The LAS Natasinh Dance Group poses before they go on stage to perform the Classical Candlelight Dance (”Fon Sieng Tian”) at this year’s Asian Cultural Experience (ACE). Left to Right: Anne Keonet, Meiling Arounnarath, Charlotte Nguyen, Arianna Pathammavong, Ladda Inhdara, Noy Ray, Indy Malaythong, Noel Kenemanisoth

Those who portrayed the bride, groom, best man and maid of honor in the traditional Laotian wedding demonstration pose with some honored guests. Left to Right: Joesen Xayavong (best man), Phalatda Taysavang (groom), Ladda Inhdara (bride), Noel Kenemanisoth (maid of honor)

The LAS Natasinh Dance Group poses with their flower candles lit.

The “maw pohn” – or a respected community elder – leads the blessings during the demonstration of a traditional Laotian wedding ceremony. The two ornate pieces in the center are called the “paa khwan,” which carry good spirits and fortune to the newlywed couple’s nuptial bed.

LAS’ display table showcasing historical and cultural Laotian pieces, including the “lanard,” which is a Laotian xylophone, and traditionally patterned scarves.

The LAS organization’s informational desk, which displayed photos and documents recording all our past activities and community involvements, such as the Dance Group performing at the Dragon Boat Race every year and the new K-12 Kids Summer Camp

The beautiful daughters of LAS members, who are also members of the LAS Natasinh Dance Group

LAS Natasinh dance instructor, Kim (Ting) Pathammavong, poses with the Natasinh Dance Group girls.

Classical Candlelight Dance, one of the types of dances originally only allowed to be performed in the Royal Lao Court

Kim (Ting) Pathammavong and LAS member and long-time supporter Phouthone Nguyen pose with the dancers

Arianna Pathammavong performing the Classical Candlelight Dance

Indy Malaythong performing the Classical Candlelight Dance

Noel Kenemanisoth, LAS Secretary, leading the signature move during the Classical Candlelight Dance

(Please arrive early to check in, mingle, and eat!)

Lunch and refreshments is going to be POTLUCK, so please contribute with water, gatorade, chips, papaya salad, fruit, BBQ, etc. Thank you so much! Can’t wait to meet you all!!!

[[Show as slideshow]]

This Year’s Hong Kong Association Dragon Boat Race is:

Saturday, September 11, 2010
7am – 4pm

We are still looking for more rowers and volunteers for this year’s race! In past Dragon Boat races, LAS participation was made possible through generous sponsors and donations to cover the boat entrance fee, and food and drinks for the team, family and friends.  This year, we hope that everyone comes out again for a day of fun in the sun!  Even if you can’t row, we’re always looking for support at the LAS tent, helping with our LAS Natasinh dance team, or preparing the food and drinks.  The LAS team has always been multi-ethnic and open to all who want to participate!

Practice Times:

Sundays leading up to the event at Lake Lanier (Opposite side of the Race Venue/ at the Picnic Areas):

• Sunday August 8, 2PM (Done!)
• Sunday, August 15, 1PM (Done!)
• Sunday August 29, 1PM
• Sunday September 5, 1PM

I know this seems like a lot, but I know some of us might not be able to make a practice or two. I would like to see everyone on the first practice Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 2pm so I can confirm those who will paddle for LAS Naga Fireballs. I don’t want to kill anyone by having too many practices, so we can discuss what we would like to do as a team on the first day of practice. I requested as many days as possible, so we can have these days if we want to utilize the reserved slots. PLEASE forward this email if you have others who will row with us, or simply let them know about our practice dates. I’ll see you all SUNDAY, AUGUST 8, 2010 AT 2PM. If you have any questions or need to let me know anything, feel free to call me.

Remember, the event is Saturday, September 11, 2010. Let your family and friends know so they can come out to support, eat, drink,  and enjoy the race!

Serichanhto Noel Kenemanisoth
LAS Naga Fireballs Dragon Boat Team Organizer
770-906-7859
secretary@lasga.org

_____________________________________________

Directions for the Event and Where we will be Practicing.

Lake Lanier Olympic Venue
3105 Clark’s Bridge Road
Gainesville, Georgia 30506

Site of the 1996 Summer Olympic Canoe, Kayak, & Rowing Events

Take 85North to 985North From 985North, Exit #24 (Gainesville)Take a left off of the exit (Jesse Jewel Parkway)Take a right at Limestone Rd. (The street sign is hidden but you will see a brown sign for Lanier Canoe and Kayak Rowing prior to the road). This will be at the second traffic light.Take a right at Clark’s Bridge Rd. (For reference, it will be the road right after you pass Winn Dixie and a shopping center with Domino’s Pizza on your right-hand side)Continue on Clark’s Bridge Rd. and you will see the lake and the venue on the right-hand side…and the boathouse will be on the left-hand side. You can’t miss it because you will see the Finish Line Tower at on the water’s edge and a huge balloon with a banner advertising the Dragon Boat Races.

NOTE – Travel time from the intersection of 400 and 285 is right at 50 minutes doing the speed limit.

Clarkston International Bible Church
3895 Church Street
Clarkston, GA 30021
(at the Christian Life Center, which is across from the main church building)

Event Info:

Doctors on site to do check-ups, nurses to do health screenings (glucose test, blood pressure, cholesterol screenings & bone density test), food stamps outreach and education by CPACS; tobacco prevention education by GAAPICC; Boat People SOS (outreach to Vietnamese immigrant community), free haircuts offered by Georgia Beauty School, and CIBC distribution of school supplies to needy children at 2:00 pm. 

