VABAW’s Third Annual Banquet was held on November 7, 2007. The theme for the evening was "Embracing Our Heritage," which was reflected in the board members’ and guests’ wearing traditional Vietnamese dresses; the welcome speech presented in Vietnamese and English; the keynote speaker’s message; the recognition of two instrumental community service award recipients; and the closing entertainment by the martial arts group Vovinam.

 

 

Sponsors of VABAW’s Third Annual Banquet were: Cohen and Iaria; Davis Wright Tremaine; Cairncross and Hempelman; Aoki Sakamoto Grant; Christensen O'Connor Johnson and Kindness; Helsell Fetterman; Perkins Coie; Ryan Swanson and Cleveland; Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt; Stafford Frey Cooper; and Stokes Lawrence.

Quang X. Pham, author of A Sense of Duty, was the keynote speaker and gave a universal message reminding all of the guests to be attentive to our moral compass.

At the Third Annual Banquet, VABAW presented its community service award to recipients Ghi Dang and Dr. Giap Phuc Dat who were recognized for their formation and ongoing contributions to the Vietnamese Community Activity Center (VNCAC), whose objective is to promote Vietnamese cultural identity in Vietnamese Americans.

 

The sold-out event was attended by 200 guests, including over 40 dignitaries comprised of state elected officials, judges, Washington State Bar Association’s Board of Governors, representatives from the King County Bar Association, representatives of each minority bar association, leaders from local organizations throughout King County, and representation from Seattle University and University of Washington.

 

 

 

 

The Third Annual Banquet was also marked by VABAW’s unveiling of its student clerkship program in Vietnam named the Hồng Dức Clerkship. “Hồng đức" was used in the 15th Century to refer to the legal code of Vietnam allowing women to inherit properties. VABAW has secured partnership with at least six law firms in Vietnam, one of which will be selected to host a law student for summer 2008. The Hồng Dức Clerkship will provide the student with substantive legal work and client relations. VABAW will provide airfare, housing, and reasonable living expenses for the law student. The Hồng Dức Clerkship will assist in outreach efforts to the Vietnamese community in Washington and abroad while also providing the law student with a unique clerkship experience from an international perspective in a fast emerging country. (To read about the recipient of our 2008 Hồng Đức Clerkship, please click here. )

Guests of the Third Annual Banquet also enjoyed the authentic Vietnamese embroidery paintings, which were donated for auction.

 

The evening’s program and our theme of Embracing Our Heritage was concluded by the Vietnamese martial arts group Vovinam.

 

 

All photos of our Third Annual Banquet were contributed by our event photographer Hien Nguyen, a fellow attorney and 2005 VABAW Board Member who is now doing a splendid job of picking up photography as a hobby.

 

Thank you to the Sponsors of our Third Annual Banquet

 

Lychee Sponsors:

Cohen & Iaria

Davis Wright Tremaine

 

Tamarind Sponsor:

Cairncross & Hempelmann

 

Papaya Sponsors:

Aoki Sakamoto Grant

Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness

Helsell Fetterman

Perkins Coie

Ryan Swanson Cleveland

Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt

Stafford Frey Cooper

Stokes Lawrence

 

 

2006: Second Annual Banquet: Raising the Bar 

Our 2006 banquet was a memorable one, incorporating many cultural elements. Our theme was "Raising the Bar."

One of the highlights of the evening was University of Denver College of Law Professor Wendy Duong’s passionate speech reminding Vietnamese American attorneys of the need to overcome stereotypes, to always remember where we come from, and most importantly to use the law profession as a means to “supply ourselves with the podium in life from which we can speak” to make a difference in our profession, communities, and global society.  To read Professor Duong's speech, click here.

The banquet generated a buzz in the local Asian-American community. Almost 200 guests were in attendance, including 40 dignitaries comprised of WSBA Board of Governors, Judges, representatives of each minority bar association, leaders from local organizations, and representation from Seattle University, University of Washington, Gonzaga University, and Lewis & Clark. Our event was mentioned in 4 local newspapers in both English and Vietnamese, together totaling a circulation of nearly 75,000.  A performance by the Huong Viet Performing Arts group closed out the evening.  

For photos from the Second Annual Banquet, click here.

Thank you to the Sponsors of our Second Annual Banquet

Lychee Sponsors:

Cairncross & Hempelmann

Davis Wright Tremaine

Tamarind Sponsor:

Perkins Coie

Papaya Sponsors:

Aoki Sakamoto Grant

Cohen & Iaria

Helsell Fetterman

Preston Gates Ellis

2005: First Annual Banquet: Uniting Our Paths

VABAW shared its First Annual Banquet with an intimate group of supporters and friends.  Our theme for our inaugural banquet was "Uniting Our Paths."  The keynote speaker was Former Governor Gary Locke.  Guests were treated to an authentic five-course Vietnamese dinner. 

Thank you to the Sponsors of our First Annual Banquet