At this year's NAAAP-National convention, our North Carolina Venture won the Venture of the Year Award (for the second time) for its continued commitment to developing leaders in the Asian-American community through professional and personal development activities. NAAAP-NC won this award by providing its members with many opportunities to become actively involved in the community - from supporting local charities to speaking with government officials. NAAAP-NC has endeavored to meet the needs of its members and the local community in general by planning and sponsoring social and networking activities, community service events, and programs addressing professional development and employment issues and cultural education activities. After only 6 years, NAAAP-NC has become known not only throughout North Carolina but also nationally and internationally as a valuable point of contact and resource for our Asian-American community.

North Carolina's achievements during the 2004-2005 time period alone included our hugely successful coalition organizing work with local and national organizations, the visit by the President's Advisory Commission and White House Initiative on Asian-Americans, the Triangle Asian-American Community Forum, the NAAAP National Leadership Retreat, venture programs with NAAAP-Philadelphia and NAAAP-Washington DC, professional development seminars, various community service, charitable fundraising, and multicultural awareness programs, and internal capacity building to beef up our technology and financial systems.

Among the members of NAAAP-NC who were on hand at the Convention Gala Dinner to receive the award from National Awards Chair Lauren Ko were Hector Javier (President), Dr. Ted Suh, Leroy Lee and Hans Huang (Past Presidents), Sabrina Yep, Pam Fong, and Lynn Chueh (National Officers), Edward Yang (former National President), Tom Songvichitr, Peter Chen, and Dr. Catherine Soriano (members). Binh Truong (Technology Co-Chair) also attended the Convention. Congratulations and thanks go out to all the general membership and Board of Directors for their idealism, leadership, commitment, and support.

For more photos of the NAAAP National Convention check out Peter Chen's and Brad Baldia's photos below and on our Event Recaps page for the 2005 Convention.

North Carolina delegation members with the Venture of the Year Award: Hans Huang (Past President), Peter Chen, Hector Javier (President), Pam Fong (National Secretary), Tom Songvichitr (former Treasurer), Lynn Chueh (National Assistant Secretary), Sabrina Yep (National Leadership Retreat Coordinator), Leroy Lee (Past President, former National Treasurer), Catherine Soriano, Edward Yang (former National President), Ted Suh (Past President, National Chair of Chapter Development). Not in picture: Binh Truong (Technology Co-Chair).