Lieu province to meet with Father Peter Chanh, a parish priest in a small village near Bac Lieu town. Father Peter is an amazing man who maintains a school with 250 students, a large church where he conducts Catholic mass every morning and three times on Sunday, supports a group of future Catholic seminarians, and builds everything in his complex, from concrete classrooms to metal chairs, desks, and doorways. Son wrote about Fr. Peter and his school in the September-October issue of the newsletter. It was great to meet Fr. Chanh, hear about his problems, hopes and dreams, and to meet the children of his school. The soccer balls, volleyballs, clothes, candy and toys we brought along were all great hits.
With all that we did, we missed out on seeing the mine clearing efforts that are so much part of Clear Path International, another project of GSVA. The flooding in the central part of Vietnam prevented us from visiting those sites. We did meet with the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation in Hanoi, a group that has done much good in helping those who have lost limbs due to the unexploded ordnance throughout central Vietnam. The Prosthetics Outreach Foundation is one of many Seattle-based organizations doing great humanitarian work in Vietnam.
So why will the HumaniTour concept work? It will succeed because people like to help. There is great interest in Vietnam, and the tour as Son Michael has developed it enables a person to be a tourist while making a real contribution to the welfare of people in need at the same time. And it gives the traveler the opportunity to interact with Vietnamese children, teachers, caretakers and others on a very personal level. There are many tour busses in Saigon where one can see westerners peering down from their comfortable seats in air-conditioned coaches. With the HumaniTour concept, tourists will get to know the people of all ages in Vietnam in a much more personal way. And, if they wish, they can make a small contribution in time, money, or effort that will make a big difference in many people’s lives.
By David Dean
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I had the privilege of traveling to Hanoi and Saigon in mid-November with an old friend, Dave Dean, and a new friend, Son Michael Pham. There is little I can add to their excellent commentaries save the following:
- There is no substitute for being there in person.
- No amount of television specials, magazines, commentators, or books, can take the place of feeling the warmth of a small child’s smile as he presses your hand in thanks for clothing, book, blanket or a brief lesson in English.
- It is not often you can kill two birds with one stone. It is quite a bargain to travel to another country, to soak in the different culture, to take in the exotic scenery, taste delicious new food, and then to leave that country with the warm fuzzy feeling that someone else, in addition to yourself, benefited from your travel.
By Ben Field
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· Shurgard Storage, especially Gayla Whitehead (Manager of the Sammamish location) for their support to our Kids Without Borders project.
· Our sincere appreciation to Tyler DuLam for his valuable contribution to GSVA. Tyler concluded his term on our Board of Directors in September, serving as our Treasurer for the last two years.
· THANK YOU to the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Leadership Program for including GSVA in their recent International Seminar in Seattle. Enjoy your trip to China and Viet Nam.
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Kids Without Borders
A project of the Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association
The Detlef Schrempf Foundation continues its dedication to helping children and families of the Northwest this year with the recent ‘Det & Mari’s Winter Wonderboat Holiday Party’ to benefit ‘Kids Without Borders’.
On Sunday, December 2, 2001 the Detlef Schrempf Foundation hosted a Holiday Family Cruise where Detlef and his “special buddy from the North Pole” entertained families on a three-hour afternoon cruise of the Puget Sound.
It was a special event for everyone, Royal Argosy Fine Dining and Consolidated Restaurants provided all the food and beverages for the afternoon.
Through 100% volunteer efforts, KWB will procure and distribute approximately $1,000,000 worth of new children’s clothing and products within its first year of operation. Our primary mission is to engage youths helping other youths throughout the community and the world.
Our 2001 Recipients:
Adams Kids' Company · Bailey-Gatzert Elementary School · Bow Lake Elementary ESL Students (Seatac) · Boyer Children’s Clinic · ECEAP (Puget Sound Educational Service District) · Eastside Domestic Violence Program · Evergreen Children’s Association · Families, Friends and Community · Family Services · Families of the Van Lang Vietnamese Cultural Association in White Center · Gregory Heights Elementary ESL Students (Highline School District) · Head Start (Puget Sound Educational Service District) · Healthy Start Shoreline/Lake Forest Park · Helping And Loving Orphans (HALO) · Latino Summer Camp for ESL Kids (Powerful Partners for Powerful Youth in White Center, Seattle) · Louisa May Alcott Elementary School · Mona Foundation · Northshore School District · Project LOOK · Seattle Mental Health · Shriners Hospitals for Children Spokane · Treehouse · University District YMCA · Vietnamese Catholic Community Church of Seattle · Vietnamese Buddhist Temple of Seattle
Other Countries:
Cambodia · Columbia · Ethiopia · Guatemala · Mexico · Nepal · Seychelles · Viet Nam
‘Kids Without Borders’ is a project of the Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association, in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Detleft Schrempf Foundation, Kids In Distressed Situations, the Rotary Club of the University District Seattle, and Rotary clubs in District 5030. For information or if you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to KWB, please contact Son Michael Pham at (425) 836-5354 or email info@kidswithnoborders.org.
