LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Action, Development) and University Housing cordially invite you to join us in honoring outstanding organizations, student leadership and faculty/staff advisors at the 5th Annual Leadership in Action Awards
Date: Thursday, April 22, 2010
Location: Nob Hill Room in the Seven Hills Conference Center
Time: Awards Ceremony Begins at 4:00pm with Reception to Follow
RSVP by Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at http://www.sfsu.edu/~lead/rsvp.htm

If you have some time, please join us Sunday, April 11th 12-2pm to celebrate Thai New Year with lots of water and hopefully good weather!

See you there!

Asian Law Caucus 38th Annual Dinner

When: Friday, April 9, 2010

6:00 pm – Reception and Silent Auction
7:15 pm – Dinner and Program

Where: Hyatt Regency, San Francisco CA 94111
5 Embarcadero Center

How: Register NOW at www.asianlawcaucus.eventbrite.com

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Aryeh Neier

President, Open Society Institute and Co-Founder, Human Rights Watch

HONOREES

Steven H. Schulman
Reginald Steer
Sara Noel*
Andy Cho*
Michael Reeder
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
*Formerly at Akin Gump

Open Society Institute
Aryeh Neier, President

Save the Thai Temple

Amanda Manklang, Christina Jirachachavalwong, Dionne Jirachaikitti, Issariyaphone Virasayachack, John Vilaikeo, Thanakol Promprakob, Nicha Kittitanaphan, Pahole Sookkasikon, Peter Thupsoonthorn, Ruel Paul, Suvid Tubtimcharoon, Suwanna Vatananan, Tim Tararug, Virada Chatikul, Siwaraya Rochanahusdin, Usra Rochanahusdin, Wit Riewrangboonya

ASIAN LAW CAUCUS (ALC) – The mission of the Asian Law Caucus is to promote, advance, and represent the legal and civil rights of the Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, the Asian Law Caucus is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income and Asian and Pacific Islanders. Visit: asianlawcaucus.org.

Pahole Sookkasikon was crowned Mr. Hyphen 2009 by Hyphen Magazine. He has been recognized by Asianweek as “breaking the boundaries of Asian American male stereotypes” and has been featured in major news outlets ranging from the New York Times, SFGate to MSNBC. The contest donated $1,000 to the winner’s charity of choice and Pahole chose the Thai-American Scholarship Fund and the Asian American Donor Program.

2009 also marked the inaugural year for the Thai-American Scholarship Fund founded by our very own Johnny Vilaikeo and Virada Chatikul. The annual competition, consistting of an essay and interview process, seeks to provide funds for underrepresented college students of Thai, Lao, Khmer and Southeast Asian decent. The Thai-American Scholarship Fund honored its first recipient, Catherine Le.

We are so very proud of Siwaraya, Pahole, John, Virada and the rest of the STTT crew. We are honored and humbled that their hard work and persevering spirit have benefited and been recognized by the greater AAPI community.

We also want to thank everyone again for helping the Thai Temple secure its place in the heart of the City of Berkeley. This could not have been done without the help of all the letters, phone calls, support of community organizations and the love we have received over the past two years. The journey was a long one, but through the dedication, organization, and hard work or our little band of sisters and brothers combined with the overwhelming support from the community, we were able make a little bit of Thai-American history with nothing more than passion and love for the Thai Temple. With or without recognition, the most valuable feeling that we all share is that we were able to give back to the community that has provided us with so much.

Maykin, a former Thai Cultural Center student could not find a match for the bone marrow transplant. In an effort to raise awareness to Asian-Americans and find a match, she created ProjectMichelle.com, a campaign that organized blood marrow registration drives around the country.

HONORING THE LIFE OF MICHELLE MAYKIN AND URGING PEOPLE TO REGISTER AS BONE MARROW DONORS

WHEREAS, The City of Berkeley mourns the untimely loss of Michelle Maykin, who passed away on July 25th, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer; and

WHEREAS, Michelle Maykin spent much of her young adulthood in the East Bay – graduating from College Park High School, where she served as ASB president, and later UC Berkeley in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Michelle Maykin enjoyed an active life bicycling across the Golden Gate Bridge, rock climbing, excelling in dance and music at Bay Area Thai Temples, including Wat Mongkolratanaram in Berkeley and volunteering at various organizations, including the Juvenile Detention Center in San Jose, OASES at UC Berkeley and Tzu Chi in San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, Michelle Maykin, who is of Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai descent, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in February of 2007; and

