The Council of State Representatives (COSR) are an integral part of UVSA Midwest. Not only are they the bridge between the organizations within their states and UVSA Midwest, they also serve as the driving force behind the growth and development of the community on a state and regional level. State Representatives ensure that the voices of each state is heard equally as the Midwest progresses.

If you are interested, be sure to apply - 2012 Council of State Representatives Application. If you have any questions, contact us at staff@uvsamidwest.org today!

• Deadline for all applications is Sunday May 27th, 2012 at 11:59 CST. 
• Applicants who pass the first round will schedule a time for their phone interviews.

We are also looking for the Interim Indiana, Wisconsin, and Illinois State Representatives. This is a great opportunity to experience UVSA Midwest and build yourself as a leader within the Midwest. - 2012 Council of State Representatives Application

Do you have what it takes to be a part of UVSA Midwest staff? If so, don’t be afraid to show it! Apply now. If you have any questions or concerns – please contact staff@uvsamidwest.org for more information.

• Deadline for all applications is Sunday April 29th at 11:59 CST. 
• Applicants who pass the first round will schedule a time for their phone interviews.
• The results will be announced by May 11, 2012.

My name is Teresa Nguyen, and I am a psychology doctoral student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I am conducting a survey study on the perceptions and experiences of adult children of Vietnamese refugees. If you are at least 18 years of age and your biological mother and/or father was born in Vietnam and now resides in the United States, you are invited to participate in this study. It is hoped that the knowledge gained from this study will ultimately benefit society by giving professionals and researchers a better understanding of the experiences of adult children of Vietnamese refugees. This study has been approved by the University of Michigan Institutional Review Board for Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences (HUM00043244). If you are interested, and have 30-45 minutes, please consider filling out this online survey: http://umichlsa.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_ePOdDVbEUGa99I0

You will be compensated with a $10 electronic gift card to Amazon.

If you prefer to fill out a printed version of the survey, please contact me at nguyentu@umich.edu.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

Teresa Nguyen, M.S.
Ph.D. Candidate
Psychology, University of Michigan

VIA-1 Conference Scholarship Winners Announced

CINCINNATI, March 13, 2012 – Lylian Dang, Ellen Tan, Vinh Phan, Alan Pham, Victoria Dang, and Rose Nguyen have been awarded the 2012 Vietnamese Interacting as One (VIA-1) Conference Scholarships.

The Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Midwest offered six scholarships for youth to attend the 10th Annual VIA-1 Conference for free. The Visionary Scholarships are awarded to the top two exceptional applicants which cover the registration and hotel fees — a $100 value. This year the two recipients are Lylian and Ellen. The Leadership Scholarships are awarded to four other outstanding applicants which cover the registration fees — a $50 value. The four recipients are Vinh, Alan, Victoria, and Rose.

Scholarship recipients must have distinguished themselves to the UVSA Midwest Staff as passionate individuals who have the desire to better the Vietnamese community through the skills and resources they will obtain from attending the conference. The Executive Board, State Representatives, and Board of Advisors all had a hand in choosing the select few who were able to fully express what exactly VSA meant to them. It is the hope of UVSA Midwest that with these scholarships, attendees will grow into strong leaders with the capacity to lead our community to new heights far into the future.

The VSA at the University of Cincinnati, in addition to UVSA Midwest, is proud to have the privilege to host the 10th anniversary of the VIA-1 Conference. This annual conference is considered to be one of the premier youth conferences in the country where hundreds of students partake in activities and workshops to build their leadership skills and cultural awareness that are brought back to their respective communities. Through the conference, the Collective Philanthropy Project, and other leadership development initiatives, participants raise appreciation for Vietnamese culture, take part in a philanthropy project, and network to make connections that will last a lifetime. This momentous event will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio from March 16-18, 2012.

Contact:
Jacklin Nguyen
Internal Vice President
jacklin.nguyen@uvsamidwest.org
http://www.uvsamidwest.org
http://www.via1.org

# # #

 VSA-MKE just started in November, and we are finding ways to raise funds for our organization. With these funds, we are looking to use it to support our charity events such as raising a school supplies drive for an orphanage in Vietnam to cultural events that we would like to have. As a result, we were finding ways to accomplish this. Consequently, we found a posting on 2040 Lofts that advertise whoever got the most like out of their facebook photo will receive a 500 dollar donations towards their student organization. As a result, VSA-MKE decided to participate in hope of obtaining some funds to achieve our goals. In addition, I would like to ask for you and all of UNAVSA, UVSA, and everyone else to help support our newly formed VSA-MKE to get off the ground and running. Thank you!

-Khanh Tran President of VSA-MKE

So in short, VSA-MKE needs you to follow this link to the competition on FaceBook.  The link leads you directly to the photo that needs to be “liked” by March 4th, 4:00 pm cst.

This is our chance to help a new and growing VSA in our region folks!  So lets show the world how the MIDWEST does it!

