[Vacets] VACETS web & infra for short-term effective operation

Mon Jun 18 09:54:13 PDT 2007

Hello anh Tin,

Somebody passed me 1.5 cents, so I passed it to you below.  I also
change the subject title to reflect the technical discussion contents.

====
I see there are two general type of infrastructures
1. Hardware & software infrastructure - the body.
2. Member support infrastructure - the soul.

Item 1 one is easy and inexpensive, even zero $, to set up. For example,
anh Chris set up Vietmentor group at Yahoo for 0$ over night.

Item 2 takes on-going commitment of "common wants" from all members.
Using the same example, anh Chris invited and recruited a bunch of
people. Somes came to give advise/mentoring,  somes keep the "common
wants" in focus, and somes ask for advise/mentoring. This one is the
blood that nurture the body.          

Many folks who voiced their thoughts have experience in planning and
it's very easy for them to define the "right" things to do and ask the
"right" questions. 

But who will have the heart do the "right" things? Who will have the
strength to walk the beat? Who will put aside their ego and be among the
commons?  

1 & 1/2 cents
==== 

Thanks,
/chp

-----Original Message-----
From: Tin Le [mailto:tin at le.org] 
Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 7:44 PM
To: Christopher Pham (chpham)
Cc: tin at le.org; vacets at saigon.com; Hung Nguyen; trant at bme.ogi.edu; hung
nguyen; LTN; Tran, Ban (TYSONS CORNER, VA); Nguyen, Tuan H; James Lap;
Tri Caohuu; Hung H Nguyen; thaole at yahoo.com; vietdung.hoang at yahoo.com;
Hung Bui; Tran, Tri; Hai Tran; dnguyen at genetics.med.harvard.edu;
vacets-gen at saigon.com
Subject: RE: [Vacets] VACETS revived or dissolved?

Hello anh Chris,

I can't promise that I will be able to help on all those things you
listed, but I will do what I can.  There is a reason why I have not
volunteer much lately, that is because if I can not do a good job, I'd
rather not make promises that I can not keep.

As I have not been involved in the details of current vacets.org
infrastructure and web site, I am completely in the dark.  There will be
quite some catch up for me to do to understand what your needs are, and
how I can be most effective in helping.

Cheers,
Tin Le
--
"The real point is that you cannot harbor malice  toward others and then
cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice
tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you
witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to rise
up against them all, including your own.
 Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently." -
Harvey Fierstein

