Lao American Community Services

 HAPPENINGS:

LACS New Year’s Eve Fundraising Event was another success as many guests came out to join us in celebrating the beginning of a new year.

Thank you to the sponsors of the NYE Event:

¨ Bosnian-Herzegovinian American Community Center

¨ Jesse Le Realty/Keller Williams Realty Partners

¨ Laotian Catholic Community of Chicago-Elgin

¨ Laotian American National Alliance

¨ Philips Shoe Clinic

Thank you also to the individual sponsors of the NYE Event:

¨ Sourichanh Chanthyasack

¨ Norasing Kethdy

¨ Jesse Le

¨ Jimmy Manivong

¨ Saysamone Putnam

¨ Peter, Furama Restaurant

¨ Brett Shane

¨ Dara Stieglitz 

 Laotian American Folklife  2010

The Smithsonian  Folklife Festival is celebrating its 44th festival on the National Mall in Washington DC from June 23 to July 5, 2010 (in conjunction with LANA as a fiscal agent) at www.lana-usa.org.  LACS made a contribution.

On December 15, 2009, SEARAC applauds Introduction of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (CIR A.S.A.P)

 Congressman Gutierrez, along with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus,  The Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus, the Congressional  Black Caucus, and Congressional Progressive Caucus introduced the

Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security Act and Prosperity (CIR A.S.A.P.) in the House of Representatives.

As an organization serving communities who arrived in the U.S. as refugees, SEARAC recognizes the impact and importance that immigration reform has on our communities and the need for it to be a top priority in congress at this time.  SEARAC looks forward to working with congress, and to engaging the growing Southeast Asian American community toward an immigration reform bill that ensures the rights and protection of everyone

The World Peace Gala  tickets were generously donated by Yin Kean. 

Gala in Chicago: “Carnival China Style”

Dates: January 9, 2010

Times: 7:30pm

Price: Private event, invitation only.

Start 2010 with something unique! Four thousand years in the making, seventy top Chinese artists and performers bring to you an evening of traditional and updated Chinese classics. Opera, folk music, dance, acrobatics, and a live paint/calligraphy act will entertain, amaze and delight. See the Guinness Book world record holder for hula hoop, Jin Linlin! A stirring finale will cap off an evening of superb entertainment. A link to photos and the actual performance is on our website at www.lacschicago.org. 

Lao American Community Services (LACS) and  the Lao Funeral Association of Chicago (LFAC) each made a contribution through the Pan-African Association to help the Haitian victims as a symbol to show our love and support to the people of Haiti and its Haitian American Community in their time of hardships.

On December 12, 2009, VAI had held its Fundraising Event. Khamphoui, Michael and Thavone attended the event.

On February 20, 2010, CMAA held its New Year celebration at Truman College.

On February  20, 2010, VAI held its New Year celebration at  St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church. Khamphoui attended this function.

LANA First Laotian National Conference on April 8-9, 2010 at Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco, CA.  www.lana-usa.org.

Special event: Thursday, April 8, 2010: Reception to honor our unsung heroes: Laotian Veterans of the Secret War in Laos following the workshops in the Whitcomb Ballroom at Hotel Whitcomb. Over 60% of the people from the country of Laos came to the United States as refugees from a military family.

The conference and the special event will be held at the centrally located Hotel Whitcomb, accessible by BART public transportation, and is diagonally across the street from the City Hall's Civic Center Plaza next to the Asian Art Museum , where the 2nd International Lao New Year Festival (ILNYF) will take place on Saturday, April 10, 2010  at www.laonewyear.com.

SAD NEWS:

A Lao Funeral Association of Chicago (LFAC) member, Mr. Khamphen Taymany, informed LACS that his son over 30 years old had passed away during his sleep.  According to the LFAC’s By-Laws, anyone older than 27 needs to be considered as a separate family household unless a person meets our disability criteria.

LACS and LAFC had graciously made some donation along with flower to pay respect and tribute to the deceased family who lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  Thank you, Champadeng and his family, for attending the funeral service on behalf of LACS and LAFC. 

Mr. Lamgneun Ounsy’s wake was held on Friday, March 5, 2010 at Barr Funeral Home from 5pm-8pm.  His funeral service was held on Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 11am-1pm followed by his cremation at Montrose Cemetery.

Many thanks to the board members and staff who attended both the wake, funeral services, and cremation parade. Our condolences to families that loss their loved ones.