WHEREAS, Michelle Maykin’s treatment called for a bone marrow transplant, however, she did not have a bone marrow match; and

WHEREAS, There is a particularly acute need for ethnic minority donors – of the nearly 7 million people on the National Marrow Donor Program, only 8 percent are of Asian ancestry; and

WHEREAS, Michelle Maykin dedicated herself to helping others by creating Project Michelle, a campaign focused on recruiting people to become potential bone marrow donors; and

WHEREAS, In drives around the country, Project Michelle has registered over 18,000 people on the Be The Match Registry, increasing the likelihood that others needing a bone marrow transplant may have a match; and

WHEREAS, Project Michelle was able to help find 4 matches in the Bay Area for patients in need; and

WHEREAS, More than 70 life-threatening diseases can be treated with a bone marrow transplant; and

WHEREAS, Registering only takes 10 minutes and requires no blood, just a simple cotton swab of the mouth. Additionally, if one is an ethnic minority, one can order a free at home test kit; and

WHEREAS, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) website can be used to find the nearest registry drive at http://www.marrow.org.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Berkeley that it hereby honors the amazing life of Michelle Maykin, whose courageous fight has inspired thousands to register to save lives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Berkeley encourages all people to register to become bone marrow donors and encourages all people to organize blood marrow registration drives in their communities.

Adopted unanimously by the Berkeley City Council on September 22, 2009

Mayor Tom Bates
Councilmember Linda Maio
Councilmember Darryl Moore
Councilmember Max Anderson
Councilmember Jesse Arreguín
Councilmember Laurie Capitelli
Councilmember Susan Wengraf
Councilmember Kriss Worthington
Councilmember Gordon Wozniak

Project Michelle successfully registered over 18,000 people, increasing the likelihood that others needing a bone marrow transplant may have a match. To date four matches have been made. Please help us try to fulfill Michelle’s goal of registering 20,000.

On September 22, 2009 complainants sought to appeal the Zoning Adjustment Board (ZAB) decision granting Wat Mongkolratanaram (Berkeley Thai Temple) Broader Land Use Permits. In what was considered a stunner, the council voted UNANIMOUSLY (9-0) in favor of the Berkeley Thai Temple.

Though signs pointed we had a strong case, this outcome was a very unexpected and very welcomed surprise.

We would like to personally extend our personal thanks to EVERYONE who has supported our cause. It was your resolve, support, and encouragement that help get us to this point today.

THANK YOU!

More news to follow!

Tonight at we ask that everyone  in the Berkeley and  San Francisco Bay Area to help support our cause by joining us in front of the Old Berkeley City Hall at 6:30pm (18:30) for the Candlelight Vigil prior to the start of the hearing at 7pm.

We ask that you bring along all your friends and family members to help show the City of Berkeley the support and love for Berkeley’s Thai Buddhist Temple.

For those unable to attend, please continue to call and email the Berkeley City council members to voice your support!

Start Time:
6:30pm (18:30) – Candlelight Vigil
7:00pm (19:00) – Hearing Begins

Event Location:
Old Berkeley City Hall
2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

URGENT ACTION ALERT

CALL-IN DAY: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2009
TO SAVE THE BERKELEY THAI BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Voice your support for the Berkeley Thai Buddhist Temple!
(Berkeley and non-Berkeley residents both can participate in the call-in day.)

The beloved 28-year-old Sunday Food Offering tradition at the Berkeley Thai Temple is in danger of being shut down once more. In April, three complainants submitted an appeal to Berkeley’s City Council to overturn the Zoning Adjustment Board’s (ZAB’s) approval permitting a Buddhist shrine and the continuation of Sunday Food Offering activities.

The Berkeley City Council will vote whether or not to uphold the ZAB’s decision at a hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 7PM.

Instructions:
Use the sample phone transcript and/or letter of support below
to call and email the Berkeley City Councilmembers.