Afterwards you can swing by the group’s

This year’s conference is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular to date.  We are going to get together and celebrate our 10 years of progress through learning and growing.  Come see old friends and meet new ones!

Early registration expires next week on the 22nd of February!  You must be registered before 12 AM Central on February 23, 2012 for the early registration prices.

Also, if attendees want to be guaranteed a hotel room at the conference hotel, rooms must be booked by the same date.

Don’t forget! There are also scholarships available to apply for listed under the opportunities tab on the website!

So come out to University of Cincinnati and see where it all began! From a Standing start to A Decade of Progress

For more information please visit www.via1.org

Or contact

Eric La Nguyen

External Vice President – UVSA-Midwest

Ph: 952.297.6285

Email: eric.nguyen@uvsamidwest.org

President

- Maintain general active management of the business of the organization
- Ensure the effective action of the board in governing and supporting the organization, and oversee board affairs.
- Act as the representative of the board as a whole
- Speak to the media and the community on behalf of the organization
- Recommend committees to be established. Ensure that each committee has a chairperson, and maintain communication with the chairperson to ensure that their work is executed
- Ensure that board matters are handled properly, including preparation of meeting materials, functionality of committees, and recruitment and orientation of new Board of Advisor members

Internal Vice-President

- Act as the President is the absence of the President
- Be in charge of all intra-organizational issues, such as roles and responsibilities of board members
- Shall replace the President when the President fails to fulfill his or her duties
- Shall oversee the Council of Sates Representative (CoSR) activities
- Shall assist the President on the above or other specified duties

External Vice-President

- Act as the President is the absence of the President and the IVP
- Shall assist the President on the above or other specified duties
- Act as the official liaison of the organization to the community
- Oversee community service projects 5) Be in charge of all public relation issues.
- Act as the representative for Union of North American Vietnamese Student Associations (uNAVSA) for the Midwest region

Treasurer

- Manage the board’s review of and actions relating to its financial responsibilities
- All funds will be deposited solely to the organization’s bank account
- Any investments made need to comply with the legal requirements of a non-profit organization
- Must be one of the officers who shall sign checks or drafts of the organization. No special funds may be set aside that shall make it unnecessary for the Treasurer to sign the checks issued upon it
-Shall render, at stated periods as the Executive Board shall determine, a written account of the finances of the organization; such report shall be physically affixed to the minutes of the Executive Board

Secretary

- Prepare the agenda for every board meeting
- Keep minutes of all official board meetings, and provide it when necessary
- Shall present to the membership any communication addressed to him/her as Secretary of the organization
- Shall submit to the Board of Directors any communications which shall be addressed to him/her as Secretary of the organization
- File any certificate required by any statute, federal or state
- Give and serve all notices to members of this organization
- Be the official custodian of the records and seal of this organization
- May be one of the officers required to sign the checks and drafts of the organization

2012 Executive Board Election Process

Nomination/Application Process

• Candidate may be self-nominated or nominated by someone else.
• All nominations need to be in by the beginning of lunch on Saturday, March 17.
• All written applications need to be completed and turned in right after lunch.
• All nominees will be announced after Workshop Session #2.
• Elections are scheduled for 3:30pm on Saturday, March 17.

Election Process

• Each candidate will have a maximum of three minutes for a speech.
• Order of speech is in descending order by position (Secretary, Treasurer, External Vice President, Internal Vice President, and President) and candidates running for same position will be randomly drawn for order.
• Candidates who are running for the same position may not be in the room while another candidate is giving his or her speech.
• After each candidate’s speech is complete, there will be a five minute question and answer portion with questions taken from the conference attendees.

Voting Process

• Attendees, grouped in their respective states, will have time to discuss the candidates that were presented.
• Current executive board members and advisors will help to facilitate these discussions and will be in charge of one state.
• Votes will be made blindly by individuals in each state and the facilitator will be count each individual’s vote for all the candidates (yes, no, abstain).
• Individual votes will be tallied up and the candidate who obtains the majority of votes will win the position.
• In the event of a tie, the current Executive Board shall cast the deciding vote, as determined by a simple majority.

]]> http://uvsamidwest.org/2012-uvsa-midwest-executive-board-elections/feed/ 0 http://uvsamidwest.org/petition-to-the-president-on-human-rights-abuses-in-vietnam/ http://uvsamidwest.org/petition-to-the-president-on-human-rights-abuses-in-vietnam/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:44:19 +0000 jacklin.nguyen http://uvsamidwest.org/?p=2267 Dear UNAVSA Community,

I am writing on behalf of UNAVSA and its regional and collegiate partners across North America to seek your participation in a nationwide campaign to call for the release of all detained and imprisoned human rights champions in Vietnam.

UNAVSA was founded on a simple idea that if we work together we can accomplish leaps and bounds more than if we worked apart. I present to you a campaign spearheaded by the Saigon Broadcast Television Network (SBTN), allowing the entire Vietnamese community to come together for a common cause.

