Westminster City Council funding for Tet Parade

Westminster council OKs funding for Tet and Founder's Day parades
Council members approved up to $20,000 for each of the parades at their Wednesday night meeting.
By DEEPA BHARATH
The Orange County Register
Comments 0 Recommend 1
WESTMINSTER In one vote, City Council members voted to revive two parades that had died for lack of money and support.
The City Council Wednesday night voted 5-0 in favor of city sponsorship of the Tet Parade in February and the Founder's Day Parade in April. They approved a city contribution of up to $20,000 for each of the parades.
A group called the Vietnamese Heritage and Cultural Foundation of America based in Little Saigon and headed by Hung Nguyen, a South Vietnamese Army veteran, announced in November that it was going to bring back the Lunar New Year Parade on Bolsa Avenue after a four-year hiatus.
The council approved funding for the parade on condition that organizers submit a $20,000 cashier's check Feb. 8.
Marsh said he would not tolerate intimidation or political antics from organizers.
"We've had a history of parade organizers not submitting paperwork and money on time," he said. "It will not be tolerated this time."
The city would pay the $20,000 only after all the money raised by the parade organizers is spent.
Westminster Councilman Andy Quach and Garden Grove Councilwoman Dina Nguyen had agreed to help the parade committee through the entire process.
Mayor Margie Rice said she was approving money for the parade only because the founder's parade was included in the staff proposal.
"I think the Tet Parade is important," she said. "But the Founder's Parade is more important because it shows the history of our city as a whole."
Dina Nguyen, who spoke on behalf of the Tet Festival committee, said the parade would build on the unity and solidarity of the community.
"We don't have a parade in Vietnam," she said. "A parade is an American tradition and we are celebrating that."
Resident Darrell Nolta said he supports the parade but would not like to see it politicized.
"I would not want to see expressions of war in this parade, but of peace," he said.
The parade is planned for Feb. 9, the opening day of the annual Lunar New Year celebrations put on by the Union of Vietnamese Student Association in Garden Grove. The last Tet Parade took place in 2004 when it was run by now-Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen.
Hung Nguyen, who is organizing this year's parade, says he already has a list of eight floats and promises of some corporate sponsorship. He is also hosting a fundraiser Friday night at the Parasol restaurant in Westminster to benefit the parade.
Hung Nguyen said he has secured permits from the city for the parade.
"We are confident that we will be able to raise the money that's needed to bring back the Tet Parade to Westminster," he said.
Rice said she received two phone calls opposing the Tet Parade.
Contact the writer: 714-445-6685 or http://us.f308.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=dbharath@ocregister.com