Directions:

From the North:  Take I-285 South to Exit 40

    (East Ponce de Leon/Clarkston)

Turn left off of the ramp.

Go to the second traffic light and turn right onto North Indian Creek Drive.

You will go under a railroad overpass.

Take the second left onto Rowland Street.

Go 1 block to the stop sign.  (CIBC/Christian Life Center will be on your left.)

Go through the stop sign – the church parking lot will be on the right.

From the South:  Take I-285 North to Exit 40

    (Church Street/Clarkston)

Turn right off of the ramp.

Go to the first traffic light and turn right onto North Indian Creek Drive.

Take the first left onto Rowland Street.

Go 1 block to the stop sign.  (CIBC/Christian Life Center will be on your left.)

Go through the stop sign – the church parking lot will be on the right.

Saturday, September 18 at 6:00pm
Location: 4301 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22306

LHF is celebrating its sixth anniversary by bringing together kids in dance and music. The annual fundraising program features performances by foundation children from the west and east coasts. Though thousands of miles apart, these children have been working together to preserve and promote Lao culture. On September 18, they will share the stage for the first time. The proceeds of this event will bring the Lao Heritage Foundation closer to securing a physical location to house the foundation cultural and educational events and programs.

Please join us for an enchanting evening of authentic Lao cuisine, live cultural performances, and auction offerings. Lao international pop sensation, Ketsana Vilaylack, will be the host of the celebration.

To purchase discounted advance tickets, please go to:
http://lhf.eventbrite.com/

To reserve seats and pay at the door, please go to:
http://www.laoheritagefoundation.org/rsvp_template.jsp?eventNum=0

http://www.laowriters.org/

The National Lao American Writer’s Summit will mentor and support the first and emerging generation of Lao American writers. Held in Minneapolis at the acclaimed Loft Literary Center, during the Summit, nationally renowned Laotian American writers will conduct workshops with participants.

Readings, writing circles and informal social gatherings will be scheduled and encouraged. Through this Summit, the organizers will provide a safe and instructive environment that identifies and addresses the unique challenges faced by emerging Laotian American writers.

This 3-day Summit will take place from Friday to Sunday. Workshops will be conducted from Friday to Saturday. A public reading will be held on Saturday night.

Writing Workshops
Under the present plan, a nationally recognized Laotian American writer will facilitate each writing workshop. Workshops will consist of writing exercises and group discussions on participants’ writing. At each workshop, participants will write and workshop new pieces in their genre of preference. Participants have the opportunity to take a workshop with every faculty member.

Community Panels
For emerging writers and non-artist participants, panels will be held to highlight the current state of Lao American arts, opportunities and experiences of individual artists and to examine the positive potential arts have on individual and community growth.

Resource Fair
Community members will have an opportunity to meet national, regional and local arts, philanthropic and refugee service organizations, publishers and researchers who can answer questions and advise writers and artists on significant opportunities.

Based on preliminary community discussions, we anticipate an audience of 100 to 200 people representing a wide range of states, particularly from the Minnesota, Texas, Washington, California, Illinois, Wisconsin and New York.

LAS will be performing and participating at this year’s ACE at the Gwinnett Center on both Saturday and Sunday.  Please come out to see Lao dance, and a traditional Lao wedding procession.

Please see this previous post for more information on how to submit.

* Please note: The deadline for the college scholarship applications has passed. *

The Laotian American Society is excited to announce our annual Education Award Ceremony, which is a culmination of our student recognition program. Every year LAS recognizes outstanding Laotian (Lao, Hmong, Laotian-American) students  in grades K-12, as well as awards scholarships to college students.  Since the program’s inception, LAS has given out thousands of dollars in grants and awards.  Laotian students still rank below other minorities in terms of high school graduation rates, and we believe financial assistance as well as encouraging learning is pivotal to building a strong future for everyone.

LAS Educational Award Ceremony

Saturday, August 14th, 2010
Time: 12:00pm-3pm

Place:
UPS Headquarters
55 Glen Lake Drive
Atlanta, GA

——————

2010 Scholarship Application
For Undergraduate Applicants

POSTMARK DEADLINE

JULY 24, 2010

Send all application materials by Mail to:

LAS Scholarship Committee
P.O. BOX 48432
Atlanta, GA 30362
scholarships@lasga.org

2010 LAS College Scholarship Application (PDF)
(Deadline has passed for this year’s scholarship)

[[Show as slideshow]]
Photos from 2009 LAS EAC

2010 Student Award Nomination Form (Grades K-12)

The Laotian American Society would also like to recognize the achievements of elementary school, middle school and high school students.  If the child meets any of the below criteria and would like to be recognized, then they will need  to submit proof from their school:

• Straight A’s
• GPA 3.0+
• Perfect Attendance
• Athletic Recognition
• Community Service
• Extracurricular Activities

There are a different set of rules for submissions for the Arts & Crafts and Creative Writing Contests:

• Art & Crafts and Creative Writing Contests

Please contact Meiling Arounnarath for more information: education@lasga.org

Thank you to all of our previous sponsors!

UPS
Ken Lee Foundation
NKK Design
Chopstix for Charity
Walmart
Chick-fil-A

_________________________________