The Detlef Schrempf Foundation www.detlef.com
Rotary Club of the University District Seattle www.urotary.seattle.wa.us
Son Michael Pham
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By Imbert Matthee
DONG HA, Vietnam – Clear Path International’s new Explosive Ordnance Disposal Response Team safely detonated 33 pieces of unexploded ordnance in six different locations during its first official operations in Dong Ha.
The team, which is funded by a generous grant from the Freeman Foundation in Stowe, Vermont, and trained by Clear path’s technical partner, UXB International of Ashburn, Virginia, is dispatched to communities that report life-threatening ordnance or an accidental explosion. Like a “911” emergency response unit, the team goes out to provide emergency medical care and transportation to any victims, safely dispose of deadly bombs and promote mines awareness among local residents.
The team also removes ordnance or clusters of ordnance where they stand in the way of development projects that benefit communities, such as the construction of clinics or kindergartens.
Clear Path International has been experimenting with EOD operations since the beginning of its large-scale clearance project in March. Since then, Vietnamese deminers from the land clearance operation have responded to 16 off-site ordnance reports and destroyed 85 life-threatening bombs.
With the Freeman Foundation grant, Clear Path and UXB have now institutionalized the experimental EOD team until summer. After that, Clear Path hopes to secure additional funding from partnering donors to continue its life-saving EOD operations in central Vietnam. Accidents still occur every week in this war-torn part of the country.
Meanwhile, clearance work on the historic Dong Ha Combat Base continues. Fifty-seven percent of the 110 acres has been cleared and 257 unexploded bombs have been destroyed. Once cleared, the area will be developed for much-needed housing, organic farming and aquaculture.
CLEAR PATH INTERNATIONAL is a project of the Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association
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GSVA Loses Great Friend
The Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association lost a strong supporter recently with the passing of Betty Jane Narver. Ms. Narver, the director of the Institute for Public Policy and Management at the University of Washington’s Evans School, cut a broad swath through the region. It seems that every critical public policy issue- from education reform to libraries- had Ms. Narver’s fingerprints all over them. Ms. Narver was also vitally interested in international relations. In this capacity she housed and supported a number of foreign students. She also was serving as the key coordinator in an exchange and development project between the City of Seattle and Hai Phong City funded by the World Bank and the International City/County Management Association. Betty Jane Narver was one of those rare people who accomplish more than seems humanly possible. GSVA is much richer for having known her.
For additional information about Ms. Narver, please see the following web pages:
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/50105_narver11.shtml
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis/web/vortex/display?slug=narverobit11m0&date=20011211&query=betty+jane+narver
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DOUGLAS “PETE”
PETERSON
Former Ambassador to the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam
Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson departed Hanoi for the United States on July 15, 2001, concluding more than four years as America's first post-war ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Immediately prior to his diplomatic posting, Ambassador Peterson served three terms as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the Second Congressional District of Florida where he was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and deeply engaged in health, national defense and international relations matters.
His previous public service also includes 26 years in the United States Air Force having served in worldwide assignments as a fighter pilot and commander. He is a distinguished combat veteran of the Vietnam War and was incarcerated as a POW during that conflict for six and one-half years. He completed his military service in 1981.
Ambassador Peterson has extensive experience in the private sector having formed Peterson and Associates, Inc., a general contracting company in Tampa, Florida and later served as the General Manager of Odom Tank Company, a general contracting firm located in Marianna, Florida. In 1984, he entered into a partnership to create CRT Computers, Inc., a currently active full service computer enterprise with facilities in Marianna, Florida.
Ambassador Peterson is a native of Nebraska, but has resided in Florida for more than 40 years. He is a graduate of the University of Tampa, Tampa , Florida and served on the faculty of Florida State University for over 5 years as the administrator of a specialized therapeutic mental health program at the University.
Ambassador Peterson is married to Vi Le and has two children, Michael of Jacksonville, Florida, and Paula of Bascom, Florida.
RAYMOND F. BURGHARDT
Ambassador-designate to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
President George W. Bush announced his intention to nominate Raymond F. Burghardt as the next ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on August 22, 2001. Mr. Burghardt has served as the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) since August 31, 1999. AIT is a non-profit, private corporation established shortly after the United States Government changed its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing on January 1, 1979, to carry out U.S. Government programs and relations with Taiwan.
Prior to assuming his current position, Mr. Burghardt was the U.S. Consul General in Shanghai, a position he held from 1997-1999. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassies in Manila (1993-96) and Seoul (1990-93). In Seoul, he was the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim in 1993 during the first six months of the Clinton Administration.
Mr. Burghardt's previous positions included an assignment on the National Security Council staff as Special Assistant to President Reagan and Senior Director of Latin American Affairs. His earlier Latin American experience included service in the U.S. Embassies in Honduras and Guatemala. In addition, he has served as Political Counselor in Beijing (1987-89), as political officer in Hong Kong and Saigon, and as Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Affairs.