Mayor Tom Bates
mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7100 | F (510) 981-7199

Councilmember Linda Maio (Dist 1)
lmaio@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7110 | F (510) 981-7111

Councilmember Darryl Moore (Dist 2)
dmoore@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7120 | F (510) 981-7122

Councilmember Max Anderson (Dist 3)
manderson@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7130 | F (510) 981-7133

Councilmember Jesse Arreguin (Dist 4)
jarreguin@cityofberkeley.info
T (510) 981-7140 | F (510) 981-7144

Councilmember Laurie Capitelli (Dist 5)
lcapitelli@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7150 | F (510) 981-7155

Councilmember Susan Wengraf (Dist 6)
swengraf@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7160 | F (510) 981-7166

Councilmember Kriss Worthington (Dist 7)
kworthington@ci.berkeley.ca.us
T (510) 981-7170 | F (510) 981-7177

Councilmember Gordon Wozniak (Dist 8 )
gwozniak@ci.berkeley.us
T (510) 981-7180 | F (510) 981-7188

Sample Phone Transcript:

“Hello, my name is [your name], and I’m calling to urge the Berkeley’s City Council to re-affirm the Zoning Board’s approval of the weekly Sunday Food Offering activities at the Thai Buddhist Temple. The Temple should be allowed to continue its religious practice of food-sharing and merit-making. I urge you to support this Berkeley tradition because it is vital to our community.

Thank you for your time.”

Sample Email and Fax to Elected Officials:

Dear Councilmember:

I am writing to express my concern at the possible appeal of the Zoning Adjustments Board’s decision of the weekly Sunday Food Offering at the Thai Buddhist Temple in Berkeley. I strongly urge you to support the ZAB’s judgment as well as this beloved 28-year-old Berkeley tradition because citizens like me have benefited from the Temple’s longstanding presence in Berkeley.

1. The Sunday Food Offering activities are an important religious practice for Buddhists.
Food-sharing is an essential aspect of contributing to and receiving Buddhist merit. The practice of creating a space where monks, volunteers, neighbors, and patrons alike can engage in foodsharing is part of merit-earning. The Food Offering activities have become the center of the Temple’s spiritual activities.

2. The Temple has been and continues to be a good Berkeley neighbor.
In the past 27 years, no complaints have been filed against the Temple until the recent months. In light of the recent complaints, the Temple has not only addressed the specific concerns of the complainants, but it also has undertaken efforts to continue to be a considerate community partner through surveys and land use impact studies.

3. The Temple is a critical community institution for the Thai community.
Shutting down the Sunday Food Offering activities would have devastating effects on the Thai community that relies on the Temple as a support network and the center of Thai culture. The Thai community urgently needs places like the Temple to allow the community to grow.

Berkeley is counting on you to save this important and dynamic part of the Berkeley community.
Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Organization]

Quite possibly, one of the first movements of its kind, Save the Thai Temple(STTT), a dedicated group of second generation Thai Americans, are working tirelessly to protect their beloved Wat Mongkolratanaram (Wat Berkeley, CA). What began years ago as Thai summer school has now evolved into a network of Thai Americans from around the Bay Area collaborating to preserve the religious and cultural center that their community elders established. From Thai community elders to surrounding Berkeley neighbors to universities and non-profit organizations, these individuals reflect the diverse and expanding base of support for the public education campaign insisting that Temple’s constitutional and civil rights be upheld.

The rest of the article can be read via the link below.

Link to Thai Alliance in America Article

The STTT (Save the Thai Temple) group would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to every individual and organization who has helped in spreading the word and making our situation known to a wider audience.

Mark your calendars! September 22nd is the date we hope to have a final decision.

The Berkeley City Council is scheduled to decide whether to uphold the Zoning Adjustment Board (ZAB) decision on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

The hearing will be closed to public comment. There will be a candlelight vigil in front of the Hall @ 7pm prior to the hearing. Feel free to drop by and show your support. We would be more than glad to see you there.

Michelle Maykin, the person behind www.projectmichelle.com, ended her battle with Leukemia this morning, she passed during her sleep. Michelle was a student at the Wat and often performed for Wat Mongkolratanaram (Berkeley) and Wat Buddahnusorn (Fremont).

When she began her struggle against Leukemia, she started ProjectMichelle, an effort to register 20,000 potential donors and raise awareness in the Asian-American community. Through ProjectMichelle, she was able to register 18,500+ newly registered donors in the bone marrow registry, which resulted in 4 matches to date.

Michelle is an inspiration to people who fight the fight. She showed courage, strength, perseverance, and love. She is a hero and inspiration to our community as she was to countless others. We wish her family our condolences and will keep them in our prayers.

Keep Registering, Keep Fighting, Keep Inspiring!

www.projectmichelle.com

To experience Michelle’s story through her own words please visit her blog.

http://projectmichelle.com/blog/

Celebrate Michelle Maykin’s life at Wat Buddhanusorn in Fremont, ca, tomorrow. 36054 Niles Blvd. Fremont, CA Sunday July 26, 7pm.

Here are some of the efforts from others who supported Michelle through her fight.