Past Participating

Past Participating Associations & Companies

US Marine Corps, Canadian & Vietnamese Color Guards
Coalition of the Republic of Viet Nam Veteran Associations in Southern California
Grand Marshals: Capt. Bob Pettee of NBC, Channel 4 (Vietnam Veteran), Mayor Margie L. Rice, Councilman Tony Lam, Van Tran, Nguyen Hien
National Teacher of the Year
Westminster Police Department
Orange County Fire Authority
Garden Grove Police Department & Fire Department
Project S.H.U.E Ms. Betty Goyne, Citizen of Year of 1995
Boys & Girls Clubs of Westminster
Coronet Drill Team
Knights of Columbus Council #3926
Itzamna Folklorico Dancers
La Quinta High School Marching Band
Bolsa Grande High School Marching Band
Westminster High School Marching Band
Santiago High School Marching Band
Santiago High School TAB Drill Team
Stacey Intermediate High School Marching Band
Nicholson & Pipes (Scotch) Marching Band
Quang Trung Lion Dance Group
Thang Long Lion Dance Group
Hoa Hao Buddhist Group
Cao Dai fellowship
Buddhist Family of Bat Nha Temple
Buddhist Family of Hue Quang Temple
St. Callistus Catholic Church
St. Barbara Catholic Church
SVSQ/ĐH/CTCT/ ĐL Veteran Group
Long Hổ Hội Dragon Dance Group
Bat Nha Lion Dance Group
Cao Dai Youth Association of Southern California
Union of Students of Southern California Association
Viet Nam Quoc Dan Dang
Dai Viet Quoc Dan Dang
The fellowship of Tay Son Binh Dinh
Westminster Municipal Employees Association
Council of Asian Pacific Americans
Association of Vietnamese Buddhist Laymen in US
Former Political Prisoners Association of LA
Historical Society of Westminster
Vietnamese Catholic Youth of Orange County
Union of Students, UC Riverside
Quang Ngai Fellowship
Nang Moi Youth Association
Asian Miracle Marrow Matches
Vietnamese American Women-For-Freedom Association
Cambodian Education Program
Vietnamese Language Center
Vietnamese Volunteer Women Association
Tuoi Hoa Family Association
Lac Viet Association
Hong Bang Association
Cac Trung Tam Viet Ngu
National Vietnamese Youth, Oversea
Tai Chi Chuan & Yoga Association
Family Choice Health Network
Lan Huong Children Dental
Youth Beauty Queenttes
Giang Ngoc Productions
Seafood World Restaurant
Ice Palace Float & Ice Skaters
Trịnh Quang Linh studio
Former ARVN Special Commandos
US Marine Corps, Canadian & Vietnamese Color Guards
Coalition of the Republic of Viet Nam Veteran Associations in Southern California
Grand Marshals: Capt. Bob Pettee of NBC, Channel 4 (Vietnam Veteran), Mayor Margie L. Rice, Councilman Tony Lam, Van Tran, Nguyen Hien
National Teacher of the Year
Westminster Police Department
Orange County Fire Authority
Garden Grove Police Department & Fire Department
Project S.H.U.E Ms. Betty Goyne, Citizen of Year of 1995
Boys & Girls Clubs of Westminster
Coronet Drill Team
Knights of Columbus Council #3926
Itzamna Folklorico Dancers
La Quinta High School Marching Band
Bolsa Grande High School Marching Band
Westminster High School Marching Band
Santiago High School Marching Band
Santiago High School TAB Drill Team
Stacey Intermediate High School Marching Band
Nicholson & Pipes (Scotch) Marching Band
Quang Trung Lion Dance Group
Thang Long Lion Dance Group
Hoa Hao Buddhist Group
Cao Dai fellowship
Buddhist Family of Bat Nha Temple
Buddhist Family of Hue Quang Temple
St. Callistus Catholic Church
St. Barbara Catholic Church
SVSQ/ĐH/CTCT/ ĐL Veteran Group
Long Hổ Hội Dragon Dance Group
Bat Nha Lion Dance Group
Cao Dai Youth Association of Southern California
Union of Students of Southern California Association
Viet Nam Quoc Dan Dang
Dai Viet Quoc Dan Dang
The fellowship of Tay Son Binh Dinh
Westminster Municipal Employees Association
Council of Asian Pacific Americans
Association of Vietnamese Buddhist Laymen in US
Former Political Prisoners Association of LA
Historical Society of Westminster
Vietnamese Catholic Youth of Orange County
Union of Students, UC Riverside
Quang Ngai Fellowship
Nang Moi Youth Association
Asian Miracle Marrow Matches
Vietnamese American Women-For-Freedom Association
Cambodian Education Program
Vietnamese Language Center
Vietnamese Volunteer Women Association
Tuoi Hoa Family Association
Lac Viet Association
Hong Bang Association
Cac Trung Tam Viet Ngu
National Vietnamese Youth, Oversea
Tai Chi Chuan & Yoga Association
Family Choice Health Network
Lan Huong Children Dental
Youth Beauty Queenttes
Giang Ngoc Productions
Seafood World Restaurant
Ice Palace Float & Ice Skaters
Trịnh Quang Linh studio
Former ARVN Special Commandoes

LOGO

Invitation

­­­­­­­­­­ December 31st, 2007


Little Saigon Tet Parade is one of many spectacular events hosted by the Vietnamese Heritage and Cultural Foundation of America (VHCFA), a non-profit organization.

The purpose of the Tet Parade is to celebrate the Lunar New Year and to institute a tradition that will increase and diffuse public knowledge about Vietnamese Heritage and Culture. In tandem, this event helps build community harmony and togetherness by encouraging families, businesses, professionals, and public agencies to reach out to one another.

VHCFA is optimistic that the Tet Parade will become a tradition that will symbolize joy, luck, and happiness for millions who appreciate arts and culture. VHCFA cordially invites you to experience the rich tradition of the Tet Parade on Saturday, February 9th, 2008 in your own parade car from 9:00 a.m. for approximately 3 hours.

In addition, we would be honored to have you as a Tet Parade sponsor in the Tet Parade Magazine. The Tet Parade magazine is another means for VHCFA to defray the costs of the parade. Your New Year’s wishes to the community may be posted on a full page add in the Tet Parade Magazine. We have a special at cost rate for public officials. For more details, please contact VHCFA at (714) 469-0462 or info@tetparadeevent.com.


Sincerely,


President
Signature

Secretary
Signature

O.C.NEWS

Monday, January 14, 2008

Westminster City Council may vote to co-sponsor Tet Parade

Council members must decide Wednesday whether to give $40,000 to help revive the Tet Parade and the Founder's Day Parade

By DEEPA BHARATH

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Comments 4| Recommend 1

WESTMINSTER – The fate of a newly resuscitated Tet Parade and a long-defunct Founder's Day Parade may now rest with the City Council.

Council members on Wednesday will vote on whether to allocate $20,000 for each parade.

A group called the Vietnamese Heritage and Cultural Foundation of America based in Little Saigon and headed by Hung Nguyen, a Vietnam War veteran, announced in November that it was going to bring back the Lunar New Year parade on Bolsa Avenue after a three-year hiatus.

The parade will take place on Feb. 9, the opening day of the annual Lunar New Year celebrations put on by the Union of Vietnamese Student Association in Garden Grove. The last Tet Parade took place in 2004 when it was run by now-Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen.

Mayor Margie Rice said she would support the city's co-sponsorship of the Tet Parade as long as the Founder's Parade is revived.

"Both parades are a nice way for us to bring the communities together," she said.