> Hello anh Tin,
>
> Can you help with the technical details and the technical
infrastructure
> to host the followings in the short term until anh Dat's team have the
> new infrastructure up and running:
>
> 1.  Online + email to host the discussion and web-seminar for 4
forums:
> Technical (computer/engineering/technology), Science, Leadership,
> Education
>
> 2. Membership infrastructure for immediate recruiting and retaining
> activities. The activities can link to the 4 online forums above.
>
> Anh Thanh can give more details about current www.vacets.org, but he
> will not have much time to lead this effort. So anh Tin, you come in
at
> critical time that VACETS needs help!
>
> Thanks!
> /chp
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: vacets-bounces at mail.saigon.com
> [mailto:vacets-bounces at mail.saigon.com] On Behalf Of Tin Le
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2007 9:24 AM
> To: vacets at saigon.com
> Cc: vacets-gen at saigon.com
> Subject: Re: [Vacets] VACETS revived or dissolved?
>
> Hello VACETS,
>
> As one of the original founders of VACETS, I am sad to hear of this
> recent development.
>
> One of the biggest problem facing any volunteer organization is lack
of
> participation.  You can ask any groups out there, big, small, they
will
> all tell you very similar issues they have to deal with.
>
> 1. How to increase member participation.
>
> Without members participation, any organization will eventually wither
> away and die.  It may take years for that to happen, but it is a
> certain, but painful death.
>
> I do not have the answer, nor do I have a solution for VACETS.
>
> However.  As someone who have been involved in many similar volunteer
> groups, either as founder, co-founder, or major participants, I would
> like to contribute what little I've learned.
>
> 1. The organization _MUST_ reach out to its members.  It must make its
> members feel a part of a community. E.g. community building efforts is
> key.
>
> 2. The organization _MUST_ empower its members.  E.g. give its members
a
> chance to be active, whether big or small projects, but allow its
> members the opportunity to grow, to feel that _they_ have a voice.
>
> 3. The goals of the organization _MUST_ be spelled out, rigorously
> applied and maintained.  Its ethics and standards must be above all
> reproach!
>
> In the last few years, I do not see any of the above applied with
regard
> to VACETS.  I apologize in advance if anyone feel offended.  I am
> speaking from the point of "just another member".
>
> 1. VACETS did not reach out to me.  I had no idea what's going on, no
> constant updates, no information.  I had to actually go around asking
> various people what is going on.  This is a terrible break down in
> communication and leadership.
>
> 2. VACETS so far has act in an autocratic manners.  The top do things
> and tell the rest what to do.  No empowerment.  My impression is that
> VACETS do things that are in the interests of current leadership and
not
> what its members want or need.
>
> 3. I am not sure what the current goals and ethics of VACETS is.  If
it
> was published, then it was poorly advertised.  It's the
responsibilities
> of VACETS as an organization to communicate to all its
> members/constituents its actions and plan of actions.
>
> That's it.  I almost did not send this email... but as a long time
> member, I thought I should contribute my 2 cents.  If my email stirred
> up some discussions, good!  VACETS need more communications!  Not
less.
>
> Cheers,
> Tin Le
> --
> "The real point is that you cannot harbor malice  toward others and
then
> cry foul when someone displays intolerance against you. Prejudice
> tolerated is intolerance encouraged. Rise up in righteousness when you
> witness the words and deeds of hate, but only if you are willing to
rise
> up against them all, including your own.
>  Otherwise suffer the slings and arrows of disrespect silently." -
> Harvey Fierstein
>
>
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Here is the recent development within VACETS:
>>
>> Right after VTIC'07, I submitted to the Board (7 members) a
>> recommendation
>> to dissolve VACETS as a non-profit, 501c corp citing several reasons
>> (e.g,
>> non-responsive membership, overburdened governing structure, diluted
>> mission, and an unclear future with few committed leaders). This
> motion
>> also suggests VACETS (or part of it) continuation as an unofficial
>> network
>> whose activities (Vietmentor, VTICs, seminars,...) would still
> continue.
>> Chris Pham, submitted his resignation as the President-elect which I
>> accepted.
>>
>> After email deliberations and one teleconference with the Board and
>> several past Presidents, we agreed on one more effort to sustain and
>> revive VACETS as an official entity. Here are some details:
>>
>> 1. Hold-off election and recommendation, extend the term of current
> BoD
>> for another 6 months until 12/ 1.
>> 2. Chris will referee this 6-month rebuilding effort with accountable
> and
>> clear success criteria:
>>     2.A. Infrastructure: anh Dat Nguyen has expressed strong
> commitment
>> to
>> lead this (website, logo, additional forums)
>>     2.B. Fund raising: Ban Tran & Tri Tran
>>     2.C. Membership and forums: anh Hai?, anh Hu`ng, Hung and James.
>>     2.D. VietMentor: Christopher Pham
>> 3. While those above are identified names, you are welcome to
> particpate
>> or lead. Call them if you want to help.
>> 4. The main reason I cited and Chris and several agree was lack of
>> concrete contributions. Over the years, there were many ideas,
>> discussions, half-hearted attempts at several projects. Chris and I
> had
>> focused on tangible activities and had succeeded in getting several
>> through (VTIC'05, VTIC'07, Vietmentor, leadership panel at VANG'06,
>> project with GS Canh's Youth Outreach group,...) We need more people
> to
>> share these tasks obviously beyond the core 3,4 people.
>> 5. There are many things you can contribute. Call one of us, donate
> some
>> money, identify simple tasks and do it..The groups above are to
> propose
>> clear deliverables.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Tri Tran
>> VACETS President
>>
>
>
>
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>