Mr. Burghardt was born in New York City in 1945 and grew up in the New York metropolitan area. He received a B.A. from Columbia College in 1967 and did graduate work at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, South America, before joining the Foreign Service in 1969.
He speaks Mandarin Chinese, which he studied at the Department of State's Chinese Language School in Taichung, as well as Spanish, Vietnamese and French.
Mr. Burghardt is married to the former Susan Day. They have two daughters.
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JUMP
into World Cultures
The
2002 Seattle International Children’s Festival
www.seattleinternational.org
May 13 - 18,
2002
At Seattle Center
May 20-21 in Tacoma
Come be a part of the largest performing arts festival for families in North America!
The annual six-day extravaganza in Seattle and two days in Tacoma features professional performers from around the world - Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Bring a school group or your family to this extraordinary celebration of world cultures!
The Seattle International Children's Festival began as a small arts event for children, but has grown into the largest performing arts festival for families in the United States. The annual six-day event, featuring artists from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, has introduced more than 500,000 young people to the sights, sounds, music, movement and theatre arts of our brothers and sisters worldwide.
The annual festival is a celebration of world cultures through the performing arts. The SICF’s mission is to provide multicultural experiences, education and exchange for the children and families of the Pacific Northwest region.
This coming year, a special focus is on Viet Nam with the appearance of three performing troupes.
Rap Tung Cack
"The Voice of the Drums"
North American Premiere Tour!
This orchestra (pronounced roop toom
cack), led by master percussionist and composer Nguyen Huu Dung, features some
of Vietnam’s best known performers on traditional instruments, in a program of
contemporary selections, vocal pieces, and centuries-old music for both country
and court. These seven virtuoso musicians play more than fifteen
instruments—flutes, zithers, and a wide variety of percussion. Many instruments
are unique to Vietnam, including the dan da (a stone xylophone) and the dan bau
(a monochord).
Patch Theatre Company
"The Boy and the Bamboo Flute"
North American Premiere!
Drama, martial arts, mime, music and
dance meld in this original story of a boy who must use his wit, and the charms
of his flute, to rescue a princess from a terrible demon. Commissioned and
performed by one of Australia’s most renowned children’s theater companies, the
play is inspired by the folklore and traditions of Vietnam and by the artists’
own experiences as children in this formerly worn-torn country. Featuring
Hanoi-born writer/performer Ta-Duy Binh, joined by Cambodian-born actress Tevi
Fanning, and accompanied by the music of composer Dang-Thao Nguyen.
Ho
Chi Minh City (Saigon) Water Puppet Theatre
Back by Popular Demand!
The spectacle, music, unique artistry
and joy of the Ho Chi Minh City Water Puppet Theater return to the Festival
after sold-out runs in ‘98 and 2000. Once again, a live orchestra will accompany
the magical puppets as they skim across a giant, pagoda-framed pool of water.
The fanciful cast of characters, masterfully manipulated by unseen puppeteers,
includes fire-breathing dragons, fish, birds, water buffalo, village farmers,
festive dancers and the comical figure of legend, Uncle Teu. English
introductions will describe a variety of vignettes and the musical instruments,
many found only in Vietnam. This colorful display, centuries old and unique to
the Vietnamese culture, is sure to delight Festival patrons of all ages.
Joining Viet Nam are performers from: Cuba, Ecuador, Belgium, Republic of Congo, China, India, Canada, Japan, Germany, Korea, and Australia.
To receive a multi-page color brochure, please call the Festival Office at (206) 684-7338 or send an e-mail to : info@seattleinternational.org.
To find out more about becoming a Friend of the Festival, and all of the ticket purchasing benefits and Gala Event invitations that go along with it, please contact the development office at (206) 684-7348. To become an active participant as volunteers in the Children's Festival and receive many special benefits, call (206) 684-7338 or email volunteer@seattleinternational.org for more information!
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MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
· $25 per day pays for milk for over 200 orphans.
· $35 purchases a flock of poultry.
· $70 pays for a small boat, fishing net, and motor.
· $50 pays for one year school expenses for a child.
· $300 pays for one year school expenses for a medical university student.
· Your generosity and care: PRICELESS.
Contributions to GSVA are tax-deductible.
JOIN US !
Become a member of the Greater Seattle Viet Nam Association. Your membership helps support our events, programs, projects and services of the Association.
Membership Benefits:
a Receive our newsletter to stay informed about happenings pertaining to Viet Nam.
a Contribute and participate in GSVA projects in the U.S and in Viet Nam.
a Excellent opportunities to network with community and business leaders in the U.S and Viet Nam through our business events.
a Opportunity to increase your international business contacts.
a Viet Nam related resources in the areas of education, the arts, trade, and humanitarian work.
MEMBERSHIP DUES
( ) $25 Individual / Friend of the Association
( ) $100 Organizational / Company Membership
GSVA is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extend permitted by the law.
MEMBERSHIP FORM
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Greater
Seattle Viet Nam Association
P.O.Box 23282; Seattle, WA 98102 USA
206-322-1178 * Fax 206-374-2944 *
Email info@seattlevietnam.org