If the City Council votes in favor of approving the money for both parades, it would automatically revive the Founder's Day parade, which came to an end in 1977 when the parade committee ran out of steam and money, said Community Services Director Greg Johnson.

"But we'd limit it to something controlled and simple," he said.

It would be held in conjunction with the Founder's Day festival held for the first time last April to commemorate the city's 50th anniversary.

Hung Nguyen said the cost of the Tet parade has been intimidating so far and that the city's co-sponsorship would help offset the high cost of putting on this parade.

"It's a cultural event, not a political one," he said. "And this is a celebration for all of the community, not just for the Vietnamese community."

Nguyen said he already has a list of eight floats and promises of some corporate sponsorship. He is also hosting a fundraiser Friday night at the Paracel restaurant in Westminster to benefit the parade.

The group is in the process of acquiring permits from the city and the police department and has already secured a $2-million liability insurance policy, Nguyen said.

Rice said the city should have a say as co-sponsor on how the parade is run.

"When the city partially runs it, there is less chances of personality clashes and political issues arising," Rice said.

Councilman Andy Quach said he would have no problems forking over the money for both parades.

"These are events that bring the entire community together," he said. "The city has sponsored community events in the past. This would be no different."

Johnson agreed.

"It could help bridge gaps among cultures in communities, especially in ours, because we have a sizeable Vietnamese population,'' he said.

Contact the writer: 714-445-6685 or dbharath@ocregister.com

Tam Thu Hoi Nha Ky Thuat

Kinh thua Qui Nien Truong va Anh Em NKT.

Sau nhieu nam vang bong, Tet nam nay se co 1 cuoc dien hanh vi dai duoc to chuc tai LittleSaigon California vao ngay mong 3 tet Mau Ty 2008, tuc ngay 9 thang 2 nam 2008. Lien Hoi Cuu Chien Si VNCH duoc yeu cau dan dau cuoc dien hanh voi cac la Dai-Ky cua cac Don Vi QLVNCH. Va cung Mong la Dai Ky cua NKT do anh em NKT tai Little Saigon dong gop se co mat va tung bay ngao nghe trong ngay dien hanh nay.

Va Dac biet cuoc dien hanh nam nay ngoai tru toan Quan Quoc Quan Ky, tat ca anh em tham du se duoc xap xep ngoi tren cac chiec quan xa de dien hanh. ( Theo Lien Hoi cho biet do anh Pham Van Hoa phu trach.) Ngoai ra Ban To Chuc can 10 anh em trong Lien Hoi mac thuong phuc, nhung mang Badge cua Ban To Chuc de giup giai quyet mot so cong viec trong khi dien hanh.

Trong bao nam qua, moi lan co dien hanh thi chac chan khong bao gio thieu mau co sac ao cua anh em chung ta Nha-Ky-Thuat/ Bo Tong Tham Muu QLVNCH, va khong rieng tai Little Saigon CA ma mau co sac ao cua NKT luc nao cung dan dau trong cac hang quan o khap cac noi v.v... dien hinh nhu anh em NKT da co mat trong cuoc dien hanh tai DC vua qua voi muon ngan tieng reo ho cua quan dan cac noi.

xin qui Nien Truong va anh em NKT hang hai tham du ngay Dien Hanh Tet Mau Ty 2008 va neu co the duoc xin gop them mot ban tay trong ngay gay qui cho Dien Hanh Tet Mau Ty duoc to chuc ngay 18 thang1 nam 2008. Rieng toi nam nay vi hoan canh gia dinh khong the gop mat voi anh em don Mung Tet Mau Ty tai Cali, va hen se co mat trong ngay tiec Tan Nien NKT to chuc ngay 17 thang 2 nam 2008 tai nha hang Emeral Bay.

Dong thoi cung xin bao cho anh em biet anh Nguyen Van Hung, Hoi Truong Hoi Nhay Du da ban giao chuc vu Hoi Truong Nhay Du cho N.T Pham Dinh Cung ( Anh Cung cung con la mot Loi-Ho ) , va dong thoi theo noi qui Lien Hoi anh Nguyen Van Hung khong con giu chuc Hoi Truong Nhay Du nua thi phai ban gia chuc vu Chu Tich Lien Hoi cho anh Phan Tan Nguu, Hoi Truong Hoi Canh Sat Quoc Gia, Anh Phan Tan Nguu da nhan ban giao chuc vu Chu Tich Lien Hoi Cuu Chien Si VNCH tai Little Saigon cho den thang 7/2008 se bau lai. Anh em NKT chung ta luc nao cung sat canh voi Lien Hoi CCS VNCH vi chung ta cung la mot trong nhung nguoi da khai sinh ra LH CCS.

Chan thanh cam on qui Nien Truong va Anh Em quan tam. va cung khong quen Cam on anh Hoa da giup cho pho bien la thu nay va cung mong su giup do cua anh cung nhu cua anh Nguyen Van Hung voi anh em trong nhung ngay toi , xin co gang anh Hoa anh Hung nhe ! Chuc tat ca anh em va gia quyen van su lanh, va an Tet Mau Ty vui ve am cung.

Than Kinh,


Lam N.Chieu