The Obama Administration recently launched a tool called “We the People” giving our community the unique opportunity to petition for the Administration to take action on this pressing matter. If we successfully collect 25,000 petitioners in 30 days, the President will address our petition.

This is our chance as Vietnamese youth to join hands across generations to demonstrate the strength and solidarity of our community. The petition is live at http://unavsa.org/humanrights/. It won’t show on the website till we reach 150 original petitioners. So, please get to the We The People website and sign on. We want to reach 150 by midnight so that it will show up when the campaign officially starts tomorrow. Let us all be among the original petitioners!

Below is the message we will send to President Obama:

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SHOULD NOT EXPAND TRADE WITH VIETNAM AT THE EXPENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

Since 2007 the Vietnamese government has continuously waged brutal crackdown against human rights advocates, arresting and detaining notables such as: Rev. Nguyen Van Ly, Nobel Peace Prize nominees Ven. Thich Quang Do and Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, blogger Dieu Cay, and most recently songwriter Viet Khang, who merely expressed love for freedom and patriotism through songs he posted online. Congress has responded by introducing the Vietnam Human Rights Act, Vietnam Human Rights Sanctions Act and just last month, H Res 484. We implore you, Mr. President, to leverage Vietnam’s desire for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Generalized System of Preferences to force the immediate and unconditional release of all detained or imprisoned human rights champions. Show the world America puts freedom first.

Sincerely,

Dan Huynh
President
UNAVSA

]]> http://uvsamidwest.org/petition-to-the-president-on-human-rights-abuses-in-vietnam/feed/ 0 http://uvsamidwest.org/register-for-the-10th-annual-via-1-conference/ http://uvsamidwest.org/register-for-the-10th-annual-via-1-conference/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:35:27 +0000 chan.huynh http://uvsamidwest.org/?p=2177 The VSA at the University of Cincinnati in collaboration with UVSA Midwest cordially invite you to the 10th Annual Vietnamese Interacting as One Conference.



During the conference, hundreds of students and young professionals participate in a multi-day event to hone their leadership skills, hold discussions with speakers, and explore issues in the Vietnamese-American youth community. By coming together, we can achieve solidarity as one group, to collaborate on issues concerning our communities and universities, and to encourage the growth of Vietnamese leaders.

| CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS |

> Inspiring keynote speakers
> Educational, resourceful and interactive workshops
> Formal banquet with entertainment and fine dining cuisine
> Professional and personal networking opportunities

| REGISTRATION |

http://www.via1.org/registration

$50 registration fee pays for:

> Admission to VIA-1 Conference: workshops & speakers
> Meals: breakfast for Saturday & Sunday; lunch and banquet dinner on Saturday
> VIA-1 t-shirt
> VIA-1 conference materials

Late registration begins on February 23 at 12:00AM EST and will be $70.

REGISTRATION GUIDE:
http://www.via1.org/registration/registration-guide.pdf

| LODGING |

This year we have negotiated a discounted hotel rate of only $25/night. This special rate is only available through the registration website. After you register and pay, you can select a hotel room. You have the option of sharing the room code with others if you wish to choose certain people to stay with.

http://www.via1.org/registration

 

More information:
http://www.via1.org/

]]> http://uvsamidwest.org/register-for-the-10th-annual-via-1-conference/feed/ 0 http://uvsamidwest.org/2012-via-1-committee-applications-extended/ http://uvsamidwest.org/2012-via-1-committee-applications-extended/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:48:37 +0000 chan.huynh http://uvsamidwest.org/?p=2095 ATTENTION ALL LEADERS!

We have extended the application process for the 2012 Vietnamese Interacting as One Conference!

This year is the 10th Anniversary and we’re throwing a big celebration! Focusing on quality and relevant workshops, showcasing local talent, and optimizing all the networking opportunities – this year, we’re setting the bar higher than ever.

If you’re motivated and passionate, if you want to be part of something bigger than you, if you want your chance to show what we, as young Vietnamese and Vietnamese American leaders, are capable of – this is your opportunity.

APPLY TODAY

DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION HERE (.DOCX Format)

• Submit your application to applications@uvsamidwest.org.
• Questions about the process should go to staff@uvsamidwest.org.
• Director applications are due Monday OCTOBER 31, 2011 @ 11:59 AM EST.
• Conference staff members will be selected and notified on a rolling basis.

2012 VIA-1 Staff Application (.docx)

2012 VIA-1 Staff Application (.doc)

2012 VIA-1 Staff Application (.pdf)

• Questions about the process should go to staff@uvsamidwest.org.
• Director applications are due Sunday, August 28, 2011 @ 12 PM CST.
• Conference staff members will be selected and notified on a rolling basis.
]]> http://uvsamidwest.org/2012-via-1-committee-applications-extended/feed/ 0